Avons on GPZ

Hi,

It's time for new tires on my '84 1100GPZ. I've been running Metzlers exclusively since I wore out the OEM tires and never tried anything else. I wish they made radials for the narrow rims that come on these old bikes and wonder if they ever will.
I use Avons on my '81 Ducati with good results. That bike doesn't seem to like Metzlers so I'm wondering how the feedback would be on anyone using Avons on our big old, KZ, skinny rim sportbikes. Any other recommendations are welcome for new tires.

Thanks for your opinions, folks.

Stephen

i was given the avons tip from a fellow member and found em online and delivered for a great pair price....i got the roadriders in a v rating...they were tubless and i run tubes so v-rating changes some but who cares......
soon after mounting em though i have a broken exh studd i'm dealing with and was just getting to trust em enough to try and push em so no real feedback yet......they are really grippy and steer noticably slower"deliberate" than what ive been used to on a kz...and they brake way strong.......i can actually feel them gripping at slow speeds......i love the pattern and profile and they look cool as hell......have not tossed em around much yet...maybe this week though.......my 2 cents

I ran roadrunners for quite a while. I really liked them, got way better mileage than the OEM tires.

I would use nothing But. I have been useing them for decades and they are the best. here is a link to my thread with a GPz1100 with Avons.
kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...w&catid=11&id=169462

I've got Avon Roadridar's and don't like them much. On sharp turns I can break the back tire loose at will with a twist of my right hand.
Mark

OK, great opinions. What about performance in the rain?
This is where the Metzlers always shined on the GPZ. I never had the Avons break loose like that on the Ducati, but then again, it has half the horsepower of the GPZ. In the rain, the Avons perform good on the Ducati, but another difference, it's got about seventy five lbs. less weight than the GPZ.

Ducati SD 900- 490 lbs, 53 horsepower, Avons

Kawasaki GPZ1100- 565 LBS, 120 horsepower. (108rwhp)? Metzlers

Stephen

I put 9000 miles on them last year on my GPz1100 and plenty of rain riding to and from work. As i mentioned before, I have been useing them since the late 70s Hawaii, California, Illinois. I never had a problem of any kind with them. I had them on KZ1300, Z1R, GPz1100, Z1, I will never use anything els. I have even riden them in the snow multiple times since I did not own a car untill 1984. I have been riding my first Z1R since 1978. Believe me when I tell you that Hawaii gets plenty of rain couple of days a week at minimum. I rode the avons on the 1300 and Z1R from 78/79 respectivly, to 1981 in Hawaii

otakar wrote:

Believe me when I tell you that Hawaii gets plenty of rain couple of days a week at minimum. I rode the avons on the 1300 and Z1R from 78/79 respectivly, to 1981 in Hawaii.

I do remember the off and on rain in Hawaii. We rented a Harley to ride to the Arizona Memorial during my honeymoon. 'Didn't seem right to ride there on a Japanese machine.
You make a good argument as to why use anything but Avons on the K, so I think I'm going to go for it. They do serve me well on the Ducati.

I have heard really good things about these tires so I guess my next set will for sure be a set of Avons. I heard that the Metzler Lazers were the best for rain riding and that they don't hydroplane. So I am under the assumption that these two brands are the tops of motorcycle tires. Everywhere I have heard great things about Avons. Thanks for repeating the info otokar.
PS I should get my bike back together by next week. But we are still riding every Sunday. I lost your number when my phone died so if you would like to get together and ride we have about 4-6 riders on any given Sunday. Perhaps we could all ride somewhere soon. This next weekend we will ride around Lake Michigan in to the upper peninsula where a colleague has a cabin we will spend the night there and if you are interested let me know.
For the rest of all you guys who live in Chicagoland area let's get together for some riding!

Old rubbers? Or just nasty motor pulling hard? My bike had the same problem with the dunlops I had on them but then they were fairly old and just looked new until I noticed they started cracking I replaced them. Man was it sure fun to break that back tire loose at 30 and smoke it especially round corners.
Mark Wing wrote:

I've got Avon Roadridar's and don't like them much. On sharp turns I can break the back tire loose at will with a twist of my right hand.
Mark

Every rubber will brake free after it is about 3 years old. That's when they get really fun. I run Avons on my Jaguar and my Bikes. The only time I do not run Avons is when I Have an all original bike and it must stay stock.

Guess I'm cross-threading this discussion, but my comment is about tires, just not Avons.

Will agree that Avons are superb. Used them alot on a Concours for handling. Just not too great for mileage, but they are fun. There is a trade-off for mileage or handling.

Question: Anyone tried Dunlop E3's on any of these older bikes. They are popular in the touring world like on Wings.

Thanks,
Roger