Home >> Reviews >> MetzelerReviews for Marathon 880
Avg. Customer Review (3.9 Stars)
Number of Reviews: 31
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Marathon 880
Metzler Lasertec
Best tires you could get for Harleys
- Stephanie from Horsham, PAI've been riding Metzeler 880s since they were introduced (back then they were ME88s) and selling them through Harley dealers and independent shops. I've sold hundreds of sets of ME880s and at least 99% of the people who bought them absolutely love them (so do I, I've ridden more than 200,000 miles on Metzelers.)The dry and wet handling is fantastic and I always get 15,000 miles out of a set on my Harleys, from Sportsters to my FXRP touring bike. One thing we've found is that every person who says they don't like Metzelers is running them with low air pressure. Every single one! We've seen tires with as little as 10psi. Once we talk to them, get them up to the correct pressure (usually 42-45psi depending on the tire) their attitude changes and they love the Metzelers. Our repeat customers--the high-mileage guys-- are getting mileage about the same as mine. So if you think you don't like MeTzelers, check your tire pressure. Keep them very close to the Maximum printed on the side wall. And buy them from a reputable motorcycle shop who can go to bat for you on any possible warranty issues! I've only had a couple of warranty issues with Metzelers in my career, but they were all handled quickly and without hassle by Metzeler. These are the best tires out there for cruisers and touring bikes...period! And I'm not saying that because we make tons of money off the sale of Metzelers. We make more money selling Dunlops, but Metzelers are simply the better tires.
- Dec 31, 2009
Yes - 22
No - 1
ME 880
- Mike from Fresno, Ca400 miles on ME 880 both tires checked and the front an MT90B16 M/C TL checked and side wall came apart. My motorcycle had front end wobble so bad I thought front end was shot. Metzeler did not take ownership of this problem at all. It took them 4 weeks to get new tires to me. They dont pay for any part of the problem. They blamed me saying I cleaned them with harsh cleaning products. But I only used mild soap and water. Stay away from Metzeler tires.
- Oct 29, 2009
Yes - 10
No - 0
Not a Dunlop 404
- BoB Maull from Hickory, NCPlease read my review of the Dunlop 404 on a Honda VTX1300R. As I stated in that review, I was fed up with replacing tires every few weeks. I did have the Marathon 880 rear put on May 1, 2009. The first thing I noticed was that the 880 was quite heavier than the 404. The additional weight, drag, etc., has cost me 2 MPG. The life of the tire has more than made up for the few extra pennies in fuel. I went from 50 MPG to 48 MPG on my VTX1300R. When you make a move, the tire responds instantly and precisely. I am a regular rider on The Tail of the Dragon and the 880 handles it better than any tire I have ever used. I ride about 3,500 miles a month, mainly on mountain twisties. I ride at, or slightly above the speed limit. I check my PSI and do a visual inspection, religiously once a week. I now have 17,000 miles on the 880, and the tire is not even 1/2 way worn to the wear bars. The sidewalls are scuffed slightly from leaning it waaay over in the curves, but shows no cracks, discoloration, or anomalies. Sticks as well as any other tire in the rain, if not better.
Do, I repeat do, put a Metler Marathon 880 on your VTX1300R. The higher initial extra cost of the tire is insignificant, compared to the life of the tire. This tire has outlasted 3 Dunlop 404s and it is less than 1/2 way worn. I estimate my actual saving between tire cost, mounting, and balancing has been $500.00 over the last 5 months.
- Oct 07, 2009
Yes - 23
No - 2
Check Tire Manufacture recommendations
- Dave K from Oregon City, OR I put a set of these tires on my HD Ultra Glide. They handled and rode fine. Worked well in the wet too. But several hundred miles from home at the end of a long tour I was suprized to find no tread left(on the rear) at 7,000 mi! I was used to getting 10,000 with the OEM Dunlops. I was disappointed to say the least. I check the pressure frequently and knew the tire was getting worn down but the last bit goes fast.
When I got home I did some checking and found that Metzler recommends an increase of 10psi over what Harley recomends for the OEM tire.(for 2-up heavy) I mount my own tires so I have no one else to blame. When mounting aftermarket tires, (Metzlers are not OEM on most bikes) check with the manufacture for specific or special instructions. Your motorcycle shop should know this. Ask. I am sure my tire would have lasted longer if I had known this before hand.
The front tire is doing fine, by the way, at 12,000mi.(properly inflated)
- Sep 06, 2009
Yes - 24
No - 1
Yamaha Warrior 210 50 17 from Germany
- Don - Norfolk CT from CT usaScared is what I was when leaving Buffalo in the rain for my 8 hour ride home to CT when I saw this stripe down the middle of my rear tire. This tire has less than 3000mi on it. Although I checked a couple days prior I thought maybe I was running them too hard so I dumped a bit of air. By the time I rode 350mi home in the rain, not only was I nervous wreck, but the belts are what I saw around this 3/4 inch wide stripe. Tires performed well but did not last at all! Trying another brand this time.
- Aug 27, 2009
Yes - 7
No - 0
VTX 1300 S and ME 880
- Brian Johnston from Newlands, BC, CanadaI really like the tires, they really hold on in the corners, way better than the Dunlop 404's, which tend to "skip - out" on the corners. This is probably the reason many users are finding low mileage as they hold so well that they are run that way, hard! Tons o' fun!
But, I went on a tour this July and ran into a bad rain storm between Golden and Kamloops in BC. I just about went down. I was scared, but unable to get of the road in that area. I'm afraid these tires are for dry only. I think I'll be changing next time for a better wet performance tire.
- Aug 18, 2009
Yes - 8
No - 0
Construction problems
- matt k from sacramento2000 miles and have noticed cracks and a waving line (seam) around the bead on the front tire. I was using OEM Dunlops on my concours and should have never switched.
- Jul 18, 2009
Yes - 5
No - 0
Mixed bag
- Jerry from North TexasI've replaced the OEM's on my '01 Valkyrie Interstate and '03 VTX 1800 with the 880's. Turning effort was very easy, dry traction turning was decent but hard stopping was unacceptable (broke loose every time). Wet traction was scary, turning and stopping. I got about 7,000-8,000 miles which isn't bad on big, heavy bikes. I replaced them with Dunlop Elite 3's and found out what truly great tires really feel like.
- Jun 29, 2009
Yes - 10
No - 0
Dissapointed
- Eric from Atlanta, GAAfter riding this Sunday I wiped my bike down like I normally do. I was walking away from it and turned to give it one last look when I noticed a shiney strip down the middle of my rear tire. Went to get a closer look and found it was steel belting. Seriously a 1/2 inch strip around the whole tire. 2008 HD Streetglide tire size 160/60 UR18 RR only 8k miles. Not happy!
- Jun 09, 2009
Yes - 10
No - 5
Metzlers Extremely SHORT Life
- Eric from Upsate NYI bought a set of Metzler Sportec M3's for my sport bike Yamaha YZF-R1. The rear tire lasted 1 short 3 month summer season in upstate NY and now the rear has to be replaced. It is beyond the wear marks. Thats $ 300 every season if I have to replace my tires every season with these Metzlers.
- May 19, 2009
Yes - 6
No - 3