That's interesting, strange the front on the 09 you find doesn't wear so well "possibly due too being 18s"
My front also wears off quicker especially the right side of the tyre more then the lift. It's due to all the frigging roundabouts having to lean to the right all the time. There's a place not far from me that has a roundabout every 1/4 mile for 10 miles.
I try not to be too aggressive going into the roundabouts.
I'm looking forward to see how these Michelins hold up and the comparison of the ride and handling.
HD/Dunlop had a Recall on the '09 SERG Front Tire (amounted to reversing the tread), and a Recall on some of the 18" Front "Blade" Wheels... The 18" "Blade" Wheels are now "obsolete" from HD...
The last set of OE HD/Dunlops on the '09 wore (close to) evenly with 18k miles on the Rear and the Front having approx another 1-2k left,,, Replaced F&R with CIIs when the 18 CII became available for the Front, the CII front is wearing much faster than the Rear...
Some say that they don't like the CIIs in the wet,,, I've not noticed any ill traits in that regard on either the '05 or the '09,,, Ride & Handling are fine, sure-footed, predictable, no ill traits in any situation, just the the 18s don't have the sporty feel of the smaller 16s (different cross sections??? compounds???),,, I have >70k miles on each Bike... Both Bikes have Glide-Pro Bushings and Sorted Suspensions...
On the '05 ( OE 402s) consistently 11-12k to a Rear, 2 Rears to a Front, the CIIs seem to be wearing perfectly even at around 14k with plenty of Tread remaining...
Go figure