damn german efficiency

trying to order tires from a german company (i've ordered from them before, but never a full set, for the same bike at the same time).

been running pilot powers up front and road2s on the back for a few years now.... big trip coming up, no time to be switching tires, in my mind.

however, based on the tire matching charts from michelin you see attached below, they don't want to sell me the tire combo. i've made clear what i wanted, but i don't yet know if they're going to let me have them.

Michelin approved pilot road combos for VFR

Michelin approved sport tire combos for VFR

i thought the charts might be of some interest to one or more of you.

Are you dealing with an automated ordering system that's not letting you mix the way you want?
If you're dealing with "real" people, just tell them you have several different bikes and each tyre is for a different bike.
Or you just like to hang them on your wall.

That might be helpful if I spoke German....

Kevin, have you ordered online and received some sort of confirmation by email or not? Or is all you got an email with those two documents attached? In Germany you are only allowed to use combinations of tires that are approved for your particular motorcycle, it's called "Freigabe".
I also buy my tires in Germany: mopedreifen.de. Delivery is normally within a week and you can buy any combo you want.

Another option is afsmotorparts in Purmerend a little north of Amsterdam. He is a bit more expensive than the German retailers but has decent prices and probably has the michelins on the shelf.

it was a real person that raised the issue. we traded a few e-mails and they're going to send the tires. on his recommendation the pilot road 2 was swapped from 'C' spec to 'A' spec. no idea what that means, but it saved me 8 euros.

i've ordered from these guys in the past, no issues. motorradreifen-preisfuchs.de

pleasant experience, all in all, and maybe another member will find the michelin spec sheets interesting. will probably buy more tires from them in the future... maybe i'll get even more spec sheets!

[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on 15 June 2011 - 10:36 AM, said:

That might be helpful if I spoke German....
The google bar has a translate icon.

[image: View Post]superchode, on 15 June 2011 - 11:01 AM, said:

.. maybe i'll get even more spec sheets!
The mopedreifen website also shows the allowed tire combo's (from all manufacturers) if you select your make and model motorcycle from the list, and a link to the "freigabe" document.
I am not sure what the C-Spec rear tire is for, maybe for heavy bikes like Goldwings, the B-spec is supposed to be for heavy loads like two up riding.
For the Pilot Power front the list shows B, E & P spec tires.

Greeting SUPERCHOde,

The c spec is for designated bikes, like BMw, yamaha ect. The A spec will work

Order a set of each problem solved ..........

[image: View Post]superchode, on 15 June 2011 - 10:17 AM, said:

however, based on the tire matching charts from michelin you see attached below, they don't want to sell me the tire combo. i've made clear what i wanted, but i don't yet know if they're going to let me have them.
The restrictions only apply in Germany, so if they refuse to sell you (in NL) the combo you want, they are shooting themselves in the foot. (Unless NL has a similar restriction, of course.)

What many people don't realise is that ANY modification or part that potentially affects safety is subject to similar micro-management by the German bureaucracy. You want a new footpeg? Must have been submitted by the manufacturer to TUV for approval and a certificate (in triplicate, no doubt). Want to replace just the front two VFR800Fi brake lines with stainless? NEIN! No approval, can't be done.

Actually, it's not that they can't sell it to you, but installing a non-approved part could fail your vehicle inspection and affect your insurance, and that could land you in a heap a trouble, boy...

Germany is one of the places I may be moving for work later this year--but I don't think any of my bikes are going to go with me, as none of them are sufficiently OEM to be legally registered! :huh:

Ciao,

Maybe next time dont mention the tires are ordered for the same bike.

I have a odd experience form a Spanish onlin shop, Rodamoto , and I ones ordered tires there for 3 bikes, a set for my VFR (current RoarSmarts) a Metzeler Lasertec rear for wifes Suzuki and a Z6 rear for a friends FJR, well as tires arive a week lather I had a set of RS, a A Z6 rear and a LASERTEC FRONT, Ok I got a rear in just 3 days, but man what is frustrating. The one packing sure didnt follow what the order sade, but changed becorse he proberly belived the order was wrong and for 2 bikes, not 3 diffrent that it actually was for.

[image: View Post]JZH, on 16 June 2011 - 02:51 AM, said:

[image: View Post]superchode, on 15 June 2011 - 10:17 AM, said:

however, based on the tire matching charts from michelin you see attached below, they don't want to sell me the tire combo. i've made clear what i wanted, but i don't yet know if they're going to let me have them.
The restrictions only apply in Germany, so if they refuse to sell you (in NL) the combo you want, they are shooting themselves in the foot. (Unless NL has a similar restriction, of course.)

What many people don't realise is that ANY modification or part that potentially affects safety is subject to similar micro-management by the German bureaucracy. You want a new footpeg? Must have been submitted by the manufacturer to TUV for approval and a certificate (in triplicate, no doubt). Want to replace just the front two VFR800Fi brake lines with stainless? NEIN! No approval, can't be done.

Actually, it's not that they can't sell it to you, but installing a non-approved part could fail your vehicle inspection and affect your insurance, and that could land you in a heap a trouble, boy...

Germany is one of the places I may be moving for work later this year--but I don't think any of my bikes are going to go with me, as none of them are sufficiently OEM to be legally registered! :huh:

Ciao,

Where in Germany are you moving to? I'm currently located approx 25 km north of Trier. My VFR is hardly stock at this point, but fortunately I get it inspected and registered on base. You can have stainless steel lines and such on you bikes, as long as those products are TUV certified like you mentioned. Some parts do come with that certification, but it can be difficult to find for smaller companies. Large companies like Brembo and Galfer do come with the TUV certification. If my VFR had to go through all that, it wouyldn't be registered, and just kept as a track bike. Pretty much all my parts have been certified at one time or another, just not for use on my VFR...

[image: View Post]douglasthecook, on 20 June 2011 - 01:35 AM, said:

[image: View Post]JZH, on 16 June 2011 - 02:51 AM, said:

Germany is one of the places I may be moving for work later this year--but I don't think any of my bikes are going to go with me, as none of them are sufficiently OEM to be legally registered! :huh:

Where in Germany are you moving to? I'm currently located approx 25 km north of Trier. My VFR is hardly stock at this point, but fortunately I get it inspected and registered on base. You can have stainless steel lines and such on you bikes, as long as those products are TUV certified like you mentioned. Some parts do come with that certification, but it can be difficult to find for smaller companies. Large companies like Brembo and Galfer do come with the TUV certification. If my VFR had to go through all that, it wouyldn't be registered, and just kept as a track bike. Pretty much all my parts have been certified at one time or another, just not for use on my VFR...
I didn't mean to imply that it would be the end of the world, but to get my heavily modified bikes insured and street legal in Germany (proper, i.e., not on base) would definitely be a nightmare...

Germany is far from a done deal for me, but given what I do for a living could only really be Frankfurt or Munich. You live in a nice area for biking! I dread going back to NRW or Hesse (having spent a couple of years in Bonn and almost a year in FRA a few years ago), but I could almost deal with Bayern for a few years. I will give you fair warning if I do go!

Ciao,