Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review

WITH the modern motorcycle industry blurring the lines between sports and touring evermore, tyre manufacturers constantly have to adapt their products to meet the ever-increasing demands of riders and the bikes they choose.

With most sports tourers pushing 200bhp, and the kind of road and track performance that’d embarrass a sportsbike from a few years ago, it’d be easy for tyre manufacturers to forget their product still needs to perform everyday and in any weather conditions.

And its good news for fans of the outgoing Roadtec 01 as the new-for-2020 Roadtec SE boasts all of the above and much more.

With a day of riding we begun by spinning some laps on the wet handling course at the twisting and undulating Ascari circuit in southern Spain. Rolling out of the pits my first impression is how unlike a sport touring tyre the new SE feels. I had a set of the previous version Roadtecs fitted to a press bike a few years ago and they were good, but the memory of that rubber was that it was more cumbersome than the new hoops felt.

Dropping down into the wet handling course for the first time I took my time to get up to speed but probably shouldn’t have bothered. The new Roadtecs offer stunning levels of grip in the wet, whether in the mid-corner, getting on the power or braking from over 100mph in the wet. The only movement I could feel through the seat of the KTM Super Duke GT was the slightest movement from the rear as it searched neatly for grip. A search, I might add, that always ended well.

With the track split into 75% wet and the rest dry, it gave me just enough track and time to check out the new rubber’s dry handling characteristics. And again, the Metzeler surprised me for all the right reasons. The plush ride almost fools you into assuming that the tyre will lack some of the sporty support you need on the track. The increased slick area on the shoulder of the tyre and improved dual compound rear mean you can really feel the tyre digging in and grip deep into the Tarmac.

With the track testing completed we hit the roads in the mountains around the town of Ronda. With a route planned that took in sweeping A-roads, twisty B-road and towns and villages, our only real enemy was the chilly temperature in the morning. Thankfully for us, the new Roadtec SE compound heats up smartly, giving the impression that you can almost get on and get on the pace from cold.

With such versatility, sporty handling, and wet weather grip, it’s hard to see a better option for somebody looking for proper performance ability from their sports touring rubber, the new Metzeler Roadtec SE hoops are a large step above their predecessors, and many of the competition.

Pricing for the tyre is £251 per set, for more information on the new Sportec RR or to find your nearest dealer, head to: metzeler.com

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE sizes