Avons or Pirelli Diablos

[Bob Pinder]

Dunno what to do currently have 020's which are coming to the end.
Spoken to a few knowledgeable peeps (and a few unknowlegeable ) and still cant make me mind up.
What do I do:dunno:

 

[Wolfie]

just changed mine about month ago , ended up with 020 again cause i needed them the next day, and the avons would that a couple of days to get. but the next time i think i will try them out.

 

[Geoff James]

Hi Bob

The special Bridgestones aren't available in NZ, so have never tried them. However, the Avons are superb. Apart from the well-documented tread pattern weave at walking pace (which now seems to have disappeared), I can't fault them.

They've retained an even wear pattern on the front tyre. The old Dunlop D220 triangled off and my theory is that the casing construction wasn't sufficiently rigid for the mass of the 'bird.

That's my two cent's worth. Hey ho, only 5 hours to knock-off and the weekend.:yo:

Cheers

Geoff

 

[Keith Stubbington]

Dunlop 208

Hiyah Bob, just had a Dunlop 208 rear fitted, cos from new the bike had 205s, I got 6.5k out of it and had no problems. Trevor at TT Motorcycles charged ?104 not a bad price I thought
:lick:

 

[ZedBird]

4th place - tried an Avon. 8000kms but never felt entirely comfortable with it. Don't know why... probably only in my mind, but nevertheless didn't form a relationship with it.

3rd place - did 2 tours on 020s. Great tyre but dated and not at their best in the wet when over half worn.

2nd place - Did 6500kms on a Diablo. Great tyre again. Felt confident and safe and handling was good. A little stickier than the others, which explains the shorter lifespan. I would buy again.

1st place - did 9500kms on a Pilot Road and didn't slip once. Good in dry and wet. Great tyre. My favorite

 

[ZedBird]

4th place - tried an Avon. 8000kms but never felt entirely comfortable with it. Don't know why... probably only in my mind, but nevertheless didn't form a relationship with it.

3rd place - did 2 tours on 020s. Great tyre but dated and not at their best in the wet when over half worn.

2nd place - Did 6500kms on a Diablo. Great tyre again. Felt confident and safe and handling was good. A little stickier than the others, which explains the shorter lifespan. I would buy again.

1st place - did 9500kms on a Pilot Road and didn't slip once. Good in dry and wet. Great tyre. My favorite

 

[D.S.]

Bob, you know my thoughts (for what they're worth)

but my experience is limited to the Diablos on a Fazer 1000 and/or R1. Never tried 'em on the Bird. I wouldn't go for the Corsa's though;at least not this time of the year! I rode an SP1 yesterday with Corsa's on it and it nearly let go at the rear on several occasions :h

I used to get about 5/6k miles out of a rear 020 on the bird and I get about the same from the Diablo on the Fazer, but the Diablo offers far more adhesion in the wet and dry (no doubt :t )

I'm gonna try the Pilots next; they come well recommended.

 

[D.S.]

Dunno who told you that, but they must've have been pissed at the time!

I am "shite" when compared to the company I keep these days, which is tough to accept after 23 years of riding, but I'm learning quickly :-:

 

[mal 97]

Bob, you ought to try the Avon av45/46 ST and make your own
mind up. on my sept 02 bird i punctured the rear dunlop at around 2k miles and then stuck an 020 on the rear. these lasted til 8k when i stuck a set of avons on and the bike handles really well. i am on my third set of st's now and am really pleased with them. the last front was changed after 12k still not worn out and the rear lasted 6.6K and that included a track day and 4.5k of touring two up with luggage. cant complain at that. at the end of the day people ride differently so whats good for me may not be good for u, but u will never know if u dont give them a go.


MAL.

 

[1200Pete]

So what did ya go for Bob? :dunno:

 

[Bubba]

Getting some diablo's for me Mille tomorrow. They come Highly reccommended.

I had the ST35/36 Avons on me bird and they was good in the dry buy I wasn't happy with their performance in the wet, felt like they was going to break away on every corner.

 

[1200Pete]

Never ever put ST35/36 Avons on any bike :t

Diablo are probably a good choice for a Mille, def better than what you had on ya Bird anyway :yo:

 

[1200Pete]

Maybe this will help you make your mind up.

I cam across some old track day photos of me and Cruser at Snetterton, the camera has actually cought the tread pattern of each tyre. I was using a Bridgstone 020 and Cruser was on the Avon ST.
The interesting point here is the tread footprint of the Avon compared to the Bridgstone is shown to be larger and by quite a cosiderable margin, just as they say it is in there blurb.

 

[1200Pete]

And the Avon :bow:

 

[1200Pete]

.

 

[1200Pete]

And the bridgstone again

 

[Samster]

LOL - like it Pete...................you have a point, although less pressure has the same effect on the footprint!

Whatever anyone does, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not run D208R's or any Dunlop for that matter............they are totally dangerous and should be banned, came as standard fit on my 12R - some bloke was selling a PAIR at AllyPally for ?123!! And that's a 200section rear - says it all really.

 

[1200Pete]

Both tyre were checked before each session by the same gauge, it's also the same corner at about the same speed (although I was probably slightly quicker than Cruser :f ) The bikes are at very slightly different angles, but I still think it's a good demonstration.

 

[Bob Pinder]

Lumpy - so whats wrong with Avon RoadRunners?

 

[Bob Pinder]

Haven't made my mind up yet but...........

It looks like I'll be knocking on the door of Mr Avon though