Yokohama Avid Ascend! Pic Heavy!

Finally got the Yokohama Avid Ascend Mounted on the Bike.

After looking at Another VTXer's Yoko and the reason he got the Yoko being that it was rounder. I started looking that way. Since my X is not a show bike, but more of a daily rider and only about 25,000 miles out of the General Grabber, I started looking for something that had longer mileage, than it had tread pattern. Yes I like the directional look and the general looked great, but I wanted more mileage, never mind how it looked, I wanted functionality.

I stumbled across the Yokohama Avid Ascend and found that it was brand new and due to be released on March 1

[url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2012/02/27/026936-automotive-performance-brands-yokohama-s-latest-orange-oil-tire-avid.html

did some more digging and found more info

[url]http://www.pasmag.com/performance/industry-news/2254-orange-oil-helps-yokohama-avid-ascend-tire-to-longer-life-longer-warranty

Then I found it at TireRack.com for $102 plus shipping (additional $59) and then remembered that Discount Tire carried Yokohama, so I went by and talked to the manager, he said he could get it and said it'd be less than $125 plus install.

They got the tire in and still did not have a price from corporate so he called and finally corporate said $97 plus install and tax, etc.

Torben at Discount tire mounted it on my rim (the bead seated at 75psi, he had it in a cage)

Tire 97.00
state environmental fee 1.94
Installation 16.00
tax 6.55
Total Cost at Discount Tire $121.49

then 4oz of DynaBeads at Trick 1 Customs $12 installed, And I was ready to go.

I took it on a test run for a couple miles down the road and back, and it actually feels like a round motorcycle tire. I am running a rear tire on the front which isn't as round as a front

here is some of the pics of the old General as well as the new Yoko




Below is the plug I installed in a McDonalds parking lot last September coming back from Black Mountain, also shows the BB's I used for balancing before I had a local dealer for DynaBeads.



Front Tire 150 Wide Shinko 741




New Rear Tire

I know this a dead thread but saw the pics of the yoko on your bike and I think I might go with it. Do you have any side pics of the wheel? How is the sidewall of the yoko compared to the grabber and how does it handle? I am really thinking about the yoko because the more rounded shoulder. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I run the Yoko Avid on mine as well. I think its a good tire in dry or wet conditions. Took about 500 miles to get the mold release completely wore off but after that it has handled great.

Jerry

Do you have any wobble issues at higher speeds like others have had? Are you running the ascend, touring or envigor?
Thanks Shawn

I run the touring. I had a wobble with bad shock bushings. Replaced the bushings and it is fine now. I say now because I also adjusted the height the forks extended through the top tree and the angle of the windshield. Also went with the alls balls bearings. Dont forget to turn your exhaust bolts aound.

Jerry

I've really been looking at the ascend with the rounded shoulders but it seems that people have been having problems with the bead and sidewall blowing out while seating the bead. It looks like they have been using the avids but I don't know about the ascend since it's pretty new.

The 70 series will seat at about 65 -70 lbs max. People have problems with the 65 series because of the bead width.
I have been in Chicago working for the last year and have not rode at all. Motorcycle is at home in Alabama. I cant say how many miles I have on that tire But I am happy with it.

Jerry

I had no idea that the 65 series has a wider bead. Does the 70 take up that much room that it rubs the exhaust bolts? Iguess its easy enough to rotate them though.

I ordered a 205/70r15 Ascend today and it will be in this week for a good weekend project(if the dunlop will hold out till then). What PSI should I run on a vtx1300c? I will also need a front and was thinking of a metz880 but would like to get decide mileage . Any suggestions on a front?
Thanks