EasTexRIII
Living Legend
So far, after ditching the Metz, that's the onlyest one I've used - if it's good enuff to hold with you in cornering/twisties, it's d@mn sure good enuff for me
Scorp
Turbocharged
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2010
- Messages
- 740
My last tyre was the 140 Michelin Commander, definitely better than the150. I am now running the130 exceedra max, even better still ...But, I do not have ABS so all good. So far the only downside with a smaller front tyre is less lean angle with the bike on its side stand. Have to be extra careful when parking it. Since the bike is more upright, luckily I caught it just in time a few days ago. Made my heart jump out of my chest. But for performance and handling, thanks Phil 
EasTexRIII
Living Legend
My last tyre was the 140 Michelin Commander, definitely better than the150. I am now running the130 exceedra max, even better still ...But, I do not have ABS so all good. So far the only downside with a smaller front tyre is less lean angle with the bike on its side stand. Have to be extra careful when parking it. Since the bike is more upright, luckily I caught it just in time a few days ago. Made my heart jump out of my chest. But for performance and handling, thanks Phil
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https://www.r3owners.net/threads/fuh-in-winds-blowin-hard-here-in-east-texas-today.26907/
1olbull
Riding Motor Since 1950
Huh?
Where you get 130? I was talkin bout 140
Some here have used 130 up front and recommend them. They are not to be used on an R3R with ABS for two reasons:
1) The ABS will fault through the ECU due to exceeding rear and front tire circumference ratio.
2) The front will be lowered enough that the forward end of the peg rails can grab pavement if you're working the twistys pretty hard.
TriumPhil
Living Legend
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- Oct 12, 2009
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- Long Valley, NJ
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- '07 Mulberry Red, Carpentered & Bruted R3 Standard
#2 definitely does not apply to pre-Roadstar models, though. Trust me on that!
barbagris
Mad Scientist
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- Aug 1, 2010
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- On the verge of insanity
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- 1979 Guzzi V1000G5 - 2018 KTM 790 Duke
That was quite possibly me. AVON did do a 140/80Z rated rear which sat very well indeed on the 3.5" front rim.
Was called the Azaro and is now discontinued. A shame as it really was a cracking front tyre on the R3.
An R3 that is ridden at 80-85mph for hours on end where there are ANY curves in 35ºC plus WILL shred V rated rubber.
So long distance runs (tankfulls with no stops) in Spain in Summer shred both Me880's and Cobras. IME.
It was a reason I tried the DarkSide. The other being month long wait times for Metz and almost zero availability of Avons now.
I now run a E-max on the rear and a Bridgestone BT021 150/70Z REAR Tyre on the front (mounted in reverse obviously).
I very nearly fitted the Metzler 140/75ZR17 (in the EU Z rated is available) but there were availability issues.
The 150/70 is also VERY good - so my conjecture is that it has as much to do with rolling radius as width.
A 150/70 is the same radius as a 140/75. It's just maths/physics.
A smaller rolling radius sharpens the steering angle - Paul Bryant published some numbers somewhere. Fitting the bigger rolling radius EMAX on the rear also helps sharpen the fork(steering) angle. Smaller front and bigger rear makes the buggers very very nimble.
Neither of these will pass an MoT test here - so I have a set of wheels with OEM Spec Metzlers fitted.
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Tal
Living Legend
Here in NZ i run a stock Metzeler on the front and a 55 Exedra max on the rear.
I know you guys get great mileage out of the tyres you run which is way more than we get here.
I was told i would get about 6000 kms out of the exedra....so far i have 7000 on it and looks like i might get another 2000kms i think. I run it at 42lbs. What im thinking it comes down to is road surface. We have Bitumen roads here (Ashphalt) and i want good grip. I ride solo all the time with no luggage.
How the hell do you guys get such high mileage?
TriumPhil
Living Legend
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2009
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- 11,444
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- Long Valley, NJ
- Ride
- '07 Mulberry Red, Carpentered & Bruted R3 Standard
They ride like old women, Tal.
On my Roadster I fitted the 140/75R17 Commander II almost 2k miles ago, in combination with the Exedra Max 240/55R16 rear. I was motivated to try the Commander based on positive comments in this forum. It was 10% more expensive than the Avon when I was buying. I hope it lasts well, but it starts out with only 3.6mm of tread depth according to my caliper. I expected about 4.8mm like the Avon has.
The 140 front makes steering a lot quicker than with the 150 Metz on front, which is a benefit, and the bike is still very stable at the speeds I ride at (below 100mph). I haven't tried the Avon Cobra AV71 front yet, in 140 or 150 size. So far I'm happy with the Commander. Not sure what the next front will be.
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