Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: jartist on March 13, 2013, 04:48:05 am
-
Almost as bad as oil threads! ;D Anyhow, I've been running K70s but I'm not happy with how fast the rear tires wear out (about 3k miles). So I dug out my stock rear Avon Safety Mileage tire and tried it with the 3.25" k70 front. The match is really great. Very neutral steering, light effort carving of turns and no understeer or wash outs that the speedmaster front tire did. I'm expecting to get about 10k miles out pf the rear and 7k out of the front.
-
That stock front Avon Speedmaster looks great on a show bike but few people like them. The rear isn't the stickiest but has a good lifespan.
I think you hit on a good combo. It's ok to match a sticky front with a less sticky rear but not the other way around. The idea being it's better to lose the rear than the front if you get to the limit. Plus now the rear life should match the front better.
The C5's Avon Road Riders are pretty good tires and mine still look good after nearly 12,000 miles. Still, I'll be trying the Bridgestone Battlax BT45s when these are done. They're supposed to be great in the wet and I'd like to see if they're better.
Scott
-
Well, this helped make up my mind with my tire decisions when I get home.
Glad to hear this combo works well.
-
i had the bt45s on my 06 bonneville. rear went 10k miles, front was still decent.
-
Will the 19inch tire conversion for C5's with the early fork not the new one like the B5's have help stabilize my 2011 C5 at speeds above 65 just in case I decide to hit the interstate? I had to ride due to a family emergency on the interstate for some distance and I didn't enjoy it. I wouldn't like the interstate anyways but would be less hectic if I had better control. Ok so if it will then what would be the better choices for a tire for the 19 inch conversion? Any certain brand have better control?
-
I don't know if it will help with the stability issues or not but if you change rims/tires, avoid that grooved SpeedMaster.
It is the kind of tire tread that was commonly used back in the '50's but they don't provide very good traction.
Maybe that was OK back when a 380 pound motorcycle had 6 inch drum brakes on them but with today's brakes and the speeds we commonly ride those tires leave a lot to be desired.
-
I don't know if it will help with the stability issues or not but if you change rims/tires, avoid that grooved SpeedMaster................those tires leave a lot to be desired.
+1 on that !
Also those grooved tires are hazardous on interstate super-slab with rain-grooves raked into the concrete.
-
.........Any certain brand have better control?
I really like the Dunlop K-70 on the front. It burns out too quickly on the back, but, it is fine up front.
-
Plus One Gremlin !
-
The ribbed Avon Skidmasters should be banned. I don't even understand why they are still made. Must be extremely cheap to OEMs
Bare
-
The grooved Avon supplied on the RE's looks just like the grooved Avon's that are shown on the front of most of the old BSA's, Triumph's, Velocettes, Matchless's and other British bikes photos from the 1950's. They are a classic design.
Of course, back in the 1950's, 60 mph was the speed limit on the high speed turnpikes in the USA and was probably way over any legal speeds in the UK so maybe the grip wasn't as important as it is now.
-
And that's where they shine best, on a vintage show bike on the concourse.
Scott
-
Jartist, I was thinking of trying the combo you have on your bike, but I wasn't sure if it would handle well. Thanks for the post, I'm ordering A K70 for the front. cochi
-
So do u guys recommend getting the OEM Avons off right away, or ride them till worn? I haven't fallen off a bike since I was about 19 and have no wish to revisit that day. 650 Triumph with knobbies on pavement! Was I smart or what? Okay....or what...
-
In my humble opinion, replace the Avon Deathmasters as soon as you can.
-
In my humble opinion, replace the Avon Deathmasters as soon as you can.
+1
-
Motorcycle Superstore's "Semi-annual tire sale":
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1291/MNGR/Tires.aspx?SiteID=em_03_18_EST_Semi-Annual-Tire-Sale&WT.mc_ID=36456&WT.i_e_dcsvid=341470028
They often have restrictions, but perhaps its worth a look...
-
+1 I'd trust the knobbies a long time before the Skidmasters. Mine put me off a cliff at 2500 miles! The sooner you can dispose of them, the better.
Bare
-
I am not a big student of Avon tyres. Usually have used Michellins on the scoots. They were quite good. I also always seem to get a lot more miles out of them than other people, but I didn't ride at really hi speeds and bend corners except once in a while. The 2012 C5 I jsut bought looks like it has been ridden marder than I normally do based on tyre wear, but I am not sure what I should be seeing. How long do these tyres normally last? And no, they are not the horizontally grooved tyres I think you guys are talking about.
-
C5s come with Avon Roadrider AM26 tires stock, it should say Roadrider on the sidewall. At 11,600 miles the center groove in the rear is almost gone. The front still has plenty of tread.
Scott
-
I replaced my front with the same Avon tire last summer with 9k on the clock...I just ride country roads, no bridge grates and pretty much keep it at 45 -60 mph ...I currently have 10 k on my 06 iron and my rear should make it another 5-7k ... I haven't done long ventures on it (anything over 100 miles round trip) and the Avon have served me well for what I expect of them...If I was riding where their cliffs, dropoffs on curves or rode in a aggressive riding style than I would reconsider and put something sticker on. The Avons are definitely a hard tire and I keep the pressure up around 28-30 psi..Never had a flat (knock on wood)...I can tell u that the front tire was a PIA to replace using 2/3 spoons. If I did go with k70's I would take the tire/rim combo off and have the tire changed at the local bicycle shop.....GM
-
Motorcycle Superstore's "Semi-annual tire sale":
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1291/MNGR/Tires.aspx?SiteID=em_03_18_EST_Semi-Annual-Tire-Sale&WT.mc_ID=36456&WT.i_e_dcsvid=341470028
They often have restrictions, but perhaps its worth a look...
Thanks! I took a look at my tires and the rear is worse than I thought so it's time for new ones. This will save me a good bit of cash!
Scott
-
In my humble opinion, replace the Avon Deathmasters as soon as you can.
Okay...wiil do. Thx!
-
Okay...wiil do. Thx!
Anytime Gypsyjon ! Anytime.
-
I've grown an interest in Avon AM43 Distanzia.
Has anyone real life experience with these tyres (19" wheels)?
-
i had the bt45s on my 06 bonneville. rear went 10k miles, front was still decent.
What did you think of them in the wet? I end up riding the rain a lot. The AM26s are ok in the wet but not great.
Overall the AM26s are pretty good but they've never been confidence inspiring at high lean angles. They stick but maybe the feedback just isn't that great, feels a little weird. Also, it's very easy to lock the rear. That's probably also a function of the rear drum brake. It's adequate but the feel on it is pretty wooden. I try to use the front for most of the braking while just touching the rear, more to keep the bike composed than to provide stopping force.
Scott
-
BT45s on the way!
-
This will save me a good bit of cash!
Maybe... hopefully! They print a flashy ad, but the fine print often reveals how few models they're actually giving discounts on...
What did you think of them in the wet? I end up riding the rain a lot. The AM26s are ok in the wet but not great.
Overall the AM26s are pretty good but they've never been confidence inspiring at high lean angles. They stick but maybe the feedback just isn't that great, feels a little weird. Also, it's very easy to lock the rear. That's probably also a function of the rear drum brake. It's adequate but the feel on it is pretty wooden. I try to use the front for most of the braking while just touching the rear, more to keep the bike composed than to provide stopping force.
Scott
I suppose it's experience that would allow somebody to answer these types of questions - something which have virtually none of. Wondering how one determines how good a tire is in the wet, or leaning into corners, besides falling down? It's hypothetical, don't answer.
-
I have AM26's on my G5 and have rode in the rain and on snow and ice with them and found them to perform very well. They are very predictable in the canyons and DO provide good feedback. The only problem I have encountered was recently when caught in a downpoor, alot of mud washed on to the road and I lost traction just backing off the throttle . Quite scary but I choose to believe any STREET tire would have broken loose in THAT snake snot ! Granted they don't perform like K70's because they are a completely different type of tire. I don't mind spending a few dollars more for them for the sole fact that they last twice as long as the Dunlop's.
-
Point taken, Jack! Problem is, the K71's look so gosh-darn cool...
-
They most certainly do ! I love them but just got wore out replacing them.
-
So luck was on my side. I got the BT45s, new tubes, and free shipping. It totalled to $210, a bargain for sure! I forgot to get some decent tire irons so I guess I'll get those locally. Harbro Freigt has a 24" one for about $6. The AM26s are a beast to remove so a couple of those is probably a good idea.
I find the AM26s seem to stick well enough, they just don't feel right to me. Never have. We'll see if the BT45s are any different.
Scott
-
Scott - excellent! You will, I know, let us know how you like the tires. I'm going to change my tires one of these days - I got a couple of extra tire irons for the job. 14 inches of new snow overnight, though, so... :( (last year on this day, here in Maine it reached 80 deg. :o )
-
The SpeedMasters on the G5/B5 come off pretty easily, but the RoadRiders on the C5 are a monster to get off! I gave up and took it to my mechanic. He's got all the tools including a giant stand that clamps the rim and great tire irons, and he said it was a total pain! You are warned! ;)
Scott
-
I'll "videotape" the job - maybe I could win a "America's Funniest Home Videos" prize!
-
DO NOT videotape! It only guarantees that bad things will happen and you will get hurt. It's just like saying, "Hey! Watch this!" It never ends well :(
-
Hence the "America's Funniest Home Videos" prize...
-
No matter how big the prize it better to be the one watching than winning ;)
-
Hence the "America's Funniest Home Videos" prize...
Just make sure you're wearing a cup!
-
Did the dumbest thing last night, tried to change my own tires. I've done this before many times on many bikes but when you're mechanic says it's tough getting the AM26s off the Enfield rims, listen to him!
I did manage to get the rear off (took over an hour using 24" tire irons) and I got the new BT45 half way on and got the tube in, but I called it at that point. I started trying to get the other side on and realized I was just going to spend a lot of time pinching a tube and pissing myself off. I dropped it at the shop this morning to finish and he said he'd balance it as well. I'll drop the front off tomorrow and let him do the whole job on that one. I said he could keep the tire irons, I'm sure I'll never need them again :)
When I was young I cracked two '63 Corvette windshields before I realized that's just not something I should do. Same with moto tires from now on.
Scott
-
make sure you let us know how those tires work out for you. I'm still back and forth and can't decide what tires to get. so unfortunately I'm still riding with the original tires.
-
They should be on in the next day or two and then I just need to change the chain and sprockets and get some miles on them. If you can wait another week or so I'll have some info for you.
Scott
-
that sounds great. I've got a trip to florida (from north carolina) then from florida to michigan and then back to north carolina. so it's safe to say that my bank account can definitely wait a few weeks! ha. I look forward to what you have to say about them.
-
Well, at least, you won't be spending all that bank account on gas!
Bare
-
make sure you let us know how those tires work out for you. I'm still back and forth and can't decide what tires to get. so unfortunately I'm still riding with the original tires.
+1
-
I said he could keep the tire irons, I'm sure I'll never need them again :)
Man, I've found a lot of great uses for tire irons, and it ain't changin' tires. They are great general use levers. They can pop a head off a thumper in short order! And sprockets and other tight bits! Aligning Motor Mount bolts on aircraft engines, Etc,Etc. Sho' wouldn't give mine away!
Bare
-
I'm getting old and grumpy enough to now realize just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. If I need a 2' long pry bar it probably falls in my shouldn't column.
Scott
-
Man, I've found a lot of great uses for tire irons, and it ain't changin' tires. They are great general use levers. They can pop a head off a thumper in short order! And sprockets and other tight bits! Aligning Motor Mount bolts on aircraft engines, Etc,Etc. Sho' wouldn't give mine away!
Bare
I only have one left, and would NEVER consider using it on a tire...
-
"Almost as bad as oil threads..." If you have threads in your oil, something is badly wrong, and it has nothing to do with your tires. On the tire thang, rain grooves suck for any tire, and rain grooves on the SF Bay Bridge mean you (I) have a wicked cross wind at the same time. I have the new (I think) stock Road Riders and not the grooved Speed/Skid/Death Masters that started this conversation. Still a big wobble. I think half of it was the wind, the other half was the groove/tire combination, and the third half that my Bay Bridge two-wheeled commutes in the past were on a Moto-Guzzi Ambassador. She was much, much, heavier. (RIP dear old friend). I'm diggin' my new ride, but need to learn the bridge on a lighter bike.
-
I had the AM26 RoadRiders stock last time I crossed the GG and SF Bay bridges. Not the greatest but manageable. I always noticed the tiniest hint of a shimmy on grooved pavement, I think it's the wiggly center groove on the tires.
I hate having a center groove on a front tire but there were no tires I could find at the time that were in the sizes I wanted and good in wet weather that didn't have them. Oh well. Conti is coming out with a new tire soon that's meant for older bikes that take bias ply sizes and is also good in the wet with no center groove. I may get that next time if these don't work out.
Scott