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Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 02:22 pm: | 
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For lack of anything better to do today, I decided to plug the flat rear on my Uly in case I get a chance to ride any before the new tires show up.
My flat was caused by a ~1/4" long staple. Not quite a desktop staple as I said earlier, but not some monster industrial thing either. Looks like a standard rope type plug is holding air OK. I'll be interested to see what the inside looks like when I dismount the tire. |
Stellaglide
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 06:16 pm: |
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Hey Hugh
blk-betty here from over on the ADVrider site. Can't remember why I used "stellaglide" when I signed up here rather than blk-betty.....
anyway, noticed that the Pirelli Scorpion Trails in 180/55/17 are now available in the US from at least one source, although it looks like shipping is more than 2 weeks.
www.bikebandit.com/pirelli-scorpion-trail-motorcyc le-tire
Seriously considering these when I replace the tires on the Tiger and hoping someone over here will have done the same on their Uly to give a review.
(Message edited by stellaglide on February 05, 2011)
(Message edited by stellaglide on February 05, 2011) |
Whisperstealth
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 08:39 pm: |
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Stella!!!
lol, anyway mike5000 has done an extensive write up with picture on the scorpion. |
Johnboy777
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 09:23 pm: |
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""So how many of you mounted up a set of the Shinko Ravens when they were on sale last year? I mounted a 190-50/17 rear and a 120-70/17 front and was not real happy with the mileage I got from that rear, less than 5,000 miles and down through the wear bars on one side of the tire, but the front is still good. So this time I am mounting up another Raven for the rear (on sale again) but this time it is a 180-55/17. The first set seemed to move around a little like the bike was hunting around looking for something.""
So you're telling us is that you were not real happy with the mileage and
it "seemed to move around a little like the bike was hunting around
looking for something"
Okay.
But then you went and bought another one, fortunately, "on sale again"
Hmmm...interesting.
... |
Toona
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 10:19 pm: |
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Maybe you want to check out the newly released Conti Road Attack 2 tires.
I've run the regular RA's on my lightning before and got around 7k on the rear when it started to flat spot from slabbing. It still had tread life left, but just with the way the seasons fell and an occasional sale, I never pushed them much beyond that, though they could. I've gotten 14k out of the RA front.
The new RA2's are supposed to still be a single compound, but the center of the tire is cured differently to increase tread life before "flatting".
I've got a set of RA2's sitting here, just waiting for spring to try them out. XB12XT
I wouldn't consider them for anything more than 99% pavement and 1% off road.
I look at tires as cheap insurance. Small contact patches of rubber keep my bike and ME off the tarmac. |
Stellaglide
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 10:49 pm: |
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Whiperstealth
Thanks for the info. I checked out Mike500's posts. Think I'm definitely going with the Trails. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 10:55 pm: |
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Hey Mark. I'll be interested to see them. I'm still waiting on a shipment confirmation on my PR3's. 
Hopefully my plugged Sync will last until they show up. |
Buellhusker
| | Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2011 - 01:10 pm: |
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Johnboy777
Probely not as interesting as cheep/stupid
What else can I say. |
Eulysses
| | Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2011 - 10:57 pm: |
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I see the tire rack at the HD store has 17" tires our size but a lot thicker. Going to investigate that one day... |
Mark_weiss
| | Posted on Monday, February 07, 2011 - 10:33 pm: |
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I was trying to hold out for the 180 Trail to become available (I fitted a 190 to a different bike that spec'd a 180 and did not like the result) but ran out of tread on my Syncs. I decided to try D616s to see what they are like. Have them mounted, but won't be able to ride until Sunday.
They remind me an awful lot of racing rain tires. |
99savage
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 07:57 pm: |
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Not a super experienced rider - Or at least not very experienced on fairly heavy motorcycles w/ big, torky, 'V'-twin engines
Maybe 10% of the local riding is on hard packed, county dirt & gravel roads - Most of the rest on two lane, hi crown, blacktop boonies. - Avoid dividend slab like leprosy. - Never go over 90MPH, rarely over 80.
* Opinions on the "Road Pilots" when used on HARD PACKED, dirt & gravel roads.
* Just read a review, in an obscure publication, of the "Bridgestone "Battle Wing" 501 & 502 tires. -
They liked them a lot on the hi-way & in the rain & thought they were OK on trails.
Anybody have experience with them?
For what it worth:
- Hated the OEM, Dunlop rear tire, really nervous ride on slab + it was worn out @ < 3000 miles
- Liked the OEM, Dunlop front tire, for the 1st time ever was confident traveling hi-way speed in the rain. - After 12,000 miles am WAY past the wear bars,
- Got about 8,500 miles from the Pirelli rear but should have called it quits @ 7,000 |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 08:29 pm: |
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My PR3's came in earlier this week. I hope to mount them Saturday and get in a good ride Saturday afternoon or Sunday. I'll try and post my initial impressions. |
Wbrisett
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 06:28 am: |
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Hughlysses, you'll have to let us know what you think of them. My 2009 BMW RT came with PR2's stock. I have never been happy with them. Initially I thought it was because I came from an '04 RT and Uly, which simply meant I wasn't getting use to the bike. In fact, up until a few months ago when I finally decided to switch tires, did the light come on. I kept replacing PR2s with PR2, but found a sweet deal on some Angels and decided to give them a try on the RT. After mounting them and putting a little road under them, suddenly the RT felt as planted as my Uly and CR. It felt much more like my '04 RT which I ran Avon Storms on the last year I owned it.
Each rider has his own taste when it comes to tires, but there are a lot of folks on the BMW RT board I'm on, who agree that the PR2s weren't the best combination on the RT. Maybe the PR3s will be a better tire on the Uly, or maybe they are better in general, but I for one have sworn off that line on my bikes. The downside is of course the mileage, but I don't care what mileage I get out of a tire as long as it feels good under me, and when you only have two little patch of rubber between you and the Mother Earth, you want to make sure it feels planted.
Wayne |
Paul56
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 03:49 pm: |
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While checking tread depth and overall tire condition the other day I realized I have about 10,000 miles on my rear PR2 with another 1-2k before its done. I haven't gotten nearly that mileage on the Avon Storms I've used previously.
Overall I am happy with the way they handle (front has about 8,000 and looks very good) dry or wet, so I decided to order another set. I decided to try the "B" model on the rear to see if it will go even farther.
It will take a while, but I'll advise on the results. |
7873jake
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 01:14 pm: |
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How do you specify the "B" model when ordering?
Haven't heard that one before and now you've got my interest piqued. |
Paul56
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 02:25 pm: |
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Go to swmototires.com and browse the Michelin sport tire choices. They show the rear "B" separately and as part of a set. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 02:33 pm: |
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The B series tire is supposed to have heavier construction and is apparently intended for some of the heavier BMW sport tourers.
Don't know if it actually has any additional tread thickness or not. It costs a good bit more than the standard rear tire. |
Paul56
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 05:00 pm: |
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I just looked at it again. Can't really say if it has more depth than the standard tire. They are both rated for the same 376kg load. Maybe extra hard center compound? Figured it would be worth a try. I go through about 2 per year. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 05:05 pm: |
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Paul- Good to have the extra info. A buddy of mine was considering buying a "B" for his BMW a year or so ago. He was riding from SC to Alaska and back and wanted the best tire he could get. He called the internet tire store he was buying them from and the guy told him that deal about the tire being rated for heavier loads and that he didn't need it for his bike.
I'd suggest dropping an e-mail to Michelin to find out for sure. I contacted them a few years ago about a tire for my Ascot and they responded within a day or so. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 04:24 pm: |
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(mostly a duplicate post from ADVrider)
I mounted my new Michelin Pilot Road 3's yesterday and took them out for a ride today:
Front:
Rear:
Just back in from my ~60 mile "tire break in" ride; I like the PR3's a lot. The only thing I can find resembling twisties near my house is a couple of roads in a shopping complex and some others in a big industrial park. I did manage to scrub the back tire pretty much edge-to-edge.
Compared to the Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, I don't notice a big difference in turn-in, but they feel a little different coming out of a turn. I just need to get some miles on them and adjust. Unexpectedly they seem noticeably more controllable at very low (i.e.- parking lot) speeds, like when doing U-turns.
So far, I'm very happy with them.
PS- Oh, yea. This the is the first back tire change I've done since I upgraded to the 2010 rear wheel and axle. I noted there was a good bit of condensation on the center part of the axle, so the outer seals on the 2010 rear wheel have not stopped that. When I first installed the new wheel and axle, I managed to lightly score the right end of the axle (taking off the black anodizing down to the aluminum) as I screwed it in. It made a hellacious screech (something like fingernails on a chalkboard) but by the time I figured out what was causing it the axle was already scored. The scratch couldn't have been very deep (it didn't hurt the seal anyway) but it visually stood out.
I went ahead and ordered a new rear axle from American Sport Bike last year (it was only ~$25 or so) so I could replace it when I changed the tire. When I pulled the old axle, I took a file and broke the edges inside the bore where the slot is cut in the right side of the swingarm for the axle clamp bolt, and lightly sanded the bore as well. Either I had a bur on the edge of that slot, or built-up residue from anti-seize compound had caused the problem. I applied a coat of synthetic grease to the threads, bearing surfaces, and right end of the new axle, and it went in as smooth as silk.
The old axle is still good for a spare, it just has a nasty looking spiral scratch on the right end. |
Uly_dude
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 10:52 am: |
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my 2010 wheel/axle did the same thing. I turned it in and brought it out again and had that same scratch. No big deal since it's not on the part of the axle that touches the bearings or race. But it does indicate there's something sharp in there that should be filed down. I liked the taper on the old axle. This new has no taper. The taper aided in getting a new belt on without taking the whole wheel off. Not sure if that can happen now with this new axle. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 05:17 pm: |
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Uly_dude- The 2010 axle still has the tapered section:
The trouble is the bearing seating area on the right end of the axle is now at least twice as wide as the pre-2010 axle due to the two bearings on that side. That means the axle has to be screwed out twice as far before the inner bearing comes off the taper. Apparently there is still a sufficient length of threads on the opposite end of the axle for this to occur; I didn't have any trouble starting the new axle and tightening it into position.
The only problem with the scored section of the axle is that the external seal rides on top of the scored area. While mine looks bad, the scratch is very shallow because you can't feel it with your fingernail and the seal looked fine. Still, I didn't like the look of it and I figured the scratch would get worse with repeated removal/installation cycles. Mine seems to be OK now that I cleaned up the hole in the swingarm and used grease, rather than anti-seize to coat it. |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 07:10 pm: |
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Sweet! looks like the same initial tread pattern with extra syping. Interesting indeed. |
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