Hi all, new guy here.
First off, I just want to say that I came across this forum shortly after purchasing a new old stock 2008 Xciting 500Ri last fall. It's been great to lurk around and read all of your opinions and advice about the bike, which I absolutely love. It's become my main ride this spring and summer; I take it everywhere I go, rain or shine. There are almost 3000 kilometers on the odometer at this point.
I just became aware of a disconcerting issue over the weekend. A friend and I were looking at my bike; he was checking out the front brake disks when he noticed a crack in the front tire that goes all the way around the rim. It's right snug up against the rim, and almost invisible from a foot away. However, it is definitely a crack all the way around the tire, easily seen in the pictures below.
I have no idea how long it's been there. I always maintain the tire pressure around 33 psi (it's the original Maxxis tire), so I'm stumped as to its origin. My thinking is that either the tire has a manufacturing defect, or was installed incorrectly, or just plain dried up while sitting in storage for two years before I bought it.
I took the bike to my dealer yesterday for inspection. He says that it's cosmetic, and nothing to worry about, but I can't feel safe driving the bike at superhighway speeds with a tire in such a state. I've asked the dealer to contact Kymco Canada to see if the tire can be replaced under warranty, and he's yet to get back to me with a response. We'll see what happens.
In any case, I've learned that one needs to inspect one's tires very carefully, something that I will be doing much more diligently in the future.
Has anyone here ever come across a similar tire issue?
:Edited to add information:
