Just put a Avon cobra on the rear of my 2010 kingpin today!
Only got 4300 miles on the original dunflop! It's like a whole new bike I love it so far! I don't know what kind of mileage to expect from the Avon but it can't be any worse than the dunflop! Still have the original dunflop on the front but it is over half worn out. I think I'm going to put a Michelin commander 2 on the front. The tread pattern on both it and the Avon are very close and I can keep a bias ply on the front and a radial on the rear. The commanders get great mileage. Just my thoughts I know everyone won't agree.
so how often do you check the air pressure and do you have a good gauge or one of them worthless pencil stick gauges
By the way Avon say you should run more air in tire then whats normal
My bike is a 2010 bought new this year. I think the tires are just old. I have a good gage and check the pressure every 2 weeks. I had dunflops on my Honda and hated them on it. I went with the commander 2 on it and loved them, can't get a 180-55-18 in them for my kingpin.
I got 15,00 out of my first set of Dunlops, and look to get at least that much on the ones I put on in 2012. I then plan on "Perelli Fire Dragons" Bias front, radial rear. They are a little less expensive, and can be purchased on line. I like the Dunlops though. I could change my mind and stay with OEMs again,
and that is definite!
Sorry, 15,000 miles on the first set. I watch the tire air pressure closely with 36 lbs. in the front, and 42 lbs. in the rear. I am 230 lbs. I never ride 2up, my wife can't ride she has a Heart Valve.
Avon makes a good tire, and they're right. Radials generally need a couple PSI more than bias tires because they have more flexible sidewalls. Let us know how your set up works. While you can run Bias front/ radial rear, most folks around here (and I'm one of them) will recommend keeping front and rear tires the same. I run radials (Bridgestone Exedras) as do quite a few others, while many like to stay bias ply. However, EVERYONE likes avons.
"EVERYONE???...thats a bold statement...I love Pirelli Night Dragons"
Yes, admittedly it is. And while we all have our own personal favorite, I have yet to see anyone say they don't like Avons. I like the 'Stones because they're cheap and I get 9 to 10k out of a rear and almost 20k in front. But if I could afford them I'd run Avons in a heartbeat. BTW- How many miles do you get out of the night dragons? I've been considering them IF they'll get me substantially more miles per tire.
Sorry to repeat this info but the other thread is in the Tech/Perf forum and it belongs here in the Kingpin section. Starting late 2015 we finally have a new bias ply tire option for the Kingpin. Dunlop American Elite bias ply 180/55B18 rear and 130/70B18 front. The rear has Dunlop's MultiTread technology. Find them on americanmototire.com for around $310/pair. Better price than the OEM bias tires from Victory or the HD D407/D408F bias plys that also work well on the Kingpin. I have tried radials from Metzeler, Bridgestone Exedra, and my buddy has tried Avon Cobra but they all cause the wobble to some extent (with windshield). Dunlop's 2016 Motorcycle Tires brochure also shows that American Elites are OEM tires on most of the Indian bikes and one HD, but those are mostly 17" or 16" wheels. The "high speed wobble" issue when running radials on Kingpin I believe affects every rider/bike differently, and for some riders/bikes does not happen especially if no windshield is installed. For me and my Kingpin it starts around 70mph and I found that the wobble went away entirely if I removed my OE windshield and went without one, or installed a very small windshield (bullet style?) that came off a Hammer. Tire pressure in the radials would not resolve the wobble with radials for me. I'll post up on how the American Elites perform after I test them but being from Minnesota it's gonna be a while. Cool Blue has the new American Elite bias rear on his Kingpin and it is working for him (he also had the wobble with radials and a windshield).
I got these tires tested on my Kingpin and they work great! Bike was rock steady all the way up to speeds not allowed, none of the high speed wobble issue I've seen with all radials plus windshield. We had one warm Feb day in Minnesota so I was able to try these tires out for about 20 miles. Dunlop American Elite bias ply 180/55B18 rear and 130/70B18 front.
I had to replace the rear tire on my 2007 kingpin last year at only 4800 miles.. Seems like they should last a lot longer than that?? What is normal for tire wear?
Radials get really hot if they are low on air. I run 38/40.
Have run Dunlop radials, Pirelli Night Dragon radials, and Bridgestone G-850/851 radials.
The Dunlops sucked, Pirellis look the best, Bridgestones are the least expensive... last the longest... and work the best.
This is my second set of Night Dragons. I will probably go back to the 'Stones on the next set, save myself $120, and be more confident in the tires.
So far I have put 1200 miles on the cobra! (6100 on bike) the front dunflop is wearing fast! But it is a whole new bike with the cobra out back and the bias up front! I don't know if I'm going with the commander 2 or a bias cobra up front!
But I'll let you know what I decide.
Well I put the bias ply cobra on the front! Got to looking close at the rear tire and it was worn down to the wear bars at 2900 miles. The bike never felt as good as it did with the Avon front and rear, but I can't afford a tire per oil change! Now I have a bias cobra on the front and a dunflop American elite on the rear. I just don't know if I will like this rear tire. I have only put a couple hundred miles on it, and traction is fine but da## it's a rough ride! Very little give in the sidewall and you can tell when you hit a bump!
Don't have a clue how you ride, road surfaces or how you inflate the tires but I had 12.5 K on the original rear Dunlop on my 08 KP, changed the front at 16k.
Had a bad tire gauge on the first set and ran them over inflated! Bought a new gauge for the new tires and ran 36 in front and 41 in rear. The Avon just wore the center out, the sides still looked new. Now I'm a big guy about 350 that may have as much to do with it as me liking to hear the pipes when I take off.
With gear I go about 250-260 depending on weather (chaps and leather jacket as opposed to heavy jeans and mesh jacket) but my saddle bags were always overloaded. 41 front and rear for me.
I check the air weekly if I ride it weekly or before a ride if it's been setting! I have a digital gauge that I had checked against the dealerships gauge before I bought it!
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