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Re: [St] New Avon Storms
- Subject: Re: [St] New Avon Storms
- From: JES_VFR <jes_vfr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:49:28 -0400
At 06:33 AM 9/10/2008, John wrote:
Shane,
Short story. You will love the performance of the Storms, but not
the mileage.
Well I beg to differ here John, as I got great mileage out of both my
sets of storms. Now I had them on my VFR. When I bought it had
dunflops, that felt like rock, chattered and wiggled in turns and
were scarey. The rear took a large nail at 600 miles and was replaced
with a Qualifier. It also felt like a rock, chattered and wiggled
like it was on oil in turns. I got about 400 on it and had the rear
slide badly while traversing a well banked off ramp (you know the
kind that are marked for 30mph, but banked so well that taking them
at 65 should be effortless. I ditched it quickly since I figured that
any tire that would slide in that curve when I only going 35 was
going to kill me.
I bought a set of Avon azaros, loved them and was getting great
mileage out of them (about 5000 at both ends and plenty of tread
left), when I got another nail, this one bent badly as was driven in
so the belt was bubbled on interior surface and the tire unpatchable.
I bought my first set Storms then and rode the heck out of them. I
mean I rode in everything with them without a complaint (even a
surprize snow storm).
I had nearly 9000 on the set when I again fell victim to nails (Okay
the front had a drywall screw in it, the back had two of those screw
nails for crates). I probably still had another 1500-2000 miles on
them though.
I'd have to check right now to see exactly what the mileage on the
storms on the VFR have right now (since it is sitting in the
warehouse at work waiting for parts from a hit an run).
But I can tell you this, I'm torn between putting another set of
Storms or a set of viper sports on my RC51. It really can't wait much
longer as the lazertec on the front is starting to slide and the
crappy (and too wide) shinko on the rear has me skidding the rear
tire up to every 6/10th effort stop.
Long story. I bought a pair of Storms and a pair of 021s for both
bikes last summer. I needed a rear on my Superhawk, put the Storm on
it, running off a Bridgestone 014 on the front. Liked the Storm
immediatley, enough to wonder how good the front will be, but I
doubt it will last 4000 miles. Spooned the 021s onto my RS earleir
this season. Like them alot. The RS came with 020s, and worked well
with them. A few years ago I got a real good deal on three pairs and
a couple extra rears of 010s, 012s, and 014s. Was fighting with the
RS the entire time, hate those, will never go back. At 22,000 miles
on the RS, I spooned on the 021s and changed the fork oil, and she
is back to normal. I thought the 021s were great...until yesterday.
I'll get back to that.
Finally ran off the front 014 on the Superhawk, put the new Storm on
it. Rode the bike for the first time on Sunday with Storms fore and
aft, albeit the rear is pretty worn. LOVE THEM!. Last night I washed
both bikes, and I take my bikes out for a little spin after washing
to "blow dry" them. I had had a conversation with a riding buddy
about brakes and braking on Sunday, so I did a little experiment.
First on the SH, on a secluded street in my neighborhood, I made
progressivley harder and harder stops, front brake only, from about
10mph or less. It didnt take long to get the rear tire in the air.
Now understand I am not a wheelie or stoppie guy, and stopping that
hard scares me, but I was trying to verify some things my friend had
said about braking in general over the weekend. This is the first
time I have ever raised the rear wheel off the ground, and we are
talking inches, not feet. I did it 3-4 times, same result each time,
launching a little
further each time. OK, enough abuse to the suspension. Went and
washed the RS. Took it out to blow dry. Tried the same thing.
Locked the front wheel and skidded. Thank God I was going slow.
After a few attempts, I finally got it's back tire up a few inches,
but what a difference. The Storms on the SH never lost traction or
squealed, it slowed, and when braking overcame inertia, back end
came off the ground. The 021s on the RS squealed, slithered, broke
traction, and when braking overcame inertia they would skid before
they raised the back end. And mind you, the RS has WAY better
brakes than the SH.
I've heard comments like this before about 'stones, which is why I'm
not anxious to try them.
I must admit that I am considering the Pirelli diablos as a second
choice for the RC51 as a street tire. I have ridden a set on a VFR
and was able to brake with the same confidence that the avons yield
on my big heavy, linked brake equipped VFR.
Is this a fair comparison? You tell me. Tires are the same size,
rims are the same size, bikes a within a few pounds of one another,
similar in scope,geometry, intended purpose. Yeah, wheelbase is a
bit longer on the RS, but its not a Goldwing...or a Hayabusa, for
that matter. Same stretch of pavement.
Anyway, that's my two cents for what it is worth, anyone else feel
free to chime in. I wanted to answer Shanes inquiry specifically,
but am curious as to other's opinions on my little experiment.
Shane, mileage wise, like I said, less than 4k on the rear Storm, no
data on the front. On 021s I would usually get 5k out of a rear, 7k
out of a front, or therabouts...
John
Shane, all I can tell you is this. My VFR is heavier than you
triumph, yet I ride it hard. It will lift the rear tire doing stops
all day long with no tire problems, and I have never slid the front
end with the Storms either.
And I get much better mileage out of my Storms than I ever did with a duncrap.
Is this an apples to apple comparison? No, but I feel it is a fair
evaluation of a tire intended for your bike and mine.
YMMV.
JohnS
A Dragon Ascending
"Forging my body in the Fires of my Will"
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