| Author | Message | ||
     Jerseyguy |
I had a set of Metzler M1 sportecs mounted on my 9's wheels at the local Harley shop yesterday ($75). I brought them back to my shop & put the wheels back on the bike no problem - did it "by the book". So the end of the day rolls around and I push the bike outside, mount up and proceed around the building to go home. The paved driveway/lot wraps around the building in a tight 180 degree hairpin & then down a lane to the main road. I KNOW this turn. I ride it twice a day every day. I often lay into it and even scrape my shoes now and then. This time I took it easy, new tires and all, but 1/4 of the way into the turn at like 15 mph, I low side it and do a 270. It went down like my dirt bike on ice, that fast & no warning. This was the very first turn on these new skins. Funny, I had just made titanium bar ends and sliders the week before. A buddy in the parking lot said white sparks were flying as I spun around. The sliders did their job, but I still have some damage. The right mirror, front & rear brake levers and tail signal took minor hits. The front pipe got scratched a bit too. (Anybody got used stuff to sell - email me). It was a hot day, buy I still had my summer leather jacket & gloves on and they saved my side. My dockers didn't do much to save my knee from getting skinned up. All in all it's not that bad. I drove the bike in this morning and then went out and looked at the skid marks. You can see the titanium skid marks but its not obvious which tire or both slid out. I guess if I spun around it must have been the back one. Here's the real issue though: Why should new tires be so slick and should I have been smart enough to be extra careful? I was wondering if new tires are covered with a mold release agent and need to be broken in a bit. On the other hand, maybe I'm just a freaking squid...... | ||
| Bomber |
tires have a mold release agent on em, Jguy -- this is an all too common occurance -- I've heard of folks taking all sorts of cleaning things to their new tires to remove the release agent, and most swear that their method is the only one that really works -- the only method I know that works 100% of the time withoput damaging the new tire is to ride on it -- doesn't take long, but I'll agree, tippy toeing around the first couple of corners is easy to forget (specially if the corner is pretty smooth, you can end up on your -- oh, right, you already know) | ||
| Chaser |
It's way to common and gets the best of us. At least you got your moneys worth out of your gear and you did not have this mishap at a higher speed. | ||
| Downundabueller |
My tyre shop mounts the rims on a machine and scuffs the surface, then i go out and complete the process, on a twisty mountain road GENTLY till the slick crap is all gone. If its raining I get my tyres another day. | ||
| Dasbuell |
Speaking of helpful tips... here is one or three to remember. tip number 1... NEVER ARMOR-ALL THE SEAT OF YOUR BIKE! tip number 2... IF YOU DO, YOU SHOULDN'T DO A WHEELIE! tip number 3... IF THE SIDE WALL OF YOUR TIRES ARE DULL... DO NOT USE ARMOR-ALL TO MAKE THEM SHINE. This has been a public service announcement! (formerly dasxb9s - still dumb as a bag of hammers) | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I did the same thing with my S3T after my first new rear tire. Spun it right in front of the service bay door at the dealer. Lucky for me, the saddlebags weren't mounted. I broke the shift lever and tore up the left handgrip. I was only going about 5mph at the time. Felt like a total fool! Like Bomber said, everyone has there own method. I like to clean the tire with something like 409 or similar degreasing type cleaner. Then run a little sandpaper over the tire. Lastly, take her for a good ride (being sure to take it easy in the corners). Even after all of that, I pulled a Super Moto-style slip in some light rain with my last tire. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Actually, Armor-All can be a good thing. I had a buddy with an old flat seat Kawi. He would armor all the back seat and take his girlfriend for a ride. She had to hang on tight...and then he'd hit the brakes hard so she'd slide right into him. She always commented on how slippery the seat was and how when they slowed down it would squish her torso into his back....exactly! As for the tires, sorry that happened. I just read some old threads on here last week of the exact thing while doing some tire research. I'll definitely be careful when getting fresh rubber next time, lucky it never happened to me before. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/43378.html | ||
| Mikej |
I sure miss the old logging roads out west that I used to scrub new tires in on. Just put a new skin on the rear of the S2. Got a little moist on the way home one day this week, and a little spooky with crosswinds. Up to 50 miles on it so far, almost ready. Pretend you're riding on ice and you'll do fine. And even when you've got some miles on it be very aware that the higher-out edges tend to hold the slickness a little longer from what I've learned in the past. | ||
| Glitch |
It's all about heat. With new tires a good run down the interstate should heat them up. 420's doin' a burn out is OK if you want to lose some mileage, but won't do anything for the front. A good heat cycle is the key. That's why racers use tire warmers, they don't have time to scrub in a new set of tires. Edit: Sorry about the mishap Jersey. Really, I know of squids that should be happenin' to, not you. Live and learn, right. (Message edited by glitch on August 25, 2004) | ||
| M1combat |
They should have mentioned it at the dealer too... | ||
| Outrider |
Sorry to hear of the mishap. Still it never ceases to amaze me that after all these years folks still don't grasp the concept of new tire break in. Riding Tip: There plenty of knee and shin protectors available that you can strap on (please, no jokes) under loose fitting jeans and pants like Dockers. Knew a lot of folks that used to do this out west. Probably still do. Might just be the added protection some want when wearing street clothes. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Outrider - After 43 years of riding and 17 bikes,I should have known better. In retrospect the new tires were very shiny - like armor all - and greasy to the touch. After all these years of riding this is only my second time down on the street. (The first time was a wheelie crash into the median during a drag race in my teens. I'd hazard a guess with no exaggeration that I've had upwards of 500 to 1,000 getoffs riding and racing dirt bikes. Many were over the bars and some at higher speeds. The motorcycle gods must favor me as I've never had a trip to the hospital, although I taken many a buddy. Looks like an old dog learned a new trick the hard way yesterday. I hope this post enlightens a few others to be more careful on new rubber. | ||
| Jeremyh |
my shop test rides after everything they do including tires. basically somebody else scrubs them for me. i guess thats good because they are liable if they dump it. Oh yeah and yes they definitly scrubbed my new tires to the rail, i checked the tires before i left the shop with the bike then i went and scrubbed them in some more. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
some shops have those bike rollers fitted with sandpaper/deckgrip. They roll the bike on the roller for a bit as they lean the bike side to side to scuff it up. But part of it is also the heat and cooling cycles that helps to pull th erelease agent out of the tire. | ||
| Outrider |
Jerseyguy...Amen to the enlightenment and continuing education. Even us old guys do silly things, especially in familiar territory. Wow, you have me beat in the offroad whoops's. Still the best way to learn to ride or improve your skills. Then again, I have you beat in the trips to the hospital. LOL | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Jeremy, Wycked - I "saved money" by mounting the wheels myself .... So far today, I ordered a new mirror and a Shoei mirrored face shield. I made a new titanium bar end, sanded and polished my foot and hand brake control levers. Dave says stock headers list at $185. LOL, How am I doing so far? Outrider - I'm glad to let you beat me in that race to the hospital! The raspberry on my knee hurts like hell today.... my old body doesn't heal like it used to. Screw it, I'm still going for a ride after work. I just wiped the M1s down with acetone. That took the shine and greasy feel off of them. I'll still be careful & work up to my comfort zone in lean angles. |
