Me & My Dunlops

We are pleased to present the second article in our new ‘Me and My Dunlops’ series. This is dedicated to the adventurers among you, where you tell us the places that you and your Dunlop’s have explored, sites you have seen and where exactly your tyres have taken you.

Miriam Philippsborn from The Netherlands tells us how she rode with confidence...

Dolomite Mountains 2009
I’ve been riding my BMW R1200GS for four years now, but only since this spring have I put street tyres on it - Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmarts. For the first time I’m really satisfied with my bike, it has stopped moving around in the corners and there is now always enough grip, wet or dry. The mileage doesn’t disappoint either, after 12.000 km my rear tyre was finished, but the front tyre could have lasted at least another 2.000 km. Leaving the tarmac there isn’t too much difference compared to my previous semi off-road tyres, but then I only ride on easy gravel and sandy trails.

When the Dolomite Mountains beckoned this September for a week’s riding, I wanted to buy a new set, but the front wasn’t available in my size as it seems the factory couldn’t meet demand. The rear tyre was no problem but I didn’t want to risk using the old front tyre in the pretty demanding conditions of the high mountains, where you can come across any type of challenge, road or traffic. Also I didn’t want to start looking in Austria or Italy for a new front tyre.

 I decide to just pick up the phone and started calling Dutch dealers - nothing. Then a well know German tyre site - zilch. I ended up in the UK, at National Bike Tyres, they had one left! ...but they didn’t ship overseas. I put on all my charm to convince Steve the sales rep to make an exception for once, but I could not win him over.

Steve asked me if I knew somebody in the UK, which I did. Chris is a colleague of a biking friend of ours with whom we ride in the Eiffel every spring. I called Chris and he was willing to help out. He had the tyre the next day and two days before my scheduled departure to Italy I had brand new Roadsmarts on my bike.

Fig 1: Me		Fig 2: The new Roadsmarts

Having strapped my luggage to the bike, loaded destinations into my Zumo sat nav, the holiday began.

First we took the highway until Aachen (Germany) then hit the back roads to the Eifel Mountains. I took it easy for the first few corners to bed in my new tyres and after that I was in biking heaven. Thanks Chris!

A few days later in Italy we endured a lot of rain, but we did manage to complete the entire route. It wasn’t very comfortable, despite all the Goretex you still get very wet. Mud streams crossed the road and deep pools of water made it an ‘interesting’ ride. But my Roadsmarts performed well and gave me the confidence and performance I needed when descending my favourite mountain pass, Passo Giau.

 

Fig 3: My GS with Dunlop Roadsmarts		Fig 4: Many cows on Passo Maghen... and what they leave behind!

Do you have an adventure to share with us?
Send us your ‘Me and My Dunlops’ story and be in for a chance of winning a brand new set of Dunlop tyres. All articles should be sent to: meandmydunlops@dunlopmotorcycle.eu

All stories:
Me and My Dunlops 04 by Roberto Finetti - Italy
Me and My Dunlops 03 by Andy Müller - Switzerland
Me and My Dunlops 02 by Miriam Philippsborn - The Netherlands
Me and My Dunlops 01 by Georges Boussingault - Belgium

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