Author Topic: Tires - again........  (Read 8595 times)

Offline amigoride

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Tires - again........
« on: June 16, 2012, 10:51:17 AM »
 With limited options for stock wheels I am struggling to decide what tires to order for my 2005. I have used up two pair of Michelin Pilot GT's and really like them after the initial "getting used to" phase. The Avon options don't fit my pocket book in terms of mileage.
I am considering Shinko SE890 Journey (Wing size) or Bridgestone Battlax45 V-rated. I look for the twisty roads and ride fairly aggressively.
Has anyone put enough miles on either to give me some time proven feedback? There  must be a tire out there that will provide decent performance and wear. 
Thanks for any input you might have after some miles on either.
Brian   

Offline Lodogg2221

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2012, 04:01:52 PM »
Say what?

Offline T Cro ®

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2012, 07:48:22 AM »
If you like the Wing sized GT's and yet want a sticky long lasting tire look to the AVON VENOM AM41/42 combo.... I ran them and liked them a lot they just steer a little heavy.
Tony P. Crochet
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Offline jim snyder

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2012, 08:21:01 AM »
I just installed the Avon AM-26's a few weeks ago and just got back from riding the twisties at the National in
Arkansas and they stuck like glue. And they did not have the heavy handling feel like the GT's did.  Motorcycle superstore had them in stock sizes and the price was good to. Murph also carries them but he was out of stock when I ordered. 
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Offline Roadhound

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2012, 08:56:14 AM »
You might want to consider the Avon Storm Ultra Front along with the Avon Venom Rear. A very good combo which will give you good mileage,  good handling and good front end feel. The Storm ll Ultra is a very good front tire and will last 13,000-14,000 miles or more depending on how you ride. The Venom rear is a Bias Ply tire but works very well with the Storm front. You could expect to get up to 15,000 miles from these tires, have very good handling and not have to put up with the heavy steering and lack of feel you would get with the wing size front.

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Offline stevewfl

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2012, 11:26:38 AM »
tire threads rule

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Offline amigoride

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2012, 12:55:59 PM »
Great input guys, "Thank you"
Front tire stock size shows 120/70 18". However I see many are mounting 110/80 18". Can I use either on my 2005??

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2012, 12:58:32 PM »
tire threads rule


Yessir!

My rear Avon Venom wore quicker than expected, tried to find a Shinko 890 in stock, no luck. I found a Commander II in stock up the road at Dennis Kirk, in the process of being switched right now.

We'll see.

SteveJ, reporting on location in Almelund, MN.
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Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2012, 12:59:24 PM »
Great input guys, "Thank you"
Front tire stock size shows 120/70 18". However I see many are mounting 110/80 18". Can I use either on my 2005??
Yes, but the 110/80 works better.

SteveJ in MN.
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
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Offline amigoride

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2012, 10:08:59 PM »
Maybe cheaper will have a downside but I ordered a pair of Bridgestone Battlax BT45's V rated. Stock sizes (110/80x18" front).
For under $200.00 a pair I figured it's worth taking a chance.  I almost ordered the wing size Shinko 890 Journey but decided to try a pair of stock size tires again. I got used to the Pilot GT's (3 rears) but did find them a little heavy turning. Adjusting riding/turning style does compensate.
We all ride a little differently and have different expectations. I ran 40/42 PSI in the Pilot GT's and found they worked best there. 
It will be interesting to see how the BT 45's compare. I have a little road trip  with a lot of twisties planned in a couple of weeks so I'll put 800-1000 miles on them. I'll give you guys my .03 cents worth then.
Seems like we need some mileage  proven feedback on some of the newer options out there. This time of year it won't take long.
Keep the comments coming. Tires are kinda' important.
Be safe out there.

Offline Daytona_Mike

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2012, 07:15:01 AM »
I just installed the Avon AM-26's a few weeks ago and just got back from riding the twisties at the National in
Arkansas and they stuck like glue. And they did not have the heavy handling feel like the GT's did.  Motorcycle superstore had them in stock sizes and the price was good to. Murph also carries them but he was out of stock when I ordered.

Jim, those tires sure did stick like glue. I am a witness to that as I followed you until my tires scrubbed down to bare wire and went flat. These were newly installed just before the rally.( Avon Ultra Storm 2's front and back) In Avons defense that was the 3rd day in a row of some really fun  (slightly-->wink wink)  aggressive  riding.
I cant thank you enough for all the help you and others  gave  to get my bike back together last Friday.  Coggers sure are a great bunch to hang out with and everyone was quick to jump to my aid in acquiring  new tires  and to have  them installed in the parking lot of a hotel , and the instant oil change (another story).

SteveJ is correct.  My front tire was a 110/80  and I installed a 120/70 which a fellow Cogger went out of his to get for me (thanks Mike). The 120/80 does not fit our 3" rim properly. I dont know why Kawasaki recommended that tire.  The 110/70 I had on before handles much better and uses the whole tire  when cornering aggressively.
The 120/80 has a smaller contact patch and wastes about 1/2 inch of tire (chicken strips) even in the most aggressive cornering and is V shaped (rim is too narrow) when mounted on our stock rim which makes it feel weird  transitioning into   turns. 110/70 is the  proper size for  our front rim  and for  handling, contact patch and wear.
 
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Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2012, 08:17:17 AM »
Follow up on my Avon Venom experience.

I'm in the middle of a trip encompassing the national, now in MN, and anticipate a run through the Appalachians.

The tire developed a flat spot, it has never been looked up/skidded. Upon closer examination, there is a split in the groove about an inch and a half long centered in the flat spot. There are also other smaller splits in other grooves. These are not wide splits, just looked sort of like cuts. No other signs of defect, inside of carcass feels and looks good. An FYI, the rest of the tread is more than an 1/8th" in depth, plenty to finish the trip. Tire has about 11k miles on it.

I will now resume my avoidance of anything Avon. This may or may not be a regular occurrence, but there are other brands that I have a lot more confidence in.

I replaced it with a Michelin Commander II. It's black, round, fits, and holds air, important qualities as I'm in the middle of a trip. As a bonus, it was only $130  bought over the counter at Dennis Kirk, 15 miles up the road from where I'm staying. I tried to find a Shinko Journey890, but could find none in stock in the Mpls/St Paul area.

I'm still drinking my morning coffee, so it's not back on the bike yet. Pretty much chewed up a day of my vacation on this fiasco. Thanks Avon.

Daytona Mike, thanks for the 110/70 info. Just to be sure, 18" front rim?
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Offline Daytona_Mike

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #12 on: June 19, 2012, 09:13:25 AM »
Yes Steve.Our 18" stock rim which is 3.0" wide.     A 120/70 is made to fit (properly) a 3.5 inch rim. That  tire is  pinched on a 3" rim.
The  110/80 x18 fits our front 3" wide rim perfectly.
Sorry to hear about your tire problem. I too am going away from Avon and going to Michelin Pilot Road 3 front and back.
The Avon Ultra Storm 2 is a very good sticky tire but I do tend chew them up fast and once  I did have one defective rear tire which does happen from time to time with any tire.

Now think about how narrow compared to the front  the stock rear 16" rim is. 3.5 inches. That is so 27 years ago. No wonder the bike handles better with a 17 inch x 5inch wide mean streak rim.
If you still have fuel in the tank, you are not lost yet
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2012, 10:33:52 AM »
Yes Steve.Our 18" stock rim which is 3.0" wide.     A 120/70 is made to fit (properly) a 3.5 inch rim. That  tire is  pinched on a 3" rim.
The  110/80 x18 fits our front 3" wide rim perfectly.
Sorry to hear about your tire problem. I too am going away from Avon and going to Michelin Pilot Road 3 front and back.
The Avon Ultra Storm 2 is a very good sticky tire but I do tend chew them up fast and once  I did have one defective rear tire which does happen from time to time with any tire.

Now think about how narrow compared to the front  the stock rear 16" rim is. 3.5 inches. That is so 27 years ago. No wonder the bike handles better with a 17 inch x 5inch wide mean streak rim.
Hey Mike,

My tire issue pales in comparison to the "fun" you had with yours.

To clarify, are you running a 110/70/18 or 110/70/17 on the front?

Thanks, and see ya later. I'm thinkin' on setting another RTE in July, just to savor that wonderful July weather in Flowriduh.

Later.

SteveJ on TDY in rainy Minnesnoooooowta.
Perfection Is A Fantasy, Improvement Is Possible(Margie J)
America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
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Offline Daytona_Mike

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2012, 05:34:43 PM »
110/70/18 on the front.
If you still have fuel in the tank, you are not lost yet
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle

Offline jim snyder

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #15 on: June 19, 2012, 06:41:18 PM »
Jim, those tires sure did stick like glue. I am a witness to that as I followed you until my tires scrubbed down to bare wire and went flat. These were newly installed just before the rally.( Avon Ultra Storm 2's front and back) In Avons defense that was the 3rd day in a row of some really fun  (slightly-->wink wink)  aggressive  riding.
I cant thank you enough for all the help you and others  gave  to get my bike back together last Friday.  Coggers sure are a great bunch to hang out with and everyone was quick to jump to my aid in acquiring  new tires  and to have  them installed in the parking lot of a hotel , and the instant oil change (another story).

 

Thanks Mikey,
  It was a pleasure being able to help get your bike back on the road. And the instant oil change story was a good one. Me and Ted are famous (or infamous) for parking lot repair sessions. Besides we just like showing off our skills. 
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Offline VodkaAndPickles

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #16 on: June 19, 2012, 06:49:04 PM »
Yessir!

My rear Avon Venom wore quicker than expected, tried to find a Shinko 890 in stock, no luck. I found a Commander II in stock up the road at Dennis Kirk, in the process of being switched right now.

We'll see.

SteveJ, reporting on location in Almelund, MN.

How fast did the Venom wear out?  Do you ride fast or with a big load?  Asking because I'm about to put one on.

Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #17 on: June 20, 2012, 07:17:40 AM »
How fast did the Venom wear out?  Do you ride fast or with a big load?  Asking because I'm about to put one on.
Should have lasted for about 14k miles, except for the defect. Commute to work, 2 lane rural, with a few twisties, this tire also had 3k on this trip, 1k trip to key west pulling a trailer w/passenger, 800 miles to RWTW, and plus running pretty hard at the national and RWTW on the fun roads. Virtually no chicken strip. I pulled it at about 12k.
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America's Seaplane City
'99 Conk: 234k mi, '98 KLR650, both gone, '15 Versys 650LT: 74k mi
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Offline VodkaAndPickles

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Re: Tires - again........
« Reply #18 on: June 20, 2012, 01:25:23 PM »
Should have lasted for about 14k miles, except for the defect. Commute to work, 2 lane rural, with a few twisties, this tire also had 3k on this trip, 1k trip to key west pulling a trailer w/passenger, 800 miles to RWTW, and plus running pretty hard at the national and RWTW on the fun roads. Virtually no chicken strip. I pulled it at about 12k.

Thanks.  Still a lot better than my Roadrider rear.