These Avons

I'm planning ahead as regards tyres for my Bandit. I've settled on a set
of Avons for my next set, and I've been doing a little research on
prices.

I got a set of AM51/AM52 for my little FZR, I can indeed confirm that
they are very nice in the grip department, with the front seeming to be
a lot softer than my old BT45s by way of the thumb nail test. I noticed
that they come in sizes to fit my Bandit, and are about £139 / set.

If I were to fit a set of AV45/AV46 in the same sizes they'd cost about
£190.70.

Are the AV45/AV46 really that much better, or is it because they're ZR
rated not H rated like the AM51/AM52?

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Muck amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom:

Better is a relative term but I can confirm after having 3 sets on my
Bandit 6 that they do indeed perform very well and last for absolutely
ages. £139 for your AM51/52 combo will be a false economy if they wear
out in 3 or 4 thousand miles.

 

Do they rate as better or the same as BT45s in grip?

I only get 4000 miles or so from a BT45 on the Guzzi so if the Avons are
much the same price, offer the same or better grip and last longer then
that can only be good.

 

I think they're better in the grip department than the BT45s, they've
got a more curved, less flat profile on the rear then the BT45s that
seemed to improve the turn in. It's as though the sides of the rear tyre
are at a steeper angle, if you know what I mean.

Got the set fitted to the FZR for about £125 from Bikes of Brighton.

As to how many miles they'll do... dunno, this is my first set.

 

Whinging Courier wrote

My experience, worth little because I do not ride a litrebike I know but
experience none the less, is; they offer surprising amounts of grip that
is only improved by putting air in them and they fall off the cats eyes
a lot less as well.


Although, they could do with being a slightly flatter profile as it
makes the bike just a tad difficult to ride no handed but that could be
as much to do with the bearings as anything else.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, sweller amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom:

I never had BT45s on the Bandit but yes, the Avons lasted longer on that
than BT45s that graced the (CB400) bike I had before it.

I cannot comment on Guzzis since I've never owned one. The best thing I
can say is to try out the Avons. If the prices are similar then you're
not going to lose much if they wear out quickly but I doubt this will be
the case. I saw 9,000 miles from a rear on the Bandit to the wear
indicator and the same on my current bike. Most of that was in a
straight line but when I did need to go to the edges there was more than
enough grip.

 

What sizes?

I get my tyres from KC Motorcycles in Hove, seems pretty reasonable.
I'll see what he can do a pair of Avons for.

 

They were a 110/70-17 and a 130/70-17. Having thought about it, they
came out to about £130, which was still good for a set.

 

I've had a look at the Avon website with the link you gave me and it
appears they don't do AM51/52 in 18" sizes.

Only AM20/21 come in Guzzi sizes.

 

Doh. I forgot about the 18" rims, best stick with the BT45s then.

 

sweller did scribe:

fwiw, I had 4,000 miles out of the Dunlops the SV came with. The rear
Avon is now just about fucked, but it's been on since last June and
around 8,000 miles.
Grip is good enough for spirited riding to the edge of the tyre..

--
John (jsp)

SV 650
Black it is
And Naked

 

http://www.motorbike-tyres.com/

have a pair of 45/46 avons for £139 plus £6 delivery.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF1200 bandit / CG125
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

That's a good price.

I've got to get them fitted too, but they will still cost me more than a
pair of AMs fitted. That's why I wanted to know about anyones experience
of the AMs, as regards the number of miles you can get out of them.

 

<snip>

I think that maybe I should take a gamble and fit some AMs next, then I
can post the results here. In handling terms at least, it worked out for
the FZR.

Thank you for the offer Christo, but those are a little big for my ickle
Bandit rims.

 

Muck says...

I like them that much that I'll be fitting them to my GPZ500[1] soon.

[1] Project GPZ rebuild has taken dramatic leaps forward these past few
days. Forks have been rebuilt, new bottom yoke has been fitted along
with new steering head bearings, front end is all back together and
it's been dragged out of the bushes where it's been hiding for the last
2 years. I need to get new tyres, rebuild the brakes and get the
fairing painted the thrown on, replace the chain and sprockets, fit a
new exhaust and a couple of water pump gaskets and we're ready to roll.

 

Excellent, sounds like things are moving along. I was hoping that
someone on here had experience of the AMs though.