Tires, again...Perhaps a dual sport tire?

Hi All,

I'm getting my 74 Roadster back on the road and I am researching tire choices, which I find to be rather confusing. Avon seems a popular choice, but they make it difficult to understand the model system. I'm considering, among others, the Distanzia or Trailrider as I ride on dirt roads some. I'm running stock WM2.19 rims

Here are the choices I'm considering.

Name designated Mater.# Model Size
Super Venom front 90000000536    AM18 100/90-19 VERY SOFT
AM20 ? front 90000000750    AM20 90/90-19
Roadrider non DOT rear 90000000556    AM26 100/90-19
Roadrider non DOT front 90000000563    AM26 90/90-19
Roadrider front 90000000660  AM26 90/90-19
Roadrider Universal either 90000000683    AM26 100/90-19
Distanzia front 90000000643 AM43 100/90-19


Of these choices, designated FRONT tires would have to be mounted on the rear, such as SV or Distanzia. What are the problems with this? Seems many must be doing this with SVs, unless they are running 18 rears.

I like the idea of a 90/90 front tire for the lighter handling as I always felt my Commando a bit heavy feeling. That would point me toward the AM26s or an AM26 rear and an AM20 front.

What is the difference between DOT and non DOT, especially in the same model (AM26)?

Has anyone tried the Distanzia on a Commando?

Thanks!

I ran SV front with Roadrunner universal on the rear with no problem before Roadriders, Roadriders are the replacement for the Venom etc so the size range has decreased on the Venom, Super Venom as they want you to go Roadrider. I have never put a front tyre on the rear and don't intend to try as in UK insurance would be void. On my Victor I use Heidenau K60 dual sports and they work well on road and dirt.

http://heidenautires.com/dual-sport-tires/

http://adventure-motorcyclingh.com/2012 ... k60-tyres/

Continental now do classic attacks for the front and rear of Commando's, and have done for quite while now.

Be aware that Avon does NOT recommend mounting 100/90 tires on WM2 rims, they do spec 90/90 as OK. Lots of people do use the 100/90's in practice but the tire profile is not right because the rim is too narrow...the difference is obvious visually in my experience, 90/90's look right profile wise, 100/90's do not...

kommando said:

I ran SV front with Roadrunner universal on the rear with no problem before Roadriders, Roadriders are the replacement for the Venom etc so the size range has decreased on the Venom, Super Venom as they want you to go Roadrider. I have never put a front tyre on the rear and don't intend to try as in UK insurance would be void. On my Victor I use Heidenau K60 dual sports and they work well on road and dirt.

http://heidenautires.com/dual-sport-tires/

http://adventure-motorcyclingh.com/2012 ... k60-tyres/

Click to expand...

Which tyres are you using on the Victor ? I'm in the process of converting a Shooting Star into a sort of Victor rep and I like the look of these tyres, my rims are standard BSA items at the minute, will probably put a wider one on the rear in the future when funds allow thanks
sam

The Avon AM9 Roadrunner is available in 4.10-19 and OK on WM2 rims per Avon and also OK for front or rear mounting...

Well I'm no less confused. I thought that the Roadriders were recommended. I have seen them recommended in several places including Avon's fitment guide http://www.avonmoto.com/download/Avon_mc_databook.pdf and Ben English's guide http://www.nocnsw.org.au/technical/tyre ... n-commando.

True, the spec for tire does indicated the WM2 rims are too small, but the fitment guide specifically recommends them for the 850 Commando.

Thanks,
Chris

The Roadriders are good tyres and the 100/90-19 is no problem on a WM2 rim. I have 100/90-19 Roadrider on the rear and an AM20 Roadrunner 90/90-19 on the front. It's a good combination on the road. Much better than the TT100's I used before. No idea what they would be like on looser surfaces.

I tried a bike fitted with the AM9 Roadrunners and didn't like it much. They are also only available in 4.10-19 size which means you have to have same size tyres front and rear. I prefer the handling with a slimmer tyre on the front. Also the AM9 recommended rim is 2.50, not WM2 although they were fitted to WM2 rims for years.

Don't ask about oil. :roll:

Ian