The other ones I'm looking at are Michelin....but I don't know if I should go with Pilot Road 3, Pilot Power or Pilot Street?
I'm a pretty basic rider. I don't think I've ever broken 60mph, mostly riding to work and cruisin around on the weekends. No highways, more curvy roads or farm country roads.
I want something sticky, because I've always felt like my stock ones slipped a bit and going where I go, it's not uncommon for water to be in the road on a turn or loose gravel, so something with good handling is probably highest priority.
I don't mind buying new tires every 7k-10k miles because that gets me 3-4 years anyways with how little I get out.
So handling, comfort and wear in order of importance.
I'm kind of in the same boat Gripweed. I'm just a cruiser, but I want the tires to stick on curvy roads. And there are a bunch where I live and ride. I looked and looked, and I've decided on the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II. I kinda wanted the Avons.....brit tire on a brit bike....but saw enough negative reviews to give it second thought.
Range of sizes...
I've read that a 150/70 fits. I've heard some say it adversely affects the bike when initiating a curve, and I've heard they help. I figured I'd go for the 140/80 in the rear
I saw someone had 120 on the front and liked how it lifted the bike up a bit and that sounds interesting to me.
I just talked to a triumph dealer and they said rule of thumb is 10....so if the rear is 130 I could do 120 or 140...150 might be pushing it...but I see people doing it fairly often on here.
You should measure the front to see if a 120 would fit in there. I don't think it would on my T100 with the 19" front wheel. The sidewalls of the stock 100/90 are pretty close to the fender bolts already
The Storm 2's have been redesigned into the Storm 3D-XM's... I have ridden exclusively on the Storm's for the last 3 years or so... LOVE THEM! They are the only tire to give me ANY real mileage on the rear of my Monster (140whp/82wtq!) and handle great. I have beaten the snot out of them and only squirm when stone cold on the Thruxton (even with the higher HP/TQ it has from the engine work) and barely squirm hot, on the Monster if I give it full throttle leaned over!
I have yet to install a 3D-XM but have one in my possession and I am sure they will perform just as well even though they tout extra mileage on them..........
My wingman is running a 150 on the rear on the stock wheel no problem and runs it as hard as any Bonne has been run! I have wider forged wheels so I don't count as far as sizes go... :grin2:
I installed Avon Roadriders about a month ago. I like them so far. As an everyday rider, durability slightly outweighed performance. Time will tell I suppose. My other option would have been Bridgestone Battlax.
I wish there were more choices (stock size) for the spoke rim models.
I like the Pirelli Sport Demons. I've been running those since I burned off the stock Metzlers in 09. The Pirelli's come in the stock sizes and are grippy in everything I've thrown at them. I ride year round and in all conditions. I'm happy with tire wear and even when they wear down in the middle from communing they maintain more of rounded curve instead of an edge.
Bridgestone T30's for my Newchurch once I've worn out the stock Metzelers. It means fitting 150/70ZR17 on the rear, but enough riders on here have proved that size works. I've seen one or two posts from riders who fitted T30's and they were pretty pleased with them.
As far as going up a size, I've fitted my Bonnie SE with Avon Distanzia dual sport tires. Very grippy in the twisties, and should handle the dirt roads nicely. I went from the stock size 110/70/17 to 120/70/17 up front, and from stock 130/80/17 to 140/80/17 n the rear. Personally, I wouldn't want to go any wider than this on my Bonnie.
Funny that you've read negative reviews about Avon Roadriders. I did quite a bit of research before updating my stock tyres on my T100 and came to the conclusion that Avon's were considered one of the best for the Bonneville.
And having done a few hundred miles on them I think they're great. But, I'm only comparing them to the previous stock Metzler's, which I thought were crap.
When choosing my new tyres it was between the Avon's and Dunlop Roadmaster 2, but they don't make these in the stock 130mm wide rear and 100mm front. Having said that I gather that the Dunlop 150mm rear and 110mm front widths are not an issue.
I have a pair of Roadriders in the garage waiting to go on wife's mag wheel Bonnie. They are what they have always been, but the fads do evolve. For the price I think they are a great choice for a non-track rider.
Just put another AvonRR on the rear of my bike i went for the 140 over the previous 130. Im finding a good improvement with the bigger tyre but they have all done me well for mileage and ride.
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