Tires?

I have Dunlop 501's on both of my Kaws. Have used them for several years. No problems. Tires are a personal choice to say the least. The Dunlops for me tend to wear a little faster but when the only thing between me and the emergency room is a small patch of rubber........tires become cheap.

I try to go for the harder compound as I don't drag my knee in corners and want more tire life. I've had very good luck with Bridgestone Spitfire's! Really good pricing as well.

arai59 wrote:

I have Dunlop 501's on both of my Kaws. Have used them for several years. No problems. Tires are a personal choice to say the least. The Dunlops for me tend to wear a little faster but when the only thing between me and the emergency room is a small patch of rubber........tires become cheap.

I agree definitely about tires being a personal choice. I used to run Dunlops also, as i think most of us did. Back in the 70s they were most of our choices some guys that wanted performance tires also used Michelines. This was because most people back than as now have never heard of Avon. When I started to race in 79 and tires started to let loose on me was when I discovered Avon. In Honolulu, Industrial park race track was very demanding and tires were critical. Dunlops just did not have what it took. To this day I find the Avons to be superior to most other tires. They are BY FAR the best kick for the buck for quality, durability, and reliability. The fact is that most people just have not herd of them. I use them on my 440hp supercharged jaguar as well as all bikes which I ride. The only bikes I have Dunlops on are the "Vintage Box Stock" machines which I still keep the factory tire treads on.

my avons were great at first and i do kinda push it...i had the front slide on me last week in a really fast sweeper,and re catch, and now the rear has been stepping out a few times....i have been good about keeping the tire pressures checked,my bike is running a bit rough and this may have somthing to do with the abrupt change mid corner...i am gonna keep an eye on them though and they are wearing very well for how much i ride.....this said they were a 9 and now my feeling is they change some ......7!!!!!

am gonna try another tire probably....great straight up fast to really fast riding tire though imo...very stable/smooth and long life.... and look great!!!

again i may be rating them different because of carbueration cleaning issues......will do maintenance an re post....

trianglelaguna wrote:

my avons were great at first and i do kinda push it...i had the front slide on me last week in a really fast sweeper,and re catch, and now the rear has been stepping out a few times....i have been good about keeping the tire pressures checked,my bike is running a bit rough and this may have somthing to do with the abrupt change mid corner...i am gonna keep an eye on them though and they are wearing very well for how much i ride.....this said they were a 9 and now my feeling is they change some ......7!!!!!

am gonna try another tire probably....great straight up fast to really fast riding tire though imo...very stable/smooth and long life.... and look great!!!

You were probably overdue on changing the air in your tires - try that and things may get better...

This is what Avons are famous for and why I like them. They will give you a warning, and maybe even a bit of a scare, before they let go and drop you on your ASS.

i have to say that it was the first front tire slide i have had while at a good boogie....since returning to kz's after a 20 yr break......it was a controlled feeling and caught right back,but was unintended to begin with.......i will make a melon note of your assesment...thanks...craigotakar wrote:

This is what Avons are famous for and why I like them. They will give you a warning, and maybe even a bit of a scare, before they let go and drop you on your ASS.

i ll play the odd man out and fess up that i m running chinese crap.....i put new springs and oil up front and
put a set of nos progressive suspension shocks and springs
in the rear....bike still handles like its on double pogo sticks compared to my 01 zx9r....tires work in conjunction with a decent suspension....the best rubber will buy ya some, but these bikes back in the day were never known for their stellar handling characteristics...i ride the bike for what it is and was....great in a straight line, cruising, and a little spirited cornering..and i mean a little.....i could nt justify the money for super rubber
on a bike that just didnt handle that well right from the crate.....just my useless .02.......

i'm no new tire guy till i went with the avons...i went faster on old switched brands/cheng sheng/run what it came with---tires than on my adult minded matching set avons for sure:woohoo:


in my age i've decided to try and make the next bench mark...not that tires are gonna be any deciding factor....buying the avons was like skipping salt once in a while:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

Well I found a nail in my rear Metzler. It was getting close to need replacement any how. Found the Bridgestone Battlax at Road Rider, SJ with the proper size and reduced on price.

Although the front tire is not worn out it is 4 years old Same for the rear.

I'll report back how I like them once I get some miles on them.

My Avon Roadrunners now have about 8,000 on them and are still in fantastic shape. They are 2 years old. I expect to get most likely another 8-10K out of them before they require replacing.