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Been waiting to post anything about the Michelin Anakee 3's until I had some miles on my set. Now have just over 1,600 miles on 'em, and in varying conditions, so here's my thoughts.
First off, I have never had anything other than Metzeler Tourance EXP's on my Super Tenere. They came on it stock, and I really liked them for the riding I do, so I never even tried anything else. Through a specific set of circumstances - i.e., one, I wanted to try something different just to see, and two, there wasn't a complete set of Tourance EXP's available when I was looking - I tried these Michelin's. Just note that this *review* is basically a comparison with only the Metzeler's, and note that I was careful to run identical pressures and try to ride over many of the same roads, pavement types, dirt conditions, etc. that I have used the Metzeler's on.
First off, yes, mine have a whine/hum, too, at certain speeds... And particularly on certain pavement. Was a bit disconcerting at first, but now that I know nothing is wrong I have grown to ignore the tires singing.
Second, IMHO the Michelin Anakee 3 is a good-sized notch better off-road tire than the Tourance EXP. Better on dirt roads, gravel roads, good ol' Texas caliche roads, cinders, you name it. Any type of off-pavement road they are an improvement. And they are better on Jeep twin-tracks, too. Better in mud, better on loam. Just better. They stay cleaner than the Metzeler's, and they steer better. They're even better on grass. Score one round for the Anakee 3. ::008::
Next, the Michelin Anakee 3 tires are more compliant than the Metzeler Tourance EXP's. The ride quality is noticeably smoother with better cushioning over any sort of edge or imperfection. Not that the Metzeler's were ever bad in this regard. The Anakee 3 is just a bit better, so if straight-line touring is game, or you simply like a smoother ride, the Michelin may be your tire. Anakee 3 eeks this category out bit a hair. ::008::
Steering... One more time the Michelin is better. Noticeably better. The front tire carves, rolls, and turns in like the bike has power steering compared to the EXP. Very light. In fact, almost too light in some conditions. Much less effort, and *MAYBE* more precise if you're very careful and very focused. If not the Metzeler's might actually be better. You have to stay on top of the Anakee 3's in the corner, as they respond to even the slightest bar deflection. I wouldn't call them unstable... You just have to pay closer attention to inputs with the Michelin's, especially when you get in a hurry. The Tourance EXP's exude stability and confidence, even when you're relaxed. The EXP's go exactly where you point them, and stay there. Like I said, stable, and *locked in* even mid-corner. With the Anakee 3 your line can wander a bit unless you are *focused* on exactly what you want to do and your inputs. The faster you go the more you have to pay attention. It all depends on what you want as to which is better, so let's call this one a tie... 8)
Wet pavement performance... To be honest, I haven't gotten to ride as much in the wet with the Anakee 3's as I would have liked before making a call, but this past weekend I got to spend half a day in pretty substantial rain so I think I've got a handle on the comparison. And to tell the truth, it's another toss-up. Both brands are very, very good. The Michelin's may have a slight edge going through large patches of standing water while the Metzeler's have the advantage when leaned over quite a bit. Honestly, I wouldn't hesitate to pick either for sustained wet weather use, so another tie. 8)
Dry pavement performance... Well, to me this is where things fall apart for the Michelin Anakee 3. With "Adventure" tires everything is a compromise, and IMHO Michelin chose to lean a bit more toward the dirt side of the equation and lost out to the Tourance EXP on pavement. Don't get me wrong, the Michelin is a fine pavement tire... That is until you really begin to turn up the wick and press it, right over to the edge of the tire. Then the Michelin gives the game away to the Metzeler - big-time. You can hustle the Anakee 3's, but when you get over to peg-draggin levels, and are pressing the issue to the apex, the Michelin sometimes just *lets go*!!! That's right, the Anakee 3's just unhook and you have some real pucker-inducing moments. And just so you understand how bad this can be - you can readily slide, slide, slide the rear Anakee 3 away with TCS-1 turned on!!! Mind you, this is at the last little edge of the tread, but note, the Metzeler Tourance EXP doesn't let loose there. It hangs in there and sticks, sticks, sticks like a sport bike tire, right 'til you're feathering the edge. In fact, you press on the Metzeler's much, much harder through the twisty bits, and not just because the Anakee 3 lets go so readily, but really because the Metzeler Tourance EXP's are more confidence inspiring. The EXP's just never really seem to do anything wrong, or be phased by mid-corner bumps, pavement transitions, tar snakes, broken spots, changes in camber, etc. They just go where you point 'em and hang in there until all the hard parts are dragging. Not so with the Michelin Anakee 3's. Much like the steering, you feel like you have pay close, careful attention to the Anakee 3's whenever the pavement winds all up upon itself or the surface is changing and you're wicking it up. Sport bike tire equivalents they're not. They're OK, and if you never really test the edge on pavement, you may never notice. But note this... There's a wonderful corner here locally I use to test all front tires. It's a 3rd gear uphill right with lots of positive camber as it climbs, but it flattens out near the top, while you're still turning, and it really tests front tires. Through this the Metzeler Tourance EXP front was alway exemplary, carrying the bike through all the way up with all the speed you'd like to carry, and cresting out over the top with never a slip or a slide. This same corner is fine with the Michelin Anakee 3's at normal velocities, but the other day I decided it was time to really test the front Anakee 3, and I went into it pretty hard (but not as hard as I've been through there on the EXP's), and pressed it on the way up... And then halfway up, well before the crest, the front let go and pushed away. Nothing too scary as there is plenty of room ot recover and because of where it is no chance of crossing over into opposing traffic... But still, not what you want the front tire to do when leaned on. I will say this, the front let loose more progressively than the rear, pushing away with some warning, but still not ideal.
Point of all this? Pretty simple. IMHO the Anakee 3 loses this category, and loses it dramatically. For pure dry pavement performance the Metzeler Tourance EXP wins this one hands down, period, and the Michelin Anakee 3 comes nowhere close. ::007::
And for me, that's the kicker. I like to ride off-road, but where I live I am pretty much forced to ride on the pavement 90-95% of the time, or ride 150-200 miles to ride anywhere decent off-road. That means I have to be honest with myself and go with tires that are biased the same way I ride - 90-95% pavement. I also like to ride fun and fast in the twisty bits, so near-the-edge performance is very important to me.
So how does this comparison/review come out in my eyes?
If you want a good pavement tire that can do well off-road, too, and your riding split is something like 60-40 or 70-30 pavement to dirt, or even 80-20, then the Michelin Anakee 3 may be for you.
OTOH, if you spend a lot of time on pavement, with just occasional forays off the road - *AND* you really like riding fast down curvy roads - then for me it's the Metzler Tourance EXP.
In fact, I can't wait to wear out these Anakee 3's so I can swap back to a set of Metzeler Tourance EXP's, or maybe the new Tourance NEXT's.
Just my two centavos... YMMV.
Dallara
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