Feeler for a set of Avon Venom-X

[LilBeaver]

Hi all...

I had my front Avon replaced under warranty last week. I have about 300 miles on it. So far, I am not real pleased with the way these handle. I am planning on putting a few hundred more miles before I actually go through with the replacement

 

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a set of Avon Venoms (the mentioned front tire, rear tire with ~2000 miles on it, minimal sidewall cracking around rim).

 

I am putting out a feeler to see if there would be any interest in my tires. Let me know what you think.

[flb_78]

What do you think you'd need for em? I live in Amarillo.

[KiteSquid]

What is the manufacture date from the side walls of the tires?

[LilBeaver]

What do you think you'd need for em? I live in Amarillo.

 

I was thinking just whatever it would cost to have new ones put on (~$120ish for both - But I am definitely not set on this)

(I'd be happy to meet you half way or something...)

 

What is the manufacture date from the side walls of the tires?

 

Front: 1108

Rear 4205 - I think... It is either 05 or 05. I will certainly double check that when I get back out to the bike - I'll also put up some pictures.

[V7Goose]

Hi all...

I had my front Avon replaced under warranty last week. I have about 300 miles on it. So far, I am not real pleased with the way these handle. I am planning on putting a few hundred more miles before I actually go through with the replacement

 

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a set of Avon Venoms (the mentioned front tire, rear tire with ~2000 miles on it, minimal sidewall cracking around rim).

 

I am putting out a feeler to see if there would be any interest in my tires. Let me know what you think.

Before you decide to dump the Avons, you might want to check a couple of things - most of us who have ridden on them think they handle as good as or better than any other tire on the RSV. That suggests you may still have something wrong . . .

 

1. Make certain both forks are SAME pressure. No way to do this without a gauge with a zero-loss chuck, so if you don't have one, best to let all the air out of each fork.
   
2. Check your tire pressures - many here continue to recommend running the Avon's at max sidewall pressure, but in my experience that is definitely WRONG. Both of my Ventures have felt a little unsure in sweepers when the rear tire was too hard. The Venom rear tire is an 80H (hopefully you got the H and not the V tire) with a max pressure of 50 lbs. Numerous tests have shown that for me anything over 48 lbs in the rear Venom and 42 in the front is an absolute mistake. My recommendation is 46 rear, 42 front, and maybe 44/40 if the majority of your riding is solo and lightly loaded.
   
3. CAREFULLY examine the tire all the way around right next to the rim on both sides. There is a tiny rubber ridge the should be exactly the same distance from the rim edge all the way around (perfectly concentric). It is pretty common for a tire to not fully bead up in one spot or another, which will show up as the rubber ridge being a little close to the rim in that point. I honestly don't think many shops actually look closely at this indicator when they throw a tire on in their usual hurry, and if it is not beaded perfectly, you WILL feel it.
    
   If you do find a problem with the bead, the place that mounted the tire should absolutely fix it for no cost. If you need to do it yourself, it is kinda hard without dismounting the tire. Try letting all the air out and rolling the bike on the flat tire at least one full turn, then get some tire lube and heavily lube the bead area, ensuring you get plenty BETWEEN the tire and the rim. Hopefully it will slip all the way into position when you re-inflate it.
   

Goose

[Snarley Bill]

i actually agree with goose on this one. i don't think there is a better tire out there than the venom x. could be your not riding hard enough to see the real advantage in the twisties. if you have the narrow front tire it is a little more sensitive to input on the straightaway, but if you give it time you will get the feel. the 150 is like pushing a truck through the curves. the 130 venom makes it much more nimble at all speeds. don't ditch them venoms yet. bill:2133:

[LilBeaver]

Before you decide to dump the Avons, you might want to check a couple of things - most of us who have ridden on them think they handle as good as or better than any other tire on the RSV. That suggests you may still have something wrong . . .

 

1. Make certain both forks are SAME pressure...
   
2. Check your tire pressures [...] Both of my Ventures have felt a little unsure in sweepers when the rear tire was too hard. The Venom rear tire is an 80H (hopefully you got the H and not the V tire) with a max pressure of 50 lbs. Numerous tests have shown that for me anything over 48 lbs in the rear Venom and 42 in the front is an absolute mistake. My recommendation is 46 rear, 42 front, and maybe 44/40 if the majority of your riding is solo and lightly loaded.
   
3. CAREFULLY examine the tire all the way around right next to the rim on both sides. There is a tiny rubber ridge the should be exactly the same distance from the rim edge all the way around (perfectly concentric). It is pretty common for a tire to not fully bead up in one spot or another, which will show up as the rubber ridge being a little close to the rim in that point. I honestly don't think many shops actually look closely at this indicator when they throw a tire on in their usual hurry, and if it is not beaded perfectly, you WILL feel it.
    
   If you do find a problem with the bead, the place that mounted the tire should absolutely fix it for no cost. If you need to do it yourself, it is kinda hard without dismounting the tire. Try letting all the air out and rolling the bike on the flat tire at least one full turn, then get some tire lube and heavily lube the bead area, ensuring you get plenty BETWEEN the tire and the rim. Hopefully it will slip all the way into position when you re-inflate it.
   

Goose

 

Goose: First of all thank you very much for your input.

#1) Done. I've been riding with no air in the forks since I got the bike (mostly because I have not picked up a sufficient hand pump yet to add/adjust the air properly)

#2) I have tried numerous combination of air pressures (before the front got replaced) and a few after it got replaced. But I will try 42f/46r and see how it goes.

#3) I have not checked this and I did not think to check this after the new one got put on. (incidentally I choked the feelings that I was getting to the tire being new and just not being used to the new Avon... I never had the feeling I did with the several new sets of Dunlops I've been through on my other bikes)

 

Again, thanks a bunch for the input - I can't wait to get back out and try it some more (I sure don't want to replace tires so soon...)

 

... don't think there is a better tire out there than the venom x. could be your not riding hard enough to see the real advantage in the twisties. if you have the narrow front tire it is a little more sensitive to input on the straightaway, but if you give it time you will get the feel. the 150 is like pushing a truck through the curves. the 130 venom makes it much more nimble at all speeds. don't ditch them venoms yet. bill:2133:

 

Bill: Thank you for your input as well.

I have to ride quite a ways before I get into anything that I would consider to be reasonable twisties (unfortunately - product of where I live) The vast number of spaghetti intersections for the psudo-freeway system that exists in the town I'm in does allow me to get leaned over quite a bit if I want to...

I do have the 150....

I know that a lot of people are real happy with these tires (which is one reason I went through with the warranty replacement instead of throwing Dunlops on) - Hopefully a few adjustments and a few more rides, and I'll be in the happy Avon camper category too!

 

Thank you both again for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

[1BigDog]

Just my .02 on this. I run the Avons and im quite happy with them. I had the 130 on the front for about 2k and I was not happy with its stability at high speeds. I went back to the 150 and now im pleased. I run about 46-48 front and rear with no issues. I also ride 2-up most of the time. 45 lbs in the rear shock and 4 lbs in the forks. Give those Venoms some time.

[Squidley]

I had the 130 on the front for about 2k and I was not happy with its stability at high speeds. I went back to the 150 and now im pleased. I run about 46-48 front and rear with no issues. I also ride 2-up most of the time. 45 lbs in the rear shock and 4 lbs in the forks. Give those Venoms some time.

 

 

I'm with Ruffy on this too, I run exactly the same as he described. I will only run Michelin Commanders or Avon Venoms on my Ventures, some folks are talking well about the Dunlop E3's but you couldn't sell me a set of the 404's

[Sleeperhawk]

I'm with Ruffy on this too, I run exactly the same as he described. I will only run Michelin Commanders or Avon Venoms on my Ventures, some folks are talking well about the Dunlop E3's but you couldn't sell me a set of the 404's

 

Yeppers, just put on another E3 rear after putting 16000 on the last one.

Either E3 or Avons for me.

[Al Bates]

Make sure the tire is not on back wards. Check the rotation arrow on the tire.

[buddy]

Yep I'm impressed with the Avon Venom as well. On the way up to St.Charles M&E I found that I could scrap the mufflers in the twisties with 2up loaded down with luggage along with a full 12X24 ice chest with no problems.

[LilBeaver]

Well, figured I'd throw out an update

First, if I were to go back to Dunlops it would certainly be E3s or, if I could find them 491 E2s... But before I go there, I would like to give these Avons a fair run - especially since so many folks agree that they are the way to go.

 

Goose:

Checked the bead all the way around and it seemed fine. I have monkeyed with the tire pressure a little more. My front tire (80H) does say that max pressure is 42 psi, not 50 which I find a little curious...

 

I have ordered a Progressive air pump so that I can accurately and reliably add and modify the air in the suspension since this ought to help anyway.

 

Earlier this evening I went ahead and went through the best I could and reseated the front axle in the forks - Mostly by following the directions in the service manual for the installation. Then I tightened and re-torqued everything to spec and took it for a spin... I noticed some improvement.

I think I will go ahead and give these tires a thousand miles or so before I make a decision one way or another.

 

Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

Al_Bates: Checked, double checked and verified that the tire is mounted with the correct rotation orientation - Good call. I got into the habit of checking that after a shop mounted one backwards on me... Lets just say the test ride was NOT enjoyable...

 

FIB_78 if I decide to change these out, I'll let you know (and I'll definitely call around to see if I can find a place around here that will mount and balance a tire for the 10 bucks your shop up there does!)

[V7Goose]

Well, figured I'd throw out an update

First, if I were to go back to Dunlops it would certainly be E3s or, if I could find them 491 E2s... But before I go there, I would like to give these Avons a fair run - especially since so many folks agree that they are the way to go.

 

Goose:

Checked the bead all the way around and it seemed fine. I have monkeyed with the tire pressure a little more. My front tire (80H) does say that max pressure is 42 psi, not 50 which I find a little curious...

Your front tire is a 71H. Your rear is either an 80H or a 74V

Goose

[LilBeaver]

Your front tire is a 71H. Your rear is either an 80H or a 74V

Goose

 

Whoops - My front is the 71H (I double checked right now... Brain fart earlier when writing about the front :- \) the rear is the 80H.

 

Thanks.