Ordered the Storms anyway

[sprint_st]

Hopefully I won't be dissapointed, if anything, I'll burn through them and try something different. I'm sure it's been discussed but how many miles should I expect on the rear?

No more than you expect from Stradas or Pilot Powers. The compound seems to be about the same and the tread depth is not significantly greater.

crap.... For some reason I thought that the storms would last longer. Maybe I will just stick with the powers. It's probably not too late to call back and change.

Edit*** Too late to switch. Hope they don't suck!!!

Just for the record, I've got a set on the NoMar right now. Jeff's statement about compound and tread depth is pure speculation. You can't tell what the compound is by feeling it or just looking at it AND there is more to wear than just tread depth. When you see such so many both for and against something and I really don't see that many against, you ought to just ride them, you just might like them.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Hopefully I won't be dissapointed, if anything, I'll burn through them and try something different. I'm sure it's been discussed but how many miles should I expect on the rear?

No more than you expect from Stradas or Pilot Powers. The compound seems to be about the same and the tread depth is not significantly greater.

crap.... For some reason I thought that the storms would last longer. Maybe I will just stick with the powers. It's probably not too late to call back and change.

Edit*** Too late to switch. Hope they don't suck!!!

no no no

THese last longer than the powers and the roads

the compound is hard in the center, soft on the sides...unless you do nothing but lean, you'll get 6-8k out of these without a problem

 

[keithaba]

So far so good. Did about 400 miles this weekend and no complaints. Mine ride fine solo and 2 up.

Whoever said that the Avons lean you into a turn easier is 100% correct. I don't feel like I have to muscle the bike in the tight stuff. It just kinda goes over when you lean. It will take me a little adjusting, I find myself having to correct my lines a lot because of how much easier the bike leans.

I have to ride them more to see if I like this easy turn entry or not. It's just too early for me to tell, because I'm still adjusting. Never though tires would make that much of a difference in regard to entry.

 

[bikerskier]

Just put my first 500 miles on a new set of Storms and so far, I LOVE THEM! Feel very sticky and track superbly in corners. I expect to be very happy with these tires and really don't give a **** about whether I get 4000 miles or 7000 miles out of them as long as I feel this confident in the turns.

I also installed some 90 degree valve stems and although they are so much easier to access, they seem to mate a bit sloppy with my air fitting and I can't get a good seal when airing up. Anyone else notice this?

 

[camera56]

Put me down as a fan of the Storms.

I put a set on before reading the famous thread. I just came back from a four day, 2500 mile trip from Seattle to Death Valley and back. More on that in another posting. We rode slab and a lot of twisties including the peg grinding kind. Speeds ranging up to 110 with extended running in the 85 to 95 mph range, temperatures from the low 30s to 104, and winds ranging from nil to "high." A pretty thorough examination (but for rain). I never felt like I put a wrong foot with the Storms.

As others have said, the bike turns in much quicker than it did with the Metzlers . . . you have to give it a nudge to get it to stand back up. If you ride the Reg Pridmore way, you might find them a touch unnerving, but if you like to flop the bike into the turn they're a revelation. They are more sensitive to the pavement in all ways. You get tons of feedback about the road surface (which I think is good) but I didn't find that they were excessively darty.

Others have commented on the rate of wear. Having owned a bunch of cars that took big fat Z rated rubber, I find the cost of good skins for the FJR to be entirely reasonable. If you put average miles on a bike, whatever that means, what's the difference over a couple of years of riding? Two more sets of tires? Three? Given that we're hanging on by two contact patches with the surface area of a couple of silver dollars, it seems like trading some mileage for grip and handling is a good trade.

YMMV, consult with your physician, don't try this at home, IMHO . . .

I also installed some 90 degree valve stems and although they are so much easier to access, they seem to mate a bit sloppy with my air fitting and I can't get a good seal when airing up. Anyone else notice this?

Did the valve stems as well. So far so good.

 

[painman]

I'll be ordering the Storms as well. Too many good reports and the Metzlers weren't that bad either with almost 6000 mi. on the clock could probablly go another 2000. PM. <><

 

[dbvolfan]

Got a set curing in the garage right now, waiting faithfully for their turn. <Fingers Corssed that I didnt get one of the bad ones>

I sure as heck cant complain about the Azaros which look like they will get just over 10k miles on them.

 

[GPRIDER]

I also have a set curing in the garage waiting their turn. I've been reading a lot of posts about the storms both pro and con. I really liked the way the Azaros handled. Hopefully the storms will work out.

GP

 

[sprint_st]

Put 199.3 miles on the new set of Storms today. Not sure what all the tech BS terms mean, but they feel much better than the stock BT020's by a bunch. Most of those miles where in 3D twisties along the SC/NC border. Now to see how long they last.

 

[Geezer]

I wanted to install a set of fresh tires for the Rhody Rally next weekend. I still have a new rear Azarro in the garage, but I decided to try out the Storms. The rear seemed a little more difficult to spoon on than the Azarros and I've got a black fingernail to prove it. The front went on much easier, as usual for front tires.

My first impression is that they seemed a little stickier than the Azarros, but new tires always feel better than the worn out ones coming off.

After accounting for the 'new tire' affect, I did not notice any significant difference in the Storm and Azarro rear tires. I have been happy with Azarros and I'm just as happy with the Storm rear tire.

The Storm front tire seemed significantly better in hard braking. I can brake harder with this tire than any other tire I have tried. After the first 100 miles or so I started to notice a slight wobble in the front when slowing from about 50 mph under lighter braking. I'll need to put some more miles on this tire before I decide of I like it.

 

[fjr07]

I just put a new rear storm on my bike...here are my stats so far on the Azaros vs the Storms (rear only)..3-16-06 - rear Azaro odometer reading:6032

8-1-06 - rear Azaro odometer reading:15650 ; mileage 9618 on previous Azaro

1-27-07 - rear STORM odometer reading:25132; mileage 9482 on previous Azaro

4-25-07 - rear STORM odometer reading:33150; mileage 8018 on previous STORM

As you can see, I got significantly less mileage on the STORM...not good. Hoping the one I put on today gets back into the mid to upper 9K range like the old Azaros did.

Jay

' 04 FJR 1300

Just a thought, your first storm got close to your last azaro tire.

Your second storm fell off noticably.

Could the reason be that with your first storm you were actually riding most of the time like it was an azaro tire, and as your mind started thinking that it gripped better in the curves, that you actually started riding harder. With even more confidence on your second storm tire, you flat put it to it in the curves.

If's that not it, have you actually thought of what it might really be?

 

[BobbyBlue]

I just received my new Storms and the Azzaro's they will replace have 12.2K on 'em. And I DO like rolling burnouts !!!

Of course, as a Luddite, I havent checked in in a while and didnt get the "Storm Warning" This will be my third set and I just love 'em, a great all arounder for our cruise missiles !!! Now go out and have a great ride !!!!

Bobby

 

[Warchild]

Whoever said that the Avons lean you into a turn easier is 100% correct.

You're welcome!

I have always maintained the Avon Azaros are about the finest tires you can put on your FJR..... that is, until the Storms hit the market.

IMO, this tire is head and shoulders above even the Azaro with regard to grip and feedback. This tire's treadlife is the only unknown for me, but not for long. I'll be able to easily determine over the next couple of weeks what I personally can expect out of the rear tire for treadlife, as I have some heavy-duty riding planned for May as I go about tuning up for some LD events this summer... B)

 

[sprint_st]

Storm front tire seemed significantly better in hard braking. I can brake harder with this tire than any other tire I have tried. After the first 100 miles or so I started to notice a slight wobble in the front when slowing from about 50 mph under lighter braking. I'll need to put some more miles on this tire before I decide of I like it.

I didn't notice anything significant to attribute to the front tire. Had no problem putting them on. Matter of fact I put the back on twice. (First time for a tire change on an FJR and I got the direction messed up). Also, when I was balancing the front I didn't like the results so I broke the bead, rotated the tire 180 degrees and I got much better results.

 

[SMC]

:blink: '05 FJR A, OE Bridgestones 8,760 miles (sold bike and had not gotten to wear indicator yet).

'06 FJR A, OE Metzler Z6, 7,000 miles (don't know as tread pattern doesn't really allow you to get a good idea of how much treadlife you have left).

Going on a 4,500-5,000 mile ride next month so replacing the OE Metzlers with Avon Storms in a week and having Tony O. and his Yamaha Sportscenter organization put them on for me along with 90 degree valve stems.

Looking forward to a great experience with the Storms as the people I have talked to or read from (Warchild, Tony, et. al), have positive impressions so sorry about Jeff's bad impression, but Avon's, here I come.

 

[Wolfhound]

I just changed out the front Storm with around 8500 miles & put the third rear on but still had some life left but leaving for a ride around Co - WY leaving tomorrow night for around a week. Averaging right at 5000 miles for the rears. Most awesome handling tires I've ran on anything (except roadrace tires), really inspires confidence . . .They don't like tar snakes across the curves though . . .

 

[dbvolfan]

New Storms now with several hundred miles, mostly high speed interstate and they feel good. Maybe it's cause they are new bu they feel stickeier than the old Azaros and the ride is like new again!

I got ~8700 out of my front Azaro and ~8k out of the rear so I am not complaining....the front howver was cupping/scalloping really bad, in fact I still had some time until I hit the wear bars but the scallop was causing entire bald spots in the tire.

 

[FJRocket]

I finally found a bar shake on my front storm after about4K miles. It's mild and during deceleration as many have reported. Not a big deal on my particular tire. Not yet anyway.

My rear Storm is not fairing well. It's about 75% toast already. That's what riding in MO and IN on sand and seal will do.

Smitty141 was complaining that he couldn't get rid of his chicken strip even when dragging parts. I'm proud to report that I can't either (without dragging parts) but I was able to get the chicken strip to the edge of the tread. So I think the contour and tread of this rear tire is about perfect for the FJR. If you lean the bike far enough to drag a peg, seems like you are going to end up on solid rubber without grooves. That should give you a little more confidence and increased traction. Nice.

 

[sprint_st]

I finally found a bar shake on my front storm after about4K miles. It's mild and during deceleration as many have reported. Not a big deal on my particular tire. Not yet anyway.
My rear Storm is not fairing well. It's about 75% toast already. That's what riding in MO and IN on sand and seal will do.

Smitty141 was complaining that he couldn't get rid of his chicken strip even when dragging parts. I'm proud to report that I can't either (without dragging parts) but I was able to get the chicken strip to the edge of the tread. So I think the contour and tread of this rear tire is about perfect for the FJR. If you lean the bike far enough to drag a peg, seems like you are going to end up on solid rubber without grooves. That should give you a little more confidence and increased traction. Nice.

I have already posted this elsewhere on the forum. You can make it shake any time you want to. Just decel on a downhill (doesn't have to be steep) from above 50mph. At just about 50mph, take your hands off the bars but keep them close. Just under 50 the bars start to shake and it's time to end the experiment which is done by just grabbing the bar.

As far as the quick turn in goes, I liked on Azaro's but the Storms want to turn in even whey you don't. I find it harder to maintain my line with the Storms and have to constantly correct.

 

[weekend rider]

Have the 45-46 on, 9k on them leaving, on a trip june 10th. will be putting the on new replacements for them in Washington at FJR goodies will have about 11k when I take off.

weekend rider