Topic: Avon Roadrider, Dunlop D404 or Bridgestone BT45?

[dhall57]

Up until recently I've ran Dunlop 404 on all my 750's including my GL1000. I like the price and tread design and matches my riding style just fine and have no complaints. But on my latest bike to get on the road 750K4 I wanted to try something different so I went with a more vintage look and went with Conti K112.

[Don R]

 I liked the road riders on my 76 F. Haven't used the others to compare though. it seems availability of some tires may depend on location.

 edit, my local shop didn't want to order Avons for me due to premature weather cracking complained about by other customers. I'm not sure of the particular models used though.

[HondaMan]

Up until recently I've ran Dunlop 404 on all my 750's including my GL1000. I like the price and tread design and matches my riding style just fine and have no complaints. But on my latest bike to get on the road 750K4 I wanted to try something different so I went with a more vintage look and went with Conti K112.

The only thing I hold against the Conti K112 (personally, just me) is their patented "drift warning" feature, which actually works. If you lean over so far that it reaches the little straight-cut (across the side treads) bar grooves, the bike drifts deeper into the turn to "warn" you that you're running out of side tread. On a lesser bike than the 750 (say, a British Twin or maybe an overloaded CB500/550), this is a great feature: on the 750 it is a nuisance, particularly in the mountains. This bike leans that far on a regular basis: I ended up taking off my Contis and giving them to my friend who had a Brit bike that matched their lean angles better. Wolf Creek Pass hiway doesn't give you much room for drifting...

Other than that, they gripped great in the wet and even over rough pavement.

[millla03]

Rather than start a new topic, I'll continue this one.  Everyone has responded about the Avon Roadrunner positively, but no mention of the other tires in the Avon "Classic" line, so how about the Speedmaster MkII / Safety Mileage MkII combo?  Any thoughts, experience with these?

http://www.avonmoto.com/products/classic

I have run the "Classic" combo you mention. I got close to 13,000 miles from the set  before the rear wore out, and they handled okay for what they are. Ribbed front tire tended to track lines in the pavement. I would not buy them again. Not concerned with a period correct appearance. No noticeable dry rotting or degradation of rubber over ~2 years service.

Next set I went with Avon AM26 Roadriders, and the improvement in handling was quite pronounced. I'm no handling expert, but the Roadriders felt more stable going into a turn, I suspect due to the more rounded profile of the modern rear tire. Good wet traction as well. They started to dry rot in the treads within 2 years of build date, but the rear was close to worn by the time I noticed this. My dad had the same problem with a rear RoadRider. Nice handling/wearing tires, but the dry rot was concerning. Bike is stored indoors and no products used on tires to have caused this.

Running Metzeler LazerTecs now. Been happy with handling, but they haven't seen enough miles to comment on longevity. No dry rot so far. Heard good things about Dunlops, but never had a set myself.