I went into the garage earlier this evening to get some rubber gloves and noticed that the bike was stood amazingly upright. A quick look-see at the tyres determined a rather flat rear tyre. So flat, it was completely devoid of air. [1] Arse. Given that the tyre looks as though it only has about 1k left in it, if it is anything more than a slow puncture and I need to get it replaced tomorrow, I can't decide whether to go for my usual fave tyre (Bridgestone, of course) or try something else. At this point in time 'something else' that compares well with the Bridgestone but is cheaper could well influence my decision. I was hoping to replace the tyres as a pair this year, but that's not likely to happen at this point in time. Bah. [1] Having had the lower shock put on the bike, if I hadn't had the sidestand lowered as well I would've been faced with the bike on it's r/h side instead. [2] [2] Yes, I know the bike should be on it's centrestand really, but as the bike has been lowered it's bloody difficult to do it, so I didn't bother. -- Lesley CBR600FW SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster) BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12 BONY#54P BOB#18 Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally
8< tales of woe Just put a BT014 rear on mine yesterday and scrubbed it in today, not had the chance to give it any serious beans yet but it seems to warm up pretty quickly. £120 fitted for a 190 section so your size may be cheaper
I'm on a 160/60, so hopefully. I'll pick up the MCN on the way into work this evening and see if there are any deals on anywhere. -- Lesley CBR600FW SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster) BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12 BONY#54P BOB#18 Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally
I've got a similar dilemma. I'm wanting to get a pair of tyres on ASAP and the last few pairs I've had have been Azaro 3s and was thinking about trying something else but shelling out nearly £200 for something I don't get on with is going to be an expensive mistake. www.fwr.co.uk are doing some amazing deals. I phoned up today and the ones advertised on the web (Azaro 3s) for £159 a pair are down to £129 according to the bloke on the phone - I'm going to get some fitted. I was toying with trying some others but at that price I'll stick with what I know.
You know, I had to have an ickle laff to myself here. Many years ago, if you so much as mentioned Bridgestone tyres you would be lynched. They were the most lethal of round black things that ever adorned a motorcycle. Most jap stuff that came in had them on, and most people used to be really happy when the time came to change them in favour of a Dunlop TT100 or Avon Roadrunner, they were your choices mate!! tyres were so farking expensive that you couldn't afford to just oik the ol' bridgstone concrete chunk off in favour of something better. You had to do you 3K miles or so and live with it. Take it steady, real steady and you might be lucky and make it to the end of the carcass and then soul search to find the 60 odd quid for a RR or TT100. Now bearing in mind that 30 years or so ago, 60 quid was a fecking lot of wonga! I personally think that bike tyres are a farking fortune now, compared to car tyres. Admitted the technology of construction has a large part to play, and when considered against RR, TT100 and the old favourite the Avon Speed master ( that forgot about cornering!) we have some fan-bloody-tastic boots nowadays. But, now here is the 5K$ question, do they really warrant the extortionate price? I'm not passing judgement here, just asking a question. Being a "mature!!" rider that has seen both side of the coin, and has over 30 years on 2 wheels behind him, and has seen the advent of the modern tyre over the old crap, I would like to hear other opinions.
Greybeard says... You can still buy a pair of decent sticky tyres for an old style 250ish sized bike[1] for about 70 quid. When you compare incomes from 30 years ago to what the same person would earn now, 160 quid for a pair of sticky tyres for a Gixxer thou is dirt cheap and they work, unlike their forerunners. [1] Maxxis Barracudas for a Superdream/CB250RS/RD250/350LC/400 Four
I wrecked a cage rear on Sat, only 2500 on it (1). Took it into the dealer full of instant foam, braced for the £250 hit. Company phones me back, Sir you've forgotten you bought tyre insurance (£75) with the car it's just a £10 excess. Wahhey, I had a nice bottle of Soave. Wonder if they would notice 2 rear punctures every 10k (1) these run flat jobs are good, 80ish and didn't really notice until I went over a bump. 'Hog
http://www.motorbike-tyres.com/ are doing some brill deals at the mo (and less expensive than FWR). pair of 010s for £139, delivered next day for £6. I ordered 9 yesterday and they tried to deliver them today. -- Adie (replace spam with nickname to reply) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ Triumph 955iSS / GSF1200 bandit / CG125 MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11
They were crap, along with Japanese Dunlops, Nittos, Cheng Shins and the rest. Erm, I remember paying 60 quid a *pair* for TT100s and the like, so I dunno who was overcharging you..... It does. Motorcycle tyres are *still* very labour-intensive to make, compared with car tyres. And yes, they wear out fast, but if you consider any half-decent Jap sports bike puts 100bhp through a very small contact patch, they do quite well. I mean, that would be equivalent to a car putting 200bhp through each back tyre, and car tyres for that sort of car don't last long either - and they have much bigger contact patches. Yes, I think they do. Well, see above. I've 29 years on bikes now and I've experienced the crap tyres of the past. Modern rubber is just amazing, and for that sort of performance, feedback and (not least) the safety factor, it's a price worth paying IMHO. Also, in real terms, a modern 190 section superbike tyre isn't much pricier than an old 4.25 section Roadrunner was in 1976.
Without doubt Maybe my memory is a little clouded now, to many pork pies and guiness! ;o) But I do remember going to garrat tyres? in wandsworth to buy a pair of regrade TT100's because they were a little cheaper and having no change from 100 sovs including wheels off and fitting! Good point, well argued. I dmust admit I don't know of the technologies involved here, but taking penny to the pound I'm sure things are better now. Most certainly the bit of rubber, prolly half a credit card in size, under my arse, is doing a damned site better job of keeping me going in the direction I really wanna go, than the lump of concrete did 20 odd ears ago. No argument here, but it's still a shock to get a bill of 120 plus sovs to reshod half the beast, when you can shod the whole cage for that.! Very true. And I feel the biggest improvement on bike tyres now is the grip in the wet. It scared the bejeezus out of me in the old days when you had to lean the bike over > than 15 degrees coz you misjudges a corner. Prayers were offered up on many occasion that you hope to make it out the otherside in the upright position! ;o)
That's brill Adie, cheers. And the Bridgestones at a decent price, too. I'll see how the tyre is tomorrow, with any luck it's only a slow puncture in which case I can order a pair when I get paid next week. If not, I'll have to order just the rear, which is a bit of a PITA. -- Lesley CBR600FW SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster) BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12 BONY#54P BOB#18 Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally
That's assuming you managed to slow down in the rain in the first place, because the effing discs didn't work in the wet.
3 'sets' (where a 'set' is two rears and a front) Elsewhere she explains why. Adie and Andy have a lot of bikes now.
They are carrying more weight of course, although the kg/sq.cm *might* not be that much higher, but yeah £500 a pair for 10k miles would be about right. They can be completely trashed in a track day too. 'Hog
Don't they ruin the ride though? I went in a mate's 1-series [1] the other day, and the ride quality weren't too good - I understood it was down to the run-flats. On another note, is there such a thing as a nice Soave? I've not found one, they all seem a bit flavourless to me. Went to a tasting of some fantastic Barolo and Barbarescos last night if you're into red - by Bruno Giacosa. Way out of my price range though at £585 for 6 =8-0. TimP [1] Crap choice of car anyway IMO
