Got one eye on it....

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

I ride my Avon Cobras year round here in Idaho. I don't have any confidence issue in winter riding. I go out a few times in winter at 0c (32f) or colder for only short rides like 25 miles or less, but mostly wait for slightly warmer rides at 7c (45f) for rides of 50 miles or more.

 

[Tripps]

I never noticed any issue either, beyond normal caution at freezing temperatures

 

[BigNorm]

I run a 180 Excedra Max up front and a Yokohama ct on the rear. Both look new with close to 10k miles on them. I don't recommend the ct for over 90 mph. The highway patrol doesn't recommend those speeds on public roads no matter what tires you run.

 

[barbagris]

Great stuff thanx Barbagris....that's the kind of info i'm looking for...
Yesterday when i set off to go get my dyno done, it was -3c...F***en cold!...it had warmed to a 3c when i arrived an hour later!
Do you think it may be a tad cold for the Avon to be at it's best?...cheers

Depends where the bike sleeps and whether you stopped long. But that is getting chilly. Ice is Ice - it forms habitually at zero. Where I work is a good few degrees colder all year than where I live. A couple of bends there see no sun at all for 4 months a year. And they can be white frosted over even if airtemps are 4-5°C. It's like the whole permafrost idea. Air changes temp far quicker than the ground. I ride all year (unless there is snow or serious ice) but not those bends in winter.

The Avons will warm up - And do retain heat quite well. But of course if you stop parked in a cold puddle they'll chill and if it's 3 below and it slept outside in 5 or 6 below or less there is a goodly amount of steel and rubber to warm up. It just requires more patience with the right hand until they're warm.

A while ago when I still visited the German forum there was a marked split. Northern favoured Metzler - Southern favoured Avons. And it was always put down to cold weather grip up North.

I have ridden the R3 with Metzlers on iced over roads - unintentionally. They gripped-just! including a hairpin or two. I was 8 years younger, and I will stop and call the AA if it happens again. Yes! - I am an old wuss. But a still intact (for the most part) wuss.

 

[Tal]

Thanks for that....The bike is in storage overnight and i warmed her up b4 setting off...tell you what tho, wasnt long b4 i stopped and put my winter gloves on, trouble is they are very bulky arnt they?...pain in the butt is better than cold hands tho i guess!
I have had Metzelers on the front of my last 4 bikes and found them to be satisfactory as far as grip in the wet goes.Of course in icy conditions my riding style changes to a placid wander really so havnt had concerns with them.
Both my Roadsters have worn the tyre on one side and its not till now that i have considered changing the make...hence the questions.
On my Storm they wore evenly and i replaced the rear way before i had to replace the front, like two to one.
So, i appreciate the input from those who have used other makes....another reason why this forum is a good one. Thanx team.

 

[1olbull]

I have the stock Metzeler tyre on the front.It's the original tyre since i got the bike new and have done just over 8000kms on it.
The Metz is doing the normal wear on one side thing but it looks highly likely that i will be replacing it long before i replace the rear tyre which is a Bridgestone Exedra Max....
I'm thinking i might get 9000km-10000kms out of it but find it surprising that its wearing quicker than the rear....
I run 38lb in it. I'm finding myself searching for an alternative front and keep swinging back to the Avon from reading through these pages.
I know some of you guys get bloody huge mileage out of your tyres but not me.....

FYI -

HTH

 

[barbagris]

Thanks for that....The bike is in storage overnight and i warmed her up b4 setting off...tell you what tho, wasnt long b4 i stopped and put my winter gloves on, trouble is they are very bulky arnt they?...pain in the butt is better than cold hands tho i guess!.

If you habitually ride in the cold/wet - I would very much suggest "muffs". I remember @idk saying he was riding about with just summer gloves inside his.

I have tried but I cannot get to grips with not being able to see the switchgear. Found a compromise in BarkBusters BBZ. And I leave them on all year now. I know others have use protectors from a Triumph Tiger to effect. I simply do not need winter gloves now - waterproof-yes but insulated-no.

I was looking at some muffs made by Tucano Urbano - the levers are inside but the switches visible. tbh I decided against on aesthetics - I know, I know.........

 

[Tal]

i HAVE "Merino" liners sitting in my pocket...those inside my normal gloves do a great job but didnt even think about them!!duh!

 

[Journeyman]

I have the stock Metzeler tyre on the front.It's the original tyre since i got the bike new and have done just over 8000kms on it.
The Metz is doing the normal wear on one side thing but it looks highly likely that i will be replacing it long before i replace the rear tyre which is a Bridgestone Exedra Max....
I'm thinking i might get 9000km-10000kms out of it but find it surprising that its wearing quicker than the rear....
I run 38lb in it. I'm finding myself searching for an alternative front and keep swinging back to the Avon from reading through these pages.
I know some of you guys get bloody huge mileage out of your tyres but not me.....

I suspect the folks getting those big numbers out of their tires are just not riding as nature intended.

I ride a lot, somewhat "spirited," and at the rate I'm going I have to change the rear about 2X/year.

I culled through the posts here on tires and, based on what I read from other captains, settled on...

140/75R-17 (67V) Dunlop American Elite
and
240/55R-16 (86V) Bridgestone Exedra Max Rear Motorcycle Tire

I'm not sure if the Dunlops are readily available in NZ, but if so I can say that they tend to last a little more than twice as long as the rear.

This combination will change the rake of the bike and will, absolutely, improve handling. The bike will corner effortlessly compared to the standard setup, especially with those dang brick Metzelers. There may be a better combo out there, but I really like this one. In any event, raising the rear and dropping the front by these dimensions will change the handling, and in a good way.

Some people recommend the Avons. At least one person here mentioned problems with cupping on the Avons. I've not tried them on the Rocket, but it's about the only choice for my '98 Thunderbird Sport, and I can say that the front wears weird every single time. I'm not a fan.

So, just throwing in my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions......

 

[Tal]

So, just throwing in my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions....

And very much appreciated it is too....just sayin...