Topic: Anybody running avon roadriders?

[ncstatecamp]

I'm looking for tire and a buddy of mine loves his. He said he got 12k miles off a set of his with pretty rough riding.

Thoughts on yours?

[HondaMan]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

[redpine]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

+1

Switched my rear tire over and it made a huge difference.  Probably not as impressive given the PO had left me a tire as hard as Maine granite.  If it helps at all, I was at Barbor last weekend and spent a lot of time in the paddock looking over vintage race bikes, and while the race machines obviously were using special tires, the team's street bikes tended to be running Avons.  That seemed like a pretty strong endorsement.

[bwaller]

Yup I've been converted to Avons too. I love the race versions on the track, and their street tires are among the best I'd say.

[mono]

Love my Avons!    Decided on them after much deliberation, and I do not regret it at all. 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Gordon]

Tried my first set of Avons 8 years ago.  I haven't used anything else since.

[ncstatecamp]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

[Dimitri13]

What is the race version called?

[andrewk]

I've got AM26 Roadriders on my 750F2 project, and I've put them on many customer bikes over the past few years.  Grippy, good in the wet, and rain grooves on the road dont pull them every which way.  Absolutely fantastic street tires.

[betterthanurs916]

I run them on my CB550F2 and have really enjoyed them.  I have about 3000 miles on the set now, and haven't noticed any real wear, even with hard-ish riding.  I think they are more than enough tire for an old UJM on the street.  Compared to the improperly sized cheng shin's the bike came with....night and day, really.

I have ridden on Bridgestone S11's with my dad's GS750 as well, and I think the Avons are a bit more confidence inspiring.

[bwaller]

What is the race version called?

I use a Roadrider AM26 front but are competition use only (look the same but much softer compound) Rear is an AM23.

[jason41987]

i dont have any avon roadriders.. in fact, havent decided on a tire for my bike yet, im open to the suggestion of trying these, what would a set typically cost?

[Elan]

I run them on my CB550F2 and have really enjoyed them.  I have about 3000 miles on the set now, and haven't noticed any real wear, even with hard-ish riding.  I think they are more than enough tire for an old UJM on the street.  Compared to the improperly sized cheng shin's the bike came with....night and day, really.

I have ridden on Bridgestone S11's with my dad's GS750 as well, and I think the Avons are a bit more confidence inspiring.

haha my bike has improperly sized chen Shins too, and imm looking to upgrade to avons. good to know ill feel a difference.

[flybox1]

Had roadriders on my 350F.  Loved them.
I will put them on my K8 when these shinkos the PO put on are worn enough...

[ncstatecamp]

The old timer moto mechanic who's going to put my tires on was trying to suggest kenda saying they were half the price and just as good. Anybody run these?

[HondaMan]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

[ncstatecamp]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

[HondaMan]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

I don't have that many on this set: the Roadrunners I used from 1996 to 2001 had about 34k on them when I got 'parked' for a while. When I came back for another set, the same tread pattern was gone in the Roadrunners, but I tried the new ones in 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The front ribbed one is great, but the rear one is designed for Brit twins and has a limited lean angle, which I overcame daily. I wore out the corners of the rear on short order, while the center was fine. So I switched up to the AM26 series in 2005, size 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The new ones I am going to install next season are the 100/90x19 front and 120/90x18 rear, with shorter rear shocks and new air fork fitting up front. Switching things up for a 3.50" front trail this time around...

[ncstatecamp]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

I don't have that many on this set: the Roadrunners I used from 1996 to 2001 had about 34k on them when I got 'parked' for a while. When I came back for another set, the same tread pattern was gone in the Roadrunners, but I tried the new ones in 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The front ribbed one is great, but the rear one is designed for Brit twins and has a limited lean angle, which I overcame daily. I wore out the corners of the rear on short order, while the center was fine. So I switched up to the AM26 series in 2005, size 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The new ones I am going to install next season are the 100/90x19 front and 120/90x18 rear, with shorter rear shocks and new air fork fitting up front. Switching things up for a 3.50" front trail this time around...

I'm looking at the 100/90-19 for the front. For the back I've heard going with the 120's they'll square off in a short while, thoughts on that?

[HondaMan]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

I don't have that many on this set: the Roadrunners I used from 1996 to 2001 had about 34k on them when I got 'parked' for a while. When I came back for another set, the same tread pattern was gone in the Roadrunners, but I tried the new ones in 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The front ribbed one is great, but the rear one is designed for Brit twins and has a limited lean angle, which I overcame daily. I wore out the corners of the rear on short order, while the center was fine. So I switched up to the AM26 series in 2005, size 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The new ones I am going to install next season are the 100/90x19 front and 120/90x18 rear, with shorter rear shocks and new air fork fitting up front. Switching things up for a 3.50" front trail this time around...

I'm looking at the 100/90-19 for the front. For the back I've heard going with the 120's they'll square off in a short while, thoughts on that?

I haven't experienced that at all with the Avons. Be sure, though, to run them at higher air pressure: the labels on the bike were for the old bias-ply wrapped Bridgestones. I use 35-38 PSI front (Windjammer fairing attached) and 38-44 PSI rear.

If you haven't read it in my book: the magic number for YOUR OWN tire pressures can be arrived at over a short testing period. First, you record your air pressures, then go for a ride of at least 10 miles (20 is better) and measure them again, to see how much they increased when the tire warmed up. If it is more than 2 PSI, then add 2 PSI to the beginning number and repeat the test the next day, from a cold start. If it is LESS than 2 PSI increase, then drop it 2 PSI and test again, from cold. The 2 PSI number was created by Continental tire engineers on 850cc Beemers in the late 1970s when the now-famous Continental Twins were being developed (now gone, sadly), but the method is perfect for these bikes.

[ncstatecamp]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

I don't have that many on this set: the Roadrunners I used from 1996 to 2001 had about 34k on them when I got 'parked' for a while. When I came back for another set, the same tread pattern was gone in the Roadrunners, but I tried the new ones in 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The front ribbed one is great, but the rear one is designed for Brit twins and has a limited lean angle, which I overcame daily. I wore out the corners of the rear on short order, while the center was fine. So I switched up to the AM26 series in 2005, size 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The new ones I am going to install next season are the 100/90x19 front and 120/90x18 rear, with shorter rear shocks and new air fork fitting up front. Switching things up for a 3.50" front trail this time around...

I'm looking at the 100/90-19 for the front. For the back I've heard going with the 120's they'll square off in a short while, thoughts on that?

I haven't experienced that at all with the Avons. Be sure, though, to run them at higher air pressure: the labels on the bike were for the old bias-ply wrapped Bridgestones. I use 35-38 PSI front (Windjammer fairing attached) and 38-44 PSI rear.

If you haven't read it in my book: the magic number for YOUR OWN tire pressures can be arrived at over a short testing period. First, you record your air pressures, then go for a ride of at least 10 miles (20 is better) and measure them again, to see how much they increased when the tire warmed up. If it is more than 2 PSI, then add 2 PSI to the beginning number and repeat the test the next day, from a cold start. If it is LESS than 2 PSI increase, then drop it 2 PSI and test again, from cold. The 2 PSI number was created by Continental tire engineers on 850cc Beemers in the late 1970s when the now-famous Continental Twins were being developed (now gone, sadly), but the method is perfect for these bikes.

Awesome thanks for advice, very solid! What would the differences of running 110/90-18 on the back in comparison to your 120's?

[Bankerdanny]

I used them on two very different bikes, my 2002 Royal Enfield 500 single and my '89 Yamaha FJ1200.

They were perfect for the lighter Enfield, particularly since they replaced a set of older Dunlop K70 style tires. The rounded profile absolutely transformed the handling.

They worked well on the FJ too, but the change was not a dramatic since it had more modern tires on it.

With my 550 I went with Kenda Challengers as my budget was tight and they were about 2/3 the cost. I was very pleased with them.

[ncstatecamp]

Awesome thanks for advice, very solid! What would the differences of running 110/90-19 on the back in comparison to your 120's?
Wait you have a 19'' on the rear
Ken

correction made! thanks sir

[HondaMan]

I won't ride anything else! Been riding them for many years, tried others in between, always go back to them, smiling!

How many miles do you typically get out of a set?

The last ones went well past 30k miles before I had cancer and parked them for almost 5 years. They got a little dry-cracked from the long sit, and when I got better we got new feet under both of us (me and my trusty 750!). I started then in 2005 with their "vintage" version Roadrunners, ribbed front and zigzag pattern rear, but it was a little too square for my riding style, and I was mighty hard on the narrow 'corner' of the rear one in 8k miles, so I upgraded to the AM26 series Roadriders in inch size in 2006. Absolutely loved them. They still look brand new, but I just bought a set of the metric version for next year, to experiment with some chassis geometry stuff (different profiles). These I have now are going onto the next resto 750K2 I am working on for next year, still have about 20k-30k miles in them, I would estimate.

Wait are you telling me you have 20k-30k on the am26 Avon roadriders? How the hell is that possible?

I don't have that many on this set: the Roadrunners I used from 1996 to 2001 had about 34k on them when I got 'parked' for a while. When I came back for another set, the same tread pattern was gone in the Roadrunners, but I tried the new ones in 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The front ribbed one is great, but the rear one is designed for Brit twins and has a limited lean angle, which I overcame daily. I wore out the corners of the rear on short order, while the center was fine. So I switched up to the AM26 series in 2005, size 4.00x18 rear and 3.25x19 front. The new ones I am going to install next season are the 100/90x19 front and 120/90x18 rear, with shorter rear shocks and new air fork fitting up front. Switching things up for a 3.50" front trail this time around...

I'm looking at the 100/90-19 for the front. For the back I've heard going with the 120's they'll square off in a short while, thoughts on that?

I haven't experienced that at all with the Avons. Be sure, though, to run them at higher air pressure: the labels on the bike were for the old bias-ply wrapped Bridgestones. I use 35-38 PSI front (Windjammer fairing attached) and 38-44 PSI rear.

If you haven't read it in my book: the magic number for YOUR OWN tire pressures can be arrived at over a short testing period. First, you record your air pressures, then go for a ride of at least 10 miles (20 is better) and measure them again, to see how much they increased when the tire warmed up. If it is more than 2 PSI, then add 2 PSI to the beginning number and repeat the test the next day, from a cold start. If it is LESS than 2 PSI increase, then drop it 2 PSI and test again, from cold. The 2 PSI number was created by Continental tire engineers on 850cc Beemers in the late 1970s when the now-famous Continental Twins were being developed (now gone, sadly), but the method is perfect for these bikes.

Awesome thanks for advice, very solid! What would the differences of running 110/90-18 on the back in comparison to your 120's?

I have often put the 100 - 100 combo on the 750, handles exceptionally well with the extra 3mm trail it adds. It also makes the centerstand feel 4" taller when trying to stand the bike!