I run 19/18 Shinko 705s on my XR650R and really like them. They are pretty good on dry dirt and quite amazing on pavement. I've run them on a kart track and I also instruct on full size road courses. I use the XRR in the medium and slow groups and it sticks just fine, here is a pic:

 

The 705s suck for agressive street riding. Offroad they were no more of an advantage over the Distanzias. With a 17" front the profile is weird and not really ideal for hard corner carving. The compound isnt very sticky compared to the Distanzia. I always felt like the front was going to wash when pushed kinda hard, and it did a few times on me. I wouldnt run them again. Or at least run them on the front. The only good quality these tires had was they wear like iron. I got 5000 miles out of the rear and the last 1000 miles I was a total asshole, locking up the rear coming up to stops, burnouts, and doughnuts. It refused to die. The front tire with 5000 miles still looks almost new, and I bet if you could stand the lack of performance in the corners, this tire could easily net 10k. I still have the front in my basement. If you have the cash get the Distanzias, they are so much better of a tire, much better profile for street riding, much better feedback on road, give warning before loosing traction at the edge, and still bad ass in the dirt.

EDIT: I need to clarify this was for the 120/90r17 shinko 705 on a supermoto. The 705 on other rims/bikes are awesome, have 2 friends with 705s on their Vstroms and they love the tires. Completely different than the 17" front size.

 

FuzzyBock is right about the 120/90-17 profile being wrong on a standard 3.5" width sm wheel. The tire is designed to go on a 2.5" rim and the profile will be distorted, flattened, causing the tire to get to the edge too soon and will wash out if pushed too hard.

 

I have the avon up front and the shinko rear - hate the distanzia and love the 705. The rear is a true 50/50 tire. The avon is a crappy street tire, and crappier offroad tire. Not confidence inspiring at all. Save your money. There is no 705 front though, I dunno what my next front will be.

 

Which compound Distanzia did you get? There are two different compounds.

 

Shinkos all the way no grip at all great for slides.

 

Cheap tires = crash = $$$ and pain -

go with a harder street compound / Brigestone /Michelin --

 

Cheap tires = crash = $$$ and pain -

Poor Logic. No offense to you personally, but I am kinda sick of the attitude that cheap/budget minded is bad. It is not necessarily always the case. From oil to helmets to tires; it is poor logic & thought process. $$$ does not always equal better.

FuzzyBock is right about the 120/90-17 profile being wrong on a standard 3.5" width sm wheel. The tire is designed to go on a 2.5" rim and the profile will be distorted, flattened, causing the tire to get to the edge too soon and will wash out if pushed too hard.

That there is good info, and makes sense.

 

I've been rocking the a one for a few years now, 3 changes later. I love them, in my opinion they're the best Supermoto tire you can get for your bike for all conditions. Obviously for track I like a stickier rubber but for everything else it's the best. Worth the extra money, and you can buy a set off Rocky Mountain atv for 280 shipped.

 

I've never run shinkos but i put a lot of miles in on distanzias. First of all my thought process is I'd rather dump it in the dirt than the street and the avons are great on the street. The front is perfect. The only reason why i dont run them anymore is because coming out of tight tight turns (like first and second gear parking lot racing) they spin up real easy. I just got sick of getting beat by xr100s coming out of corners. But they never just let go. The grip is verry progressive.

 

i have shinko 004s i think on my zx6r and i have about 6000 miles on them, and they still have more than enough tread.... i also have no fear of leaning it over, i got those tires cause i was commuting 95 miles a day. the only down side to those shinkos is that they take a bit to warm up.... so i can imagine the 705s will be simular. i would definently get the shinkos again, almost got the podiums for my sumo but way too good of a deal on pilot powers