General Comments

The Safe Bet

The conservative (but most expensive) choice is the classic ME-33/ME-55A combination from Metzeler.  This combination has a well-deserved reputation as a solid reliable selection, good in wet and dry, with decent wear and traction.  The ME-33 does need to be warmed up before it will stick well in hard cornering, but once it's up to temperature it performs just fine.  The catch is the price -- so unless you're really determined to take the conservative option, there are other tyres that will work just as well for less money.

A Tight Budget

If you need to save money, there's no better value than the Kenda rear.  It lasts reasonably well, sticks adequately in wet or dry, and works well with almost any front.  I wouldn't put a Kenda front on this bike, but substituting the Dunlop 491 doesn't cost much more and will provide more confidence.

General Purpose, Sport-Touring

The Safe Bet or Touring Metzelers would work well here, but in the interest of price there's no reason not to switch to Dunlop's K591's.  These tyres are designed as sport-touring tyres, and will perform well on the bike.  The chatch is the relatively short life, but the price compensates for that very nicely.

Touring

The choice for serious touring tyres is between the Metzeler ME-33/ME-88 and the Dunlop K491.  For this bike I'd definitely go for the Metzelers, even considering the substantial price difference.  The Dunlops would probably last a little longer, but the Metzelers also have good wear characteristics.  The real difference between these is the profile -- the Dunlops are flatter, while the Metzelers are more rounded.  For a large heavy sport-tourer like the CBX, I prefer a quicker response from the tyres, and that's what the Metzelers provide -- neutral, quick, linear, confidence-inspiring traction.  The ME-88 is not a sport-touring tyre, though, and you'll need to take it easy with the throttle if you intend to run the big six up into the powerband.

Sport-Riding

For Sport-Riding there's basically two serious choices for this bike: the Dunlop K591, and the Avon Super Venoms.  Of those, I prefer the latter -- they'll stick very well, handle well, and bring out the best in the bike.

For me this is a hard choice between the Pirelli Match, Dunlop K591 and the Avon Super Venom.  In the end, even though the Avons will stick better, and the Pirellis will last longer, I'd go with the much lower price of the Dunlops.

Avon

Bridgestone

Continental

Dunlop

Firestone

IRC

Kenda

Metzeler

Michelin

Pirelli

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