Best Tyres for the Kawasaki 650 Versys

Had to purchase this tyre after a puncture, in the dry was ok, rain made it an interesting ride.

Completed 3400 miles on it before it completely squared off.

I would avoid it if you can, it is the Marks & Spencer's of bike tyres.

The tyres that came with the bike from new only lasted about 3000 miles. I replaced them with the Road Pilot 4 and I've done another 5000 miles and I've probably lost about 2mm in tread. The confidence the tyre gives you in the wet and dry in the corners is amazing. Plus they use these tyres on Police bikes so, they can't be that bad.

Im on my second set of these tyres now,i was so impressed with the longevity of the first set i had that i decided to go for them again.I weigh 16stone and i got 6000 miles out of the rear,it hadn't really squared off either,it still held its round profile after that mileage but the rubber was past the indicators on the grooves so i renewed.I Could not fault them in any way,in the dry they stick like glue and are very reassuring in the wet,never had and movement at all and ive ridden in a lot of rain this year.

I bought a pair of these tyres in 2008 to replace my Bridgestone 020's as these were aparently the best sport touring tyres at the time. I did a couple of hundred miles to scrub them during July in the dry before I moved to Spain. They seemed to feel better than the 020's but wasn't sure about out right grip from the rear.
When I tried the bike on Spains scorching hot roads they were next to useless, I was losing the front at every roundabout and could barely use the throttle before the losing rear traction. After a few hundred miles I got a puncture in the front, so I swapped to my spare wheels which had some well used Dunlop 207rr's.
The Dunlops made the bike ride able again although the tarmac was noticeably less grippy than in England still, but at least the bike was safe again.
In 2010 back in England I got the bike out for a track day at Mallory during July on a hot summers day. Half way through the rear 207rr was shot and losing grip everywhere so I switched to the rear Pilot Road 2ct.
It was surprisingly good allowing me to scrape the peg around gerards at 110mph, so these tyres do work well at the right temperature.
I carried on using this rear tyre (allied to a pilot power front) this summer. It was fine for commuting to work at a sensible pace in all weathers but never felt good when cold.
On faster rides the rear would move around on colder days which was disconcerting at higher speeds. In the wet even on a warmer day it was a joke, the throttle needed careful control through every bend as it threatened to cause a highside on the 60hp versys.
I've owned many sportsbikes, raced a ZX10R and race a supermoto, I dread to think what this tyre would be like on anything with any power. Michelin Maccadams were always crap and the Pilot Roads are a progression of those rather than a decent tyre.
After 3000 miles the tyre showed little wear despite a few wheelies and a few quick rides, but it all ended when I was riding home in the wet one night. I went through a corner I'd been through hundreds of times much faster at about 70mph in 4th gear, I wound the throttle about a third of the way and it went sideways. I thought I was coming off as the bars crossed up, but thank fully as the throttle was shut (no choice when the bars are not under your control, I have highsided a couple of times)it calmed down. I know it wasn't oil or diesel because the front would have let go first (have crashed on diesel, nearly on oil too).
Needless to say it is going in the bin where it belongs, and I'll buy a proper tyre.