State of Anakee
Disconcerting Michelins lose their place
DESPITE WHAT MY ESTEEMED ‘colleagues’ would have you believe, I’m not a complete imbecile. I understand that the go-anywhere, do-anything image is a massive part of why folk buy a BMW R1200GS. Or a Yamaha XT1200Z, Triumph Explorer or Honda Africa Twin, for that matter. It’s why countless families trudge around Go Outdoors looking at inflatable kayaks each weekend. Our extra-adventurous R1200GS comes on Michelin’s Anakee III tyres. These are a dual-purpose tyre, though a little different to the blocky Metzeler Tourance that all GS models used to have, with a bias toward road but ample ability on loose, mucky surfaces. The tread pattern is more like that of a sportstouring fitment, except with broader and deeper grooves that have a pretty pattern on the inner faces to shift gravel, water and farming by-product. Thing is, I’m about as likely to thrust a humungous £16,000 motorcycle down a green lane as I am to parade around the town centre with my bare arse cheeks on show and ‘spank me now’ written on them in lipstick. And, for me, the Michelins have too much of a dirt-tyre feel; they don’t seem secure at decent lean, and the front never feels like I can trust it (with very many kilos and a Telelever system, getting the most out of a GS relies on front-end confidence). I lacked the faith to remove the chicken strips. So I’ve fitted Dunlop’s brand new Trailsmart Max instead. These are supposed to have an 80/20 split between road/trail, and our local fitter questioned why I’d chosen them over established, proven options. But they’re great. The BMW’S steering is lighter, feel and trust in the front has increased – and the extra faith is clearly demonstrated by getting the tyres used right to the edge on the first ride.