Michelin’s latest adventure tire, the Anakee Adventure 2, incorporates design and construction technology drawn from the company’s MotoGP experience. Using its two-compound technology (2CT), they use a harder, more durable center tread compound for longevity and a softer, grippier compound on the shoulder.
By Keith Dowdle
According to Michelin, this combination increases tire life by 14 percent and wet-weather grip by 10 percent when compared to the original Anakee Adventure tire. Another advanced technology in this new design is Michelin’s Reinforced Radial-X Evo, which adds an extra ply to the tire carcass to improve stability and handling on heavier ADV bikes. The extra ply also smooths the ride by keeping a more flexible contact patch to absorb road imperfections (despite the stiffer carcass). Michelin also features Aramid Shield in the Anakee Adventure 2. This lightweight, heat-resistant material is stronger than steel and helps prevent punctures. It also reduces centrifugal growth and carcass distortion at high speeds, keeping the tire profile true and providing an optimal contact patch in high-speed corners. The Anakee Adventure 2 will be available in eight sizes to fit a broad range of ADV machines.
Lowdown | Michelin Anakee Adventure 2 Tires
Standout Feature: High mileage yet super grippy, even on wet tarmac
Unbelievable wet-weather performance
High mileage
Stiff and stable in fast corners
Noisier than expected
Prices: $227.95–$394.95
Website: https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-anakee-adventure-2
Rider Analysis
As adventure tires go, the 80/20 varieties are the most popular because they offer the best compromise: mainly street with just enough off-road capability to suit 90 percent or more of today’s adventure-riding community. While the new Anakee Adventure 2’s off-road performance leaves a lot to be desired, I had to keep reminding myself the tire was designed primarily for the street. I prefer to ride off-road as much as possible, so when I’m asked to review 80/20 tires, I typically try to burn through them as quickly as possible so I can get back to my happy place with more aggressive, off-road-oriented tires. But these new Anakee 2s were having none of that. They just wouldn’t go away. Which is exactly what the market demands. A high-mileage, great-performing street tire that can go off-road if necessary.
I rode these tires hard on twisty mountain roads, trying to wear them out as soon as possible, but after 7000-plus miles, they still looked brand-new. Based on that, you’d think that they would be as hard as a rock and handle like crap, but that’s not the case at all. I found them incredibly stable, with almost no perceptible sidewall flex even when fully loaded, riding two-up on the BMW R 1250 GSA I tested them on. The dual-compound construction instills confidence under hard braking, thanks to the softer sides and Michelin’s proprietary construction methods.
I did find them slightly noisier than I expected, especially since Michelin calls them “quiet” in its marketing materials. The noise isn’t horrible, but it’s there. Regardless, high mileage and great dry-weather performance are admirable traits for any tire, but the most impressive takeaway for me was the wet-weather performance. I think Michelin used some kind of magic silica stuff in these tires, because I’ve never ridden ADV tires that grip so well on wet pavement. The more I pushed them on wet roads, the more nervous I got because they let you push beyond what your brain thinks is possible when the road is wet. I found myself entering corners on wet roads way faster than I ever thought possible, to the point where I simply wouldn’t push any further. The tires never slipped; I just didn’t have the courage to keep pushing them any further.
I wish the same could be said about their off-road performance, but again, that’s not the primary intended use, and for most riders, the new Michelin Anakee Adventure 2s will deliver exactly what you want: high mileage, fantastic on-road performance, and just enough off-road capability to suit most riders’ needs.
Click here to read the Michelin Anakee Adventure 2 Tires Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
