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    #31
    Originally posted by bwringer View Post
    Jeez, talk about grave digging...



    Don't know why I never checked back in, but I ended up pretty unhappy with the 404s.

    Lo these many years later, I've tried many other tires. I came to realize that the 404's change in handling habits was just plain unacceptable. I believe it was a few weeks before I got around to mounting up those 491s, (sadly, NLA in 17" rears) and the 404s were positively evil before I finally peeled them off.

    Get Avon AM26 RoadRiders and ride happy.
    Brian, please explain this a little more as to how so us ignorant folks can understand.
    Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

    1981 GS550T - My First
    1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
    2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

    Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
    Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
    and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

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      #32
      Originally posted by cowboyup3371 View Post
      Brian, please explain this a little more as to how so us ignorant folks can understand.
      Can't speak for Brian but I think he found that the 404's grip and handling characteristics deteorated rapidly where some tires handling remains predictable until the end of their treadlife. To be fair, Brian is a "spirited" rider (I say that with a wink) and has no patience with a tire that is unpredictable.
      sigpic2002 KLR650 Ugly but fun!
      2001 KLR650 too pretty to get dirty

      Life is a balancing act, enjoy every day, "later" will come sooner than you think. Denying yourself joy now betting you will have health and money to enjoy life later is a bad bet.

      Where I've been Riding


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        #33
        If one uses the proper equipment for the task(s) at hand, the results are usually better.

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          #34
          Greetings all,

          I just got my second set of Dunlop Elite 3's for my 850L. I'm not an overly aggressive rider, but do ride often. My commute to work is only 1.5 miles RT, so most of my riding is recreational. I'm starting my third season on these tires with about 1000 miles so far this year, which has put me over 18000 on this set of tires. They have held up very well, with only a little cupping on the front and the rear is wearing even and would probably last a while longer, but I rather not push my luck. Leaving for a 1200 mile trip on May 14th, and with all the rain we've been getting, now is a perfect time to have the bike down for a bit. I don't have the bill in front of me, but the total was $290 mounted and balanced. My dealer or maybe Dunlop is offering 20% off right now as well, not sure which. This set came in $10 less than the last set almost 3 years later. Pretty happy about that.

          Andy
          1986 GS1150ES "JUNO QUICK”
          1984 GS1100GK
          1982 GS1100E “RANGER”
          1978 GS750E-"JUNO RIOT" on the road in 2013
          1980 GS550GL complete, original, 4900 miles

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            #35
            I'm on my 3rd set of D404's (different bikes) and VERY happy with the overall performance and value of the 404's . There is harder tires, and there is softer ones available. Bottom line, every tire has a compramise : Soft and sticky = 6000 mi tire that rails the turns. A harder durometer tire is a slight sacrafice of grip, but your longevity is greatly increased . The choice is strictly up to the individual rider. There is NO such tire that you can drag your knee pucks, and achieve 10K for mileage....

            Besides, my recomendation is do NOT test the limits of a "sticky" tire by dragging your knee pucks on a street driven motorcycle...

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              #36
              I've always used the GT501 from Dunlop since I put my GS back on the road and have only kept track of the mileage on the last set. It looks like I'll get about 7,000 miles on the rear and a bit more on the front. I've got new set waiting to go on and was going to do that this weekend but after just checking the wear on the rear with just over 6,000 miles on them I've still got a fair bit of thread left before the wear bars. I guess I'll leave them on for now or at least until the next trip. I ride fairly aggressively most of the time punctuated by the odd bout of insanity so I guess that's pretty good mileage for a fairly sticky tire. I've found in the past the H rated tires didn't last nearly as long for my riding style. I think that's in part that they generally run a bit hotter at higher speeds than a V rated tire. It's been a long time since I've used H rated tires but that was what happened in the past, tire technology has improved a lot since then so maybe that doesn't apply now.
              '84 GS750EF (Oct 2015 BOM) '79 GS1000N (June 2007 BOM) My Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/soates50/
              https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35860327946_08fdd555ac_z.jpg

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                #37
                (reviving this thread...)
                Gonna buy new tires soon. Considering the 404's, as i understand our GS's came stock with them. Have heard also that Avon's may be a better alternative regarding performance/wear. Any sage advice appreciated.
                '80 GS1000ST
                '92 ZX-11
                Past rides: '79 GS1000SN, '84 GPZ900R

                http://totalrider.com/

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                  #38
                  Originally posted by Frank Z. View Post
                  Any sage advice appreciated.
                  Get the Avons if you like rotting tires.
                  sigpic

                  82 GS850
                  78 GS1000
                  04 HD Fatboy

                  ...............................____
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                    #39
                    Lots of people have had zero problems with the Avon's...

                    I'm pretty sure that the problems people had were not "dry rot" either. That would be caused by age or over exposure to UV's you would think.
                    There were instances of the outer wall cracking on the sidewalls & tyre being replaced although I believe I read somewhere that the replacement was goodwill as the tyres were not being classified as dangerous or failed.

                    Bwringer must have gone through more Avon's than most & still swears by them.

                    Personally I like the Avon's but I'm not tied to them... Shinko are making some very well priced tyres these days (run them on my other bike, also on Bwringer's recommendation).

                    There is loads of info on this forum, do a search & make up your own mind.
                    1980 GS1000G - Sold
                    1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                    1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                    1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
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                    1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
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                      #40
                      Originally posted by Frank Z. View Post
                      (reviving this thread...)
                      Gonna buy new tires soon. Considering the 404's, as i understand our GS's came stock with them. Have heard also that Avon's may be a better alternative regarding performance/wear. Any sage advice appreciated.

                      404's are a newer tire. I'd get Shinko 230's before 404's as I think they are a better tire. V-rated for one thing, and belted construction.
                      Ed

                      To measure is to know.

                      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

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                        #41
                        I recently bought the Shinkos and like them a lot better compared to the 404s. I don't know enough of the technical stuff to explain why but something just feels better to me.
                        Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

                        1981 GS550T - My First
                        1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
                        2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

                        Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
                        Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
                        and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

                        Comment


                          #42
                          Originally posted by Octain View Post
                          Get the Avons if you like rotting tires.
                          If you ride them and not let them sit around and rot they won't rot.
                          http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                          Life is too short to ride an L.

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                            #43
                            Crikey, I hope everyone realizes this thread is nearly 7 years old...


                            Anyhoo, here's my current $0.02 on tires:

                            1) I've installed somewhere between 12 and 15 sets of Avon RoadRiders (on my bike and on bikes belonging to friends) and I've never even seen a cracked one. I'm not saying it didn't happen -- the photos exist and are clear -- but the problem is an isolated one. (please, read up on statistics a bit...) I continue to install and highly recommend Avon RoadRiders.

                            If the screaming about cracking bugs you, buy whatever makes you happy... it's your bike. I wish Avon paid me a commission and/or gave me free tires, but so far nada...


                            2) For the sake of Truth and Science, my GS850 is currently wearing a set of Shinko 230 Tourmasters as an experiment, and so far I like them a lot. I've only got about 1,000 miles on them, but they handle and stick very well. Those of you attending the Brown County rally next week can observe a firsthand demonstration of Shinko 230s under stress...

                            I'll wear 'em out as fast as I can and report back, but it will take a few months at least to gather data on tread life and handling as the Shinkos wear. One of the most distinctive and unusual things about the Avon RoadRiders is that they remain wonderfully neutral and consistent in feel all the way to the bitter end. If the Shinkos can duplicate this, I may have a new budget favorite...


                            As for the Dunlop 404s, I wasn't at all happy with the short life and the horrific handling that developed when they were near the end. I abuse the hell out of my motorcycle tires, so YMMV and you will probably never notice a problem. If they make you happy, great. They're not too expensive, very widely available, and reasonably sticky. The tread pattern looks more correct on a vintage bike, if you're the sort who worries about such things.
                            Last edited by bwringer; 05-11-2012, 11:44 PM.
                            1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
                            2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
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                            Eat more venison.

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                              #44
                              Hmm... Shinko, eh? Looks to be darn good price for V-rated, and they have the biggie 130/90's. Me likey. Thanks!
                              '80 GS1000ST
                              '92 ZX-11
                              Past rides: '79 GS1000SN, '84 GPZ900R

                              http://totalrider.com/

                              Comment


                                #45
                                Originally posted by Frank Z. View Post
                                Hmm... Shinko, eh? Looks to be darn good price for V-rated, and they have the biggie 130/90's. Me likey. Thanks!
                                Frank, a 130 is too wide for the stock ST wheel. Even a 120 is pushing the size threshold. Be careful.
                                Ed

                                To measure is to know.

                                Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                                Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                                Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                                KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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