Ordered a set of tires last week, Stone 709 front, Avon Venom 70 rear. They arrived Tuesday, had them installed yesterday morning before heading to work. I ride 100 miles a day round trip, rain or shine.
First impression. It's like night and day compared to the stock tires. These stick like glue, especially in the rain. No slippage whatsoever, even over wet stripes and such. Another thing, my wobble was gone which I had since I bought the bike.
Second impression. The front end felt "light", especially around 80-90, kinda like it wanted to float a little. If I was above or below that speed it would go away. I attribute it to two things, the tires being new and the 70 rear. I had Elite III's on my '05 with a 70 rear as well so I'm familiar with the pluses and minuses of running a 70 on the rear. Let me say that the front end did not "float" the same with the Elite III. It does not feel dangerous or uncontrollable in any way, just noticable.
Third impression. I checked the air first thing this morning and the front had 36 and the rear had 40. Based on some previous posts of others running the same combo, I put 44 in the front and 45 in the rear, then headed off to work. The "floating" was considerably less then yesterday although still there, maybe about 75% less than before. Something I can live with considering the performance of the tires and the benefits (to me) of the 70 rear.
Based on other riders posts, the "floating" should go away as I put more miles on the tires and the rear crown flattens a little. I will post an update next month since I should have a couple thousand miles on the tires by then.
First impression. It's like night and day compared to the stock tires. These stick like glue, especially in the rain. No slippage whatsoever, even over wet stripes and such. Another thing, my wobble was gone which I had since I bought the bike.
Second impression. The front end felt "light", especially around 80-90, kinda like it wanted to float a little. If I was above or below that speed it would go away. I attribute it to two things, the tires being new and the 70 rear. I had Elite III's on my '05 with a 70 rear as well so I'm familiar with the pluses and minuses of running a 70 on the rear. Let me say that the front end did not "float" the same with the Elite III. It does not feel dangerous or uncontrollable in any way, just noticable.
Third impression. I checked the air first thing this morning and the front had 36 and the rear had 40. Based on some previous posts of others running the same combo, I put 44 in the front and 45 in the rear, then headed off to work. The "floating" was considerably less then yesterday although still there, maybe about 75% less than before. Something I can live with considering the performance of the tires and the benefits (to me) of the 70 rear.
Based on other riders posts, the "floating" should go away as I put more miles on the tires and the rear crown flattens a little. I will post an update next month since I should have a couple thousand miles on the tires by then.
