Avon Viper Sport?

Hello all,
I am one of the SVRider.com folks in need of some fresh perspective regarding the Avon Viper sport / super sport tires. The only opinion you can get from SVR or any other US forum is that without Pilot Powers your bike will automatically slide straight off the road and you will die . As I am sure this is not the case, could anyone give some feedback on the Avons as a street/track day mix tire. I have a set of powers on my bike now just thought I might try something new.

Thanks,
Tony

Get them, they're fantastic.
Not as outright sticky as pilot powers, maybe, but I suspect the next Vipers up will be.

[jambo]

Have a look at the milage you want and what tyres suit you. There will always be a curious elite that claim if the people in superstock racing aren't using them they must be rubbish.
Personally I'm very happy with sports-touring rubber as I found Diablo Stradas (very similar to Metzler Z6) was grippy enough on a tight twisty track day and let me get my pegs down without worry on My ZX6. Maybe I'll get fast enough to use more grip in future, but I can't be dealing with getting through 4 sets of tyres a year, so the super sports tyres are out

[northwind]

Yup, me too with the Roadtecs. I like the tyre elitism, it's fun, especially when the Pilot Powers or Supercorsas or whatever have an inch-wide strip of wear down the middle and are so square they don't need a sidestand

If you do any sort of miles, the savings from using "sport-touring" tyres is enough in a year to pay for a second set of wheels and tyres, should you plan to to trackdays or occasional really hard riding... But as far as I'm concerned, if I can get my toe down with teh Roadtecs (despite my extra peg height) I don't need any more. The wet and cold weather performance is better than any stickier tyre I've used, as well.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by northwind

The wet and cold weather performance is better than any stickier tyre I've used, as well.

Definatly worth considering. If you're going to ride in cold & wet conditions road / sports-touring ruber will be working far better at lower temperatures, some of the truely sticky stuff just doesn't work till it gets good and hot, and never will in the road during winter

I have Avon Viper sport in front, and Pirelli Diablo in back. Works really good,
Even for track days.

If you've got Pilot Powers and aren't worried about tyre wear, why change. They're great in the wet and so stickty in the dry that i've bent my rear brake lever!

I've heard mixed reports about the Avons, most telling from the guy who fits my tyres who said he wouldn't touch them.

I've had pegs & knee down at the same time (on the track) and no chicken strips on Pirelli Diablo Stradas. I have spun them up once lent over, but think that was my own fault... They do seem to be quite progressive when getting near to the edge of their grip too.

Also seem to be getting a fair mileage from them, but have never tried the powers, so don't know what the real difference is.

[Sid Squid]

I'm on my second set of Vipers on the Kwak and I think they're very good, wet or dry.
It was wearing them on our, (SVSK2 and I), ill fated trip to Ireland for the BSB at Mondello, and I very much enjoyed our trip on the A5 through the Welsh mountains in the ****ing rain - there and back
That said I'd very much echo the advice given above - if you mainly use your bike for commuting do you need sporty tyres? Buy something appropriate for your main use. Diablo Stradas for example, which I've used for a couple of track sessions on the SV1000, I think most people would be very happy with the grip they give, and they last well too.

you dont have to get the supersports avon do a sport version which is similar with better mileage both are fantastic tyres