Hi guys,
I put a set of Heindenau K73's on my 690SMC a few weeks ago and like probably everyone else in North America, we've had some weird cold weather recently. I've been commuting on them (aggressively) and I just did an hour on the highway today, and it was 2 degrees above freezing, with a touch of windchill... these tires are awesome, I'd recommend them, especially right now, or off road. Here's some moments worth mentioning already:
-went out to the shop and admittedly there was salt and sand on the streets, but I was on bald Dunlop Q3's that were just sliding everywhere, I mean like down to the belt and just drifting lane changes, and when I rode out of the shop they gave me the standard take it easy on the new tires for the first 100km, well, after the first left/right they were far far stickier...
-on my ride in the other day I took a corner a bit late and came in a bit, well, way, too hot, it was like morning rush, went for it kind of thing on a yellow, but was on the brakes so hard leaning it over left, foot skimming the pavement, just starting to tighten up downstairs as I suddenly realized that I was coming in Really Hot,one of those life flash before you moments, and as I stayed hard on the front brake and just kept leaning it over more and more I felt the slipper clutch step in as I started sliding sideways through the turn kind of crossing it up to complete it, this was in the shadows with air temp at 2 degrees above freezing, the tires were glued to the street. awesome. I might buy another set of something more oriented for the summer heat, but then again, the tires are cheap, and my buddy with a 610 and my other buddy with a XR650R both have them and they're seeing at least 5000km out of a set through the summer, and they look great
-rode home at 9 the other night and there was some other guys out for a ride, suddenly realized that I was totally glued to the road compared to them
-did my first highway rip on them today; 2 degrees above freezing, highway 99 which is a twisty coastal mountain highway north from Vancouver, I had a lot of layers on. glued the whole way; there are some tight sections, it felt like I was riding in June heat. Explains why I got those funny looks from the guys on the bikes the other night, I realize that they're all old or on cold numb hard old dead rubber. My front end got a little light cresting a hill one time, not sure if it was the tire, but throttled back, slid forward and it was sorted, these tires are really confidence inspiring, a bit stiff through the carcass but in a planted sort of way, they really fall into a turn quickly but in a way thats really predictable all the way to the limit and I wasn't hesitating too put a foot down if needed, or hang off the bike if needed, it was a good rip. I just felt that planted.
Not something that you'll regret trying, basically I was told that they're a rain tire pattern with street rubber 120/17, and 160-60.