Topic: New Tires

[bggann]

  (I think)
Just picked up my bike with my new tires. 
3x18 Metzeler Laser on the front, 4x18 ME77 on the rear. 

Whoa - they handle much differently than my old ones - bike is much twitcher - it will take a bit to get used to them - plus in the new "100 mile slippery/squirmy phase". 

The tires that were on there were 110/80 front, 130/70 rear which meant weird profiles. Plus the rear was basically a "slick" (tread gone).

Also - seemed to significantly change the relationship between tac and speedo in 6th gear.  50MPH indicated used to be abou 4600 RPM, now closer to 4K.  I think the speedo was reading fast for the old tires - and certainly the ratio of the front/rear tire has changed a bit.

May bump my mileage a bit (which is good.  This morning filled up- 55.47mpg)

Going to head home (carefully).
BG

[bggann]

Well - didn't take too long to get used to them.  The bike definately handles differently.  It is less "neutral" - wants to fall further into the corner rather than back out.  Nothing strong - but definately quicker handling.

Plus - Rain Tested - Got dumped on by Colorado Thunderstorm on the way home.  Good news - bike never missed a beat and the tires did just fine.

I'm soaked - but hey - I'm wash and wear.

BG

[alltherightpills]

Hondaman suggests wiping them down with acetone to get rid of the mold release compound.  I am putting new Avons on my bike this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how it handles after that.  The old tires were mismatched Chen Shins and the rear tire had almost no contour to it at all, the tread is horizontal and almost perpendicular to the sidewall.

[HondaMan]

Hondaman suggests wiping them down with acetone to get rid of the mold release compound.  I am putting new Avons on my bike this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how it handles after that.  The old tires were mismatched Chen Shins and the rear tire had almost no contour to it at all, the tread is horizontal and almost perpendicular to the sidewall.

Hey, alltheright...which Avons are you going for?
I don't care much for the 'new' Roadrunner "vintage" set I installed last year, too square for me. Sure run well on the long straights, though, and grip in the wet like SuperGlue. I'm looking at the AM21/23 next set, has the same rubber compound, more rounded profile.

[BobbyR]

You would imagine that tires like everything else would have improved since the 1960s. When I went to modern Battleaxes I rub the pegs on tight turns and it just pops up nice as you please. I could not have done that back in the 1960s.

[Markcb750]

I just put a set of Dunlap 404s 100/90 19 f 120/90 18 r. a little bigger then stock.

Rained hard on last night fresh tire ride, seems fine.  Still have slight low speed wobble in front end...must be head brgs #@%^%.

[WFO]

I have always been a metzler fan and iam completely happy with my Laser techs on my street bike.

[HondaMan]

I just put a set of Dunlap 404s 100/90 19 f 120/90 18 r. a little bigger then stock.

Rained hard on last night fresh tire ride, seems fine.  Still have slight low speed wobble in front end...must be head brgs #@%^%.

..or swingarm bushings: check it for side-to-side movement of 1/16" or more.

[alltherightpills]

Hondaman, I will be running the AM26 Roadrider.  They have a modern tread design and a nice rounded profile.

[martino1972]

Also - seemed to significantly change the relationship between tac and speedo in 6th gear. 


BG

WAIT a second......you found a 6th gear?? on what bike?? ive been trying to find the 6th gear on my cb on every trip i make..

[Hush]

Oh oh, I just fitted a new Metzler to front of bike and the speed of rebuild will mean I'm still on shiny new front come riding season ooooooooohhhh nnnnnnoooooo!

[Markcb750]

..or swingarm bushings: check it for side-to-side movement of 1/16" or more.
[/quote]

Measured at the swing arm pivot or at the axle center line?

[BobbyR]

I just put a set of Dunlap 404s 100/90 19 f 120/90 18 r. a little bigger then stock.

Rained hard on last night fresh tire ride, seems fine.  Still have slight low speed wobble in front end...must be head brgs #@%^%.

Also try upping you tire pressures a couple of pounds. These new tires are a bit more pressure sensitive.

[HondaMan]

..or swingarm bushings: check it for side-to-side movement of 1/16" or more.

Measured at the swing arm pivot or at the axle center line?
[/quote]

Measure at the axle, or the tire patch on the ground.
Honda's "worn out" spec for these busihngs is a measured (at the bushings) .0016", which makes more than 1/4" side-to-side at the rear wheel. And boy, is that a scary ride!    Usually, the front end starts to wobble if the rear is moving any more than 1/32", and it gets pretty bad at 1/16". The chain, if irregularly worn (many are), will snatch it back & forth when lightly loaded (cruising, decel, downhill, etc.), making the head shake, sometimes violently. The O-ring chains even make this worse, as do non-Honda sprockets. It's all related... 

[ofreen]

(I think)
Just picked up my bike with my new tires. 
3x18 Metzeler Laser on the front, 4x18 ME77 on the rear. 

Whoa - they handle much differently than my old ones - bike is much twitcher - it will take a bit to get used to them - plus in the new "100 mile slippery/squirmy phase". 

What pressures are you running?  Metzeler tires need more pressure than the originals to work right.  Metzeler Laser/Lasertecs feel squirmy when they are inflated to the old OEM specs.