C 400: Anyone Used Michelin "City Grip 2" Tires?

[wspollack]

I've gone through a couple of sets of the Perilli tires that came stock on my '22 and then my '23 C 400 GT. I think they handle exceptionally well (at least in dry conditions, as I don't ride in the rain if I can help it, and I can almost always help it, because I'm retired, don't commute, etc.).

Nevertheless, I'm a little disappointed in what I think is near minimal siping depth in the Pirellis when new. So I'm thinking of switching to the Michelin "City Grip 2" tires for next season, in stock sizes.

From https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-city-grip-2?tyreSize=15 :



From https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-city-grip-2?tyreSize=14 :



I'm leaning toward these Michelins based on some forum reading, some YouTube videos, that sort of research.

Which brings me to my question: anyone used the "City Grip 2" tires on a C 400 (X or GT) ... or I suppose, any other scoot? And, if so, anyone have any good or bad things to say about them?

Thanks for any help with this.

 

[BayAreaCelt]

I’ve always used Michelins for my motorbikes when the stock ones ran out, as well as my Burgman 400 and c650gt. I find they are the best in rain of all the brands I have had OEM foisted on me. Also same for car tires, there’s a reason they are usually expensive, rare they put out a crap tire. Edited to say I used the original city grips on my Honda SH300 when I was in London. They were fine in London rain (and snow a couple of times too! Yes I’m a nutter, or was…) and good mileage out of them too.

 

[BayAreaCelt]

I would have used Michelins for my triumph rocket 3 but most of the time in London I was on the Honda sh300… for obvious reasons, delicious though the rocket 3 was.. at the time few brands made hoops for the rocket 3 anyways.

 

[wspollack]

I’ve always used Michelins for my motorbikes when the stock ones ran out, as well as my Burgman 400 and c650gt. I find they are the best in rain of all the brands I have had OEM foisted on me. Also same for car tires, there’s a reason they are usually expensive, rare they put out a crap tire. Edited to say I used the original city grips on my Honda SH300 when I was in London. They were fine in London rain (and snow a couple of times too! Yes I’m a nutter, or was…) and good mileage out of them too.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

 

[mzflorida]

I've gone through a couple of sets of the Perilli tires that came stock on my '22 and then my '23 C 400 GT. I think they handle exceptionally well (at least in dry conditions, as I don't ride in the rain if I can help it, and I can almost always help it, because I'm retired, don't commute, etc.).

Nevertheless, I'm a little disappointed in what I think is near minimal siping depth in the Pirellis when new. So I'm thinking of switching to the Michelin "City Grip 2" tires for next season, in stock sizes.

From https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-city-grip-2?tyreSize=15 :

View attachment 5135

From https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-city-grip-2?tyreSize=14 :

View attachment 5136

I'm leaning toward these Michelins based on some forum reading, some YouTube videos, that sort of research.

Which brings me to my question: anyone used the "City Grip 2" tires on a C 400 (X or GT) ... or I suppose, any other scoot? And, if so, anyone have any good or bad things to say about them?

Thanks for any help with this.

Bill, I have not but will be putting them on. On the Facebook group they are adored by their riders.

 

[mzflorida]

One more thing. I was a Dunlop RS rider. I did not think they could be beat. I switched to Michelin Road 5s on the NC. They are far and away the best tire I’ve ever owned. Not sure if that will be the same experience with the Cities but I’m optimistic enough to try.

 

[BayAreaCelt]

For some reason I can’t stop saying city grips in a Sean Connery ackshent

 

[ooop]

My c400gt original set of Perilli tyres lasted 10000 miles so had intended to replace same with same. My tyre supplier however recommended city grip 2 tyres ,of which i had fitted a couple of thousand miles ago, These appear to be as good as the perilli grip wise certainly in the dry, not really done much wet riding since fitting ,cant tell the difference in handling

 

[wspollack]

My c400gt original set of Perilli tyres lasted 10000 miles so had intended to replace same with same. My tyre supplier however recommended city grip 2 tyres ,of which i had fitted a couple of thousand miles ago, These appear to be as good as the perilli grip wise certainly in the dry, not really done much wet riding since fitting ,cant tell the difference in handling

Pretty impressive mileage on your Pirrellis. Mine lasted about half that (although I tend to replace tires in the off-season, even if they have some tread left).

Thanks for the comments.

 

[mzflorida]

For some reason I can’t stop saying city grips in a Sean Connery ackshent

Then this will have you laughing!

 

[mzflorida]

My c400gt original set of Perilli tyres lasted 10000 miles so had intended to replace same with same. My tyre supplier however recommended city grip 2 tyres ,of which i had fitted a couple of thousand miles ago, These appear to be as good as the perilli grip wise certainly in the dry, not really done much wet riding since fitting ,cant tell the difference in handling

Curious as tires are in the near future for me, has the ride quality improved with the Michelins?

 

[wspollack]

Initial "City Grip 2" Report:

I took my first ride of the season, first ride with the Michelin "City Grip 2" tires, on the C 400 GT yesterday.

(I had the tires installed during the off-season, via Max BMW's free pick-up and drop-off service. Prior to yesterday, my first two rides of the season -- the start of which was delayed as a result of some surgery, with a hospital stay, in March -- had been on my Meteor 350, starting a week or so ago.)

The bottom line is that I was very pleased with the tires.

I noticed no anomalies, no problems, and the handling seemed on a par with the stock Pirellis. After quite a few miles letting them get scrubbed in, I did max leans of about 34° left and right, and also took the bike up to 86.0 mph (GPS).

Here's where I went (clockwise loop, with a lunch stop at Bob's Diner, outside of Manchester, VT):



And here are some highlight-reel videos from yesterday.

In VT (16 minutes):

Later on, in MA (10 min.):

What's left, I guess, is to confirm that the longevity is equal to or greater than the Pirellis. As I mentioned earlier, the starting siping depth is greater than the Pirellis. I plan to report back on that in the fall.

Oh, and of course, sorry, I probably won't have anything useful to say regarding handling in the rain.

 

[Delray]

Always enjoy these quality videos. So nice to see hills and curves instead of the pool-table flat roads of Florida (full disclosure: barely a word about tires in the words below).

I rode through Vermont last summer. Gorgeous and a "generous" population density, meaning you can ride for miles and not see another human or vehicle. At one point, I felt the call of nature and pulled on the shoulder, looked left and right to see and hear nothing, stood there and let fly. It felt freeing yet perfectly normal, like my one curious visit to Miami's nude beach.

Anyway, for Mr. Bill, it looks like I will be in your neck o' the woods in early to mid-June. Couple intriguing options for my annual Fly 'n Ride to Rochester NY, the third of which would bring me to the capital. First option is a 2022 BMW C 400 GT located a few hundred miles south near I-81. It's white with 2k miles and has a top box. It's the leader in the emotional, "gotta have it" category. I lust after it already. BIG downside: no service manual available for this model and few YouTube vids on maintenance work. I prefer to do my own maintenance. Simply not going to pay a BMW dealer $600 to change my belt when I can buy the same belt from Mitsuboshi for $80 and install it myself.

Less emotional but very compelling is a 2020 Burgman 400, also a few hundred miles south near I-95. It's matte black with GIVI top box, Best brand backrest for full legroom and tall GIVI screen. This one is decked out the way I like it. It's entirely sensible but ... eh, I had an '18 Burgman 400. Super fun bike but the build quality ain't great.

Third option that would bring me to Albany is a 2009 Burgman 400. Low miles and a pretty silver color, but it's the least "plug and play" option since I'd need to update tires and CVT belt (currently has '09 OEM), add a top case and remove the OEM buttrest without a Best backrest to replace it. The bike is in a nearby state and the seller is willing to tow it to a Suzuki dealer in Schenectady, where I can have tires put on while I treat him to nine holes of golf.

The '09 Burgman feels like a no brainer, a bike I could stash in my daughter's garage for next summer, so I wouldn't have to figure out two wheel transportation in New York every summer. Worth noting: this option includes driving north in a pristine 2003 Cadillac Deville I just picked up with only 52,000 miles. I'd love a long trip in a land yacht with a fun bike waiting at the end of the road.

Fun options. Will decide in the next few days.

 

[wspollack]

Always enjoy these quality videos. So nice to see hills and curves instead of the pool-table flat roads of Florida (full disclosure: barely a word about tires in the words below).

I rode through Vermont last summer. Gorgeous and a "generous" population density, meaning you can ride for miles and not see another human or vehicle. At one point, I felt the call of nature and pulled on the shoulder, looked left and right to see and hear nothing, stood there and let fly. It felt freeing yet perfectly normal, like my one curious visit to Miami's nude beach.

Anyway, for Mr. Bill, it looks like I will be in your neck o' the woods in early to mid-June. Couple intriguing options for my annual Fly 'n Ride to Rochester NY, the third of which would bring me to the capital. First option is a 2022 BMW C 400 GT located a few hundred miles south near I-81. It's white with 2k miles and has a top box. It's the leader in the emotional, "gotta have it" category. I lust after it already. BIG downside: no service manual available for this model and few YouTube vids on maintenance work. I prefer to do my own maintenance. Simply not going to pay a BMW dealer $600 to change my belt when I can buy the same belt from Mitsuboshi for $80 and install it myself.

Less emotional but very compelling is a 2020 Burgman 400, also a few hundred miles south near I-95. It's matte black with GIVI top box, Best brand backrest for full legroom and tall GIVI screen. This one is decked out the way I like it. It's entirely sensible but ... eh, I had an '18 Burgman 400. Super fun bike but the build quality ain't great.

Third option that would bring me to Albany is a 2009 Burgman 400. Low miles and a pretty silver color, but it's the least "plug and play" option since I'd need to update tires and CVT belt (currently has '09 OEM), add a top case and remove the OEM buttrest without a Best backrest to replace it. The bike is in a nearby state and the seller is willing to tow it to a Suzuki dealer in Schenectady, where I can have tires put on while I treat him to nine holes of golf.

The '09 Burgman feels like a no brainer, a bike I could stash in my daughter's garage for next summer, so I wouldn't have to figure out two wheel transportation in New York every summer. Worth noting: this option includes driving north in a pristine 2003 Cadillac Deville I just picked up with only 52,000 miles. I'd love a long trip in a land yacht with a fun bike waiting at the end of the road.

Fun options. Will decide in the next few days.

Yep, I read about some of this on BurgmanUSA. I still check in there, and sometimes post, most days.

I have the shop manual for the C 400 GT. It's an 843-page PDF, bought on ebay (and it's still there), as I described in https://www.bmw-scooters.com/threads/bought-pdf-shop-manual-for-c-400-gt-on-ebay.2474/ .

Of course, what you said about the dearth of YT DIY videos for that bike is still largely true, I guess. Me, I pay for all service -- too old, too creaky, no bike lifts, etc., and able to afford it -- so that's not an issue.

Land yachts are pretty cool for a long drive.

Good luck in your quest.

 

[Delray]

I have the shop manual for the C 400 GT ... https://www.bmw-scooters.com/threads/bought-pdf-shop-manual-for-c-400-gt-on-ebay.2474/ .

"Well, that's a horse of a different color," said Dorothy. Or Dot's husband. One of those two.

This changes everything, thank you! The BMW C 400 GT is officially back on my list of, "Yep, gotta own one of those someday."

I was reading another thread on this forum about official correspondence from BMW that said, "We no longer offer Workshop Manuals."

But it makes sense somebody, somehow, somewhere would offer it. The internet is the public square for the planet.

 

[Ceesie76]

Last week I had Michelin Road 4 tires installed on my C650 and really like them, over the Shinko's I had before, that really did not last very long.

 

[Fedeskiff]

Just came from a 1000km trip over Liguria on Italy, pouring rain and hilly terrain. I am very happy to have City Grips. My friends were telling me that I was leaving a dry stripe of road after me!