New Tyres for the Sportster

I didn't think my old tyres were too bad but as they got an advisement, not a fail though, on the MOT in June I thought it was time to get new tyres for the winter.
First thing is - Be afraid, be very afraid, when riding on new tyres. New tyres on a motorbike tend to be like riding on ice. So, a fairly sedate, gentle, ride back home and up on the Bike Lift to raise both wheels off the ground.
Bucket of hot soapy water, and a bar of soap for good measure, one of those green scrubby kitchen sponges to give a little bit of abrasion and give the tyres a good scrub all around where the tread is. This helps to get rid of the lubricant that makes it easy for the tyre manufacturer to get the rubber tyre out of the mould, but it is what makes it dangerous for a first ride or two.
All done and ready for the first 'big' ride on them, Ride to the Wall (RTTW.org) which is anywhere between 5-8 thousand bikes converging on the National Memorial Arboretum for a memorial service and meeting up with old friends, and maybe making new ones. This happens on the 1st October this year, always the first Saturday in October.