Long-term test: Pirelli Night Dragon tyres

Pirelli markets the Night Dragon range of motorcycle tyres as “the custom cruising tyre with the Pirelli sporty feeling”. But it wasn’t the marketing that had me pointing in the Night Dragon’s direction when it came time to get new boots on my CTX.

The old Dunlops that were the OEM tyre on the CTX were not really worn out, in fact they still had some tread left on them, but I’d lost confidence in them. The front had let go a couple of times and the rear had had the traction control doing overtime more than once.

A mate who had a CTX the same as mine told me to get some new rubber and it’d feel like a different bike.

He’s on his third set of Night Dragons and isn’t looking anywhere else, so when we were offered a set to try, I jumped at the chance.

The CTX isn’t an easy bike to find tyres for. With a 200/50R17 on the back and a 130/70R18 up front, the choices are limited.

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I settled on a 200/55 rear which is what my mate has on his, so at the next service on they went.

I used our annual trip down to the Phillip Island for the Grand Prix as the first trip on the Pirellis and it really did feel like a different bike.

First of all it felt taller. No doubt due to the 55 profile and the fact that it has more rubber, but also the Night Dragons seem a little more round than the old Dunlops, or for that matter most cruiser-style tyres.

Also, it tips into corners easier and feels a bit more nimble than it used to. It has inspired me with a bit more confidence in the old girl, and it doesn’t seem to slip on the expansion joints on the Punt Road exit off the Monash Freeway which is part of my commute to work.

It’s only early days yet and the ride to The Island wasn’t exactly taxing on tyres, but the early indications are that they’re living up to the marketing hype.

PIRELLI TYRE CATALOGUE

While I can’t vouch for the longevity of the Night Dragons, my mate reckons he’s getting 12,000-15,000km from the rears and plenty more than that from the front, and he rides pretty hard and does quite a few trips, so I’m thinking I’ll get a bit more than that which is fine.

I’ll keep you informed as to how they’re going in a few thousand kilometres time.