Tires---XTown 300i

[john grinsel]

I find my 2019 XTown 300i very tire sensitive-----today, ride on TN rural/high crowned road----all over the place going straight: reason, front OEM tire, 10,000 miles wearing square on the edges---ok going down the Freeway or for that matter leaned, over 30 PSI.  So time to change....I usually get 15,000 miles or so from front scooter tire---Had been planning on matched pr of Michelin Power Pure SC....but?  May try front Heidenau...had good luck with them in DDR days on my MZ's.  I want to pay about $60 for front tire.  I  for the past 10 years have used "Ride On" as balance medium with great results!!  My front wheel have a lot of balance weights----will check on my balance stand once tire is removed, and see if was the tire out of balance or the wheel.

At about 3,500 miles I replaced rear OEM tire (worn square) with Michelin City Grip, now with less7,000 miles it is starting to wear square, too.   City Grip for me nothing special, especially with no proper size front available.  Best for me, probably Michelin Power Pure SC----wore round and got over 10,000 miles rear on Burgman 400.

Stay tuned to see what happens.

[Neil955i]

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with the power pure tires John, as I am considering them for my XT300.


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[john grinsel]

Just ordered a Heidenau 120/80-14 front----used them on my MZ's when I lived in Germany---never a carcus failure and they seemed to last a long time.   Paid a little more than I wanted-$70 plus taxes---Revzilla did not stock Ride On, so will have to get from my local source....about $15 a bottle.   

[monkeybongos]

Ever try re-using Ride-on?  Just scrape it out of the old tire, not that difficult.

[john grinsel]

No --I buy fresh bottle----has worked well for me for several years---as balance medium---adds $15 to cost of tire replacement---I do own tire work---as I know then wheel is put on right!! And of course good look at brakes and feel wheel bearings.

[john grinsel]

Yesterday changed front tire on my 2019 XTown 300i.   Removed wheel following shop manual---of course with floor jack and large piece of plywood supporting front of bike---wheel came out easy BUT....book not complete on return of wheel/brake, etc.   Really 2 person job, removal of brake/ABS wire---probably would have been easier with front fender removal.  But in end got all in place.   This is removal and replacement I would not like to do on side of road, alone.  And to think scooters used to come with single side removal and spare tire.  Rear, today, on all scooters except BMW, require removal of complete exhaust system!!  Tells me big shots in industry are not riding/wrenching!!  Or care.

Used on board tools to make sure it can be done on emergency on trip.





At near  10,000 miles OEM tire worn square, on removal noted some cracking in tread area all = junk.

At 81, bike tire work beats going to the Gym, but this way I know is done right.

Replacement tire Heidenau in proper size---add bottle of Ride On---test ride, handling much better, the way I want it.

Wheel is really heavy.  Look at brake pads....they should last the max. 50,000 miles I would keep bike.

[TBR125]

I recently replaced a rear. Didn't figure on needing an exhaust gasket at the same time.

[john grinsel]

Exhaust gasket rear----good idea to carry one as dealers usually do not have one----I know from Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha/ Kymco experience over the past 30 years.  Once rode from KY to Northern WI with Helix exhaust gasket that blew out.   I had spare but did not want to lay in snow to replace.

[TBR125]

My bike was out of commission for a few weeks waiting on one from china. I thought my scoot was a slow boat.

[john grinsel]

Should have used Kymco Dealer on gasket.

[TBR125]

I haven't gotten used to the dealer system yet. Where I grew up you drove your bike for transport until zip ties and epoxy wouldn't hold it together. Then you pulled all the body panels off and drove a bare bone scoot for the next 10 years. I will find a dealer near me for future stuff.

[Neil955i]

A real Mad Max approach! 

[TBR125]

If your minimum wage is 75 US cents per hour you drive what you can. Having a motorbike for the family vehicle was a luxury. Most only had single speed bikes.

[john grinsel]

On tire change----Heidenau, standard size, works fine----on replacement if wheel, making sure spacers are in right place (used shop manual picture as reference)  bike worked fine, except ABS lite would not stay out-----problem=space between pick up disk and pick up point---only way to over come is really overtighten axle to squeeze things together---doubt it anybetter if fork pinch bolts loosened up and re-tightened.   Just the design. But something to watch for.