Following some very favourable reviews by Motorcycle News last week, Visordown are the next media outlet in the UK to give their thoughts on the new Supermaxx ST sport touring tyre from Maxxis, now due to arrive in the country from 2016.
Launched at the Ascari circuit in southern Spain, Visordown sent their man Kane Dalton to give the new Maxxis motorcycle tyres a try on both road and track, along with official tyre development advisor Chris Walker of BSB fame.
Maxxis layed on a variety of machines for the launch, from 600cc’s right the way up to 1300. All the bikes spent a full day out on track, before covering around 100 miles of hairpin filled routes through the Spanish mountains.
So how did they tyres fair on circuit?
Kane says:
“Tyre pressures were lowered to suit track use. I didn’t use tyre warmers, as I usually might, but the tyres warmed up within the first lap, quickly offering impressive grip.
The neutral profile made for smooth corner exits and gave me the confidence to get on the throttle. Lean-angle adjustments came easily at every stage of cornering and feedback from the tyres seemed excellent.
The tyres coped well under really hard braking, with no surprises.
If I wanted to lay a bit of rubber while getting on the gas, the slide was really smooth and progressive.
The real surprise was the wear, or lack of it. At the end of the day there was very little rubber loss or deterioration or bobbling.
I checked the tyres on Chris’ bike too. He’d had it sideways in and out of most corners, but they just looked well scrubbed-in, without excessive wear. Some of the other test riders said they’d been deliberately riding to tear up the tyre but had failed.
I expected to at least see heavy wear on the big Suzuki Hayabusa but the rubber on that look good too.”
On the road the tyres impressed too, with Kane commenting:
“The temperature was fairly low early in the day but the tyres warmed up quickly as we tackled hairpins.
At first, as I was getting a feel for the level of grip, I found myself trailing the back brake a little into and through the corners. A number of them tightened up sharply and I wasn’t yet sure how much I could trust the Maxxis STs. There was also the distraction of the amazing mountainous scenery.
As on track, the neutral profile meant I could tip very smoothly into and out of corners. When I dabbed the back brake, the tyre never locked but felt solid all the way through the bend.
Soon I developed the trust to confidently increase lean angle as bends tightened, finding lots of grip as I did.
Not all the surfaces were good. Some roads were dusty, some worn, some covered in muck left by agricultural machinery. I applied the due caution and never had a worrying moment.
I would recommend the Maxxis ST as a tyre that offers good grip and durability with a comfortable, easy-going profile.
I didn’t ride in the wet but I plan to test the tyre on the road in the UK soon and will post an update.”
For more information on the new Maxxis Supermaxx ST here – now due to arrive in the UK in 2016!
