The Avon Cobra

[Jeffsmountainauto]

Replaced my worn front ME880 yesterday with the Avon Cobra tire after reading feedback and recommendations here on the forums. I will say that I have always run metzlers on my bikes, but decided to give the cobra a try. I didn't believe what some people had said about the bike feeling lighter in the front, "like having power steering" or "takes less effort to counter steer". However, after having installed one myself I can honestly say that the bike feels much better than with the metzlers and it does take less effort to put the bike into a turn (it didn't seem bad before, Just easier now). There are also grooves in the road along my regular daily route that I generally avoid, but yesterday and today I hit them just to see if there was a difference. As I braced myself and hit the road grooves I felt almost nothing. How is that possible? I am running 32 psi in this tire, same as the last tire. Anyway, thanks again for another great bit of information that lead to money not wasted and a better performing bike. Almost can't wait for the rear tire to wear out. Ha.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. I used dyna beads to balance the new tire and removed all the old weights. The bike was smooth down the highway before and is still smooth now.

[cactusjack]

32 psi is quite low. You should be running 40 or 42 in both tires.

[Jeffsmountainauto]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

32 psi is quite low. You should be running 40 or 42 in both tires.

I have been running 32 because spec. is 32 as per manual. What would be the benefit of running it at 40? Just wondering?

[purepork]

I've used Avon Cobras for years. love em.

[Top Cat]

32 is to low.
I run 40 front and 42 rear.
Ride is better and your tire will wear more evenly.
It will cup sooner with the lower psi.

[Jeffsmountainauto]

Well, I guess I'll have to change my air pressure and do a comparison. My ME880 up front was just starting to cup, but it was worn to the wear bars. It was at 32 psi. it's whole life. I'm gonna put about 100 miles on the cobra at 32 and then give 40 psi. a try and see what the difference in handling and ride is. I won't have anything to compare if I don't run it a little while at 32. So far I am very Happy with this tire.

[Top Cat]

It would seem to me the tire at 32 psi would make the front end seem unstable. But I have never run any pressure but 40 so i can't say.
I'm just taking the advice of the guys on here who have run Cobras and this will be my 4th set.
The 08 I just bought has Brickstones with 3/4 of the tread left but they are coming off and being replaced with Cobra's before I head for the National.

[Jeffsmountainauto]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

It would seem to me the tire at 32 psi would make the front end seem unstable. But I have never run any pressure but 40 so i can't say.
I'm just taking the advice of the guys on here who have run Cobras and this will be my 4th set.
The 08 I just bought has Brickstones with 3/4 of the tread left but they are coming off and being replaced with Cobra's before I head for the National.

Well, I ran the bike home on the highway last night after work. Wanted to make sure the balance beads were doing their job and break the tire in before taking it down any curvy roads. Didn't feel unstable to me. On the way in this morning, I hit the back roads with corners I am very familiar with, and it handled very well, with noticeably less effort. A little surprising at first, but it stuck to the road like glue. I will definitely try running the pressure up, but I want to be able to have a comparable experience, so, I will finish off this tank of fuel and then give it a try. If it only gets better that would be fantastic. Thanks for the input.

[Top Cat]

Be sure to get back to us with what your opinion is

[cnc]

I for one am upset that you doubted the folks on here.
Seriously, glade you found an improvement. I changed both tires to cobras at the same time, and could not believe the difference from the stock stones.

[sam]

I put a cobra on 10 thousand miles ago & have about 2 thousand to go.
Up until now I've been running 28 psi no cupping tread looks even & ride is good.
I have a car tire on the back with 32psi.allways ride 2up

[Netnorske]

I ran through four sets of Cobras on my Nomad....well, three and a half as the last set had about half their life left when I traded the bike. Great tires. I ran a lot of two up on my Nomad and ran the tires at 43 psi in the front and 48/50 psi in the rear. Always got good wear out of them (12.5k on the rear, but always changed both at once) and they never gave me a problem. I loved those tires.

[Jeffsmountainauto]

Read a lot of good things about them here. That's why i switched. Glad i did so far. Don't expect to be disappointed.

[danimal2]

The steering will feel even lighter at 40-42 psi. and they should wear better. I've got Cobras on the front of both mine and the girlfriend's bike. Like em a lot.

[ringadingh]

I'd increase it 40-42 as well, 32 is not enough.