I've seen a few threads talking about their availability, but not that anyone has tried them yet.
I had run the Pirelli Night Dragons on my previous 109 and was really happy with them. I am considering the Cobras because I'd like to go with the 260 to get a little more height in the rear. Looks like the tire will provide better dry straight line traction due to less grooves in the center of the tire than the previous Cobra tire. I'm interested to see what the opinions are on corner grip, as the Cobra Chrome looks very similar to the Cobra with regard to the grooves at the edge of the tire. Is it better, worse, or unchanged from the previous Cobra tire?
With all the good reviews on the previous Cobra tires, I was pretty much set to try them when I change tires. Now with the tread pattern/design being a little different on the Cobra Chrome, I am back on the fence. My main concern is having a sticky tire, not longevity.
I've got the Cobra Chrome on my front 21" wheel. I was going to get the matching 260 for the rear but was told not available until May. I've only put on about 200 miles so far.
Been trying to get the cobra chrome 260 myself not available in england yet either they keep putting the date back always run the cobra but havnt tried the chrome yet.
I've installed the front tire and awaiting the rear 280. There is a different feel to the new Avon verse the old. It corners a lot easier. Shouldn't make a difference but there is a difference.
160/250 Avon CC's here (not a fan of the 260/40 geometry vs. stock) but only been on it for about 5mins to drive it home from the shop! Its been snowing or cold or raining (AND cold) just about every day since... and now my extended forecast shows rain basically every day for 10 days. Gah.
So... I'm wearing them... but still have no idea what they're like yet! Ha.
I have used cobra chrome 260, I felt better experience than previous, more better grip and gives premium feeling, Even i have used in the trailer which i use for 24-hour Roadside Assistance service, the overall experience was good and i would recommend to use.
I have now put around 3000 miles on the cobra chrome 260/40/18 and standered size front i am personally very pleased with the feel and overall performance and would recommend :bigthumbsup:
I'm glad this popped up again because I wanted to mention - my 250 Cobra Chrome... well... not as impressed as I had expected.
This is my first new rear since stock, so I'm not 100% certain if it is my increased assertiveness now that I am more comfortable with the bike or the compound of the tires which is my concern. I have noticed that the rear will break away *far more* often than I ever recall with the stock Dunlops until they went bald, after which they were sliding all over the place.
My only observation this season on the Chrome is that I seem to be able to break it off the line very easily now, and I have had it let go in 2nd under torque a few times. No biggie, easily controlled... but I just don't recall that with the stockers and again - caveat: I may be riding harder now than I was before, so it isn't a very scientific comparison.
Unfortunately because of that however, I have not even attempted to press them in the rain as yet.
I was running the 250 but not the chrome before i went with the 260 chrome totally different feel altogether but having said that I don't give it loads in bad weather anyway :bigthumbsup:
Just got my 260/130 Cobra Chromes on this evening, boy, does it roll over soooo much better into corners. The profile is more like a 45 than a 40 with the 260 on the stock rim, I would almost say the big 109 is flickable, relatively speaking.
How easy it leans is one of those things that varies from person-to-person. I have a 280 on a 10 inch rim in the back, 140 on a 4.25 rim up front. I don't feel it's hard to lean over at all. But, compared to my B-King, it's a tank. A two-wheeled semi truck.
Yep, that's why I said relatively speaking. Compared to my FZ-10, the 109 does feel like a tank. But compared to what it felt like with the stock tires, it's a 100% improvement.
Compared to the FZ-10, my B-King felt like a tank.
Unless you have a aftermarket 10 inch rear rim you're not doing yourself any favor by going to a 280 tire.
The tire is too wide for the 8.5 inch rear rim......"Can" you make it fit?.....sure.
"Should" you try to make it fit?.....in my opinion that would be a hard NO.
If you have an aftermarket 10 inch rear rim then go for it, that will give you the widest tire you can put on the bike without the expense of changing the swingarm.
But if you still have the stock rear rim on your bike just go with the 260 if you want a wider tire than stock.
The 260 on the stock rim is going to look just as wide as the 280 if you tried to force it on the rim and the 260 is going to be half the price.
If hving sticky tires are your preference over longevity, why not simply go with a set of ME880 or ME888 Marathon Metzeler tires? They are sticky for sure. I'ver been running them on all of my 9s since 2009, and I have had no issues at all.
I am in western NY so we only get few good months and I prefer sticky myself spring still has a lot sand and crap on roads from winter and I only ride few 1000s miles each year!
I have Cobra Chrome front and back. Always used Metzler before and changed rear tire every year. My Avon is 1.5 seasons in and probably have enough tread for most if not all of next season. The reason? It has more grip than the Metzler. With the Metzler I would lay a good 60 ft of rubber behind me just by hammering on it and would break loose going into second hard. The Avon, I have to really intend to make it spin and it will actually wheel hop a bit where as the Metzler not once wheel hopped because it just let loose. Front is wearing great after 2 seasons and won't be changing it next season due to wear. I'm going to be "sticking" with Avon.
I have Cobra Chrome front and back. Always used Metzler before and changed rear tire every year. My Avon is 1.5 seasons in and probably have enough tread for most if not all of next season. The reason? It has more grip than the Metzler. With the Metzler I would lay a good 60 ft of rubber behind me just by hammering on it and would break loose going into second hard. The Avon, I have to really intend to make it spin and it will actually wheel hop a bit where as the Metzler not once wheel hopped because it just let loose. Front is wearing great after 2 seasons and won't be changing it next season due to wear. I'm going to be "sticking" with Avon.
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