? about tires for a 9000 mile trip

[feelergaugephil]

I'm scratching my head how some of you are getting anything north of 6000 out of the rear and I'm light, and pack light too. I don't do full-throttle clutch-drop starts or do burnouts. About the only thing I do is run a pretty good clip on the highways when traffic/LEO allow, and like to push it in twisty roads. I'm seeing belts around the 7K mark in the rear on PR2.

Mich PR2 are my favorite touring tire ever!!!! Sadly, I hear its being discontinued to make room for PR4's which are due soon, if not already.

Me too! My faves were PR2's with an average of 2500-2700 miles on the rear, (yes I use the twisty thing on the handlebars) switched to PR3's, very very happy, just broke 4000 on rear and just showing the TWI's.
I ride it like a 1400, if I wanted to get 10000+ miles out of the rear I would be riding a Honda CX500!!!!!
No burn outs, lots of high speed riding and tires (both) at 36psi, fcuk 42! too harsh for me.
My 2cents....

[feelergaugephil]

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont ever use SHINKO's, cheap cheap, and you'll realize that as you start your slide and your lovely shiny bike on the ground.

[twowheeladdict]

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont ever use SHINKO's, cheap cheap, and you'll realize that as you start your slide and your lovely shiny bike on the ground.

Which shinkos did you try, and did you warm them up before throwing the bike over on its side?

I run the shinko raven 009s on my Versys and Mean Streak, and even do gravel roads on the Versys.  No complaints.

[Scaffolder]

I love how people that hear you get over 15,000 miles on a tire think you ride like an old lady. I do most of my riding on the highway. I very seldom slow down to 80, and when I do it is usually a cop sighting. After about 4 years of commuting to work and back and 100,000 C-14 miles. I have only had about six other riders that'll run at my pace. And only one that left me, ZX-14, because he passes people on the outside breakdown lane on an off ramp. I don't do that. I hit 100 mph every commute. Not the whole ride, but I flirt with it a lot.
You guys getting under 5,000 miles must ride like my wife. Gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, brake. Absolute full throttle take offs and stoppies at every light. Or my roads must be as smooth as butter.
Go figure and I am the one that keeps getting stuck with warped rotors. Three sets warped in under 10,000 miles. I haven't even taken the time for the third change out. These rotors are crap. Looking for a better solution.

[stevewfl]

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont ever use SHINKO's, cheap cheap, and you'll realize that as you start your slide and your lovely shiny bike on the ground.

great for rolling burnouts though

[B.D.F.]

Yeah, I get that a lot too. The great thing about being older (over 40) is that testosterone levels drop sufficiently that I don't care :-)  It is a great time in life, at least for me, not a kid anymore and not quite dead yet. That narrow zone between road rage and adult diapers.

 

But about the tires:I have often wondered if compression braking might have something to do with short rear tire life. I did go through one phase on my C-14 where I consciously used a lot more engine braking, by downshifting a lot sooner than I normally would, and I did get pretty short (for me anyway) life out of that rear tire. I know "one in a row" does not make any kind of data but still, it seems that a lot of people do use much more engine braking than I do and I wonder hwo much of a contributing factor that is to rear tire wear?

Brian

I love how people that hear you get over 15,000 miles on a tire think you ride like an old lady. I do most of my riding on the highway. I very seldom slow down to 80, and when I do it is usually a cop sighting. After about 4 years of commuting to work and back and 100,000 C-14 miles. I have only had about six other riders that'll run at my pace. And only one that left me, ZX-14, because he passes people on the outside breakdown lane on an off ramp. I don't do that. I hit 100 mph every commute. Not the whole ride, but I flirt with it a lot.
You guys getting under 5,000 miles must ride like my wife. Gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, brake. Absolute full throttle take offs and stoppies at every light. Or my roads must be as smooth as butter.
Go figure and I am the one that keeps getting stuck with warped rotors. Three sets warped in under 10,000 miles. I haven't even taken the time for the third change out. These rotors are crap. Looking for a better solution.

[VirginiaJim]

I love how people that hear you get over 15,000 miles on a tire think you ride like an old lady. I do most of my riding on the highway. I very seldom slow down to 80, and when I do it is usually a cop sighting. After about 4 years of commuting to work and back and 100,000 C-14 miles. I have only had about six other riders that'll run at my pace. And only one that left me, ZX-14, because he passes people on the outside breakdown lane on an off ramp. I don't do that. I hit 100 mph every commute. Not the whole ride, but I flirt with it a lot.
You guys getting under 5,000 miles must ride like my wife. Gas, gas, gas, brake, brake, brake. Absolute full throttle take offs and stoppies at every light. Or my roads must be as smooth as butter.
Go figure and I am the one that keeps getting stuck with warped rotors. Three sets warped in under 10,000 miles. I haven't even taken the time for the third change out. These rotors are crap. Looking for a better solution.

 

[gPink]

But about the tires:I have often wondered if compression braking might have something to do with short rear tire life. I did go through one phase on my C-14 where I consciously used a lot more engine braking, by downshifting a lot sooner than I normally would, and I did get pretty short (for me anyway) life out of that rear tire. I know "one in a row" does not make any kind of data but still, it seems that a lot of people do use much more engine braking than I do and I wonder hwo much of a contributing factor that is to rear tire wear?

Brian

Are you considering engine braking with a slipper clutch a modulating skid that is 'prematurely' wearing out tires?

[B.D.F.]

Er, no! :-)   Not that much compression braking!  Just normal, riding with a passenger who did not ask 'why are you stopping so hard' breaking.

I do not remember ever engaging the slipper on my C-14 but I can say with certainty that I just am not hard enough on it and do not use high enough RPM that I have engaged it with any frequency.

Brian

Are you considering engine braking with a slipper clutch a modulating skid that is 'prematurely' wearing out tires?

[gPink]

   Never?

[PH14]

Yeah, I get that a lot too. The great thing about being older (over 40) is that testosterone levels drop sufficiently that I don't care :-)  It is a great time in life, at least for me, not a kid anymore and not quite dead yet. That narrow zone between road rage and adult diapers.

 

But about the tires:I have often wondered if compression braking might have something to do with short rear tire life. I did go through one phase on my C-14 where I consciously used a lot more engine braking, by downshifting a lot sooner than I normally would, and I did get pretty short (for me anyway) life out of that rear tire. I know "one in a row" does not make any kind of data but still, it seems that a lot of people do use much more engine braking than I do and I wonder hwo much of a contributing factor that is to rear tire wear?

Brian

I have always believed compression braking does cause a little more wear. The way I look at it, when downshifting to engine brake, we usually aren't hitting the front brake, it is a lot like using only the rear brake. All the bike's momentum is being slowed by just the rear tire. Since weight shifts forward under braking, the tire can slip more. Most of us don't brake with just the rear brake, most of the braking is done with the front brake. The rear won't skid much while braking with the front and rear since we usually don't apply the rear brake hard enough for that to happen. If we are downshifting to engine brake, it is usually for longer distances than we would use the rear brake only, which for me is never unless I am doing parking lot maneuvers. I use the rear brake whenever I brake, but with the exception of the aforementioned parking lot or slow maneuver situations, I am also using the front brake. The longer distance under engine braking would wear the tire faster than when it is simply free wheeling or being braked in conjunction with the front brake since both front and rear tires are taking the braking force. I also believe the momentum of the rear wheel can overcome the braking force of the rear brake more easily than it can overcome the rotational mass of the engine under compression braking.

I have seen the effects of this at times. I have engine braked while exiting a freeway, rather aggressively, and once stopped I have seen the telltale shreds of rubber on the rear tire. I have been able to replicate this over and over. It doesn't happen when I brake normally with both front and rear brakes. It is easier to control the brake than it is compression braking. Engine braking is fun though. What was always strange was going from a four stroke to something like a Honda RS125 or RS250, two stroke race bikes, no engine braking. Very fun.


Sorry if this was a little rambling, I was typing as I thought.

[Son of Pappy]

Tire wear is so unique to each and every rider.  I am willing to bet I see more track time than %99.9 of the riders and I engine brake quite aggressively, I also use every bit of front/rear available.  I still get 9-12k miles out of a set of tires and the Angel STs are still my fav.  I haven't run the PR3s yet, but I may try out the PR4s when they are out.  Or, I may just give a set of the Angel GTs a shot.  Short of the OEM BT 21s that came on the bike in 08 I haven't had a bad set, I just prefer the Angels.

[Stubby]

Wow lots of good info here thank you guys very much.

[PH14]

Tire wear is so unique to each and every rider.  I am willing to bet I see more track time than %99.9 of the riders and I engine brake quite aggressively, I also use every bit of front/rear available.  I still get 9-12k miles out of a set of tires and the Angel STs are still my fav.  I haven't run the PR3s yet, but I may try out the PR4s when they are out.  Or, I may just give a set of the Angel GTs a shot.  Short of the OEM BT 21s that came on the bike in 08 I haven't had a bad set, I just prefer the Angels.

Yeah, the Angels felt great to me other than how they felt after they wore. I am wondering how the PR3's will feel as they wore.

[B.D.F.]

Having the same experience with the Angels as you apparently did, I can say that the PR3's behave very well as they wear down, just as the PR2s do. I have burned through three sets of PR3's and was never hankering to get them off the bike like the Angels and 'Stones. Sure they deteriorate in handling but a modest amount, not like falling off a cliff, and really quite evenly all through the tire's life.

Brian

Yeah, the Angels felt great to me other than how they felt after they wore. I am wondering how the PR3's will feel as they wore.

[PH14]

Having the same experience with the Angels as you apparently did, I can say that the PR3's behave very well as they wear down, just as the PR2s do. I have burned through three sets of PR3's and was never hankering to get them off the bike like the Angels and 'Stones. Sure they deteriorate in handling but a modest amount, not like falling off a cliff, and really quite evenly all through the tire's life.

Brian

Good to hear. Thanks Brian.