Taiwanese manufacturer Maxxis have been working hard to change their image, looking to transform themselves from budget alternative into a genuine player alongside the 7 premium motorcycle tyre brands.
Due on the market in 2015, but now pushed back to 2016, the new Supermaxx ST is their latest sport touring radial tyre, and MCN have recently been on the official launch at the plush Ascari race complex in the south of Spain to take them for a spin, coming away very impressed with the results.
For the track and road test, journalists had a wide range of bikes to choose from including middleweights such as the Kawasaki Z800, 1000cc sportsbikes and heavyweights including the Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki ZZR1400.
On the MCN website Phil West writes:
“The front, in particular, stood out, being both precise and stable while never lacking grip even under the most extreme riding conditions on whatever type of bike. That said, its firm rigidity, a result presumably of the spiral steel belts used for extra sidewall strength, marked it out as a sports-touring tyre, rather than as a softer pure sports one, but that’s in no way a criticism.
The rear impressed, too. On the bigger, more powerful machines, some movement, slight squirming and, at extremes, minimal, controllable slides were experienced but only when really pushing hard powering out of turns. The rest of the time it was impressively grippy, stable and predictable. But on the smaller, lighter bikes, such as the impressively nimble and taut Kawasaki Z800, there was none of that: the rear always tracking predictably, firmly and with more than enough grip. Not at all bad for a so-called ‘budget’, sport-touring tyre.”
During the development of the tyre, Maxxis acquired the services of BSB fan’s favourite Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker as test rider, and those attending the launch were able to watch Chris push the new tyres to their limits on the 3.65 mile, 26 corner Ascari playground.
The following day saw everyone jump back on the bikes for a road test, with a 150 mile loop taking in some of the most spectacular roads that the Andalusia region of Spain has to offer. Although less demanding of the tyre than the day on track, there were still plenty of smooth, fast A-roads and narrow, bumpy B-roads comprising plenty of hairpins.
After the road test MCN’s Phil West commented:
“Maxxis’ newcomer took it all in its stride. Stabilty was without criticism, whether aboard relatively sprightly Suzuki GSR750 or heavyweight blaster ZZ-R1400, ride was fine, grip was never found wanting.
Of course, in the process of a two-day test, however perfect the environment, questions inevitably remain unanswered – wear and durability being the obvious one. That said, on track, the ST’s never chewed up or even ‘blued’, the latter being due, according to Maxxis’ technicians, to the ST’s unusually high silica content. While, Maxxis themselves claim the ST’s durability to be at least the match of all rivals, however premium.”
Clearly the Supermaxx ST is a big step up for Maxxis in terms of quality, and it will be well priced against other brands top line products, but when we do see it arrive with us in the UK in 2016, there will still be trusted 2nd and even 3rd line sport touring tyres from other premium manufacturers on the market, which cost less, and have already earned the trust of consumers.
However, what Maxxis want to achieve is a growing number of riders in the UK actively going into dealers and asking for a Maxxis. And when they do, with our ever increasing stocks from this emerging brand, we’ll be ready…
