Tire review: Continental Conti Motion Sport Touring

[et]

For the past several years I have been using Continental Road Attacks.
But this past July I was short on $$ and needed new tires.
With a set of Road Attacks being almost $300 and a set of Continental Conti Motions costing ~$175.
I thought I'd give a set of Conti Motions a try.

Since I could not find many reviews on the Conti Motions back in July or now.
And mine now have 8,500 miles on them.
I thought I'd give a brief review of them.
Details:

• Motorcycle: '00 GSXR-750
• Type of Riding: Primarily commuting
• Commute type: Mixture of interstate and two lane county roads
• To work: 65 miles all Interstate.
• From work: 80 miles 99% two lane county roads.
• Speeds: It's a GSXR; how the hell do you think I'm riding ?  

The Conti Motions handle nearly identical to the Road Attacks. They were neither too fast or too slow steering. And felt neutral once in a corner.
In the dry I could not tell any difference between these Conti Motions and Road Attacks.
But they appear to have a slightly harder compound. And may possibly not stick as well as the Road Attacks in the wet.
There have been a couple of times when the rear gave way in the wet.
But it slipped so little and so briefly it could have just been me riding over some road debris; such as a stone or stick.
With Winter coming upon us. I'll have to see how they are in cold weather.

But with this 60, 50, and 40 degree fall weather we've been having in the Mid Atlantic states.
They been performing very well. No sliding; yet.

Here's what they look like after 8,500 miles:








The front tire looks rather good for 8,500 miles.
Any other sport-touring tire I've used would have shown some cupping and squaring-off by now.
And I'm guessing there should no problem getting 10,000+ miles.
The most miles I think I ever got out of a set of Road Attacks was ~12,000 miles.
And that was with them handling like crap the last 6,000 of those.

But with that stupid no-tread-in-the-middle. It's hard to tell how many miles are left in that rear.
It may be less than 1,000 or it may be another 4,000+. I don't know.
But with all other tires I've used. With the exception of Tomahawks; I've always had front and rear need replacing at the same time.

I will probably be buying another set of Conti Motions when these need replacing.

--ET

[Mastros2]

A good friend is raving about the ContiMotions.  He was a big Brigestone 016 fan (which I think is a great sport tire) and now can't stop talking about these.

One of my concerns was mileage.  You answered that.  Thanks for the long term report.  

[garry]

My experience was not as positive. The tires stuck fine for street use, but the rear was toast in under 2500 miles (down to cords). The front might make 4K, but I change tires in sets, so it's in the tire pile with the other dead soldiers. FWIW, I can't get 4K out of rear tire except for the Dunlop RoadSmarts. Most sporty ST tires are shot around 3500. I got the set for $135 plus PA sales tax, so I can't complain too much.

[cognosticator]

On a 2009 C14 I got 3250 out of the rear and the front is still on and looking good with 4750, I put a PR3 on the rear.  I hope to get 6k out of the PR3, if so that will be the same cost per mile for the rear with 1 less tire change for the 6k miles

[maddjack]

My experience was not as positive. The tires stuck fine for street use, but the rear was toast in under 2500 miles (down to cords). The front might make 4K, but I change tires in sets, so it's in the tire pile with the other dead soldiers. FWIW, I can't get 4K out of rear tire except for the Dunlop RoadSmarts. Most sporty ST tires are shot around 3500. I got the set for $135 plus PA sales tax, so I can't complain too much.

Big V twins can eat tires, its common, my Ducati's used to go through rears like water

[Rincewind]

Because of the bargain pricing, I also installed a set of Conti Motions this summer on my Triumph 675.  They have been in use for approximately 3000-3500 miles (I lost my tire log file to tell the mileage exactly).  I have a little less than 1mm until I hit the wear bars.  I anticipate replacing the rear within 1000 miles.  

Except for wearing somewhat quick (I prefer 6000+ miles on a rear), the tires have handled rather well.  I agree that it seems like a slightly harder compound, at least compared to the Angel ST's which I used repeatedly.  My riding is mostly back roads with minimal interstate.

[Jesse]

 Big V twins can eat tires, its common, my Ducati's used to go through rears like water

Yep, just over 2900 miles on the rear Conti Motion on the Uly and it's toast, toast as in a 3/4 inch strip of belt showing the whole way round.

Rincewind, there's very little left after you get to the wear bars on the Conti Motions, this was my first set and I was wondering, now I know!

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the heads up, Jesse!  I should probably get a new rear ordered pretty soon.  

[06_wi_vfr]

• Motorcycle: '00 GSXR-750
• Type of Riding: Primarily commuting
• Commute type: Mixture of interstate and two lane county roads
• To work: 65 miles all Interstate.
• From work: 80 miles 99% two lane county roads.
• Speeds: It's a GSXR; how the hell do you think I'm riding ?  

Interesting.  This describes my riding almost to a T - except mine's a 2006 VFR - and I just ordered a set this morning based pretty much on price.  I hope to have an equivalent experience.  Thanks for the review!

[stromgal]

I've been trying for a couple months to find a on-sale set for my son's SV650; no one has the rear tire. They give me the 'it'll be back in stock _______' and then another date, and yet another after that one's past.

[Frankienuckles]

I got about 1000 miles on my set of motions (on the gsxr) and I like 'em alot!

[dietDrThunder]

I wish I knew how that 5% or so of folks manages to get so many freaking miles out of tires. 10k on a set? The only tire I ever got 10k out of was a Metzeler Marathon, which is a hard-as-wood full magilla touring tire. The last tires I went through was a pair of 'Stone BT016's on the CBR1000F, and I got about 3200 out of the rear, and I was stunned to get that much out of such a sticky tire.

Are there lots of you going 8 or 9 or 10k on a rear tire? How do you do it?

[stromgal]

I'm guessing weight of bike/rider/gear; horsepower and power delivery; and judicious/injudicious application of throttle all enter into it. Oh, and road surface-- chip seal or striated concrete eat up rubber.

[Cablebandit]

Oh, and road surface-- chip seal or striated concrete eat up rubber.

That.  And many never hit a twisty road.  I've seen pics of PR3's with 11,000 highway miles that look new.  Mine are toast a little after 4-4500.  However they would last much longer if I ran the highway all the time.

[06_wi_vfr]

Yep.  A good 75% of my 12,000 per year are commuting, and 75% of those are on the slab.  That's the most logical reason for some getting 8 - 10k out of a set.
 

[Dailyrider]

I currently have ContiForce on my 01 F4i. 15,700 and the rear has just hit the wear bars, the front is good for another year. That said, it is strictly flat slab commuting miles, no twisties at all here is S.E. MI. I switched to Continental from the Dunlops that came with the bike new. I only got about 6,000 out of the Dunlops. I buy them online from Derby Cycles, they always seem to have the best prices.

[ConPilot1]

I have, believe it or not, a Pilot GT front spare with about 24K miles on the damn thing and it's just tipping the wear bars.

[tomek]

Speed , speed kills tires , it makes huge difference even if we are talking about straight line interstate riding .

Try to do real , true , honest , steady , all the time  80-90 mph and see how long that rear tire lasts.

Those who report unusually high mileage obviously ride like pussies .  

[sleazy rider]

Those who report unusually high mileage obviously ride like pussies .  

Can I save and use that statement for the next time I get stopped?    FWIW, I have about 9k on my PR2s and they will last until next spring for sure, which truly amazes me.  I have not been kind to them.

[coho]

Generally speaking, the less I like a given set of tires the longer they last.
Or at least it seems that way.