Avon, not normally a word you'd think of shit hot sports tyres when mentioned, i've run a few and known a few who have run em, had an AV40 on the rear of the TL, which was an interesting tyre (the 750kms it lasted anyway) had good grip when you on the gas, but throttle off mid corner and the thing would come back round on ya and it was stupid in the wet, so i didn't get another one of them. Zed used to run a AV50SP (or is the 49SP the front?) on the front and a AV46ST on the rear, seems to be a popular combo for some people and Zed can move along at a fair rate at times. Death has run the SP's front and rear and (for him) has got good mileage out of them, and reports back that they are no where near a bad tyre, it has just seemed that everyone else was making better tyres at the time, and lets face it most people wouldn't think of running Avon's on there bike, in regards to they are good but not that good, and when you're talking of the one bit of bike that'll keep you upright tyres are pretty damn important.
I'm always in favour of Michelin, everyone has there opinion to what they like, so to change to a tyre maker that has never been right up there in performance levels was a big ask. I've read more than a few reivews about the vipers and pretty much everyone raved about them, saying they were on par and if not better with the likes of Racetecs/Supercorsa's and Pilot Powers etc, JP of Superbike magazine went as far to say on this Bike (CBR600RR) on this track (Catalunya) on this day, i'd have to do something really wrong to crash. so at a good price and in need of new rubber front and rear i decided to give em a go.
At the time of fitting only the Sport compound was available, ideally i was after the Supersport (slighty sticker) and then theres the Extreme, for track use.
I've fitted them on my GSXR1000K3, with a 190/50 rear and 120/70 front, they do make a 190/55 in the xtreme. The differnces are always like whoa when you get out on new rubber compared to the worn shit rubber you once had, so i waited and went to the track (pukekohe) on friday, and in direct comparison to the Pilot Powers that i had on, they worked very well.
On the track:
Less squirm under braking, but not as much feedback as the powers though, but confident enough to push on them knowing they'd do the job when turing in still on the brakes.
The rear hooked well, but not as well as the Power, which became more noticeable on the road funnily enough, but like all sport tyres aimed at the road after 6 laps or so they had cooked themselves, so it would'nt be an issue on the road you think.
On the road:
Fisrt part of my ride yesterday saw, wet/damp roads in the first part, it's hard coming from the a tyre like the Power's which know how bloody well they work in the wet and getting on a tyre you know nothing about, needless to say i rode a bit more cautiously feeling for grip levels, so i can't comment on thier preformance in the wet (yet). Once it dried out and on the trip over to whangamata, i let rip and they worked very, very well, those that saw me know i was going at a fair pace alright and never had an issue with them, stopping at whangamata for lunch then onto waihi, those that dont know this road, it starts off medium - fast corners, into two very tight hill sections, then onto a faster open section until waihi (lovely bit of road it is).
I pushed even harder this time, managed to keep everything smooth and fast and was very easy to do so, with the combo of bike and tyres, only quirk about them on the road under hard riding conditions they cooked on the road as well, which resulted in a much surpirsing 3rd gear rear going sideways moment, which wouldn't of happened with the Pilot Power, but in it's defence it became very easy to get the bike to slide under power exiting corners and was very controlable and predictable, which resulted in many black marks being left out of corners by me and Death with his ever so quickly deteriorating Dunlop 218's, i dont normally think about trying to slide the bike but it was quite fun to do so. The Pilot Powers wouldn't of let go as easy, but when they did, they were not as nice about it. Maybe next ride i will up the pressure's a bit and see how they go then, but maybe with my riding the slightly sticker Supersport would be the way to go.
Mileage i can't comment on at the moment, and checking out BJ's near new vipers at the beginning of the rider i have already taken a fair chunk off them, i'll be happy if i make 2000km out fo rear, will let you know. If i get anything like deaths rear 218, i wont be happy though.
All in all, Avon have lifted their game for sure and these tyres are right up there, once fully worn will i go and get another set, maybe, maybe not, i really like the wet preformance of the Powers and they are equal in the dry, price would be the biggest factor in buying a new set. Would i recomend them, Yes, plus they are one of the coolest looking tyres on the market, it would be nice to try a new set of racetecs, then a new set of the Viper xtremes back to back on the track, but that'd be rather expensive, and money is for petrol at the mo.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by loosebruce
Bookmarks