Maxxis Diamond Touring Tyre Tested By MF of Visor Down
Just finished our track time here at Portimao circuit. We've been testing the new Maxxis Supermaxx Diamond sports touring tyre so it's a bit odd to come to a race circuit but, as it happens, the mix of torrential rain and bone dry tarmac (in the afternoon) has been a tough but positive test for this new tyre from young upstarts, Maxxis.
They lined up a range of bikes from 600 Supersport to the 1250 Bandit for us to try this new tyre. And the track? Oh my life, if ever you get the chance to do a track day at this fantastic roller-coaster of a circuit, do it. It's amazing.
In the wet (and boy, was it wet) the diamond pattern on the shoulders of the tyre are there to sniff out extra grip. We didn't have comparison tyres on the test but considering how wet it was and how hard the compound is (for extra road mileage) I was pretty impressed by the wet grip on offer. The tyres even managed to get warm to the touch despite scything their way through deep, standing water.
By lunchtime it had pretty much dried out, bar for a few rivers across the track, and things got a bit giddier. My chosen tool for the afternoon was Kawasaki's rip-snorting Z1000 (does anyone actually need a supersport bike for the road when nakeds are this potent?). The performance of the Maxxis Sport Radial took some getting used to but this is my verdict:
For a tyre that aims to be at least 20% cheaper than its European competitors, its behaviour even in these extreme circumstances was impressive.
It's not outright edge grip - other softer compound sports touring tyres have a slight advantage here but the difference is only measurable on a gnat's pubic hair. No, it's the way the tyre communicates before it loses grip that is it's strong point. Those weird feathered edges are a great way to get extra edge grip for what is actually a hard compound, high mileage sports touring tyre but they do create a sensation of movement when you're approaching the sorts of angle of lean that sees footrest tips colliding with tarmac.
No worries.
The rear tyre moves around (not the front, thankfully which plots a stable and neutral path) and lets you know things are about to get lairy. I followed two or three really, really quick riders and they were leaving black lines and powersliding through corners that I'm sure they wouldn't have dared to do on more conventional, sports focused rubber. These tyres don't so much communicate as shout at you to ease off the gas. At the end of a very taxing, hard riding day all the bikes were unmarked and undamaged. Trust me, that's not always the case when you let a load of journos and dealers loose on the trickiest track in Europe in bouncing rain and perfectly dry conditions.
We've got a day of riding on the road tomorrow, this tyre's real habitat. I'll report back tomorrow afternoon.
In the meantime, enjoy the video. And in Gary Mason's defence (that's him on the ZX-6R), he was testing a new prototype tyre that didn't leave him with much confidence... sorry for the supermoto style block pass Gazza. The other guy in the shot is mad Bob from London tyre dealers FWR. Fast lad.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
About the Author
Paul Hanley has been involved in Motorcycles on both a personal and buisness level for over 25 years.
His buiness ( 2wheeljunkie) sells parts for most motorbikes from Most manufactures such as Kawasaki , Suzuki, Honda and Yamha.
Recently he was appointed a Maxxis Motorcycle tyre supplier and was invited to test the latest Maxxis Diamond Touring tyre both on Track ( portimao ) and road ( faro, Portugal) Please read my articles on the Maxxis Diamond in my Reviews,
Anyway, must get going............The suns out!
People Love These Road Bike Parts:
CAMPAGNOLO CRANK ARM RIGHT 1725 VINTAGE ROAD TOURING TRACK BIKE 82, Used Tire 205 55 16 Uniroyal Touring Track A S 89 H Car Drive Free Shipping Ford, Used Tire 205 55 16 Uniroyal Touring Track A S 89 T Car Honda Toyota Free Ship R, TIKI MOUSTACHE ROADTOURINGTRACK HANDLEBAR BAR 52 NEW, Selle Italia Turbo Saddle Classic Road Touring Track Black NOS Original, SunTour Sprint Pedals Classic Road Touring or Track 9 16” X 20T NOS , 2003 2004 2005 NISSAN 350Z Z33 FAIRLADY Z JDM CLEAR PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT LAMP SET, Lotus Exige S240 S 240 6SPD 7K MILES 1 OWNER TOURING PKG TRACK PKG STARSHIELD IPOD NEW TIRES, NISSAN 350z 350 z touring track FACTORY STOCK OEM 18 ALLOY WHEEL RIM REAR A, Ski Doo MXZ 800 Track Drive Shaft Axle 500 700 Legend Summit Grand Touring, Hatta High Cup Bottom Bracket Cups British Thread Road Touring Track NOS, TIKI MOUSTACHE ROADTOURINGTRACK HANDLEBAR BAR 52, TIRE SAVERS ROAD TOURING TRACK FIXIE RACING PISTA BICYCLE NOS VINTAGE, 2003 2005 NISSAN 350Z COUPE CONVERTIBLE 35L V6 FRONT BUMPER BILLET GRILLE 2004, Harley Davidson Touring ONLY ONE HARLEY BOARD TRACK RACER TWIN ENGINE JET MOTORCYCLE LAND SPEED DRAG BIKE BAGGER, GIPIEMME NOS HEADSET ALLOY ROAD RACING TOURING FIXIE TRACK 1 BICYCLE VINTAGE, Very nice vintage RoadTrack 18X24 photograph 1908 Stearns 45 90 touring car, HANDLE BAR TAPE ROAD TOURING TRACK FIXIE BICYCLE NOS VINTAGE CLASSIC ITALIAN, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET STAGGERED 22x105 22x90 TRACK Series 5LUG, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET STAGGERED 22x10 22x85 TRACK Series 5LUG, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET STAGGERED 20x105 20x90 TRACK Series 5LUG, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET STAGGERED 20x10 20x85 TRACK Series 5LUG, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 22x90 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Black Lip Rims, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 22x85 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Black Lip Rims, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 20x90 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Black Lip Rims, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 20x85 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Black Lip Rims, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 22x90 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Chrome Lip Rims, 22 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 22x85 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Chrome Lip Rims, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 20x90 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Chrome Lip Rims, 20 Niche Touring 2 Piece Wheel SET 20x85 TRACK Series 5LUG RWD Chrome Lip Rims, MKS TOURING LITE TRACK BIKE FIXED GEAR ROAD BIKE PEDALS, 3TT stem record 105 mm Italy vintage road touring track bike, RALIEGH SEAT POST 8mm BINDER BOLT FRAME BICYCLE ROAD TOURING TRACK VINTAGE, CAMPAGNOLO SEAT POST 8mm BINDER BOLT FRAME BICYCLE ROAD TOURING TRACK VINTAGE, LAPIZE LAMINATE TOE CLIPS STRAPS TRACK FIXIE PISTA NOS VINTAGE ROAD TOURING, BLACK BURN RACK ADAPTER EYELET ROAD TOURING TRACK FIXIE BICYCLE BLACKBURN NOS, CONTAK CLIPLESS PEDALS TRACK PISTA ROAD TOURING VINTAGE CLASSIC TA VELO BICYCLE, LAPIZE LAMINATE TOE CLIPS STRAPS TRACK FIXIE PISTA NOS ROAD TOURING BICYCLE, TA SPECIALTIES PEDALS TRACK PISTA ROAD TOURING VINTAGE CLASSIC TA VELO BICYCLE, DIA COMPE 80 MM STEM 211MM 0R 0833 ROAD TOURING TRACK FIXIE BICYCLE NECK, Road and Track Magazine Nov 1992 BMW 525i Touring, Ski doo OEM drive sprocket 414701900 bear track suspension formula grand touring, FRIKO Touring Super Handlebar Road 38 cm clamp 25 mm Fixed Gear Track Road, FIT 10 11 GENESIS COUPE 20T GRAND TOURING TRACK R SPEC LED CHROME TAIL LIGHTS, FIT 10 11 GENESIS COUPE 20T GRAND TOURING TRACK R SPEC LED SMOKED TAIL LIGHTS, 03 04 05 NISSAN 350Z Z33 FAIRLADY Z JDM PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT LAMP BULB LEFTRIGHT, 03 04 05 NISSAN 350Z Z33 FAIRLADY Z JDM CHROME PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT LAMP NEW PAIR, Wellgo 888 1 2 Alloy Quill Pedals Road Bike Bicycle Black Touring Fixie Track, 1996 2003 Polaris Snowmobile Track Tensioner Assembly Classic XLT Touring, Camoplast Polaris Snowmobile Track 133 x 15 x 82 Classic Touring SKS, TIKI MOUSTACHE ROADTOURINGTRACK HANDLEBAR BAR 51 NEW, 2003 Polaris Snowmobile Battery Box Assembly Touring 500 Gen II Wide Track, 2003 Polaris Snowmobile Temperature Indicator LED Touring 500 Gen II Wide Track, 2003 Polaris Snowmobile Flywheel Classic Touring 500 Wide Track Edge Indy, 2003 Polaris Snowmobile Ignition Coil Classic Touring 500 Wide Track Edge Indy, Vintage Fuji 1985 Bicycle Catalog NEW Old Stock Fuji Track Fuji Touring Series V, Arctic Cat 144 x 15 x 10 Camoplast Hacksaw Track TZ1 T500 Touring Used 2602 101, Blackburn AT HP track pump MTB Cycle Road Touring, 40 PONTIAC FRONT BENCH SEAT FRAME SPRINGS ADJUSTER TRACKS RAILS SPRING TRACK, Vintage Speedic Leather Touring Road Saddle B17 Japan Pista Track Fixed Gear,
