Thinking about trying a set of Anakee 2's, but I am concerned about any potential impact on slow speed handling and feel compared to the OEM Trailwings. My wife, who is also riding the wee, is a novice rider who struggles a bit with slow speed manoevering. I don't want to introduce any major change in feel for her at the beginning of a new riding season.

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2009 DL650 ABS (with touring kit)
2004 Honda ST1300

Anakee is a stickier tire than the TW. No huge diff between them. Anything she does notice will be positive.

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-Tom (DL650AL2) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

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I've ridden on both, and the Anakee2 was better in every way.

A couple of techniques that are a big help for a novice:
--Get used to the "friction zone" where the clutch is part way in & part way out. In a safe parking lot ride slowly straight down a long painted line where they never fully release the clutch--ride slow, slower, slow, slower, slow, even slower, slow, way slow, slow, etc. Don't use any throttle and vary speed with just the clutch to add speed and less clutch and a bit of rear brake (no front here) to slow. Everything gently, ever so gently.
--Really learn to trust turning the head and looking where the bike needs to go, not where it is about to go. This is more about trust than anything else, and once it becomes an automatic action the slow maneuvering becomes much smoother and better in every way.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

ditto on PTRiders comments plus much better on wet and loose stuff, on my 2nd set and love 'em.

Good points. She will need to refresher course this spring.

My comments are partially based on experiences that I've had with mismatched tires. I bought a used ST1300 that had a Z6 front and and ME880 rear. Generally good high mileage combo. But shortly after I bought the bike, I took an advanced riding course and really struggled to make the bike go in a straight line at walking speeds.

After I wore that combination out, I switched to a set of Avon II Ultras. The difference to walking speed tracking was amazing. Night and day. I had no idea that a set of tires could make such a difference at very low speeds.

Do the Anakee 2's and the Trailwings have a similar profile?

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2009 DL650 ABS (with touring kit)
2004 Honda ST1300

I gotta say, that no matter what tire, the Strom has a weird handling peculiarity at the 0-2mph zone, you know - the speed you're at right before you come to a stop, where it gets super sensitive and you really have to mind (or get used to) it wandering before coming to a stop (and yes, my steering head bearings are not worn or loose!).


Otherwise, the handling is rock solid.

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"Side effects may include: Mild kidney explosions...Testicular cranberrying... And Rectal hallucinations."

The Z6 is a radial ply tire, and the ME880 is a bias ply tire. We've good reports of some bias ply on the front and radial on the rear, but maybe the other way 'round doesn't work as well. Or, one of those tires on the ST just turns that bike into a dog.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

I've riden both in a variety of conditions and I've not noticed any difference.

Edit = on a K9 wee

I had the same combo on an R1100R and aside from the ME880 not being as grippy in the wet, they preformed reasonably well there too. But the change in slow speed handling was quite noticable.

I'm going to give the Anakee II's a try.

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2009 DL650 ABS (with touring kit)
2004 Honda ST1300

.

Do the Anakee 2's and the Trailwings have a similar profile?[/quote] Yep, look pretty much the same.