Avon Storn ST Tires

I am getting the new Avon Storm ST tires on my VFR on Fri. I did check out the Michelin Pilot Powers and Pilot Road 2 CT tires (GREAT TIRES). I am not trying to start a debate - rather a report on how the tires performed and feel to me on a VFR. I do a lot of highway winter/summer commuting and freeway riding, and I get caught in the rain a lot in NYC. I have used Avons before and found them to be good tires, but they seemed to wear fast. I am not putting my VFR on the track so my evalaution on the tires are going to be something or an Urban Rider review - tires will need to be able to deal with consturction, rain, cold, wet uneven pavement, rain on blacktop (asphalt) and other hazzards. Anyone who has used Avon tires on thier bike (VFR), and now have different tires please let me know how the Avon tires you had performed on your VFR. Sorry, I do not mean to sound discriminatory, but I only care about how the tires perform on the VFR and nothing else.

 

emon7:

I found myself in a similar, but different situation. I moved from Maryland to Delaware were my corner carving time was greatly reduced. Delaware has pretty straight roads. However, when I purchased the 97, I wanted tires that could take alot of straight riding wear, but still grip well in the corners.

My research brought me to the Metzler Z6's. So far I have close to 5,000 miles on them and they have been great. And the cornering grip is damn good too! That is, once they are warmed up. DON'T get aggresive until after some riding time...they will slide LOL! Trust me. I've pushed the front a couple times. Other than the warm up time I am impressed at how they have performed. I don't think 8,000 miles will be unreasonable to expect...possibly even more.

And when I do get my times to get into Southern PA to carve corners, I have had no problems. Good tire.

Side note: In the wet, they work well too. But the usual slippery hazards like painted lines, wet man hole covers, etc. will still get you. On my way to coach the BRC one morning, in which it was raining, I cut a corner too sharp and caught the last six inches of a big white painted stop line and WEEEE the front slid all the way to the asphalt and once it hit the wet asphalt the front tire hooked right up with no problems. I did not roll off the throttle when it happened so I am sure that helped...although I was a bit stunned with that small adrenaline rush LOL!

Also I have a friend who runs pilot powers and he liked the Z6's too when he rode my bike.

I know they are not Avon's, but I thought I would share since you are in a similar situation.

My two cents.

BZ

 

Hey Bubba - Thanx for the post. Your tire review is exacty what I was referring to . Regardless of manafacturers promotions or everyone thinking there is only one best anything - it is always better to get first hand information and also to do your own testing in a real environment. I checked with the supplier and my tires should be in tomorrow. I have a big weekend coming up - riding to Pa and Poughkeepsie this weekend. I should have some information on the tires performance on the highway, various routes and streets.

 

I think the Storm's are going to be the choice for the coast-to-coast-to-coast trip this summer. XX has them on his BMW and has liked them so far. I'm getting ready to throw a set on the the Blackbird to evaluate before the trip.

I've ridden the storms a few time on the K12 and they feel quite nice. We hit some rain last week, XX had no slipping issues on the Storms while my Pilot Road's were being pretty darn squirrelly...

After the trip in June I'll post on the ultimate torture test.

 

No problem!

 

I got my Avon Storm tires and I could not be happier. I did not know the exhaust had to be removed to install the tire on the rear. I went to a shop that does sportbikes only. At the shop I found out that my chain is stretched and my brake pads are worn (I paid a shop and had those things checked 2 weeks ago when my bike was in the shop to have a new clutch installed - I do not trust the clutch work now). Anyway, I do not recommend Camrod MotorSports in Manhattan, NY to anyone in the NYC Tri-State area or anyone anywhere else on the planet. I also found out my front wheel is off and needed a lot of weights to balance the tire. I got the tires on the bike on Sat and there were some lite showers so I did not push the bike (still had plenty of the slippery silica stuff on the tires). I had to go to Poughkeepsie on Sun. to coach at a Lee Parks Advanced Rider Clinic. That is a 2 hour ride or so from my house in Queens. It was wet and misty rain in Queens, NY when I headed out on Sun morning. The tires still needed to be scruffed which is somethng I was gonna have to do on the highway - yikes. I was going to be doing some of the demo rides at the clinic (you know I was nervous about having new tires and having to do Transitions on a range that is wet with people watching me). I live about 1 1/2 miles from the highway and the tires felt ok so far. I got on the highway and just said the heck with it and rode pretty much like always (I am not a very aggressive rider). The tires felt good on asphalt, cement and broken up concrete and when I checked my speed on the highway I was at 70mph. Again I said what the heck. By the time I got to the Triborough bridge there was a light shower and the bike still felt good. I was running between 70 - 80mph with no problems. I was hitting curves at 60 - 70 and leaning into the turns with no problem. This is why I wanted the Avon tires - they were doing exactly what I wanted. Superior street performance and great wet weather handling without letting air out of the tires and running at the wrong pressure (like some people do - whatever makes your boat float). While I was still in a light shower on the highway I hit a road construction area and wet groved pavement - no problem maintaining my speed at a little over 70mph. The bike felt steady on the wet groved pavement even in turns. Most of the my ride to Poughkeepsie is on the Sprain & Taconic Highway which are nice four lane highways with plenty of curves and cagers going 80 - 90mph. By the time I hit the Taconic I was grinning ear to hear with a lot of confindence in the Avon Storm ST tires. I do not want to say how fast I was going but I was passing cars. I got to Rt 55 which is curvy and is also one of those two lane Routes with the threat of deer and long endless curves. I never ride this rode well at all and it was a little damp so I gues my reptile brain took over and I rode through at 50 - 60 very cautiously out of habit I guess - the bike felt good. The clinic went well and rain was a slight but negible factor - the riding range is a large parking lot at a college. The range is asphalt and has good pitch but the light showers and misty rain had left some small puddles. The Avon tires do warm up quickly and I felt confindent on the riding range. I was able to bust out transitions with no problem and at knee dragging leans. The trip back home was pretty much the same except for some reason I always seem to ride Route 55 better going home (the curves are mostly to the left maybe that is why). I was able to maintain speeds between 70 - 80 on Route 55 going home (Thank you Avon because I have never rode Route 55 that well with that much confindence). Anyway, I want to do some more riding on the tires, but so far I like them so much I gotta write Avon about how great they perform. I understand and know that there are some great and fantastic tires out there and people who know much more than me about tires and suspension. All I can do is tell you what feels good and safe to me for the type of riding I do and the types of roads I ride on. I am not knocking anyone else or any other tires choice. After running Bridgestones, Dunlops and Conti on a VFR I must say that I am happy with my tire purchase. I am not interested in debating about tires and only care if anyone else is interested in getting Avon tires or is running Avon Storm tires. One thing is for sure the Avon Storm tires run really great on my VFR for all purpose street and highway driving.

 

Emon:

Glad the Avon's are working!

I just came from a site that sells them and they seem like really good tires.

If you don't mind me asking? How much did they set you back?

BZ

 

Hey Bubba, I got my Avon tires locally and was raped to the tune of $300.00 for the set of tires and $86.00 to install and balance the tires. I really needed the tires right away (one day turnaround to get the tires), and was also able to get a free chain check and lube and also got a good check of the bike from the guys at the shop. I did check on the web and found them cheaper, but some places have them listed for sale online, but they are on backorder. You can check http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/AVON/avon_mc_tires.htm , they have them listed for $240.00. I am not sure if they charge for shipping. Let me know how things work out. I am very happy with my tires selection and purchase. I will let you know more when I do more riding.

 

Keep us posted about your Avon tires. I am a bit intrigued myself if they would be great for me. I have been running this pair of Michelin Pilot Powers and I have accumulated so far 5100 miles on them. Yes, I need to replace them now since my tread wear indicator are almost flush.

I sometimes wish I had two sets of wheels since I like to tour and love to rail the corners.