avon replacement

[seattle##gs]

It seems Avon roadriders for Nortons are hard to find. Can anyone recommend a good replacement front and rear?

 

[MikeG]

Heidenau K65s

 

[seattle##gs]

any experience with the Dunlop K81? Any rain groove problem?

 

[velo54]

I was using the avon roadriders, until difficult to get. Last one i bought was very hard, couldn't wear it out! Now using TT100 GPs. Nice and soft and sticky, less tread depth than K81, so don't last long but perform very well. Happy. Graham. Lot cheaper than than the avons as well.

 

[marshg246]

any experience with the Dunlop K81? Any rain groove problem?

IMHO:

K70 and K81 (TT100) were the main tires in the 60s/70s at least. The K81 is called TT100 is because they averaged 100mph in the Isle of Mann TT. I consider them the best if you are likely to encounter heavy rain, snow, or dirt roads and if you don't lean too far. They are also meant for tubes so a lot easier to get on and off.

For dry pavement, rain grooves, light rain and leaning hard under power, I like the Avons but it will be the middle of 2026 or later when you can get them in the US.

I just got a set of K81s for my stepsons 850 - he wore the ones he had out. I'll probably get a set for the MK3 I'm building - it has Avon RoadRiders that look new but they are very old and are checking.

 

[nortonmargie]

I have K81's on my Norton. They are passable, but not great on rain grooves. They are no fun at all on grated bridges. There are a lot of rain grooves around here, and some grated bridges. I would like Avons, but the K81's have a lot of rubber left and are not that old, so will wait for the Avons to show up.

 

[Schwany]

any experience with the Dunlop K81? Any rain groove problem?

Crap on HWY rain grooves in the USA. They don't last that long either. Good for a show bike or a bike you are going to sell.

If you know you are going to be riding over rain grooves, avoid tires with a center groove.

Since Continental stopped making the Conti-Go tires I have not found a tire that works that well in a near $100-125 price range. I have not looked lately, so it is possible there are no motorcycles in that price range anymore. Tried a rear Bridgestone BT46 and grated bridges feel like riding on ice with jello on top of it.

The Heidenau K65 tread pattern would work on rain grooves. Might be worth a try.

 

[jseng1]

We need a 110/90 19" without the center groove for the rear. Hard to find.

 

[concours]

Crap on HWY rain grooves in the USA. They don't last that long either. Good for a show bike or a bike you are going to sell.

If you know you are going to be riding over rain grooves, avoid tires with a center groove.

Since Continental stopped making the Conti-Go tires I have not found a tire that works that well in a near $100-125 price range. I have not looked lately, so it is possible there are no motorcycles in that price range anymore. Tried a rear Bridgestone BT46 and grated bridges feel like riding on ice with jello on top of it.

The Heidenau K65 tread pattern would work on rain grooves. Might be worth a try.

It's BEEN tried many times. They work great.

 

[Tornado]

any experience with the Dunlop K81? Any rain groove problem?

Im running k81's and like thrm for my riding style. Never felt any kind of hop or skip in the wet or going over sand/gravel on corners at reasonable speeds. We have a couple of overpasses with rain grooves and they do tend to give a rear wiggle especially for first few thousand miles on the rubber. But I also feel this to a lesser extent on my Velocette which has Avon RoadRiders.
The K81s on Commando now habe 3 yrs, some 7 k or 8 k miles. Rears still look good, plenty of block depth and just starting to show squaring off. Thats with 18inch 4.10 tire. Have had k70's on previously and they gave similar handling but less durabilty.

Both k70 and k81 are very inexpensive...about $120 per tire delivered here in Canada last I checked.

 

[Schwany]

It's BEEN tried many times. They work great.

I stopped using K81's a long time ago. I did read your thoughts about the Heidenau tires a couple of months ago. I think it was a couple of months anyway.

Are tire threads like oil threads?

 

[gpzkat]

I run Shinko 712s on my two GS1100Es, and have done so on previous bikes. They come in 100/90-19, so that should work for your bike. Don't let the low price prejudice concern you, they are well-made, solid tires. I have never had a reason to knock them. Designed in Japan, made in S. Korea. They took over Yokohama tooling and design way back in '98 but their tires are up to date, not some old copy.

 

[concours]

I stopped using K81's a long time ago. I did read your thoughts about the Heidenau tires a couple of months ago. I think it was a couple of months anyway.

Are tire threads like oil threads?

They can be.


"Never felt any kind of hop or skip in the wet or going over sand/gravel on corners at reasonable speeds."
Lol, well, ANY tire doesn't do any of the bad stuff at REASONABLE speeds.
But where's the fun in that? The fun happens when you're wringing it's neck.

 

[Tornado]

They can be.


"Never felt any kind of hop or skip in the wet or going over sand/gravel on corners at reasonable speeds."
Lol, well, ANY tire doesn't do any of the bad stuff at REASONABLE speeds.
But where's the fun in that? The fun happens when you're wringing it's neck.

My modern bonneville with road riders did tend to hop and slip on wet and on gravel.l, at the same reasonable speeds I ride Commando at. Plus, when fitted with Shinko 705s , the bonne never put a foot wrong on heavy rains and light duty dort roads.

 

[Mart UK]

K81 TT100s on my Commando, Avon Roadriders on my CB750K6. I like both and I have tested both in all weather's. I ride reasonably swiftly, don't like to miss overtakes, not much dual carriageway riding though, mainly twisty back roads.

I run my Dunlops 28psi front, 30psi rear and I find they lean well, are predictable even in the wet and don't react to white lines and bad cambers, until the rears have around 4,000 miles on them, then they feel worn out, despite having some tread left. I just replaced the rear and normal service resumed. Two rears to a single front seems to be my going rate. The Honda's Avon rear is about the same for durability, but the front wears quicker than the Norton's Dunlop.

Edit: I'd be surprised if the Dunlops were made with the same tech / compounds they used in the late '60s.

 

[gpzkat]

Dunlop K70s look muy cool, but they don't have much grip and are wiggle-city on the freeway grooves. I believe the compound is pencil eraser.

 

[seattle##gs]

We shall wait until mid next year to buy the Roadriders. Current tires have good tread, just 8 years old. Factor in the winter cold and rain and the wait is not unreasonable.

 

[Madnorton]

We shall wait until mid next year to buy the Roadriders. Current tires have good tread, just 8 years old. Factor in the winter cold and rain and the wait is not unreasonable.

Why, AN has stock of 100/90-19, when they're gone they're gone - until next May that is.

 

[seattle##gs]

I'll give them a try

 

[marshg246]

Why, AN has stock of 100/90-19, when they're gone they're gone - until next May that is.

What date codes do you have?

What is the shipping cost for a pair to the US?

If tariffs are done correctly, they will have 10% duty (no metal) making their cost about $240 each plus shipping. If other things are ordered at the same times, they will be about $270 each plus shipping. That's a LOT of out-of-date tires!