Jack,

You seem to have lots of experience regarding tires but everyone is welcome to chime in.  Most of my riding is highway commutting (45 miles/day) with occasional cruising 2-up with the wife.  

I am trying to decide between the AM51/52 and the AV45/46.  The cheaper tire is tempting but I like the idea of the radials.  

Will the 140/80 (closest AV46) need any gear changes?  Will the radials last longer?  Are there any power issues at highway speeds?  Will it affect accelleration?  Thanks for the help.  

MacDuff

GSJack is the man. He keeps a decent log book and has learnt more about those street tires than most of us can even imagine. He also is the master at getting life from chains and the GS bikes overall.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: MacDuffJack,

You seem to have lots of experience regarding tires but everyone is welcome to chime in.  Most of my riding is highway commutting (45 miles/day) with occasional cruising 2-up with the wife.  

I am trying to decide between the AM51/52 and the AV45/46.  The cheaper tire is tempting but I like the idea of the radials.  

Will the 140/80 (closest AV46) need any gear changes?  Will the radials last longer?  Are there any power issues at highway speeds?  Will it affect accelleration?  Thanks for the help.  

MacDuff

I saw your post late last nite MacDuff and was going to answer it this am since it's not a short answer.  You did not say what year your GS is or how much you and your wife weigh and it's none of my business.   But I weigh about 240# and for my 97 GS the change to a 15T front sprocket was worthwhile regardless of tire size.  It made it much easier to get the "load" moving, especially on an uphill grade with the 15T front sprocket.  A very inexpensive change.

If your 45 mile commute is round trip, it adds up to 11k+ miles a year or 22k+ miles a year if that is one way distance.  Add in pleasure riding and you are a fairly high milage rider.  I ride 15-20k miles a year and found the Metz radials to be less expensive than the BT45 tires in the long run due to the longer milage from the 130/80 Z2 radial.

The first BT45 rear I put on lasted 9k+ miles, but due to more "spirited" riding the 2nd lasted less than half that.  I then put on a Z2 rear and it went about 14k miles running it even harder.  The radials are actually a bargain for me w/o even considering their much better performance, wet or dry, over the bias tires.

I have not yet tried the AV45/46 or the AM51/52 tires but did put a AV36 rear on my 97 last year after the Z2 was destroyed and measuring the tread depth after 5k miles.  I think it will go about 10k miles till it hits the markers.  I really liked the handling with the AV36 and plan on trying the AV45/46 tires this season on the 02 GS.  I expect them to give considerably longer life than the AV36 and to last at least as long as the Z2 with better performance.  Let ya know if I'm right next fall.   :lol:

On the other hand, no one here has reported on any experience with the new Avon AM51/52 tires yet.   Avon calls them a premium crossply tire with longer life compound and excellent all-weather performance.  Seems too good to be true since a pair of OEM sizes can be had for $120-130 delivered to your door and a pair of AV45/46 tires will run about $190 delivered.  Could be a real bargain for those not into spirited riding yet.  You could be the first here to test them and report back.  

My tire log for the 97 GS:

http://members.aol.com:/jcprrp/97GStirelog.txt

Looks like I'm the guinea pig either way.  

I am leaning toward the AM51/52.  Less cost (may be getting another bike), lower seat height (wife taking MSF class) and no gear change.  Thanks for the help.  

MacDuff

PS. I don't commute on the bike every day.  6 to 8 Kmiles/year.

so where did you get the prices from?

Hi:
I've been riding the AV45/46 setup AND switched to a 15-T front sprocket since the beginning of May.  I am very happy with both changes, especially the tires.  The bike is much more "sure-footed".  I have no problem leaning over much more now in twisties and big sweepers, and at speeds that I could not do with the (barf, yuk) stock Excedras.  "Confidence inspiring" all right.
I'd really spend a few xtra bucks and go radial.  Oh, and you need make no changes with the rear tire in 140/80/17.

Ditto-

I just had my AV45/46's put on about 1K ago, and couldn't be happier.  The bike went from handling like a super tanker to more like a super sport.  The tread pattern and depth give me good hopes for tread life and wet performance.  Only time will tell though.  The extra aspect ratio is fairly insignificant, but I do plan to throw on a 15T anyway.

Aaron