Personally?
I'm a fan of the Metzler ME880 Marathon (120/70/19 front) & ME880 Marathon XXL (200/50/18 rear) for your year of bike-- however, if you ask ten forum members here, you'll get 12 different answers-- (more if there are beers involved-- Heh!). But, for all-around performance, handling and wet-weather grip, I haven't found anything better than the Metzler's. I've run them on my buddy's A, my old R, my F, and my wife's Nightster. (and the fact that I put those tires on the bike my wife rides, who is someone I love and adore, should tell you something), and have never been less than totally pleased with them.
Note that you have a "narrow-frame" bike. They changed in 2006 (or 2007?) to a wider rear frame that allowed a larger tire to be fit. Your stock rear tire is a 180. You can, however go to a 200 with little to no modification. Said modification is that on a few early bikes (i.e. a 2002 A), there is a flange on the left inside of the upper rear fender that might (or might not) need its edges ground down just a bit so it doesn't chew up the left side of the tire. It's a backing plate for a bolt hole as I recall.
Good luck. I've heard good things about the Pirelli's and Michelin's as well, but personally? I wouldn't put Dunlop's on the bike of my worst enemy. Not a fan-- they call them "Dunflops" for a reason.
R.
I'm a fan of the Metzler ME880 Marathon (120/70/19 front) & ME880 Marathon XXL (200/50/18 rear) for your year of bike-- however, if you ask ten forum members here, you'll get 12 different answers-- (more if there are beers involved-- Heh!). But, for all-around performance, handling and wet-weather grip, I haven't found anything better than the Metzler's. I've run them on my buddy's A, my old R, my F, and my wife's Nightster. (and the fact that I put those tires on the bike my wife rides, who is someone I love and adore, should tell you something), and have never been less than totally pleased with them.
Note that you have a "narrow-frame" bike. They changed in 2006 (or 2007?) to a wider rear frame that allowed a larger tire to be fit. Your stock rear tire is a 180. You can, however go to a 200 with little to no modification. Said modification is that on a few early bikes (i.e. a 2002 A), there is a flange on the left inside of the upper rear fender that might (or might not) need its edges ground down just a bit so it doesn't chew up the left side of the tire. It's a backing plate for a bolt hole as I recall.
Good luck. I've heard good things about the Pirelli's and Michelin's as well, but personally? I wouldn't put Dunlop's on the bike of my worst enemy. Not a fan-- they call them "Dunflops" for a reason.
R.
