Avon Distanzia

[tdogmason]

Got my Distanza's On, Here's a picture in case someone wanted to see them on a DRZ....

[J Banning]

Looks good.
That rear is the 150/70?

[ApTard]

They look so badass I wish they made a larger rear and I would get them for sure as my next tire.

[tdogmason]

Looks good.
That rear is the 150/70?

Sure is the 150/70, you know the camera adds 10 pounds....

[muxherdlr]

Did someone say Pic Ho? First 2 pics are 140/80. The third is 150/60.

[J Banning]

What are you guys running for tire pressure? What kind of warm up time do they require?

On my last couple sets of Contiforce SMs I ran 23 front & 20 rear (cold). Warm up time was almost nothing, and a rear tire (with tons of wheelies) would last me exactly 3,000 miles.

What PSI?
How long of a warmup time?

Thanks,
-B

[muxherdlr]

I have 28 cold or 26 warm...Doesnt take Distanzas long too warm up! You probably wont get that many miles out of the Avons...I got 3500 out of the DS compound and around 2000 for the SM compound,rear tire, more with the front....This is on a DRZ, not as much torque as your KTM. Goose would get around 1500 front and rear...But you see how he rides...lol

[tdogmason]

I have 28 cold or 26 warm...Doesnt take Distanzas long too warm up! You probably wont get that many miles out of the Avons...I got 3500 out of the DS compound and around 2000 for the SM compound,rear tire, more with the front....This is on a DRZ, not as much torque as your KTM. Goose would get around 1500 front and rear...But you see how he rides...lol

K, I need you to school me on the low tire pressure. I have been running close to 32 - 34 psi on my Stock Dunlops and haven't really notice them being stiff or loose. I am all about changing to what works better, I just need alittle info on why the low tire pressure and is that why you don't get as good as mileage out of the tires because of the lower pressure? T

[J Banning]

Thanks for the input guys.

These tires weigh heavier than my Contifore SMs and after mounting them myself, seem to be stiffer too. Warmup time must be longer since I had a nice 40 mph lowside last night on a easy turn that I know the Contiforces would have had ZERO problems with at that speed, even if I had just pulled out of my driveway (I had already been riding about 2 miles and wasn't even pushing it hard).

muxherdlr: Thanks for the mileage estimates. You guys however have a lot courser road surfaces down there than we have up here. Ours are smooth where yours are like course sandpaper. Plus, you guys have WAAAAAY more turns per mile than we have. <jealous>

[muxherdlr]

K, I need you to school me on the low tire pressure. I have been running close to 32 - 34 psi on my Stock Dunlops and haven't really notice them being stiff or loose. I am all about changing to what works better, I just need alittle info on why the low tire pressure and is that why you don't get as good as mileage out of the tires because of the lower pressure? T

Wish I had a glorious explanation for ya...Its the pressure that most of us down here in the mountains run...While we were sitting at a stop on an Epic ride...I asked Goose and a group of guys standing around and 26 cold 28 warm was just the general answer. So, I figured, since those guys are fast Im gonna do the same thing! I can say I have something in common with those guys...

[one-gear-rigid]

I had my Distanzias at the track Saturday for a little race action(DRZ).

I ran 20 and 22 measured cold before any laps were done, and they seemed to work fine, although I was pushing the limits of what these tires can do on a track.

I may need to switch to a stickier tire if I wanna go much faster through the corners(or get some actual skillz! ).

I run about 24 on the street.

I also ride offroad a lot, so I dont wanna be too over-inflated.

I get about 3k from a rear tire, which seem to be about the average for a SM compound tire, two fronts per rear.

Most sumos are lighter than your average sportbike and can be run at lower pressures.

[JSLincks]

K, I need you to school me on the low tire pressure. I have been running close to 32 - 34 psi on my Stock Dunlops and haven't really notice them being stiff or loose. I am all about changing to what works better, I just need alittle info on why the low tire pressure and is that why you don't get as good as mileage out of the tires because of the lower pressure? T

Hi T.
Maybe I can help with an analogy to mountain bike tires (I used to race on a team in the late 80's). As tire pressure increased you reduced roll resistance, (less effort/gas needed to maintain speed) you sacrificed grip, (slipped more) and you extended the life of the tires/tubes (less flats and tire tread/sidewall damage).
As tire pressure was reduced you gained more traction, (slipped less) increased roll resistance, (more effort/gas to maintain speed) and reduced the life of your tires/tubes (more flats and tire wear).

With that knowledge, transfered to sumos, one could adjust tire pressure based on the type of riding encountered. While I will state upfront that I have only been involved with sumos for a little over a year, and quite possibly, this may be debated by others, (welcome) I would say that lower pressures would help on the street, offering ability for greater lean angles at higher speed. For off road riding or rough pavement i.e. dirt, gravel, potholes etc. higher pressures make more sense. Now ... what those optimum pressures are, I will leave to someone else to chime in.

Bottom line : Higher pressures should = longer life of tire
Lower pressures = more fun ??

JS

[tdogmason]

I had a nice 40 mph lowside last night on a easy turn

Wo, did you get any damage from your slide. I hope the tires work out for you in the end, I feel bad that I suggested them to you and it took all of 10 minutes to crash with them.....

[tdogmason]

Hi T.
Maybe I can help with an analogy to mountain bike tires (I used to race on a team in the late 80's). As tire pressure increased you reduced roll resistance, (less effort/gas needed to maintain speed) you sacrificed grip, (slipped more) and you extended the life of the tires/tubes (less flats and tire tread/sidewall damage).
As tire pressure was reduced you gained more traction, (slipped less) increased roll resistance, (more effort/gas to maintain speed) and reduced the life of your tires/tubes (more flats and tire wear).

With that knowledge, transfered to sumos, one could adjust tire pressure based on the type of riding encountered. While I will state upfront that I have only been involved with sumos for a little over a year, and quite possibly, this may be debated by others, (welcome) I would say that lower pressures would help on the street, offering ability for greater lean angles at higher speed. For off road riding i.e. dirt, gravel, etc. higher pressures make more sense. Now ... what those optimum pressures are, I will leave to someone else to chime in.

JS

Good Info, I would think that everything from the Mtn Bike to the sumo relation would pass, at the end though, I would think that less tire pressure in the dirt would give you better grip, more tire surface on the dirt, just like taking a truck out on the sand. Just like you said though, I am not 100% sure and I am sure someone else would know better.

By the way, are you riding with us this weekend on the Bronson Ralley. It's in Newark, can't be to far from NJ, I'm coming from 3 hours away. I would like to put a screen name with a face and be able to say that we have ripped some shit up together. T

[JSLincks]

I definitely considered it but I currently have a Ford Explorer with the small class II hitch. I have a motorcycle carrier for it but it maxes out at 280lbs. I used to use it with the 560SMR. The 625 weighs 325 ?? I have to pick up a class III hitch and new carrier first. I'm 2 1/2 hours from Newark, Delaware. Even have friends there I could stay overnight at.

[tdogmason]

I definitely considered it but I currently have a Ford Explorer with the small class II hitch. I have a motorcycle carrier for it but it maxes out at 280lbs. I used to use it with the 560SMR. The 625 weighs 325 ?? I have to pick up a class III hitch and new carrier first. I'm 2 1/2 hours from Newark, Delaware. Even have friends there I could stay overnight at.

Mount the 625 and attach a tie-down from the middle outword most part of the carrier, route the tie-down over the bike seat and up to the roof racks on the explorer and give her a yank, this will take some of the downword tension off the hitch and get to driving. Join us, it will be blast. And the suggestion I just made, was me just farting out some bullshit, I haven't tried that, it just sounded good...... but you never know, it could be a good idea

[JSLincks]

Mount the 625 and attach a tie-down from the middle outword most part of the carrier, route the tie-down over the bike seat and up to the roof racks on the explorer and give her a yank, this will take some of the downword tension off the hitch and get to driving. Join us, it will be blast. And the suggestion I just made, was me just farting out some bullshit, I haven't tried that, it just sounded good...... but you never know, it could be a good idea

Not sure why, but I got this vision of you guys clicking a pic of that set up on my truck and it ending up on the WTF thread

[tdogmason]

Not sure why, but I got this vision of you guys clicking a pic of that set up on my truck and it ending up on the WTF thread

Yes sir, that would be a good one, but if it gets you there then it is worth the razing......

[Bomb Hills]

Did someone say Pic Ho? First 2 pics are 140/80. The third is 150/60.

What front did you run with the 140/80 and what handling difference did you notice between the tall 140/80 and fat and short 150/60?

Thanks!

[fj1200]

They're pretty much useless on wet clay. Still tons of fun though.

[muxherdlr]

What front did you run with the 140/80 and what handling difference did you notice between the tall 140/80 and fat and short 150/60?

Thanks!

I have the SM front 120/ whatever dont know off hand.. Difference in 140 to 150 is turn in! The 140 handles very well... But the 150 will lay over in the turn quicker

[Bomb Hills]

interesting, I guess it depends on the front a lot... with the same front, seems the 140/80 would turn in faster because the rear would be up higher.

[Kwota]

I get about 3k from a rear tire, which seem to be about the average for a SM compound tire, two fronts per rear.

Did you mean 2 rears for every front?

I'm on my second set of the 160s and love em here, especially this time of year with all the leaves and muck on the roads.

[Bomb Hills]

I'm on my second set of the 160s and love em here, especially this time of year with all the leaves and muck on the roads.

So does that confirm that a 160 fits on the DRZ?

[SwitchThrottle]

I have the 150/70 on the rear of my Husky, and like it a lot. I have about 3k on it. They are wearing like iron. Dry traction is good (predictable). Dirt traction is good (for a non-knobby). Wet weather traction is better than the POS Dunlops that came on it, but the Avons do spin up easy (260lb bike+50rwhp+WOT+wet=spin).

[one-gear-rigid]

Front:


Rear:




Yeah, I'm bored this morning.

[pregrid]

That's gettin' your money's worth. Good Job. I can't imagine using that much front.

[net450r350x]

Yup, good tires. Getting 3000 miles out of rears, 6000 out of fronts. SM compound.

[SUMORYDR]

Yeah the Avon's are a great all around tire........ ALL AROUND TIRE!!!!!

Now, having said that I will throw in a word of caution do not take these to the track on a KTM 625SMC and expect to get away with it. They did good enough but at full lean (knee down - road course) it did spin out on me a bit. Granted they are awesome and it was suuuuuper hot out and I had been riding them hard for about 10 laps but still....they spun out. I didn't go down and thy helped me to recover nicely but don't expect to get away with murder on a road course with these. For everyday ridig and typical play bike stuff these tires kick ass!!!!

I can't wait to get another set!!!!!!!

[Green Street Hooligan]

So is it the general consensus that the Distanzia front tire is no better in the dirt/gravel/mud than a street tire? Would I be better off with a MT60 or Avon Rain upfront instead?

[J Banning]

I'll post up on Sunday how they do offroad as compared to my Contiforces. Their maiden offroad voyage is here tomorrow...

http://supermotojunkie.com/showpost....0&postcount=67



-B

[stoo]

So is it the general consensus that the Distanzia front tire is no better in the dirt/gravel/mud than a street tire? Would I be better off with an MT16 or Avon Rain upfront instead?

Avon ProXtreme Rain on the front gets my vote. Offroad performance seemed pretty similar to me, but on the tarmac it works so much better.

[J Banning]

What version do you run? DOT legal or track only?
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...XtremeRain.htm

"Pro-Xtreme is specially formulated to give you extreme grip, combined with a reassuring sense of control, while the tread profile on the front is designed to enhance your bike’s steering ability. Two versions are available,"Race Only" for non-highway/competition use and D.O.T. legal that’s soft enough for track use yet is impressively durable on the road"

[stoo]

I've only ever run the road legal ones. They've got more grip than I've got the skill / balls to use, so I've never felt the need for more tyre.

Unfortunately that says a lot more about my riding than it does about the tyres!

[hey Johnny Park]

These tires are the coolest looking tires ever. I always am drawn to them when I see a post about them

[Kwota]

So does that confirm that a 160 fits on the DRZ?

THe 160 fits fine on my DRZ, they're not that much bigger. The tire seems to work well, my tires are worked in front and rear in the above pics, they seem to grip pretty good while ripping around the city. Track maybe there's something a bit more focused, but for mixing it up between lots of different onroad/offroad/wheelies etc i'll give them love. Just bought my second set of them last spring, i did a bunch of reading and really couldn't find anything that looked like a better all arounder for me.

[SUMORYDR]

These tires are the coolest looking tires ever. I always am drawn to them when I see a post about them

The thing is they perform as well as they look!!!!!!!!

[J Banning]

Yeah the Avon's are a great all around tire........ ALL AROUND TIRE!!!!!

Now, having said that I will throw in a word of caution do not take these to the track on a KTM 625SMC and expect to get away with it...

With only about 60 miles under my belt with the Distanzias I think I'm pretty much in agreement with you. I still need to fiddle with tire pressure some more, but my initial impression is that they do not warm up as quickly nor offer as much total grip on the pavement as the Continental Contiforce SMs I've been running. Note: our pavement around here is more tightly compacted (i.e.: smooth) than most of the stuff I've ridden on down south. That stuff was like course sand paper!

15-20 of us are running 200 miles of twisties, gravel roads and some offroad sections tomorrow, so I'll definitely have my mind made up after that ride!

[SUMORYDR]

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE RIDE REPORT!!!!!!! .....even though I've done thousands of miles on Avons before.

[Bomb Hills]

THe 160 fits fine on my DRZ, they're not that much bigger. The tire seems to work well, my tires are worked in front and rear in the above pics, they seem to grip pretty good while ripping around the city. Track maybe there's something a bit more focused, but for mixing it up between lots of different onroad/offroad/wheelies etc i'll give them love. Just bought my second set of them last spring, i did a bunch of reading and really couldn't find anything that looked like a better all arounder for me.

Thanks for confirming!

[Kwota]

I should say that I have on occasion found the tire to have these sliding elements that are mentioned by the guys who have taken a distanzia shod supermoto on the track for a romp, I'm quite comfortable riding on the track, and i recognize what they're talking about. there is a little fade right at the very edge, but its smooth and consistant, and frankly, every tire will slide a bit at its limit, its just the characteristics of the tire when it starts to go that's a concern. this one is smooth and stable and you can easily counter it. i believe that this is actually due to the large gaps in the tread blocks, and not the rubber itself, because when you're riding on that knife edge nice and low with the back stepped out sideways and you're leaning on that inside grip with all your weight, you can count on the tire, it does slide, but you know what its going to do. i guess this is the tradeoff for its prowess in the less than ideal conditions. anyway, beer in hand makes me type too much. cheers

[one-gear-rigid]

Water crossing + wet leaves and mud + wet Distanzias = rear wheel shooting out from under you!



P.S. It's deeper than it looks!

[whyfly]

Distanza's - 3 Garden Gnomes - 0

[Grendel336]

With only about 60 miles under my belt with the Distanzias I think I'm pretty much in agreement with you. I still need to fiddle with tire pressure some more, but my initial impression is that they do not warm up as quickly nor offer as much total grip on the pavement as the Continental Contiforce SMs I've been running. Note: our pavement around here is more tightly compacted (i.e.: smooth) than most of the stuff I've ridden on down south. That stuff was like course sand paper!

15-20 of us are running 200 miles of twisties, gravel roads and some offroad sections tomorrow, so I'll definitely have my mind made up after that ride!

And the final word is...?????

[Bomb Hills]

Dude I was out with my M3's this weekend on some trails with wet leaves and I felt like I was on a skating ring, need to get the distanzia's or something with some tread.

[Kwota]

Dude I was out with my M3's this weekend on some trails with wet leaves and I felt like I was on a skating ring, need to get the distanzia's or something with some tread.

Those fall wet leaves on mud in steep terrain are tough on anything other than full knobbies; at best of times in the summer, when you're pinning it throught the corners on gravel or dirt roads, the front Distanzia feels like a half worn knobbie front, and gives progressively less feedback the larger the chunk size that you're riding on gets. It will be an improvement due to its tread gaps but once those clog with mud things will still get interesting, because a SM front brake is way too overkill offroad in those conditions, so back off your front brake adjusters and have fun...

[LandonMcQ]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, Just got the Distanzias on my 690. So far I love them, I got the SM compound. oh and thanks Motostrano!

[J Banning]

The Distanzias worked perfectly for my ride in Western NC after Thanksgiving. It took me a while to gain back the confidence I lost after the 40mph lowside I had with them the first night but they didn't slide or push once since. 24/24 psi worked well for me down there. The extra traction and slightly better braking was welcomed on the dirt and gravel roads I ran and I could notice a difference. Not a ton, but it was noticeable.

[muxherdlr]

The Distanzias worked perfectly for my ride in Western NC after Thanksgiving. It took me a while to gain back the confidence I lost after the 40mph lowside I had with them the first night but they didn't slide or push once since. 24/24 psi worked well for me down there. The extra traction and slightly better braking was welcomed on the dirt and gravel roads I ran and I could notice a difference. Not a ton, but it was noticeable.

When you low sided, had you scrubbed the tire in yet?

[J Banning]

Perhaps not enough.

Perhaps they have a longer warmup period than my old Contiforces.

One way or another I went down at a decent speed and it wasn't fun. Luckily, neither the bike or I were damaged (much).

-B