Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner

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Time Warp said:
Anything wider than the stock 1.85 inch rim is wider.
My point was if you go to the expense of wider rims, and it is expensive even with chinesium rims and spokes then it opens other doors and one is going from a cross ply to a radial, that's all.
The only reason I went to the expense is to fit the Continental steel belted radials.

Over $1000 to push the tyre bead outward 4 mm (2.15" rim) or 8 mm (2.5" rim) and then refit a cross ply tyre ? ... I will leave it at that, if the radial is not an improvement (unlikely) I can go 'back to the 70's. :D
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And anything narrower than a 2.5 is too narrow for a Roadrider!
But, I’ll predict that you’ll be happy with your Contis.
Just like I’m happy with my Roadriders.
I think there’s a name for this; when we’ve paid out for something we’re pre disposed to like it!
Kinda gets in the way really, as neither of us is likely to do a proper back to back comparison.
Keep us posted when you get it on the road though.
 
One thing I like about Avon is their web site, they provide lots of good info like required rim width, fitted tyre width and fitted tyre diameter, which is very useful in deciding what will fit.

All I can find for the Contis is this site: http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/conticlassicattack/

Where can I find out about required rim sizes, fitted width and fitted diameter, anyone know?
 
...and screwing together bikes on an assembly line isn't the same as being a wrench at the dealers and far from being one in the comp shop or in the pits.
To some degree it was just a J-O-B. Wonder what the pay was like esp. compared to other gigs.
 
The Conti Classic Attack after all says "classic" but if you use the pull down menu "Norton" isn't mentioned. Using "Triumph" you get no Meriden bikes at all.
Go to 100/90 R19 M/C 57V TL (Replaces 3.25/3.50/4.10-19) and it would seem to say that you can put it on a WM2 but one wonders as it is marked REAR. Most rears were WM3.
 
Rather to my surprise, I received a very prompt and conclusive answer from Conti...

100/90-19 front, 2.50 rim, 101mm wide and 663mm diameter
110/90-18 rear, 2.50, 109 & 655
120/90-18 rear, 2.75, 119 & 673

The diameters are different front to rear if using 18”/19” set up, unlike with the Avon’s. So it still seems to me that the Avon’s best fit in that regards at least.
 
I too sent them a note and they also gave me a quick reply.
My question:

100/90 R19 M/C 57V TL (Replaces 3.25/3.50/4.10-19)

Can these be properly used on a WM2 rim, rear, 850 Norton 1974?

Their answer:

It will be fine on a WM2 rim

David Humphreys

Technical Adviser
Continental Tyres (Two Wheel) UK
01970 833904
tech@conti-tyres.co.uk
www.conti-tyres.co.uk
 
It is good to know the Conti Classic Attack has a dedicated front and rear 19". I would assume the rear has deeper tread?
If I did not care about having a classic appearance, I would probably go for that, as the Roadrider uses the same universal 19" front and back.

The Contis are radials, are they still able to be spooned on with hand levers?

I just rode more than 100 miles on hard K81 TT100s, about 30 miles of which were twisties at a quick pace. I found them to still be very good, although I did not lean the bike over too far. The only real problem is groove wander from the rain grooves cut into our big highways. The K81 wanders side to side on them. This can be a bit scary at first but it does have one advantage; most cars following will keep a greater distance! Once you become accustomed to the wandering, it is no big deal.
 
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Good point about spoon mounting, TT100 can go on easily by hand...vital to know if
the Contis will.
 
elefantrider said:
It is good to know the Conti Classic Attack has a dedicated front and rear 19". I would assume the rear has deeper tread?
If I did not care about having a classic appearance, I would probably go for that, as the Roadrider uses the same universal 19" front and back.

The Contis are radials, are they still able to be spooned on with hand levers?

I just rode more than 100 miles on hard K81 TT100s, about 30 miles of which were twisties at a quick pace. I found them to still be very good, although I did not lean the bike over too far. The only real problem is groove wander from the rain grooves cut into our big highways. The K81 wanders side to side on them. This can be a bit scary at first but it does have one advantage; most cars following will keep a greater distance! Once you become accustomed to the wandering, it is no big deal.
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Just like saying, "once you get used to the frame flex, and the flat tyres, it's fine".
 
elefantrider and Onder
I,ve always fitted bike radials with hand levers but use a bead breaker initially, all wider than normal Commando tyres. Toss up between that and rear chain replacement for the most unlikeable job on my bikes, but a nice warm feeling when it,s done and all working OK.
Elefantrider, you need to get some new tyres or use the car, can,t go wobbling around like that, you,ll give Nortons a bad name.
 
I sometimes ride dirtbikes on soft sand at speed, talk about wandering. So I guess I am used to that feeling.

I take it as a reminder that I should probably get off the big highway anyway. But sometimes you need to take one to get to the interesting roads. Most of the big highway arteries around here have 5 lanes in each direction, how fun is that swapping it up with all the big SUVs!

The country 2 lane roads don't have the rain grooves, so wandering not a problem there.

I have a another set of K81s which I am about to put on.
Unsure if newer, softer K81s will help. They have a tread groove straight down the center which is probably not the best thing for rain grooves.
 
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I had forgot first in last out, the workers at the factory I worked at went out on strike to support it in the 80's and but only lasted 2 days before they capitulated, we had hired a lot of extra workers in the previous 18 months and made them fully aware they would not last long , regardless of how well they worked, until last in first out was gone and they broke the strike by working.
 
The 400x18 Roadrider is ok on a 2.15" rim, although that is the minimum acceptable width for that tire, according to Avon. 2.5 is the recommended width.
I happen to have a 2.15" x18 rim on my Vincent Rapide so I run a Roadrider 400x18 on there.
It's a nice chunky tire, a bit wider than a 110 and with a heavy load rating.
It also is a dedicated rear so it has the extra tread depth.
As far as handling problems with the 2.15" rim, there are none. I've scraped the pegs many times with this setup.
A couple of years ago I used this bike to roadrace an ex Westwood racer on his 03 Guzzi 1100 sport. Amazingly, after 30 miles of hard riding on a twisty old road the Vincent with Roadriders came out ahead by half a mile or so.
That's good enough for me!

Glen
 
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elefantrider said:
Avon Roadrider or Roadrunner are least expensive. Followed by the K81, then the ContiClassic Attacks.

I have ruled out the BT45 because they do not make a 19" rear.

The Universal looks nice and has deep thread, similiar to K81.

IMO, these bikes look best with somewhat tall tires.

Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner
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Of course. Tyres are all about the look.
 
"Just return them , we'd be happy to straighten this out..."
Of course, you pay shipping...:-(
 
Fast Eddie said:
According to Matt at cNw, and Norman White, amongst others, it already is !!
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Oh ye of little faith. Time Warp will absolutely LOVE this combination of 19 inch rims/Avon Roadriders when it all comes together.
 
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