Ratings and Reviews for GL1800 Tires Avon Cobra Radial GL1800 Goldwing Motorcycle Tires

These are great tires! I currently have 6700 miles on them...one trip from Arkansas to Phoneix, Vegas LA, PCH 1,Monterey,Marysville, CA and back. 118 deg. heat, 2 sandstorms, w/ torrential rain and NO failure! These are confidence inspiring in the rain, track well with no slipping, even at maximum lean! I'm hoping for the mileage close or equal to the E3 Dunlops: 17,000 miles, with no cupping! I don't have the Traxxion fork, or the Centramatic balancers, but I do watch my pressure with a Dowco monitor; 41 psi in both. If the mileage is there, I'll definately get another set!

I’ve run Metzler, Bridgestone, Dunlop and now the Avon. My tires where wearing out every 4k-7k miles with bad cupping and it didn’t matter about the brand. I installed the Traxxion front-end which stopped my wobble and cupping issues. Post Traxxion I put on the Avon tires and like the other reviews there was less road noise, they are great handling and I’m pleased with the wear. I’m having no issues and will buy a new set when the time comes. I’m guessing if I didn’t have the front-end worked on the GL1800 would have ate these tires up too. The GL1800 is an interesting animal … so many different handling experiences from riders. Anyway, five stars from me. I’m including a link below which shows my Elite 3 after a blowout, my new Avon pre and post install and a handful of photos with 8,000 miles on them … judge for yourself. On a side note, I run the bike pretty hard. Good luck and safe riding – James. http://picasaweb.google.com/jssiler1272/GL1800GoldWingAvonCobraNewAndWithWearAlsoDunlopElite3AfterBlowout#slideshow

I too had these installed with the Centramatic Wheel Balancers. The ride has been awesome. With the stock tires I always had a hard time turning without the rear wheel trying to slide out. These babys grab the road like nothing I've had before. And to top it off... The shop that installed these for me tried to tell me that they could have sold them to me for the same price.....Until I showed them the reciept, their jaws dropped. They couldn't come within $100 on the rear alone. Then they tried to tell me they must have been sitting on a shelf for YEARS!!! Not with as many as these guys sell. 5 stars all the way.

I had these installed last year March 16th on my '06 along with a fork brace, the proper steering head bearings and progressive springs. I put over 21,000 miles on these mostly on the LA freeways 500 miles a week. They still track great and are quiet except on right banking turns (not loud or annoying). I do have onboard tire monitoring and keep the tire inflated 41 front 42 rear. I have tried Metzlers (never again), D250's (12K, 10K) and Elite III's which wore out under 5K. I don't know if I am an exception but, the feel, ride and confidence these tires have provided has been perfect on all points. I'm sure the springs, head bearings and brace helped but, the tires are remarkable. Oh...and not one wobble at any speed. Jim E.

I haven't had the chance to put many miles on the new Avon Cobras yet. So far I do like the feel and the quietness. My main reason for this review is to mention something that I am experiencing. I had the 70 series installed on the rear mainly to correct the speedo. The tire does that. A couple things it also does that no one mentioned in their review is it makes my bike noticibly harder to pick up off the side stand and I can't turn the rear tire when on the center stand. I have to be careful when parking to make sure the bike doesn't flop over. First time I rode after tire installation I went to the gas station. When I got ready to ride off the bike was leaning so noticably I got back off to see if I had a flat. Tires are great so far but I will not put the 70 series back on when replacement time comes.

HAVE 10,000 MILES ON MY FRONT TIRE. SO FAR NO CUPPING AND VERY LITTLE WEAR. HANDLES THE ROAD REAL GOOD. IT DOES HAVE A HUMMING NOISE WHEN IN A TURN. NO NOISE WHEN GOING STRAIT. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL GET THE MOST MILEAGE OUT OF THIS TIRE THAN ANY OTHER TIRE I HAD ON MY BIKE. I GIVE IT 5 STARS.

Bought these from a local supplier in Montreal. First 1000 miles were great. Terrific traction, great cornering, everything you would want. Blew the rear when I picked up something oin the Trans-Canada highway towing my trailer. By the time I got it stopped safely the tire was finished. Had a replacement installed which cupped within 500 miles. The vibration through the handlebars is truly a pain. I ride a lot of long distance on highways, etc and can't wait to get these removed. I really thought that Avon would produce a great tire having all their experience with crouch-rockets. 2 thumbs down.

WOW! These tires are great! Installed the Centramatic Wheel Balancers with the Avon Cobras on my 2008 Wing. Best ride ever and I have been a Dunlop Elite / Wing Man for 29 years. Handles turns like being on a rail. My next set of tires will be the Avon Cobra.

They have been on my bike for about 500 miles now. Awesome tracking. Stick to the road better and I have more confidence in turning. Now I have to move my pegs up higher. Even if these tires do not last long with the great handling I would buy them again Until you get use to them you may over steer a bit until you learn they turn so easy. I do on the other hand wish I got the 60 size because they are a little bit shorter and wider tire. The Honda dealer told me these are a little like sport tires. Awesome tire that also throws the water away better then any tire I have used.

So far so good. Put 580 miles on with the American Legion and no issues. They tracked well and didn't try to follow the traction grooves in the road. They are very quiet no matter the road surface from worn concreate to pavement. Is is now raining here in Bremerton Washington and the traction has been great so far. No suprises and much better than the OEM tires. The slow speed handling continures to be excellent and the freeway performance is great. No issues with uneven wear no problems with cupping after 1500 miles.

Installed these tires and drove cross country and back. 7200 miles. Just about made it home the vibrations were horrible. 41 PSI...The tires are badly cupped and I had them replaced with Elite 3's. DO NOT PURCHASE THESE TIRES!!!

addendum...I have the dyna beads in these tires. I wonder if that might be why the rear is so bad? I doubt it.

This is an update. With 3,500 miles on new Avons, I left for my annual trip around the Northwest Volcanoes. No trailer, only sidebags packed. At 4,000 miles, rear tire started making a bit of noise. Noticed light cupping (already?). Pressure at 42 PSI... I know the urban myth, that twisty roads burn off cupping. Well, I finished 3,800 miles of winding roads through Or, Wa, Id, Mt, back thu Or, and home to Norcal. My rear tire, at 7,300 miles is jumping around, LOUD, and the cupping is at least 1/2" difference one side of tread to the other. Checked pressure...41.5 PSI cold. My Metzlers never dupped this bad. Would change previous rating I gave, to zero stars, but front tire is like brand new, which tells me to try another rear and see. If it junks out, I am going back to Metz. At least there, I KNOW what I am buying, and they don;t have that poor slow speed `walk'.

Just put these on about 2 weeks ago. My first long ride will be on September 12, so I will update then, but so far great. The slow speed handling is much better, and traction feels better. The responce to steering input is much faster, makes the Goldwing feel much lighter and more like a sport bike in the turns. When I get a good rain here in Bremerton Washington, I will give a wet road update.

Installed the Cobras at 12,400 mi on 2004 Goldwing; put 60s on rear. I drive approx 80% time at highway speed, the rest on paved twisting country roads. First, the negative - there's a small but noticeable wobble at speed between 10 and 20 mph. Don't know why. All of the recommended remedies & fixes on the Goldwing already made (NOTE: My Mechanic even rebuilds wrecked cycles for insurance companies - he knows all the tricks). Now the positives - at speeds after 20 mph, you're in for the ride of your life! I used to listen to the radio on my Dunlops, now I don't. I prefer the quiteness. I tend to run 80 mph, all the time and nearly everywhere! Passing 18-wheelers, no problem. Rain, no problem! I did change the front tire though. Called AVON, they authorized a switch. But, the second tire still has the wobble at speed under 20 mph such as the rare times I am stopping. I've so far put 4,000 mi on the set, will put 400 this weekend just for the fun of it!

so far have 5000 mi on the Cobras w/ the 70 series rear.. using Dyna Beads & no cupping or wobbles, the wear is real good so far.. will buy another set..

Bought these tires and put about 9,000 miles on them. Vibration started on the bike and wobbling. Took them off to check them. The rear tire was cupping and splitting. Will NOT buy these again.

Had them installed and picked up my bike Friday night. Put 300 miles on them over the weekend. Bike sits higher, is more responsive, and the tires are more "sticky" then my E2's (I didn't care for the E3's). They stick, and you will feel it when you are at a standstill and try to turn the front tire. As I said, they are more responsive (in a good way), and you will need to give yourself some time to adjust. Great tires thus far - very nice! Get the 70's for the rear. Have them professionally installed by a dealer who doesn't use a "bubble" to balance them. Call around. Maybe some of the reports of "wobbling" are because they weren't professionally installed by a specialist, and by someone with the right equipment. Again, call and ask if they use a "bubble" to balance. If they answer 'yes,' have someone else do the installation where they balance tires with a computerized balancer . . . Great set of tires - very quiet - very smooth - great traction!

I replaced my stock Dunlops at 29000 Km (18000 miles)with the Avon Cobra's and what a difference. I'm running 41 lb front and 42 rear as Avon recommends. Virtually all tar seam tracking has disappeared and I have had no incidence of the rear breaking out when putting the boards down. There is virtually no tire hum and I can hear the engine much more clearly. I used to have a slight wobble at about 180 Km which got progressively worse (yes I know the speed limits, but hey, one has to find out don't they?) and I can now go all the way to 220 Km before it starts. Would I buy them again? In a minute!

Sorry about my spelling and typos below (my original post) - I did not proof read before posting - silly me