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[Black Diamond]

It's tire time again. Only got 11000 miles out of the front, again. The 407F's are just starting to cup. Not nearly as bad as the original set but I can see it starting. The 407 on the rear is still looking good but closing in on replacement time. However, it seems to me the front should last longer than 11000 miles.

Is anyone running the new Metzeler ME 880 on the SERK?
How are the Dunlop 408's for handling and holding up?

My SM uses Metzelers on his Road King with a Jim's 120. Says the rear tire wears quickly and looses grip. He does ride aggressively tho!

Ideas?

JW

[TN]

my 07 serk came with the elite lll dunlop radials on it and liked them. sure is a problem with the current 407's

i'm a avon man myself. http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle


good luck.


TN

[Midnight Rider]

my 07 serk came with the elite lll dunlop radials on it and liked them. sure is a problem with the current 407's

i'm a avon man myself. http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle


good luck.


TN

Which Avon are you running on the rear?  I've heard great things about the Cobras, but know little about the other tires they make.  The rear on my Stratoliner comes with a 190/60x17....a hard to find size.  People with this bike are going to the 200/55/17 with great results in wear and handling.  Don't know if that one would squeeze in on an 08 though. 

[TN]

i run avon venoms on my 08 tr but it has the standard 16's. the serg has the cobra radials and has the same size as the serk on the front, 130/70-18. the rear is 180/55-18. they have excellent handling characteristics. i only got 7500 mi on my last rear,(cobra) but that is determined on riding style and i sometimes get a bit aggressive. after miles of 100mph+ cruising tires seem to wear faster than usual. just installed a new rear a few days ago.

i forgot the serk has a 17" rear. the dunlop elite lll as i remember was a good tire but hd quit using these as factory tires.



TN

[RayG]

My original front was replaced at 9K due to excessive cupping. The second went 6K but was replaced due to a nail but it was cupping worse than the first. At about 15K my third tire was replaced after I put 3K miles on it. I just happend to be at a different dealership that usually does my work and asked the SM to look at my front tire, I told him I had about 3K miles on the tire he just looked at me and said if you have time I want to replace that tire for you! I was shocked, are you sh--ting me, you want to do something for me! I now have 21K on the bike and the tire is just starting to cup again. I talked to the Dunlop rep at Laconia Bike week and he told me they were well aware of the problem, he even went to look at my bike and told me that the new front tires will have the thread reversed and their testing indicated that it solved the problem. Unfortunately I was told they would not be available until the current inventory is gone. I don't know if any of that is true or not. (I have read about the thread pattern change on another post.) With 21K I'm on my 5th rear tire, they wear bad and seem to pick up nails like a magnet. I never get the nails when the tires are worn, I usually have 2K miles on them. Actually they replaced the rear 2 weeks ago and put a deep scratch in the rim, this was so bad it looked intentional. I noticed it right away, the SM denied it, we argued and I just asked to see the owner and he said just kidding.  I got the call yesterday that my new rear rim is in and to call for an appointment. Thank God I purchased the wheel and tire warranty. There has to be something better for our bikes, good luck and keep us posted, maybe you can find the reversed front thread tire and let us know how it works out. We can all change our tires when they wear even if it is prematurely but the cupping is a safety issue I'm concerned about.

Good Luck

Ray G.   

[Midnight Rider]

i run avon venoms on my 08 tr but it has the standard 16's. the serg has the cobra radials and has the same size as the serk on the front, 130/70-18. the rear is 180/55-18. they have excellent handling characteristics. i only got 7500 mi on my last rear,(cobra) but that is determined on riding style and i sometimes get a bit aggressive. after miles of 100mph+ cruising tires seem to wear faster than usual. just installed a new rear a few days ago.

i forgot the serk has a 17" rear. the dunlop elite lll as i remember was a good tire but hd quit using these as factory tires.



TN

Like I said, the Cobras seem to perform well, and wear well.  Glad you are happy with them.  You've never heard so much bitching on the Stratoliner site as about tire mileage.  The tires that come on the bike (either Bridgestones or Dunflops) suck in a big way....mine are the Stones and they sing badly when cornering which drives me nuts.  The swingarm on the Stratoliner is wide though, so the 200 is not a problem to fit and that's what I'll be running when the Stones are shot.  If the 200/55/17 could be mounted on the SERK, it would offer a great alternative to those who own the bike.  There is no good Metzler option for my bike at this time.

[Black Diamond]

Talked with my SM today. He rides a RK with a Jims 120. Thing is a monster. T-Man 590 cam, heads have been tweaked. He had Dunlops on but went through them pretty fast. Changed to Metzeler ME 880. Only problem he is having is the back tire. They will not stay hooked up when he's getting on it while shifting to 2nd. Tire breaks causing her to fishtail. Everyone tells him it's "cool". He says no it's not, not what he wants it to do. Tire works fine for the first few thousand miles then it gets slick. He's on his 2nd rear. Front is still good. When it wears out he'll look elsewhere.

He rides a lot harder than I do but it's making me wonder.

JW

[SBB]

He rides a lot harder than I do but it's making me wonder.
JW

Wonder what Jeff?
Wonder if you should get that ProCharger like Tman so you could have tire problems?
That's a good problem to have.

SBB

[Black Diamond]

Wonder what Jeff?
Wonder if you should get that ProCharger like Tman so you could have tire problems?
That's a good problem to have.

SBB

Now that machine can not be put in a catagory!  LOL

Wonder what?
Stick with the Dunlops and put a 408 on the front or
ME 880

[SBB]

Now that machine can not be put in a catagory!  LOL

Wonder what?
Stick with the Dunlops and put a 408 on the front or
ME 880

Now I understand Jeff.
So my answer is, I don't know
I can tell you for sure the 407 sucked on my bike but with only 4K on the 408 the jury is still out.
Will let you know in a few more weeks when I get more miles on it.
I'm scheduled for around 3K in the next few days.

SBB

[Black Diamond]

Now I understand Jeff.
So my answer is, I don't know
I can tell you for sure the 407 sucked on my bike but with only 4K on the 408 the jury is still out.
Will let you know in a few more weeks when I get more miles on it.
I'm scheduled for around 3K in the next few days.

SBB

Thanks Chip. Looking forward to your observation of the 408s.

JW

[Black Diamond]

Well my front was cupped so badly I had to pull the trigger. I've installed the ME 880. Got under 150 miles on them. Initial impressions: certainly no better than the Dunlops.

Front tire seems to transmit more of the road's irregularities to the handlebars, slips easily on "black snakes" (tar strips on the road way. Time will tell but pretty vanilla about em so far.

JW

[roadrunner]

Now that machine can not be put in a catagory!  LOL

Wonder what?
Stick with the Dunlops and put a 408 on the front or
ME 880

I thought it wasn't a good practice to run different brand tires front or rear.

Ride safe!

[Black Diamond]

I thought it wasn't a good practice to run different brand tires front or rear.

Ride safe!

My answer wasn't real clear
Either Dunlop combination front and rear or ME 880. I would not run different brands.

FWIW I mounted the ME 880. It took em over 500 miles to wear in but now they seem to be a good tire. Time will tell on the mileage.

JW