[bosnjo]

i have the same issue on a Yamaha XT1200 Super Tenere. These tyres are expensive and dangerous! do not buy them.

One more proof that something was wrong with Road 6 series.

 

[Ed F.]

I've chosen to get the road 6's despite what I read here and I find them awesome. The only time it kind of leans to the left is when on cruise control and not holding the handlebars at all, but the anakee adventures did the same, not extreme, but enough so I can't ride without putting at least 1 finger on handlebars. Cornering; awesome, grip; awesome, noise; so much better than the anakee adventure. If there was a production issue, I dont have them on my set. Production date is 0423 I'm taking the bike for a trackday next monday, I'll update my post how they held up.

Sorry I know this post is old and long but I’m perplexed if all GS pull to the left. I don’t often ride no hands but after a long ride on the hwy home I may set cruise and try to go no hands, my bike pulls to the left. On my last tire change the tech noticed a slight bend in the front rim, mag wheel, not enough for air leak but visible probably from a road rut. I just assumed that was the reason for my slight left pull that I only noticed when hands off. Reading all this I wonder is this an engine torque thing or something else? I don’t think it’s my tires because it’s done it across two sets of tires since I got the bike, this post sounds exactly what I have to do to ride straight which is more trouble than it’s worth! Anybody else suspect it’s a GS quirk?

 

[lwoodring]

I am sorry to hear these comments.

I have them on two big bikes - K1600 GTL and R1250 GSA and they run straight down the road. Even with hands off - they still track true. On both bikes - they handled corners far better than the stock tires.

Again, sorry to hear about the issues.

 

[Quattroa4m]

Sorry I know this post is old and long but I’m perplexed if all GS pull to the left. I don’t often ride no hands but after a long ride on the hwy home I may set cruise and try to go no hands, my bike pulls to the left. On my last tire change the tech noticed a slight bend in the front rim, mag wheel, not enough for air leak but visible probably from a road rut. I just assumed that was the reason for my slight left pull that I only noticed when hands off. Reading all this I wonder is this an engine torque thing or something else? I don’t think it’s my tires because it’s done it across two sets of tires since I got the bike, this post sounds exactly what I have to do to ride straight which is more trouble than it’s worth! Anybody else suspect it’s a GS quirk?

Out of curiosity, what were those “two sets of tires”?

 

[Wim]

Sorry I know this post is old and long but I’m perplexed if all GS pull to the left. I don’t often ride no hands but after a long ride on the hwy home I may set cruise and try to go no hands, my bike pulls to the left. On my last tire change the tech noticed a slight bend in the front rim, mag wheel, not enough for air leak but visible probably from a road rut. I just assumed that was the reason for my slight left pull that I only noticed when hands off. Reading all this I wonder is this an engine torque thing or something else? I don’t think it’s my tires because it’s done it across two sets of tires since I got the bike, this post sounds exactly what I have to do to ride straight which is more trouble than it’s worth! Anybody else suspect it’s a GS quirk?

Yes, i am also suspecting the pull to the left is a GS quirk.

 

[bosnjo]

Sorry I know this post is old and long but I’m perplexed if all GS pull to the left. I don’t often ride no hands but after a long ride on the hwy home I may set cruise and try to go no hands, my bike pulls to the left. On my last tire change the tech noticed a slight bend in the front rim, mag wheel, not enough for air leak but visible probably from a road rut. I just assumed that was the reason for my slight left pull that I only noticed when hands off. Reading all this I wonder is this an engine torque thing or something else? I don’t think it’s my tires because it’s done it across two sets of tires since I got the bike, this post sounds exactly what I have to do to ride straight which is more trouble than it’s worth! Anybody else suspect it’s a GS quirk?

With Road 6, hands off, my bike pulls to the left. Tried downhill in neutral, tried downhill in gear, tried with cruise controll on... always the same, pulls to the left. With my old Anakees back on bike, in any of those situations bike goes in the straight line, hands off.

 

[JR543]

Anybody else suspect it’s a GS quirk?

Yes, i am also suspecting the pull to the left is a GS quirk.

I followed a friend riding a 2016 RT for the past 3 weeks /6,670 miles and it would pull to the left when he took his hands off the bars. 1 or 2 fingers on the bars will keep it straight, but no hands it would pull to the left. The pull to the left was more than he could control with just leaning/weighting the foot pegs. He has Road 6 GTs, date codes were mid 2021 FWIW. Other than the pulling left, he really liked the tires.

My GS with Anakee IIIs tracked true with hands off the bars.

 

[Quattroa4m]

Yes, i am also suspecting the pull to the left is a GS quirk.
[/QUOTE

You might want read the entire thread. It’s not just the GS.

 

[Redcard]

K1600s are notorious for pulling to the left. I've had 3 of them over the years and they all had a minor "drift". I wouldn't call it a pull. No real concern because even with cruise control enabled a pinky would hold the bike straight. I'm about to put the Michelin's on my K1600 (I already have them in the garage) and replacing a set of Dunlops. The D's have plenty of tread left but the front is cupping so bye-bye.

This is my first GS. I'm not using road tires. Couldn't even tell you if it drifts. I tend to keep at least one hand on the bars, and never considered testing it. I don't think I need to bother. I've forgotten about it already.

 

[bosnjo]

In my 40 yers of riding, I've never ridden with hands off but I take my hands off very often for a second just to check if everything was fine with bike's tracking.
With so many many bikes I owned, and some of them were old and beaten, this is my first encounter with bad tracking.

 

[Rick92040]

K1600s are notorious for pulling to the left. I've had 3 of them over the years and they all had a minor "drift". I wouldn't call it a pull. No real concern because even with cruise control enabled a pinky would hold the bike straight. I'm about to put the Michelin's on my K1600 (I already have them in the garage) and replacing a set of Dunlops. The D's have plenty of tread left but the front is cupping so bye-bye.

This is my first GS. I'm not using road tires. Couldn't even tell you if it drifts. I tend to keep at least one hand on the bars, and never considered testing it. I don't think I need to bother. I've forgotten about it already.

Neither of my two 1600 GT's pulled to the left nor does my GS. A lot of people do complain about the 1600 pull though. While a lot of people with the 1600 do love the Michelin road 6 I was never one of them. The sidewall is just too soft for me and it affects the handling. People here on the GS forum have a legitimate concern and I hate that Michelin has ignored it. I remember when the Road 5 came out and the 1600 people started complaining it was rubbing on the swingarm. Michelin never did acknowledge they made the tires too wide. They just stopped recommending them for the 1600 and rushed out the Road 6. I also don't like what they have done in the MotoGP. Chunks of tire coming off a bike that does over 200mph is crazy. The riders are not allowed to disparage Michelin but it's clear they would like to switch manufacturers.

 

[bosnjo]

...The riders are not allowed to disparage Michelin but it's clear they would like to switch manufacturers.

I'm lucky I can choose and after a hundreds of tires I purchased for all my vehicles in last 40 years, I'm done with Michelin. As I said in thread title, Michelin never again as I feel disrespected and took their silence as an insult.
So many good tires to choose between.

 

[WayFar]

2 months ago I took off my Michelin Anakee's that came with the bike (new). I liked those tires but just couldn't stand the noise from the front.

Could you elaborate on "noise from the front". I just installed a set of Anakee Adventures on my '07 GS and now there's a tremendous howl coming from the front of the bike at speeds over 55. I did some other work at the same time (like a new windscreen) so I've never been sure what is causing the howl. Could that be the "noise" you're referring to?

 

[oldjoe522]

I just finished a 6500 mile trip on my 2017 RS. Had Road 6 GTs installed right before I left, and loved them for 3 weeks of riding. Several times I needed to zip or unzip jacket vents, and on cruise control, used both hands on the jacket. Never had a problem with bike tracking straight. Had several sets of road pilots on ST1300 previously and never had a problem tracking. And they look like hey will last a while. I never got more than 5K out of a rear tire on the ST1300.

 

[AstroBMW]

2 months ago I took off my Michelin Anakee's that came with the bike (new). I liked those tires but just couldn't stand the noise from the front. So, decided to go with model I liked a lot. On my previous bikes I always used Michelin Road (Pilot) 2, 3, 4 and 5. So, as I was always happy with them, I've chosen Michelin Road 6. The first impession was great. On the way out of the garage that installed them, the front was dead quiet. It felt so good. Few days later, on the highway, I went over 150 km/h (93mph) and the rear started to "dance". It was swerving left-right-left. I lowered the speed and it was OK. I went up again and the swerving started again. I've got even more speed and it was still there. So I went to different highway with newer surface. Still the same... Tried 3rd highway, different surface again, still the same. I was not happy. At that point I thought that tires were new and needed some time, as previous models of that tire were always great on my bikes. 2-3 days later, just out of fun, I let go my handlebars and bike violently swerved left. Tried few times on different speeds, it was still turning left... a lot. Went back to the dealer that installed those tires and he did all the procedure of front fork alignment . It was just a bit better but not solved and still dangerous. Now, 2 months later and 1500 miles more, nothing has changed. All the problems are still there. I researched through the hundreds of forums for different bikes and many riders encountered the same problems with Road 6 on their bikes (non BMW). They say it's not bad batch. The tire is wrong. I am shocked. Those tires were expensive and I could sware in the previous models quality. What the hell is this?????? So, I'll keep them through the winter and look for new tires in the spring. I will have to research for the best 100% pavement tire for my bike. I want good grip and I don't care about durability as sticky tires don't last long and those are that I want. On the original tires, I had none of the problems described above. Hard earned money thrown away.

first off just to be clear the left pulling sensation in NOT a GS Issue it is a Tire issue or at least it has been for me...Tire manufaturers do not make tires so that you can ride Hands OFF they make tires with certain speed ratings and rubber compounds to meet a certain need... in fact it is Illegal to take both hands off the handle bars at the same time for any length of time....2nd there is NO speed limit of 93mph so breaking the law to to see if the rear end goes wiggy seems foolish.....did you try just cruising at the speed limit...probably doesnt happen. I use the same tires on my GS and the front pulled to the left a bit at even slow speeds....I now use Dunlop road smart 3 tires and have had NO left pull issue..2019 GS and 2022 GSA have the same tires.

 

[AstroBMW]

Yes, i am also suspecting the pull to the left is a GS quirk.

NOT a GS quirk at all i have a 2019GS and a 2022GS NEITHER pull to the left or to the right...I have had many tires on the bike 2019 and noticed that certain tires DO but its not the bike..I run Dunlop roadsmart 3 tires now on BOTH bikes and no pull at any speed.

 

[bosnjo]

Could you elaborate on "noise from the front". I just installed a set of Anakee Adventures on my '07 GS and now there's a tremendous howl coming from the front of the bike at speeds over 55. I did some other work at the same time (like a new windscreen) so I've never been sure what is causing the howl. Could that be the "noise" you're referring to?

Yes, that is the noise I was refering to. It has been largely discussed here in forum. Anakees and some other brands are known to produce that noise from the front on GS. Some other brands give less noise, some give no noise.

 

[bosnjo]

....2nd there is NO speed limit of 93mph so breaking the law to to see if the rear end goes wiggy seems foolish.....did you try just cruising at the speed limit...probably doesnt happen...

Nobody says anything about speed limit. In the country where you live 93mph may be maximum speed limit in general but have you ever heard about Autobahn?
And we don't all live in your neighborhood.

 

[Jon A]

Sorry I know this post is old and long but I’m perplexed if all GS pull to the left. I don’t often ride no hands but after a long ride on the hwy home I may set cruise and try to go no hands, my bike pulls to the left…

Not uncommon. My 2017 R1200GS has an ever so slight left pull when hands off. If I lean right just a bit in the saddle then all’s good. I test rode a factory fresh 2022 GSA and it too had a very slight left pull. So either the bikes just have this tendency or I am a laterally imbalanced rider!

 

[bosnjo]

Today I finally got some time to go to the shop and install front Scorpion Trail 2 that I had laying in my garage. After that went for a ride and tested the bike. It's perfect. It rides in a straight line just like with Anakee, even with hands off. So the problem was definitely Road 6.
I was buying Michelin tires for the last 30 years and even forgot that some other brand can be as good or even better. As Scorpion Trail 2 has different geometry, bike feels better planted. I also felt it's more comfortable, taking road surface irregularities better, smoother. But it can also be beacause the tire is new.
Anyway, Road 6 is still at the rear and I'll be keeping it until it gets worn and then replace it with Scorpion Trail 2 as well.