I'd weighed up the lack of rear hugger, nasty stock exhaust and supposedly thin paint on the tank and soft front brake on the Suzuki. I felt I could just get on the Blade and ride it without anything burning me to change it. The GSXR I'd have at least needed to sort the hugger and exhaust straightaway. The Suzuki looked significantly cheaper at first, but once the Honda guys had rethought their offer the Blade was the winner for me.
I looked at this when I bought my 2015, Blade when I noticed that the OEM Dunlops were "Made In Japan" - did a Google search at the time. It seems Sumitomo Rubber Industries (of Japan) has the rights to manufacture Dunlop branded tyres in (parts of) Asia, Africa and Latin America, due to some ongoing joint venture. It looks as though Sumitomo first acquired extensive rights going back to 1985, but they have sold most of the European and North American rights. It seems like Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan has been a big part of Dunlop road tyre business for a while.
I am always amazed by riders' preferences to different tyres. I guess it's a case that one tyre might suit a particular rider, but not another. Perhaps there is no 'best' tyre. But I'm no authority. I have Pirelli Rosso Diablos at the moment, but - for road use - I am not sure that I would even notice the difference between them and, say, Metzlers or Dunlops. Perhaps that says little of my riding ability, but the weather hasn't really been conducive to exploring tyre capabilities. (I note exceptions for track riders where tyres are more easily identified as good or poor.) Posted as general conversation only.
I worked as a Honda mechanic in the 70s; the days when bikes had a motor, a coil or coils, points and carburetors and little else!! Even then there was 'talk' (without sufficient evidence) of both Dunlops and Bridgestones fitted to Hondas as being 'non-geniune'. Never was a problem with the product, just a cloud over manufacturer's credibility.
I think it's more with these particular Japanese OEM Dunlops. I've used lots of Dunlops over the years and the Sportsmart/Streetsmart series are a great tyre. A few years ago on a litre bike I used to get through a rear fast road tyre in 1500 or so miles. Things changed when my testosterone levels dropped and the tyre companies started to produce great sports touring tyres. The switch for me at the time from fast road to sports touring wasn't overly noticeable performance wise and I'd easily get over double the mileage. The 2015 Blade came with OEM Dunlop Qualifiers and to me, they just felt horrible. It also didn't help that I'd just sold a bike with a pair of nice new Metz M7RR's, a tyre I really like.
You're a wuss! Testosterone levels NEVER drop! Seriously though, what a sacrifice dropping a new set of Metzlers. A guess a new set will be on the horizon at the appropriate stage.
They were on an Aprilia Mille and at the time I was quite happy to get shot! The Bridgestones on the new bike are supposed to be decent, so I'm looking forward to giving them a run when the weather warms up. I would say dries up but I don't want to push my luck.
It looks very likely that a Dunlop tyre bought in the UK will be different to the tyre fitted by the factory even if it purports to be the same. In the UK you're probably buying a Goodyear and the original was likely made by Sumitomo. That's not to say that the Sumitomo version is bad but if you're expecting a replacement bought here to be the same you're going to be disappointed ... or pleasantly surprised, perhaps.
I think that's highly deceptive. It's akin to buy a new home from Taylor Wimpey (for instance) and later finding out that it was actually built by Bovis!!
