I have no idea about Avon Road Riders, but tires are too important to mess with. Get new ones asap!

 

Road Riders are a touring tire. I have run Avon Spirits on my T120 (on my third set) for three years now. An excellent tire - good grip wet or dry and they get reasonable mileage - 10-12,000km.

YMMV

G

 

I had a pair of Avon RoadRiders on my T100 for many miles. Great wearing tire, but not really a handling tire. Not a problem for me, as 100% of my riding is commuting on major highways. The biggest problem I encountered was "tramlining", following grooves on the roadway. Many of our California freeways are deeply rain grooved concrete.

When I finally replaced them, I am now running the new RoadRider Mk2, which heavily promoted that they have elimintated tramlining with the new design. I didn't really see how, as the tread design looks exactly the same.

It's worse with the new ones! The tramlining is abysmal. The bars dance around at speed, and they "squirm" on the freeways at lower speeds. Just something I am used to by now, I know it's not really a danger, just something to keep me awake on my commute. But not something I enjoy.

 

I had a pair of Avon RoadRiders on my T100 for many miles. Great wearing tire, but not really a handling tire. Not a problem for me, as 100% of my riding is commuting on major highways. The biggest problem I encountered was "tramlining", following grooves on the roadway. Many of our California freeways are deeply rain grooved concrete.

When I finally replaced them, I am now running the new RoadRider Mk2, which heavily promoted that they have elimintated tramlining with the new design. I didn't really see how, as the tread design looks exactly the same.

It's worse with the new ones! The tramlining is abysmal. The bars dance around at speed, and they "squirm" on the freeways at lower speeds. Just something I am used to by now, I know it's not really a danger, just something to keep me awake on my commute. But not something I enjoy.

This is my experience following ruts and getting upset by slight undulations looking at BT31 bridgestones to replace

 

@Roddster...

You might want to check the production date of the tires. When aged tires can get hard and less pliable.

For new tires look real hard at the Michelin Road Classics. Not cheap but they do everything right.

 

I've done well over 200,000 kilometres (125,000 miles) on my T100 and except for the initial set of Metzlers have always used Avon Roadriders. if they were rubbish I would not have continued using them.

I find they last and handle well until they reach about 80% worn, then handling gets a bit funny.
the front easily lasts over 50,000 ks and the rear anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 kilometres. the later MK II's seem to wear slightly quicker. I have a MK II on the rear with 15,000 ks and its nearly bald and have a spare ready to go.

one thing to note is check the age. I once bought one at a discounted price and found out it was ten years old. handled awful so got rid of it after persisting for about 8,000 ks.

 

Hi folks my experience is the same as you Bonza.
I only ride mostly on very tight windy local roads in the surrounding hills with a few sweepers in the mix, the roads are a mixed surface quality and I ride in wet and dry, cool (down to around 6 C and hot up to over 40 C).
My tyres are both front and rear always mostly worn to the outer edges, On the road I use almost the whole tyre and I have never had an issue with grip at speed at extreme lean angles.
The Avon Road Rider 2's handle very well and are quite durable as well in my experience.

Perhaps you have stock suspension, that does have certain limitations, or the tyre is old (can me old and newly fitted) and has gone hard?

Anyhow that is my experience, others may have a different experience.
I am usually always a Metzler or Michelin man on my other bikes but find the Avon Road Rider 2's well suited to my 2011 SE with Hagon Shocks and Tec steering damper etc........... I really do need to modify the front suspenders though

 

I normally get about 10,000kms max out of my tyres, but very little is straight line and I am not a small guy...think 5'10" Silverback with a paunch these days! I weigh over 110kgs.

 

I don't lean very far and do mostly straight line riding with my Roadriders mounted on a 290 lb bike. The rear wears quickly in the middle so I've been going to lower pressures each time I check it. It's a 110 rear on a slow, light bike and I'm currently running 26-28 psi to get more life out of it. Overheating isn't a problem on such a bike so those pressures are normal and it has about 10" of suspension travel to help save them from being easily damaged by potholes. On my Triumph 900, I'm using the Spirit ST radials which are better suited for it IMO and wear less in the middle.

 

I have had several sets on my Bonneville. Just recently put a RR front tire on. My experience is the same as Bonza and Dave - they are good tires. I'd advise you to check the production date and if thats ok then use them for a while. They are widely used and reviewed here.

 

You should check the production date. Surprised that hasn't been mentioned yet... 🤣

 

Post #5

 

I switched to Road Riders years ago. They made a Huge difference in handing. I thought I had found "The" tire for my Bonneville SE. I started to notice a little slip after the first winter. I wrote it off, thinking it may have been from riding in salt treated winter roads. I wore them out on fresh chip-seal roads in the Ozarks the following spring and bought a second pair.
The Bonneville became the secondary bike and I didn't put that many miles on her for about two years. Now I have 1/4 worn tires that I do not trust. My IMHO the rubber hardens quickly. Also, I have a friend with several classic BMWs that had a similar experience with RR.

 

I think this is the issue as well

 

Just a FYI about the RR's; they seem to like a higher pressure. Like others have said I can take mine to the edge of the tire and they feel great. I run mine 38fr and 40r PSI.

 

i shall try it next time I am out

 

Had a few sets and never had a problem. Always ran them slightly higher pressure. Have treck riders on now, bit viby but good. To be honest my riding is probably a bit less spirited these days so maybe that has something to do with it?