Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

We were greeted at the test facility by ace road racer Kevin Schwantz, who had been flown in by Michelin to crack off some hot laps on his Yoshimura Suzuki. Tom Stevens, endurance road racer for Team Suzuki, was also on hand, and everyone began to suit up for an afternoon's ride on the best of today's hyper-bikes. There were Hurricane 600 and 1000s, FZRIOOOs, and GSXR750 and 1000s. All bikes were supplied in pairs, one equipped with Michelin High Sports, and the other with competitive Metzeler rubber. Aaron said he wanted to have other brands of tires on hand, but that Metzeler was the only available option for the test. It was at this point that this editor took to the sidelines. Not having the skills or required anatomical traits to run at race speed, I grabbed my cameras and headed for the soft drink cooler. With nearly two Michelin reps to every editor, everything went like clockwork. All had ample time to match the Michelins against the Metzelers on every brand of bike. The consensus of some editors was that the Michelins were most noticeable and proved superior on the Hurricane 600. It was then that the progressive front end steering was Michelin's 59X series street radials reportedly are made from the same casings. construction and materials used in the High Sport. t- OO 0') ...... ... ~ ...... Editors from several publications, including Cycle News, put the Michelin radials through several grueling test runs. felt the most - easy at first, and then harder as the rider leaned more and more into the turn. On the heaviest bike, the Hurricane 1000, some felt that the extra £lex in the Michelins made for a more unstable feeling. Many commented that the course was "too perfect." Wi~ no bumps in the corners, the test track wasn't representative of a race course, and the Michelins were designed to do their best stuff through rough cornering conditions. The night time is the right time, especially at a Michelin press launch. We were transported back to the downtown Hyatt in Greenville, and then treated to a multi-course dinner. After-dinner activities included a seminar on the art of negotiation: Schwanu convinced a Greenville police officer that he wasn't accountable for the spin-out he did in his rental car, due to the fact that the transmission locked up - on a front wheel drive vehicle. "I've come to the realization that lying in an unconscious state for eight hours is a sobering experience," said Cycle magazine contributing editor Kevin Cameron as we put away our breakfasts Tuesday morning. At eight sharp our bus was up front at the Hyatt and ready to roll; we had a schedule to keep for the day's road ride near Table Rock State Park, which lies across the North Carolina/South Carolina border. The approximate 50-mile loop, laid out by Michelin's Aaron, was a mountain rider's dream. Curvy, sweeping roads, which incorporated every testing situation, were set among deep forests and rural farmland. Once again, bikes were supplied in corresponding pairs, fitted with Michelins and Metzelers. There were two switch points on the loop, so that on each lap you rode the same model bike with both sets of tires. It seems that the only folks who weren't having a good time were the local residents and the South Carolina State Patrol. One elderly gentleman called the police and complained that a cyclist passed him so fast that it rocked his truck; a lively discussion also ensued when Cycle World's Paul Dean was clocked at 121 mph. "One-hundred twenty-one milesper-hour! I thought you guys were ~oing to do your.high speed run later m the day!" exclaimed the trooper. "Well, we still are," replied a Michelin rep in a timid fashion. "Most of these riders will be headed for the 140 mile-per-hour range." We again went on our way, Dean ticketless. Take into account that Michelin is the number one industrial taxpayer in South Carolina, and you might have the equation that aided Dean's plea. After most of us had rotated through all the motorcycles, it was time to head into noman's land, the unrestricted high speed run area. It was the ultimate fantasy: State troopers cordoning off a three-mile stretch of road, and then waving you on to gas it to the maximum edge. That's exactly what Michelin set up; you had a warm-up segment, then a green £lag for an all-out two-mile run. At the red flag there was a shut down section, where you could back off safely. It will once again be stated that . this editor doesn't have what it takes to run a big-bore superbike on top end. At one point I hit 118, and then all thoughts ran to the emergency . claim insurance card Michelin's Coleman forced us to carry. i knew that if I crashed at that speed I'd wake up in heaven, while Freddie Spencer would get a bruised elbow and possible concussion. Top speed of the day was set by Team Suzuki's Stevens, who laid down a 148 mph run on something we thought was silver (probably the Hurricane 10(0). Stevens, who calls Fort Myers, Florida, home, cut the run in truly fashionable apparel sweat pants, knit shirt, and topsiders with no socks. "That thing was moving around quite a bit when I crested the hill on the course," said Stevens. "Yo'u can monitor .the cars, but what the heck wou'ld happen if a deer jumped out onto the road?" "Hey, I know a guy that happened to," said Schwantz. "You just tuck in under the fairing and stay in it. You'll cut the deer clean in half and break both your shoulders, but you won't get any head injuries." With such invaluable knowledge . tucked away - far away - in my mind, it was time to break up the ride. We cruised as a group to country club for showers, munchies and drinks. We were tired and very satisfied. It had been a great two days of riding, and we all joined in a round of applause for the Michelin guys, who provided us with a great way to check out their new radial tires. • 33

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