Avon Cobra's

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Avon Cobra's

JFE
6 years ago

I've had a set of Avon Cobra's on my Fat Bob for a while, so it's time to offer a review.

When looking at replacement over the stock Dunlops, it really came down to the Avons or Pirelli Night Dragons. Both got good reviews, seemingly not much between them.

I went with the Avons due to my own judgement on looks -- they look better for wet weather riding (and looker 'cooler' too) Oh, and as they are British made I figured they'd be good in wet/cold weather ... yes not really scientific but there you have it.

First things first, of course, the Avons are better than the stock Dunlops. Now the stockies were 'ok' in the dry, but absolutely useless in the wet. Rear slippage, wandering front were are common occurrence. My rear was nearly fried at 14000 km's. Negligent of HD to have them as stock. Enough said about that.

Three points about the Avon's:

1. Definitely sticky for a cruiser tyre. I'd go so far to say that they are somewhat over-whelming the FXDF stock suspension. When pushing it, I can feel the suspension needing to work more due to the extra grip. Noting suspension is the next upgrade, I can take this.

2. They are good in the wet. No issues so far and I've been through a fair bit of wet riding with them now. Corners that were previously guaranteed to show up the Dunlops short comings are no longer an issue ... but

3. I'd say the Avon's don't 'communicate' as much some of the better rubber I've had on sportbikes. The best way I can describe this is around a favourite corner in the wet, the tyres are very effective, but the only way I know how fast I'm going is when they are coming to their limits and I see what the speedo says. If you get what I'm saying, a little more conversation never hurt. Saying that, perhaps no cruiser tyre is better in this regard?

All up great tyre. At this point, I'd get them again pending how their longevity/useful life goes. Keen to see how they go when decent suspension is introduced.

Point for other Fat Bob owners -- the Avon catalogue sizing is more difficult to read than it should be. Avon definitely do the stock sizes.

brucefxdl
6 years ago

thanks jfe,avons are top of my list so far,reading their size chart takes a bit but you get there

chriso
6 years ago

Yeah good tyre the cobras.
As a matter of interest, my mate puts the 200 on the ass of his fatbob and the 150 on the front. He reckons they work great... bloody look tough I know that.

Krash Kinkade
6 years ago

I have stuck to Avon with most all my bikes seem ok. Had never used Metzeler before but a lot tell me they are good. Then i buy a 03 sporty up Cairns get two new metzeler fitted up there had to ride in lot of warm rain to get home NSW well don't know if its me but theMetzeler no problemin wet felt ok but have only ridden7 000k and rear on warn out. Getting an Avon on rear this week. Tyres on harleys have nor aly lasted me about 14,000k on average i don't see chicken strips on these but think 7,000k a bit short. Another exerlent tyre i haveused is Brigstone battle ax good cor ering in wet tyre too

binnsy
6 years ago

Just stuck one on the front of the fatty. So far so good but havent managed a decent ride yet. Off to Canberra next month from Geelong, will see how it goes paired up with the stock 200 Dunlop on the rear. Great review BTW.

steelo
6 years ago

I'm a life member. Got Binnsy in on a guest pass. :-)

Baloffski
6 years ago

"Kay Krash, as, am giving up drinking his week, as liver told me to as well, again, or to fuckoff, soon.. This page has been a barrel of laughs. Enjoying the banter and semi-retarded stuff. Good shit.But I still need new tyres, so there goes the alcohol...

JFE
5 years ago

Mate it’s going well and I have no complaints. No hesitation in saying get one on the back for a matching set!

Benno
5 years ago

Thanks JFE, will take your advise and put one on.
Cheers
Benno

DocGreen
5 years ago

I ran the Avons on my old 94 Fatty and never had any worries handling wise, you don't get big km's out of them, being a softer compound tyre, but that's the trade off.
The only thing I ever noticed was, once or twice when I had to really jump on the brakes for an emergency stop, you had no real indication the back wheel had locked until the rear end started wagging its tail, just a really silent slide. Always cupped the rear tyre, never the front, and tried pressures all over the place - suspect my rear suspension may have been to firm but being a Softail its a pain in the arse so had it where it felt best solo and with the bride on.

DocGreen

Benno
5 years ago

Thanks for the feedback Doc, I know what you mean about the silent slide, similar thing just the other week, with a dunlop on the back. I put an Avon on the front a couple of months ago and am very happy with it, don't expect to get long life, but I'll cop that. I got about 8-9k out of the dunlop, that was on the front and it was shit.
Thanks again
Benno

Big Steve
5 years ago

+1 for Avons on the fat bob
I'm halfway through my second set. I estimate I got about 17,000km out of the pair and replaced them well before the wear markers.

I previoulsy ran commander II's on my old dyna which got amazing mileage but were a little skatey in the wet.

The OEM fat Bob dunlops were hands down the worst tyre i've ever used in at least half a million kilometres.

Benno
5 years ago

Real good mileage, I'd be rapt with that from soft compound tires
Thanks Steve

Topics

Avon Cobra's

Avon Cobra's

JFE

brucefxdl

chriso

Krash Kinkade

binnsy

steelo

Baloffski

JFE

Benno

DocGreen

Benno

Big Steve

Benno