Author Topic: Rear tire blues  (Read 5045 times)

CROSSBOLT

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Rear tire blues
« on: June 29, 2019, 02:00:34 AM »
The Downtown 300i is just about to hit the TWI bars on the rear tire at a little over 6000 miles and I am steamed! The dual compound Michelin Power Pure SC was a little better than the rest but not good enough! I'm gonna do it. I'm going to the "DARKSIDE!" That means CAR TIRE! There. I said it. Yes, a car tire. Steel belt radial, 13 inch car tire. A 160/70R13 Cooper (first on the list since we have a set on the minivan) will be on there before my trip to Huntsville, AL in August. It is not that it will last for about ever or that it is cheaper than the scooter tires that think they are motorcycle tires. It is because I get tired of changing tires. Sorta like cuttin' grass and fixin' lawn mowers every summer. One of the things I enjoy just NOT ALL THE TIME!! Go to darkside.nwff.info is the website if you are interested. Lots of "adventure riders" (advrider.com) use them on their really long trips up the highways to Alaska an' stuff like that. Will post the results as I go along.....from the DARKSIDE!
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2019, 02:06:32 AM »
Well....there he goes ….. 😊
Old crossthread knows he's going to get a lot of grief doing this....but a lot of guys swear by it. (quite a few Burgman owners go to a rear car tire)
There's a rear tire camera youtube video of one going down the street.

Stig
« Last Edit: June 29, 2019, 11:21:50 AM by Stig »
Boston Strong
Rural Ohio

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john grinsel

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2019, 09:36:51 AM »
Besides car tire not designed for solo bike/car and MC rims different on bead area (there is SAE paper on this)….and then planning on going around corners?

I have noticed my 2019 XTown 300i seems to be rear tire sensitive at 7500 miles so far.....think it likes "round" tires....and tires that wear round.  Michelin City Grip on it right now/think front Kenda front(China) wearing a little square.

Once I bought a Harley WLA 45 with junkyard 18" car tires....almost impossible to ride----Germany, MZ sidecar outfit----with 15 inch 2CV car tire and special tube/special rim----could be legal with sidecar, against the law solo.

With now over 400,000 miles on rubber band drive scooters...I find my Kymco the  most rear tire sensitive/fussy....and it is my 11th new maxiscooter.   Poor design makes rear wheel removal a pain on all that I have had---think only BMW scooter has single sided swing arm.---and to think in the 50's European scooters used to come with spare tires/props to hold wheel up/and wheels easy to remove.

 Mounting car tire on scooter rim, make sure you do it yourself----I have heard real bear...that should be clue something isn't right.    Last, I once in WI gas station guy on FJR1300 with car tire on rear unable to make turn in space available to get to pumps....he had to back up and try again.

My second new Suzuki Burgman 400---did get 11,000 miles out of Power Pure SC on return from trip to AK.

monkeybongos

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2019, 12:11:34 PM »
Is it common to replace just the rear tire and wait for the front to wear out, or both at the same time?
(not trying to hijack thread, seems like appropriate follow up question)
2014 BV 350  "IndiGO" (fast, strong and tireless)
2006 Honda Rebel 250  "Snow Leopard" (stealthy, agile and durable)
2018 Lance Cali Classic 200i  "Black Panther" (smooth, nimble, quiet and quick)
2016 Wolf V-50 (sold)

Wanted a Kymco, ended up w a Lance, but that forum is inactive, so I am here

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2019, 01:49:55 PM »
Don't know about front, monkey. So far, what I have seen is only on the back. I also have to say, John, is if this PP SC had lasted 11000 miles, then we would not be discussing this right now. Ever since I started riding two wheels in 1960, the back tire goes faster than the front. But an old Maxxis at 3500? Avon Viper Stryke at 4000? Never got to see how the Metzler did BECAUSE SOME DOPE FIEND STOLE THE DT AND WRECKED IT!! So since 2013, I have spooned tires FIVE TIMES! Gettin' tired (har, har!) of it. I think also, John, that someone at the Michelin factory cheated on that hard compound...
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2019, 02:04:45 PM »
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2019, 02:40:10 PM »
Anyone have a suggestion for "old CROSSTHREAD" for a replacement for the rear tire "huggy" fender? Don't think that car tire gonna fit under it....
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #7 on: June 29, 2019, 02:58:53 PM »
C-Threads,
Drive down to the Piggly Wiggly, buy two 8-packs of Busch beer.
Sit on your riding mower (probably best to give the keys to the Mrs.) drink 'em all, get sick - then pound them flat and connect them - forming your custom fender hugger. Used to see houses made out of flattened pop and beer cans in SVN.

Stig
Boston Strong
Rural Ohio

And, I'm feeling a little peculiar.

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2019, 06:04:40 PM »
Yep, they WOULD make good shingles!
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

john grinsel

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2019, 08:52:54 AM »
I see question on replacing front and rear tires at same time----ideal world they should be replaced together at same time in matched pairs------real world, usually 2 rear=one front.   Think it is important at least to do the size bike maker recommends, there are a million opinions on  which tire brand works best.

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2019, 11:06:11 AM »
I see question on replacing front and rear tires at same time----ideal world they should be replaced together at same time in matched pairs------real world, usually 2 rear=one front.   Think it is important at least to do the size bike maker recommends, there are a million opinions on  which tire brand works best.
Yup, yup and yup. First driven by economics. Second makes sense for speedo function and engine rpm/speed relation and third driven by preference. Second point, the rolling diameter of the Michelin PP SC is 21.81 inches and the car tire that is 150/70R13 is like 21.28" D. A 160/70R13 is 21.82"D.
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

john grinsel

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2019, 01:38:56 PM »
On Power Pure SC lasting 11,000 miles----on return from long trip, tire had to last to get home---Although Burgman 400 rear is same as Honda SilverWing/Kymco XTown 300i-----just try stopping in bike shop when underway on trip---they just do not keep them in stock!!  So I made the choice to ride on home---made it,tire carcas safe--tread not so in rain.....just had to compensate for that.

Also sitting at home riding very little people tend to worry about tire----out on trip with 1-2,000 mile a week tire situation/appearance changes quickly- and probably not worth constant worry----fresh tires I do not worry about, old/stale tires cause me some worry and extra checking.

klaviator

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #12 on: July 02, 2019, 09:03:59 AM »
I'd be happy to get 6,000 miles on a rear tire.  The OEM tire on my Like 150i lasted all of 1,700 miles.  I have tried several different brands of tires on my Majesty and have yet to get 6,000 miles out of any of them. 

The OEM tires on my Super 8 did last around 9,000 miles but they were really hard tires.
I Ride Therefore I Am

Rocket City, Al

Viper254

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #13 on: July 02, 2019, 03:07:09 PM »
When I was doing courier work, I was cooking a rear tyre every 5000 miles on a 110cc - so much of it is down to riding style. I was also cooking brake pads at that rate... stop... start... stop... start...
Rides;

Suzuki GW250 Inazuma (2016)
Honda C70C (red, 1983)

CROSSBOLT

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Re: Rear tire blues
« Reply #14 on: July 02, 2019, 07:12:32 PM »
I get that riding style is proportional to tire life or around the other way. Found out today that 13" car tires virtually non-existant! Must dig some more!
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

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