Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => Accessories and Modifications - C10 => Topic started by: gtr1000 on May 18, 2011, 03:43:01 PM
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I have to report back to Avon every 3-400 miles but here's an extract from my latest e-mail I sent to Avon:
"Hi Peter,
Now at 2090 miles, 4.9mm depth on centre line. No sign of squaring off. Of the past 400 miles, approx 200 have been with a pillion.
The wear rate still seems to be consistent with 400 miles per 0.3mm or 1320 miles per 1mm wear. As the tire started life at 6.7mm, the tire should achieve approx 6200 miles when it reaches 2mm tread depth. This assumes any squaring off that may occur as wear increases does not affect the handling.
As an aside, I've read here http://www.tyretectrading.com/store/tyretips.asp (http://www.tyretectrading.com/store/tyretips.asp) that carrying a pillion reduces the wear rate on the rear as the tyre is more planted on the road and less prone to skipping - true or false? If it's true, I'd better start carrying a passenger more lol."
For us riders OTP, 1mm is the legal minimum but I prefer to change at 2mm. http://www.hammondgroup.co.uk/upload/files/tyresafe_motorcycle.pdf (http://www.hammondgroup.co.uk/upload/files/tyresafe_motorcycle.pdf)
Of the miles I've covered, 20% have been on motorways (slabs?) whilst the remainder have been on flowing twisty roads at 60-70mph. The rear is run at 42psi solo or 2-up and wet weather handling is as sure footed as when it's dry.
This tire could be a vast improvement over my previous Azaros which varied between 5500k when they were first launched to 4200k last year. The most recent "standard" Azaro started to square off at just 2k miles :o
Avon are yet to say when this dual compound AV46 will be released but they were hoping it was a stop gap measure before the Storm 3 is due for release in late 2011. And yes, they have said there will be a 150/80-16 rear in the Storm 3 line up :chugbeer:
If I have anything else untoward to report, I'll update this thread as and when.
Safe riding guys ;)
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Thanks for the update.
I sure hope this tire come on the market quickly. I don't like the feel of the bias tires that I have tried. I like the Avon, (and other radial tires) but I'm tired of replacing tires.
Maybe this dual compound is the answer we've been looking for..
I always thought that the rear tire squared off more quickly when I was hauling a passenger.
Ride safe, Ted
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I wonder if they will change the tread pattern at all, or I suppose the Storm 3 wont have the same as the Azaro. I dont mind it too much, but it seems some notice a slight shimmy when starting from a stop, or at low speeds...and Im one of them now!
Anyway, after looking at whats available, I will probably stick to the Avons. The couple deluges Ive been in have proven they have great traction even in REAL wet conditions.
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My last two tires when new, this DC included, have all had a rear end shimmy when pulling away. Believe me, this does improve after a few 100 miles and seems to disappear at around the 5-600 miles.
Avon are aware of this shimmy, not just on the Azaro but on other tires of theirs and across all types of bikes. To date, they've not offered an explanation :-\
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E-mail from Avon re. launch date of DC Azaro:
"Hi Paul,
We would release it now but are unbelievably busy. Likely around the end of the year.
Best regards,
Peter J McNally
M/C Technical Product Manager"
Not really what I/we wanted to hear but there's always hope ???
Maybe if we all lobby Avon both in the States and OTP, they might bring the launch date forward?
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I always thought that the rear tire squared off more quickly when I was hauling a passenger.
Ride safe, Ted
Avon have said that reduced wear when carrying a pillion is bullshit ;)
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Well when are they releasing the Storm 3? Same timeframe?
I dont recall, but was it going to be a dual compound too? (thought you had mentioned it in the old write-up)
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Well when are they releasing the Storm 3? Same timeframe?
I dont recall, but was it going to be a dual compound too? (thought you had mentioned it in the old write-up)
Timeframe - don't know but I'll ask the question.
Yes, IIRC, the Storm 3 will be a dual compound and in our 16" rear size.
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What's up with the dual compound test and release that was rumored for year's end.... (coming soon....). Any word? :D
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Shhhh, you'll wake the crickets. ;)
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What's up with the dual compound test and release that was rumored for year's end.... (coming soon....). Any word? :D
Maybe he meant the end of this year....
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E-mail from Avon re. launch date of DC Azaro:
"Hi Paul,
We would release it now but are unbelievably busy. Likely around the end of the year.
That would be my take, but there isn't much left to this year. Oh yeah, and Go Pack!
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That would be my take, but there isn't much left to this year. Oh yeah, and Go Pack!
Still only 3rd quarter ( in the year, that is ) ;D
:rotflmao:
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I'll e-mail Avon on Monday morning. They usually reply the same day ;)
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Thanks!!
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Avon is right!!! :thumbs:
When I carry my wife on the back, I "do" get better mileage and better tire wear!!! :rotflmao:
I don't think it's because of the tire tho,,, :yikes:
I think it has something to do with the fact that she smacks me on the side of the head every time I get a little "exuberant" with the throttle.... :battle:
Ride safe, Ted
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:popcorn:
Any updates?
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:popcorn:
Any updates?
She still smacks him on the side of the head every time he gets a little "exuberant" with the throttle.... :battle:
;)
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She still smacks him on the side of the head every time he gets a little "exuberant" with the throttle.... :battle:
;)
Nice! Thanks! I needed a good laugh!
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Nice! Thanks! I needed a good laugh!
Gloom,,, ain't funny!!
Ride safe, Ted
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Gloom,,, ain't funny!!
Ride safe, Ted
I thought it was funny! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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Every month they wait, they lose customers. At some point, they'll say there's not enough demand to continue production and that will be that. :(
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Every month they wait, they lose customers. At some point, they'll say there's not enough demand to continue production and that will be that. :(
Thats what Im afraid of.
They said there would be a Storm III too, and the rear would be in our size, but no word on that either....maybe they are giving up on us too.
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Somewhere there's a financial analyst multiplying units sold X contribution margin for fully depreciated R&D costs on the Azaro. Then, he (or she) is doing the same with the incremental margin of UNdepreciated R&D and unknown warranty claim rates for dual compound Azaro II's and coming up way short of the Azaro margin when the decreasing # of 16" wheeled ST machines is factored in.
I think it (start/stop batch mfg) also explains the sometimes random quality issues that seem to come up. You'll eventually see the Azaro molds sold to the Chinese.
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Maybe Avon realized that you can adapt a 17" wheel on the rear and that influenced their decision. I'm lovin my Storm Ultra dual compound that I currently have mounted to a 17" wheel. I have about 6500 mi and it looks like close to 4mm in the center. Mark
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Avon is waiting for Paul to actually wear out that Azaro test tire.;D Then they can make a decision on the production of the Dual Compound tire.
I fitted my bike with the 17 inch wheel late summer last year along with the Avon Storm Ultra tire. I recently mounted my 4th rear 17 inch Storm and have been very well pleased with the tire. I'm getting about 8,000 miles per rear. No squaring off and the tire does not just go away when it gets toward end life.
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I wish they'd go back to the formula/production set-up they had when the Azaro was first released, way back when. I routinely got 13-14k from the rear 150/80-16. The last 2 Azaro's have only returned 8-9k, not acceptable for the cost, IMO..... In fact the earlier tires seemed to have better "stick" also....
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Is there another 17" besides the Mean Streak that will fit?
I suppose one could also spend a couple hundred having the stock wheel converted as well, just wondering about options I havent seen.
It would certainly allow tire selection to favor your own riding style vs the very limited choices we have now for radials....
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The 17 inch rear I'm running actually came of of one of the Suzuki Boulevard cruisers, It is the exact same wheel as the Meanstreak. Good luck on getting your stock wheel converted to 17 inch for a couple of hundred. Kosman was getting about $500 for the conversion but I've heard they have raised their prices a good bit.
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The 17 inch rear I'm running actually came of of one of the Suzuki Boulevard cruisers, It is the exact same wheel as the Meanstreak. Good luck on getting your stock wheel converted to 17 inch for a couple of hundred. Kosman was getting about $500 for the conversion but I've heard they have raised their prices a good bit.
Darn...I hadnt checked in a long time.
Id bet it was the Marauder. Same bike as the Mean Streak. Still hard to find....but probably a lot cheaper than Kosman.
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Anything new on the DC Azaro? I just went out to look at my rear tire in advance of the National, and it needs to be replaced. I checked my maintenance records and my odometer, I have 8000mi exactly on the tire right now. I like the ride and grip of this tire, but replacing at this interval is getting costly. I'm considering trying another option, perhaps the Venom or even the Shinko 777. I will do a search, I know there are lots of dreaded tire threads to gather info from.
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Some folks have liked the new Shinko Journey 890. In Wang size, but it is a radial.
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Some folks have liked the new Shinko Journey 890. In Wang size, but it is a radial.
Steve, did you mean to say: It is a radial, BUT it is in Wang size.
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Steve, did you mean to say: It is a radial, BUT it is in Wang size.
Yup
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/shinko-se890-journey-tourning-radial-rear-tire/369-874665.aspx (http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/shinko-se890-journey-tourning-radial-rear-tire/369-874665.aspx)
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I had several conversations with one of Avon's U.S. Public Relations and he didn't know anything about this tire and said that Avon was comitted to continuing to make the current Azaro for the C10. :o