J&P Community

 I just bought a 1994 Black Fat Boy w/10K miles. It has apes on it, lowered in the rear, and a D404 Dunlop on the front and an Avon Roadrunner on the rear. When it first starts to rain, it is frighteningly slick, a lot more slippery than any bike I have ever had. A guy at the Harley shop told me the Avon's are a hard rubber compound and last a long time, but are slick in the rain. He also said the D404 was designed for a Honda and does not carry the heavy loads of a Harley. The treads look good on the bike, but man it is slick in a new rain. I am thinking of putting a set of D402 Dunlops on, but that is $500 away. I am not sure how old the tires are. Is my current tire combo a problem?

06,

  It may not be the tires at all. With a 'first rain', the water is mixing with oils left on the road from car exhaust. That's why a new wet road looks foamy is spots. Any tire will slide at 'first rain'.............Be aware of this, all of you, and be very carefull.............

 FX is right man... It's best to let it rain for 30 mins to an hour before starting up... That way most of the residue is washed off the road...

 Avon venoms hold good in the rain, but for the heavier bikes on a road trip they can not hold much weight, there is no reinforced construction, Dunlops and Metzeler's do. I will  be testing my Avons going north to Yellowstone and Glacier,MT, there will be wet roads. as for the weight of the bike loaded up I'll have to take it easy with those Avon's.