Yesterday morning a friend with a no-mar tire changer changed out the worn out and flat rear PR2 to a new PR2. Got home and put the wheel back onto the ULY and then later fired it up to ride to the gym. About 4 blocks away I was giving it a bit of gas around a left turn and the rear wheel broke free and came up near my front end. I chopped off the throttle and the rear violently went back behind my bike and it probably looked like I was having a massive motorcycle spasm. Miraculously I did not wipe out or go over the handlebars but it was close. I rode on to Gold's gym and related the experience to some gym rat buddies of mine, but of course these things are better seen than talked about. Anyways, the only reason I can think of and I'm 99% sure it is the culprit is that the new tire was still adorned with slick mold release from it manufacture. Question, what should I do to clean this crap off the tire so that I can keep my skivvies clean?
I have never had a PR2 do such a thing and have ridden new ones out into the rain upon installation.
Michelin seldom has any mold tits on their tires, but if they do it can do it easily. I followed a buddy into a corner years ago where he laid it onto the mold tits, to wear them off, under light acceleration and he had to rebuild his bike and heal up from the spin out at 45 mph.
My PR3's felt sort of "greasy" when I was installing them. I just took it real easy for the first few turns and worked up to harder curves.
I have hand-sanded new tires with 40 to 80 grit sandpaper to scuff them up before riding. That can't hurt and wouldn't take but a few minutes for you to do.
Vern, It could have been sand or pulverized salt but it is also a brand new tire and looks glossy. I think I shall wash it with hot soapy water just to ease my mind. I believe if I had also changed out the front tire yesterday morning I would have wiped out big time. Front is a Pirelli Scorpion (I think) with well over 8,000 miles on it. I bought the PR2's from Erik Buell Racing at 2010 homecoming so I still have a front tire when the Pirelli wears out.
I had a similar experience a few miles after getting brand new Stradas installed a while back. An ambulance came flying through an intersection, so I was forced to evade. To top it off, it was cold and raining. Fun.
Swampy's right. Dawn dish washing liquid is the common cure for new tires. I usually wash mine after they are mounted since the soap used to mount them is all over the wheels anyway. I then install them and since they oil and chip our roads I ride in the gravel on the side of the road. This breaks them in real quick. Especially if you throw an occasional rooster tail!!
Well I have PR2s on my Uly. I changed out just the rear and was astounded at how far I could lean over on a brand new, no miles, tire and that was in the rain, no joking, Dude.
Trust me Sir. Your mixing rubber and thats a bad thing to do. It may have been the reason for your problem. In fact I am sure of it. A VEEEEEERRRRRRY BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD IDEA most of the time.
I had a similar experience last fall right before putting the bike away for the winter, on old tires, but cold. I'd ridden with cold tires on cold pavement before, but mostly with my previous, lower-torque bikes and probably not much with the Uly.
I learned pretty quickly that with the Uly:
cold tire + cold pavement + too heavy throttle hand = dirty shorts.
Thanks, I've ordered a case of Crapstainaway which is a companion product to Chipotlaway. They claim it will clean away all of the old and most of the new, guaranteed or my money back.