Avon Roadrider 120/90-18

Ricochetrider · Mar 24, 2015

I'm in the process of having Bridgestone BT-45 Battleaxe tires fitted to my Commando. Seems the BT 45 rear has a narrower profile (?) to allow for mounting on vintage bikes? Anyway I know a guy who runs them on all his Nortons- race or street. I''l go back and look at exactly what size the rear tire is.

dirtymartini · Mar 24, 2015

Ricochetrider said:
I'm in the process of having Bridgestone BT-45 Battleaxe tires fitted to my Commando. Seems the BT 45 rear has a narrower profile (?) to allow for mounting on vintage bikes? Anyway I know a guy who runs them on all his Nortons- race or street. I''l go back and look at exactly what size the rear tire is.

Thanks Tom!

Keith1069 · Mar 25, 2015

Becuase its a 'universal' meaning it can go on front or rear. Rear only fitments have deeper tread.

Yes got that from Matchless' comment. Thanks.

Ricochetrider · Mar 25, 2015

The Bridgestone BT-45s I'm getting are as follows:

F= 100/90v/19
R= 110/90/18
I've run these on my R100RS now for several seasons. They wear well, & handle great rain or shine.
Michelin also makes the Pilot Activ in smaller (RE OUR) sizes but I cannot attest to whether they'll fit on the rear of a Commando.
A buddy likes Heidenau as well but again, no personal exp with these, tho the K65s come in the size range fro Commandos.
Heidenau also carries "vintage" type tires but I like modern tread on my bikes.

dirtymartini · Mar 25, 2015

Ricochetrider said:
The Bridgestone BT-45s I'm getting are as follows:

F= 100/90v/19
R= 110/90/18
I've run these on my R100RS now for several seasons. They wear well, & handle great rain or shine.
Michelin also makes the Pilot Activ in smaller (RE OUR) sizes but I cannot attest to whether they'll fit on the rear of a Commando.
A buddy likes Heidenau as well but again, no personal exp with these, tho the K65s come in the size range fro Commandos.
Heidenau also carries "vintage" type tires but I like modern tread on my bikes.

Thanks Tom, I had been looking at those also. Maybe P'll give them another look. Continental also has a tire made for "older" bikes
https://www.conti-online.com/www/motorc ... ck_en.html

dirtymartini · Mar 30, 2015

Can you use tubes in the Avon RoadRiders? I asked at Motorcycle Superstore and they said they are Tubeless only....but I I'm not sure if that's really true.

Hobot · Mar 30, 2015

no such a thing as tubeless only, just tube only tires. Tubeless tires have better internal air sealing coating and a bit bigger soft area in bead to seal against rim, but all tubeless tires can be used with a tube in spoked rims so only thing that may matter is getting rotation arrow in direction of brake or power loads front on back install. Rim locks take care of tubless & tube only tire staying on rim if gone flat but I've ridden down front and rear flats w/o rim locks no problemo but have had a rear de-rim w/o locks so how lucky to ya feel being a confident motorcycler.
Tubeless rims do have a extra space around edge contour to accept the fatter/softer bead seal and also to help keep on rim when rolling flat but have to look close to notice so not that big an improvement.

dirtymartini · Mar 30, 2015

hobot said:
no such a thing as tubeless only, just tube only tires. Tubeless tires have better internal air sealing coating and a bit bigger soft area in bead to seal against rim, but all tubeless tires can be used with a tube in spoked rims so only thing that may matter is getting rotation arrow in direction of brake or power loads front on back install. Rim locks take care of tubless & tube only tire staying on rim if gone flat but I've ridden down front and rear flats w/o rim locks no problemo but have had a rear de-rim w/o locks so how lucky to ya feel being a confident motorcycler.
Tubeless rims do have a extra space around edge contour to accept the fatter/softer bead seal and also to help keep on rim when rolling flat but have to look close to notice so not that big an improvement.

I have heard that you can run tubes in tubeless tires before...just wasn't sure of the reason,Thanks.

Fast Eddie · Mar 30, 2015

It used to be the case that tubeless tyres were rougher inside, whereas tubed tyres were smooth so as not to damage the tube.
Maybe this no longer applies? I can't see any specific mention of Roadriders being for tubed or tubeless... But they are very commonly fitted to both!

L.A.B. · Mar 30, 2015

http://www.avonmotorsport.com/resource- ... be-fitment

Wire wheels, multi-piece wheels and some single piece wheels designed for tube type applications CANNOT be used as tubeless fitments and the use of a tube (regardless of whether the tyre is “tube type” or “tubeless”) is ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY. Always use tubes in such fitments.

dirtymartini · Mar 30, 2015

L.A.B. said:
http://www.avonmotorsport.com/resource-centre/tube-fitment

Wire wheels, multi-piece wheels and some single piece wheels designed for tube type applications CANNOT be used as tubeless fitments and the use of a tube (regardless of whether the tyre is “tube type” or “tubeless”) is ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY. Always use tubes in such fitments.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I looked all over Avon's website for info if tubes could be used in the Roadriders...

lcrken · Mar 30, 2015

As hobot pointed out, you certainly can run tubes in tubeless tires. In fact, Bridgestone (and maybe others?) makes a tube specifically for use in tubeless radial tires. I just fitted one to run a 160ZR17 Diabolo on a wire spoked wheel (MZ, not Norton). However, most of the tire manufacturers either prohibit the use of tubes in their radial tubeless tires, or limit their use only to tubes marked R for radial tires. They mostly do allow tubes in their bias ply tubeless tires, with some restrictions.

Because of the extra heat generated at high speed with a tube in a tubeless tire, most manufacturers either void any speed rating, or reduce the speed rating, typically by one step. Like lowering a V rated tire to an H rating. Not really much of an issue unless you ride a lot in the 130+ mph range. I only became aware of it when I put tubes in tubeless tires to run my Norton at Bonneville.

Ken

dirtymartini · Mar 30, 2015

lcrken said:
As hobot pointed out, you certainly can run tubes in tubeless tires. In fact, Bridgestone (and maybe others?) makes a tube specifically for use in tubeless radial tires. I just fitted one to run a 160ZR17 Diabolo on a wire spoked wheel (MZ, not Norton). However, most of the tire manufacturers either prohibit the use of tubes in their radial tubeless tires, or limit their use only to tubes marked R for radial tires. They mostly do allow tubes in their bias ply tubeless tires, with some restrictions.

Because of the extra heat generated at high speed with a tube in a tubeless tire, most manufacturers either void any speed rating, or reduce the speed rating, typically by one step. Like lowering a V rated tire to an H rating. Not really much of an issue unless you ride a lot in the 130+ mph range. I only became aware of it when I put tubes in tubeless tires to run my Norton at Bonneville.

Ken

Thanks Ken. Now just deciding what brand to order. WM2-19 on front WM3-18 on rear. Avon Roadriders, Bridgestone BT-45's or Continental's new ContiClassicAttack.

xbacksideslider · Mar 30, 2015

With regard to tire/tube friction/heat, I was taught to dust both the inside of the tire and the outside of the tube with talcum powder.

Also, with tubeless tires, try to avoid splashing your bead lubricant into the inside of the tire; that moisture stays trapped in there and affects the rate of pressure rise. With tubeless tires, it might interfere with the slipperiness the talcum powder provides for the tire/tube interface.

And yes, with supermoto wire wheels and modern 17" radials, the manufacturers specify radial tubes; I wonder just how they are different. Also, when a tube's description says "heavy duty" that generally means thick and heavy; so "regular" or radial tubes may be lighter and made of a higher quality/less permeable rubber that holds air despite a lighter/thinner cross section/thickness. In the heyday of light spoked wheels, the manufacturers specified/bragged about how light their premium tubes were - hard to find stated weight specs nowadays.

Can't speak to the Bridgestones or Contis, but the 120 Avon has worked fine on my 18" WM-3 rear with 19" WM-3 and Avon 110 up front.

rick in seattle · Mar 30, 2015

On my Mk3 rebuild I used an 18" WM3 rim on the rear and kept the original 19" WM2 rim on the front. I found the RoadRider 110/90-18 to match the rolling diameter of the front RoadRider to within 0.1"; the bike looks balanced, handles well, and gives an enlarged patch on the rear. The large rear tire, 120/90-18, looks weird and imparts a slight nose-down look to the bike. Hard to believe the larger tire will handle well.

dirtymartini · Mar 30, 2015

rick in seattle said:
On my Mk3 rebuild I used an 18" WM3 rim on the rear and kept the original 19" WM2 rim on the front. I found the RoadRider 110/90-18 to match the rolling diameter of the front RoadRider to within 0.1"; the bike looks balanced, handles well, and gives an enlarged patch on the rear. The large rear tire, 120/90-18, looks weird and imparts a slight nose-down look to the bike. Hard to believe the larger tire will handle well.

Did you use a 100/90-19 on the WM-2 front?

xbacksideslider · Mar 31, 2015

BTW, I like the gearing with a 20 tooth and the 120/90-18 and find the shorter tire leaves the bike a bit "revvy" in 4th.

Fast Eddie · Mar 31, 2015

I have the 100/90/19 Univseral on the front and the 4.00/18 rear fitment on the rear. That give me a full tread thickness on the rear (50% more life).

The rolling radius of these tyres are the same, allowing the bike to sit as Norton intended.

dirtymartini · Mar 31, 2015

Fast Eddie said:
I have the 100/90/19 Univseral on the front and the 4.00/18 rear fitment on the rear. That give me a full tread thickness on the rear (50% more life).

The rolling radius of these tyres are the same, allowing the bike to sit as Norton intended.

I was just looking at that exact combo. I think that may be way for me to go.

rick in seattle · Apr 1, 2015

Roger that. I have a 100/90-19 RoadRider on the front, mounted to the original WM2 rim.

Avon Roadrider 120/90-18

Ricochetrider

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Ricochetrider

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rick in seattle

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