Avon Tires move to Chrome - And any ride reports with new Avon Chrome?

[97BLKVALK]

Went out to purchase new tires and found my Dark Side at Summit Racing, and looking for Avon front and boy did the front tires in Avon Chrome take a fair but sizable step up in price.  I see Rocky mountain motorsports still have a last years model of rear tires left.  Just a heads up

Michael

[Jess from VA]

I just ordered a new ME880 front 150 radial, and the best price I could find (Amazon) was easily $25-30 higher than than the last few I ordered.  (and a bunch of places had it $50-70 higher  )

[h13man]

Avon Chrome? Avon Cobra's are what I'm running now but going back to Bridgestone 701F/702R Exedra's and there is a factory rebate also. https://www.americanmototire.com/motorcycle-tire-rebates/

[97BLKVALK]

Avon Chrome? Avon Cobra's are what I'm running now but going back to Bridgestone 701F/702R Exedra's and there is a factory rebate also. https://www.americanmototire.com/motorcycle-tire-rebates/

https://www.avontyres.com/en-us/tyres/?searchtype=car&cartype=motorcycle&car=Honda+F+6+C+Valkyrie

[RWhitehouse]

I noticed shortly after Metzeler came out with the "Cruisetec" tires recently,  the ME880's all seemed to get hit with a price hike and a lot of sizes are now NLA, replaced by the ME888 or Cruisetec options (neither have fitment for the Valk). I'm not a fan of the 888's anyway, I've run them on a few other bikes ard they are an absolute rock hard tire. They definitely traded grip for longevity vs the 880. 

Shinko has a couple tires that specifically mention fitment for the Valkyrie. Last time I looked in addition to the 230 Tour Master they've had forever, they now have a new 890 "Journey" radial tire with fitment for the Valk. Has a nice looking modern tread pattern and initial reviews are quite positive. I run the ATT on the rear and currently a D404 on the front(NOS craigslist special for $20), which I've been generally happy with. Probably will give the Shinko Journey a try on the front next. I'm still not really sure the pros/cons of bias vs radial on the front, I've heard very mixed things.

According to Revzilla, these are the tires that still have 150/80-17 fitment for the front wheel

Dunlop D404 (bias) ($98)
Dunlop Elite 4 (radial)- $217
Dunlop Elite 3 (radial)- $206
Dunlop D251 (radial)- $240

Metzeler ME880 (bias) $139
Metzeler ME880 (radial) $198

Avon Cobra Chrome (radial)- $230
Avon Cobra AV71 (radial)- $198, but out of stock/discontinued.

Shinko 230 Tourmaster (bias)- $98
Shinko 890 Journey (radial)- $122

[Jess from VA]

For those that run Metzlers, I would point out that all sellers don't clearly state if the tire they are selling is the ME880 radial or bias.  There is a pretty big price difference, but the tires look identical in web page photographs.  Bias tires may perform fine on our bikes, but I can tell you the ME880 bias does not have the longevity of the radial.  I ordered a bias once by accident, ran it, and only discovered my mistake when it got used up much quicker than my past ME880's.

So if you are price shopping ME880 radials, and come across a heck of a deal, it's probably a bias.

Per Mr. Whitehouse's post:  (and that $198 was the very cheapest I could find for my radial, anywhere)
Metzeler ME880 (bias) $139
Metzeler ME880 (radial) $198
   

[h13man]

This vendor  https://www.americanmototire.com/search-results?q=150%2F80-17 and Rocky Mountain https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/motorcycle are my favorite vendors/prices, and delivery, most sites deliver within 2-3 days. The 701 Exedra is about best tire I used yet. Running  Avon Cobras but mileage on the rear is looking a little bleak but.. Got 15,000 safe miles out of the front Exedra. I used Metzler 880, Exedras, and Avon in that order.