My two cents' worth: I'm using Pilot Roads at the moment. Like them very much. They stick well (I'm can be a semi-aggressive rider, and have several years of racing experience to help me along), seem to me comparable to the Avons that I used last year (sorry Jaws), not as quick or sticky as Pirellis (but don't wear anywhere near as stupid-fast), and allow me to toss the XX around with some confidence. I wouldn't put Dunlops on my XX if you paid me, but will recommend them over the Macadams any day (the stock Macadams were so badly cupped within 2000mi on the front that they literally howled when I rode, and they never felt planted. Rear wore nicely, though, I'll admit that.) I tried another XX with the 020's on it, and didn't mind them. Didn't much care for low-speed handling (under 30mph), but that may be due to different suspension settings than I have on mine. They seemed to work well.
I did see an XX shod with Metzlers. Curious about that, since I liked the Metzlers I've used on other bikes and on the track. Anyone?
My next set will be Pilot Sports, some time this fall. Since I ride year 'round, I have the opportunity to ride back-to-back with different tires on the same bike. Sorta nice for comparing (but can get expensive if I play in the canyons a lot). Unlike Jaws and some of the others who can and do try 'em regularly on different bikes, I'm doing it on the same bike with consistent setup and "feel" to it. Where I am now is good for trying tires, since there are many different pavement types, road types (mega-long straights on the desert floor, tight twisties up in the rockies, mixed stuff in between), elevations (makes for different temperatures/weather during the same ride) and odd seasonal weather (below freezing part of the year, hotter than Satan's nutsack the rest). As well, the desert heat and very, very dry air can dry and crack a set of tires faster than anywhere I've ever lived.
I rate them like this so far on the XX (will likely change as I try more tires on it):
1-Pilot Roads - surprisingly grippy for a sport-touring tire, decent ride, good wear, great in the wet, pretty good feedback, very nice through fast corners
2-Avon 45/46s - fairly grippy, better ride, wear similar to Roads, but expensive in comparison, good wet, better than Roads when cold, pretty good feedback, stable when moving fast through corners
3-Pirelli Diablos - grippy, sportier/harsher ride, very fast wear, good wet, yield confidence at all angles, expensive
4-020's - ride less compliant, acceptable grip, front feels somewhat vague at slower speeds
5-Dunlop 205's - rubber has decent grip but feel a tad vague when banked over, decent ride, wear oddly on the XX, not happy wet, just don't inspire total confidence, relatively inexpensive though
6-Macadam 90Xs - great at the beginning of their life but go away fast (especially the front), very good wet, feedback decent when new, sucky when only a few thousand miles old, noisy! (100X's s'posed to fix that)
That's all I've tried on a Blackbird. Like I said, Pilot Sports are next. I look forward to trying them out. Perhaps Metzlers if I'm feeling froggy later.
Anyways, thanks for letting me ramble!
Mike
that is NOT cheap, especially if you have to ride down sarf west to get there,
