Modern Buddy

After reading many favorable reviews on ModernVespa and needing to change both my tires at the same time before a recent trip, I decided to try something new, the Heidenau K61. As I mentioned in another thread, my Vespa LX has an 11" front tire and there are very few options for this size. I think I've had a Michelin Pilot City up there for a while now, with either a Pilot Sport or continental Zippy 1 on the rear.


Heidenau US Sales

The K61 is a performance tire, with the kind of tread you see on sportbikes. I was a bit dubious at first—so much of it was totally smooth, how grippy could it be?

When I went to pick up my scoot, my mechanic, Greasy, who rides a variety of vintage and modern scoots, told me he really liked them and to let him know how they do and how long they last. He knows this stuff better than anyone on SoCal and doesn't hand out recommendations lightly. The fact that he noticed these were different/better was a good sign.

I took it easy for the first 100 miles or so, but noticed some immediate improvements in acceleration. They seemed to be handling pretty well too.

On our trip up the coast, I really put them through their paces and they shined. We did a lot of tight, twisty routes with sharp turns and switchbacks and the scoot handled better than ever. It really excelled at high speeds. I've never felt stable or that I could maneuver much when riding at over 65mph (actual) or so. It was a whole different experience on the K61s. I not only felt stable but was able to easily change lanes, pull around cars and swerve at speeds I'm hesitant to admit to.

I haven't heard anyone here mention these tires, so thought I'd give a mini-review and see if anyone had them. If not, I heartily recommend them, especially to those who ride at higher speeds and the VooDoo tuners looking to eke out the best performance possible.

If the rear tire lasts 5.5K miles or more, I may never ride on another tire. They are a little pricey ($47.50 in the Buddy's size) but worth it if you're looking for speed, stability at top speeds, and superior handling for more challenging and technical riding.

They've been mentioned in a couple of the tire threads, but as far as I know you're the first to review one! Thanks for this: the nearest dealer for me is the other side of the Tennessee, so I'd have to order online. Have you ridden in the rain or on wet pavement with them yet? I was looking at that tire, as well as the K47 and K58.

Hey, you might have just found me my new tires Since Pirelli seems to have stopped making the Diablo in 10", these are M rated(81MPH) which is the next highest I've seen to the Pirelli's P rated tires(93MPH).

Excellent. These sound like the perfect tires for me. Thanks for the mini-review.

Cheshire wrote:They've been mentioned in a couple of the tire threads, but as far as I know you're the first to review one! Thanks for this: the nearest dealer for me is the other side of the Tennessee, so I'd have to order online. Have you ridden in the rain or on wet pavement with them yet? I was looking at that tire, as well as the K47 and K58.

I haven't ridden on wet pavement yet and that may not happen for some time. They do have the rain groove down the middle but I haven't had a chance to test it.

Kaos wrote:Hey, you might have just found me my new tires Since Pirelli seems to have stopped making the Diablo in 10", these are M rated(81MPH) which is the next highest I've seen to the Pirelli's P rated tires(93MPH).

Most of us exceeded our speed ratings on this trip. Several of us at the same time.

Thanks Eric,
Yea I have mentioned them here several times after reading at MV about so many happy customers.I have yet to read anyone with a negative experience with the Heidenau tire.Your real world testing is just what was needed her at Buddy world.Especially since you are a trusted member.

ericalm wrote:After reading many favorable reviews on ModernVespa and needing to change both my tires at the same time before a recent trip, I decided to try something new, the Heidenau K61. As I mentioned in another thread, my Vespa LX has an 11" front tire and there are very few options for this size. I think I've had a Michelin Pilot City up there for a while now, with either a Pilot Sport or continental Zippy 1 on the rear.


Heidenau US Sales

The K61 is a performance tire, with the kind of tread you see on sportbikes. I was a bit dubious at first—so much of it was totally smooth, how grippy could it be?

When I went to pick up my scoot, my mechanic, Greasy, who rides a variety of vintage and modern scoots, told me he really liked them and to let him know how they do and how long they last. He knows this stuff better than anyone on SoCal and doesn't hand out recommendations lightly. The fact that he noticed these were different/better was a good sign.

I took it easy for the first 100 miles or so, but noticed some immediate improvements in acceleration. They seemed to be handling pretty well too.

On our trip up the coast, I really put them through their paces and they shined. We did a lot of tight, twisty routes with sharp turns and switchbacks and the scoot handled better than ever. It really excelled at high speeds. I've never felt stable or that I could maneuver much when riding at over 65mph (actual) or so. It was a whole different experience on the K61s. I not only felt stable but was able to easily change lanes, pull around cars and swerve at speeds I'm hesitant to admit to.

I haven't heard anyone here mention these tires, so thought I'd give a mini-review and see if anyone had them. If not, I heartily recommend them, especially to those who ride at higher speeds and the VooDoo tuners looking to eke out the best performance possible.

If the rear tire lasts 5.5K miles or more, I may never ride on another tire. They are a little pricey ($47.50 in the Buddy's size) but worth it if you're looking for speed, stability at top speeds, and superior handling for more challenging and technical riding.

I was trying earlier in the year to get a set of the 12" slicks they make for my mini motard racebike. There were availability issues but I've heard nothing but good things as far as the grip and ride are concerned.

Sound like a good tire. If I had not just ordered a pair of Zippy 1s I would be inclined to give them a try. Please keep us posted on how they handle in the rain.

Thanks Eric, I just replaced my first back tire with a stock tire since the front one is still great, but when I have to do both I will be shopping around. This helps a lot. Let us know when you ride though rain!

This afternoon, I am buying a K61 to replace my worn rear Heidenau K58. They rave about Heidenau tires at my local scooter shops - Scooter Shop of Orange and Fullerton Vintage Scooters.

I apologize if this is a little off topic but here is my review of the K58 which is their all-weather tire.

I instantly noticed the difference between the stock tires and the K58. My Buddy 125 felt like a different scooter. I could turn tighter with a lot of grip and could easily hold the line on sweeping curves. It also rode smoother, like I had new shocks. At first I found the K58 to have a lot of road noise, like monster truck tires or driving on a grooved road. The sound started to subside as they wore out - too quickly as the rear is now bald after only 2,500 miles. The front tire still has a lot of tread. I chose the K58 because I was told they last a long time and it would last longer than the K61. I got 4,000 miles on the rear stock tire so my mileage with the K58 was poor in comparison.

I often ride WOT and would start to get a vibration (mirrors shaking, etc.) when I got over 70 BMPH. As these are J rated tires at this size, I started to get spooked about going over the 62 mph speed rating. I read a comment at Modern Vespa that the K58 burns up the tread at high speeds which might be what caused me to get such poor mileage out of the rear. Perhaps the K61 will give me more mileage because of the type of driving I do. A MV member said he has over 6,000 miles on his K61s.

I also take off relatively quickly, which I've been told could wear out the rear tire more than normal. However I got 60% more mileage on the stock tire with the same roads and driving habits. I weigh 150 and ride alone so I don't think I'm putting a lot of weight on the rear tire.

I am going to start off keeping the K58 on the front and putting the K61 on the rear. I'll keep you posted...

rondothemidget wrote:This afternoon, I am buying a K61 to replace my worn rear Heidenau K58. They rave about Heidenau tires at my local scooter shops - Scooter Shop of Orange and Fullerton Vintage Scooters.

I apologize if this is a little off topic but here is my review of the K58 which is their all-weather tire.

I instantly noticed the difference between the stock tires and the K58. My Buddy 125 felt like a different scooter. I could turn tighter with a lot of grip and could easily hold the line on sweeping curves. It also rode smoother, like I had new shocks. At first I found the K58 to have a lot of road noise, like monster truck tires or driving on a grooved road. The sound started to subside as they wore out - too quickly as the rear is now bald after only 2,500 miles. The front tire still has a lot of tread. I chose the K58 because I was told they last a long time and it would last longer than the K61. I got 4,000 miles on the rear stock tire so my mileage with the K58 was poor in comparison.

I often ride WOT and would start to get a vibration (mirrors shaking, etc.) when I got over 70 BMPH. As these are J rated tires at this size, I started to get spooked about going over the 62 mph speed rating. I read a comment at Modern Vespa that the K58 burns up the tread at high speeds which might be what caused me to get such poor mileage out of the rear. Perhaps the K61 will give me more mileage because of the type of driving I do. A MV member said he has over 6,000 miles on his K61s.

I also take off relatively quickly, which I've been told could wear out the rear tire more than normal. However I got 60% more mileage on the stock tire with the same roads and driving habits. I weigh 150 and ride alone so I don't think I'm putting a lot of weight on the rear tire.

I am going to start off keeping the K58 on the front and putting the K61 on the rear. I'll keep you posted...

Yikes, thats not much milage, I got 8,000 outa my stock front, and at least that much out of my Pirelli's....

Odd as it sounds, a top case, even empty when riding, will significantly cut down on the lifespan of a rear tire. I think it may be because it creates drag and downward pressure. That explanation doesn't make complete sense to me, but it's the best I've heard.

ericalm wrote:Odd as it sounds, a top case, even empty when riding, will significantly cut down on the lifespan of a rear tire. I think it may be because it creates drag and downward pressure. That explanation doesn't make complete sense to me, but it's the best I've heard.

Oh good tip.

so I'll take my givi off if I'm not planning on using it and they may save me even more since then it'd hard to tote stuff unplanned (no compulsive shopping) I need to get more than 5k of life outta my tires. I'm running Zippy 1s though.

BuddyLicious wrote:Thanks Eric,
Yea I have mentioned them here several times after reading at MV about so many happy customers.I have yet to read anyone with a negative experience with the Heidenau tire.Your real world testing is just what was needed her at Buddy world.Especially since you are a trusted member.

You're the one I had noticed mention them before. I was too tired when I posted to do a search and find your name. Giving credit where due.

I remember reading you're not too fond of wet-weather riding, Eric. Was worth asking, though!

Hmm. After I burn through this Pirelli SL26 I just got put on the rear I'll probably give one of these a try. I'll report back when I get to that point...probably some time this fall.

I have these on my 150. I got a set for 50 bucks from someone who won them in a raffle, who had a People 150. I've had them on for about 5000 miles and the rear tire I think is down to about 25%

armacham wrote:I have these on my 150. I got a set for 50 bucks from someone who won them in a raffle, who had a People 150. I've had them on for about 5000 miles and the rear tire I think is down to about 25%

Now that's what I'm looking for. How do they do in the rain, armacham?

Any notes on them about handling etc?

I'm very curious cause I'm in the market for new tires

Lostmycage wrote:

armacham wrote:I have these on my 150. I got a set for 50 bucks from someone who won them in a raffle, who had a People 150. I've had them on for about 5000 miles and the rear tire I think is down to about 25%

Now that's what I'm looking for. How do they do in the rain, armacham?

Any notes on them about handling etc?

I'm very curious cause I'm in the market for new tires

This is an old saying, but in Tucson, when it rains it really does pour!

Lostmycage wrote:

armacham wrote:I have these on my 150. I got a set for 50 bucks from someone who won them in a raffle, who had a People 150. I've had them on for about 5000 miles and the rear tire I think is down to about 25%

Now that's what I'm looking for. How do they do in the rain, armacham?

Any notes on them about handling etc?

I'm very curious cause I'm in the market for new tires

Bumpier ride than stock tires, but definitely better handling. I haven't had any problems with them in the rain, but I'm always extra cautious in those situations anyway.

I think I might go back to the stock whitewalls just because of aesthetics though.

bringing this back from the dead!!

How have you're further travels been on the K61's Eric? I'm eyeballing these for the CB. They gotta be grippy in the rain because I have to ride in it regardless.

K61's or Vee Rubber VRM 134. the VRM's are half the price and I need to get to, which will be beat to hell when all said and done.... Opinions?

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:K61's or Vee Rubber VRM 134. the VRM's are half the price and I need to get to, which will be beat to hell when all said and done.... Opinions?

I want to know the comparison too. I've narrowed it down to the same two tires. Kaos loved the Vee VRM-134, but never said how many miles he was getting out of the rear. I haven't heard any good rear mileage numbers out of the Heidenau K-61 either.

Hopefully someone out there has run both and can give us some insight.

The one drawback on the VRM-134 in 100/90-10, is the height is much shorter than it's supposed to be. Lagerhead posted a great picture in this thread showing the heights of different tires. A 100/90-10 is supposed to be taller than a 3.5 x 10, but the VRM-134 in 100/90 is one of the shortest tires shown. I imagine that would help acceleration, but potentially hurt top end.

Interesting that this popped up again today! Just ordered two K61's for the Stella yesterday. Can't wait to rack up the miles on them!

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:K61's or Vee Rubber VRM 134. the VRM's are half the price and I need to get to, which will be beat to hell when all said and done.... Opinions?

I have a VRM 134 on the back now. Lifespan has been not that great at all. As far as quality goes, I was happy with the grippiness, etc. but I don't think it lasted quite as long as my Michelin S1 even. I'm just at 3k on it now and the tread has been down to the wear bars for a couple hundred miles.

I've not run a K-61, so all I can comment on is the VRM!

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:K61's or Vee Rubber VRM 134. the VRM's are half the price and I need to get to, which will be beat to hell when all said and done.... Opinions?

The way I understand veerubber works is that they copy the thread of good tires from other companies but use cheaper compounds to make them in order to drive the price down.

I can't really compare the K61s to the Vee tires, which I've never ridden on. All I can really say is t hat in the most demanding riding I've done, the Heidenaus outperformed Pirelli, Michelin, Maxxis and Continentals I've ridden on. Much better handling in twisties and stability at high speeds. Night and day differences at 60+ mph.

They have been great up to now. I will probably never put another brand or model of tire on my Vespa. I'm experimenting a bit with Stella tires, because I'm not quite as hard on it.

jmazza wrote:I have a VRM 134 on the back now. Lifespan has been not that great at all. As far as quality goes, I was happy with the grippiness, etc. but I don't think it lasted quite as long as my Michelin S1 even. I'm just at 3k on it now and the tread has been down to the wear bars for a couple hundred miles.

Thanks jmazza for the wear info. Looks like it's back to frontrunner, the K61. Although someone posted in another thread they tried them and didn't like them. I forgot why. I guess it doesn't please everyone.