I need to change the tires on my KTM 390 Duke and Michelin Pilot Street are more expensive than Continental ContiRoadAttack. Is it really worth paying the difference for safety or is it just marketing?
For a 390 Duke you're not really pushing it to extremes, so Continental tires do the job just fine and you save some money, which isn't bad. What nobody really talks about is checking out reviews from people who have both on specialized motorcycle forums - actual users will tell you if there's a real difference in the conditions you actually encounter, not just lab numbers.
Both brands are solid and you can ride confidently with Continental tires on a Duke 390.
The Michelin Pilot Street might have a slight edge in terms of grip and durability, but it's not a revolutionary difference that really justifies the extra cost if you're mostly doing calm road riding. If you're doing a lot of aggressive cornering or regular sporty rides, then yeah the extra money for Michelin shows in the feel, but otherwise the ContiRoadAttack will give you good safety without breaking the bank.
It's true that you can find Continental tires that handle the road well enough, but on a Duke 390 which is a small, pretty agile bike, Michelin tires really give you more feedback and grip better in tight corners - personally I'd pay the price difference just for that, especially if you ride regularly in the city or in changing weather.
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