Motorcycle tires

[GilaMinumBeer]

I put the Excedra max's on my warrior, seems to be a decent tire so far. And shame on you for going so long on the original tires, not wise.

Never occured to me. I get on , turn the key, push the button, and go.

This bike doesn't have a fuel guage so I keep the trip odometer on all the time and guage fuel needs by mileage since last fill. Only reason I have ANY idea how many miles is on the bike is because my fat finger fumbled the reset button and it went off trip.

This bike is garage kept except at work, and is kept on the shaady side of the house under a heavy duty cover through the off season. The only time these tires see any UV is when I am on it. Despite their age and mileage I still have a fair amount of treat through the middle section, no cracks, and can leave an impression with my fingernail.

I don't exactly neglect this machine but I don't come any where close to abusing it either (save the one time I laid it down).

 

[landshark]

That's cool on the local price. For me, nothing is cheap at the Harley Stealership.

No joke. I use a local Accessory shop for as many parts as I can. The worst part though is when I want something and go into the shop, they don't have it, and I watch them look up the part in JPCycles for a price, then ad their 5-10% to the price. Um... No. (Was in a local hot rod shop and watched them open a Summit Catalog then add 10% once)

 

[static]

Thanks for the link.

After much comparisons I think I am going to stick with the OEM Bridgestone Excedra G701. They have served me well thus far and I am used to the profile of them (not sure if that really matters).

Additionally, they are actually cheaper at my LMTS including tax than on that website and installation is cheaper since I would be buying them from the same shop.

I always shop around. I've gotten some good deals from Jake Wilson, Cycle Gear, Motorcycle superstore and the local dealer. Just FYI Jake Wilson and Cycle Gear run tire sales a couple times a year, usually spring and fall, with smokin deals on tires. I go through a couple sets a year so when i start to get down in the tread i start watching them for the sales.

 

[allenH]

I wii agree with the horrible comment. They have excellent dry traction, questionable wet traction and bad life expectancy, in my experience on a really heavy, pretty fast, hard ridden touring bike. **Individual results may vary**

Just a update on my Avon...RIP @ 4300 miles



I do admit that I ride hard, big up shifts, big down shifts, but 4300 miles it stupid. Went back to the factory Dunlop on the stock 16" wheel. At least I know I will get good mileage out of it.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Dude! That's crazy...do you do alot of burnouts?! I changed the rear dunlop on my 00 FLSTC before heading to Sturgis and it had 9k on it.

 

[allenH]

No burnouts at all, I was told to expect a little less mileage out of the Avon, didn't expect that much less.

 

[IXVolt]

Just a update on my Avon...RIP @ 4300 miles

View attachment 71677

I do admit that I ride hard, big up shifts, big down shifts, but 4300 miles it stupid. Went back to the factory Dunlop on the stock 16" wheel. At least I know I will get good mileage out of it.

The bottles are a nice touch, 4300 miles seems really pathetic.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

13,736 miles on these stock Bridgestone Excedra G70's. Bike was bought in 2004 and the tires were stock. Still have plenty tread on them too.

Rear tire blew out on teh way to work. Didn't feel a damned thing. All I heard was a an odd sputtering noise (like a stock Civic with one of those funky exhaust cans), I thought my exhaust was the issue. As I pulled over THEN the back wheel felt soft. Had to ride the shoulder at 15mph for about 5 miles to get to work at a reasonable time.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Went with Metzler ME880 Marathon Touring. $255 for Front and Back with tax and free 2 day shipping from Motorcycle superstore.

 

[static]

The Metzlers are a decent tire. Nice soft rubber and decent mileage. Fairly popular with the cruizer crowd.

I gotta look for a new rear again.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Also found a small hole in the wall motorcycle tire shop that will do the work for $72 total.

And then I remembered I have spoke wheels, meaning I'll need tubes too.

 

[static]

$72 Isn't bad. Does that include R&R? Or do you have to drop them the wheels? I can usually have mine done for 20ish bucks a wheel if i take the wheels to them. They want more if they have to pull the wheels.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

$72 Isn't bad. Does that include R&R? Or do you have to drop them the wheels? I can usually have mine done for 20ish bucks a wheel if i take the wheels to them. They want more if they have to pull the wheels.

Includes R&R, balance, and spoke band. Tubes are extra +tax. Looking to be another $40 on top. So, about $370 to get back on teh road plus a sixer of cheap wheat (it's what he likes) to pay for a borrowed trailer.

I've thought about pulling the wheels myself. But for $72 R&R and considering mines a shaft drive, I think I'll let them do it.

I am really looking forward to feeling this thing on new shoes. I'll admit, the clencher that made me choose were the number of comment on how road grooves don't grab this tire as hard. The stock Bridgstones would pull into the grooves like a slot car and my daily route has some pretty notable grooves going each direction.

 

[static]

That's not to bad. I'm thankful to have a garage to pull my wheels in. Some day I'll own a tire machine. Jake Wilson has the PP2CT's on sale right now so guess I'll be expecting the brown truck soon.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

That's not to bad. I'm thankful to have a garage to pull my wheels in. Some day I'll own a tire machine. Jake Wilson has the PP2CT's on sale right now so guess I'll be expecting the brown truck soon.

I have a garage, and I am looking at a bike lift now too (another reason behind just letting someone else do the work). Up to now, I've not needed to do anything to this bike aside from oil and adjustments.

But, it's time I open the shop manual and at least look at how much work is involved to get the wheels off.

 

[static]

I have a garage, and I am looking at a bike lift now too (another reason behind just letting someone else do the work). Up to now, I've not needed to do anything to this bike aside from oil and adjustments.

But, it's time I open the shop manual and at least look at how much work is involved to get the wheels off.

My brother has a nice one from these guys to get his Road Star 1700 in the air. That thing is as big as an Electro-pig but it sits up there nice and stable.

I have a center stand so its not much of a problem for me.

My guess is it's just a couple of pinch bolts, the caliper and the axle up front and pretty close to the same in the rear.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

My brother has a nice one from these guys to get his Road Star 1700 in the air. That thing is as big as an Electro-pig but it sits up there nice and stable.

I have a center stand so its not much of a problem for me.

My guess is it's just a couple of pinch bolts, the caliper and the axle up front and pretty close to the same in the rear.

Not bad. I'm looking at a cheap harbour freight lift truck like jack. $99.00, 1000 pound rated.

As for the front, yep.

As to the back, I have no idea. Drum brake, shaft drive. To be honest, I don't even think I have an allen wrench large enough for the axle. Maybe not needed. I've tooled on a lot of cars and lawn engines. Never once on a bike.

 

[BierMuncher]

Metzler is good rubber.

I use Pirellis because at 13-15K miles a year, I need extended wear.

I've bought four front and five rear tires from Motorcycle Superstore. No tax and cheap shipping. They even ship to your preferred installer.

Nothing beats a new tire on a bike. Funny how that round shape makes it easier to lean into turns.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Metzler is good rubber.

I use Pirellis because at 13-15K miles a year, I need extended wear.

I've bought four front and five rear tires from Motorcycle Superstore. No tax and cheap shipping. They even ship to your preferred installer.

Nothing beats a new tire on a bike. Funny how that round shape makes it easier to lean into turns.

I looked at the Pirelli's too. Average wear on these marathon is 12k. Considering I have nearly 14k on a OEM Bridgestone I think I'll get my monies worth so long as I can keep the rubber on the road and the rubbish out of the tubes.

 

[static]

I love the Pirellis but the sport tires just don't last as long. At 15k miles per year just going to work it adds up. You'll definitely get your monies worth out of the Metzlers.

 

[allenH]

Not bad. I'm looking at a cheap harbour freight lift truck like jack. $99.00, 1000 pound rated.

As for the front, yep.

As to the back, I have no idea. Drum brake, shaft drive. To be honest, I don't even think I have an allen wrench large enough for the axle. Maybe not needed. I've tooled on a lot of cars and lawn engines. Never once on a bike.

I have owned a few sets of ME880's, all around it is a good tire, it did lack a bit of traction when putting the screws to it, but was really good in the rain. I averaged about 10k on the rears and my front got 18k before it started to cup and bulge.



This is the el cheapo jack I got from Tractor Supply, if I remember correctly it was around $99. I think most of them are made by the same company and relabeled. It works great though, a little wobbly when you hack it up high enough to get the rear tire to clear the fender, but I just put some wood blocks under it

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Good news: I ordered my tires at ~9:00amCST and I already have shipping confirmation.

Bad news: My first available day to get the work done is this Saturday and news is already throwing up alerts for some major storms (hail and possible tornados) all day.

 

[Zuljin]

Good morning.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So far.

 

[static]

Just think your only 2 more days till a new pair of shoes. Nothin like a new pair of shoes.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Just think your only 2 more days till a new pair of shoes. Nothin like a new pair of shoes.

Goddamned UPS! Since order confirmation everything has said they deliver today but never showed what time.

I check today and now they are set to deliver Monday.

I've only got the trailer for the weekend, someone else has dibs on it for a house move.

Looks like I'll be pulling the wheels off after all. Wonder if Harbour Freight stocks those lifts in store.

 

[static]

DAMN YOU BROWN!!!!!!!

I hate it when that happens. I've seen them in the store before but I'll bet they don't stock more than 1 or 2. Here's hoping they have one when you get there.

Look at the bright side. You get a new tool out of the deal.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Look at the bright side. You get a new tool out of the deal.

2 new tools. I don't have a 17mm hex in my cabinet for pulling the front axle. Yet.

HF does have it in stock, and it's on sale through this weekend for $69.99. Not bad. An identical lift with teh Craftsman badge (and warranty) goes for $99.99.

 

[static]

Suweet!!!

If you can't locate the 17mm internal hex at harbor freight (sometimes it's a bugger to find and I'm assuming its an internal hex), Cycle Gear has an axle tool for that purpose. It's 40 bucks though so what i did was get a couple of 17mm nuts a lock washer and a bolt. Thread nut onto bolt add washer thread other nut onto bolt lock em together tight and presto home made axle tool. Another one that i have seen work. Some spark plug sockets are a 17mm hex on the outside and will allow an extension to be inserted into the inside of the socket YMMV on that one.
There are easy ways around that axle without paying 40 bucks.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Suweet!!!

If you can't locate the 17mm internal hex at harbor freight (sometimes it's a bugger to find and I'm assuming its an internal hex), Cycle Gear has an axle tool for that purpose. It's 40 bucks though so what i did was get a couple of 17mm nuts a lock washer and a bolt. Thread nut onto bolt add washer thread other nut onto bolt lock em together tight and presto home made axle tool. Another one that i have seen work. Some spark plug sockets are a 17mm hex on the outside and will allow an extension to be inserted into the inside of the socket YMMV on that one.
There are easy ways around that axle without paying 40 bucks.

Yeah. Craftsman has a 17mm for $8 and is only a mile from my house. I'll look for a 17 while at HF but it won't be a deal breaker if they don't have it.

Nice tip on the spark plug socket tho', for some reason I have about a dozen of those of varied size. Bet I have one that works.