| Author |
Message |
    
Kootenay
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 11:53 am: | 
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I think we've reached engineer-saturation. We're going to have to recruit at least 6 artists now to balance the ONE new engineer.
Well, I'm an engineer, but I've won awards for my artwork...does that count? (Plus, my wife has her BFA and works in the arts...)
As far as tires go, I have some Rossos ready to go on for the spring. Can't wait, I loved the old Diablos.
Plugging...from what I've seen, a "string" type plug can be as effective as the ones you have to install from the inside. There's always going to be some question with a plug, but catastrophic failure isn't what I'd expect (what DID you do to that tire, Brian? How heavy is your kid?) I carry a plug kit with me, just in case...but it's gotta be an individual call. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 12:22 pm: |
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Nope - you being an engineer with ARTISTIC leanings does NOT qualify you to offset our engineers.
Besides, I also do photography, sculpture, play a few instruments (badly), and I like walks at sunset on the beaches, warm puppies, and holding hands with the one I love... OH WAIT A MINUTE - wrong BBS again!  |
Xbmacon
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 12:24 pm: |
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You have to face it, Buell is the perfect Engineers bike! The "thought" Erik put into these make us giddy as school girls. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 02:15 pm: |
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Kootenay: He wasn't that heavy then, after all he was only 13. I didn't do anything
harsh to the tire. In fact I made a point of riding very very casually that weekend and
if it hadn't taken a nail 2 days before homecoming I would have been able to get it swapped
before I headed out to homecoming, and I wasn't going to miss what was my first Homecoming.
I am SO glad i didn't stay home because of the tire. The connections made, and tradition
started have been great and i look forward to the next homecoming from the moment I pull
out of Steve & Toni's driveway on my way home each year.
There is NOTHING wrong with carrying plugs for emergencies to get you home. I carry a little
air compressor and plug kit in my tank bag or saddle bags myself with some slime for the
boots and suspenders approach because I CAN'T push my bike home, or walk for help. If
cell coverage was more reliable I would just carry that, but it isn't on the two lane
blacktops I favor when I'm out riding for pleasure so like everyone else I do what I have
to do so that I can do what I want to do.
Buells do seem to attract engineers. I suspect it has everything to do with the elegant
and unusual solutions to common motorcycle design problems. I know that (and the fact it
works so well) are what attracted me to Buell.
The timelessness of the designs is good too. My 03 firebolt is constantly mistaken for
the "latest and greatest" from Milan. That has to count for something too. |
Ripdog28
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 04:55 pm: |
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well to each their own opinion. I hear the side of never patch but no way in hell i am going to waste $200 every month on tires. which is the rate i am going with nails.
My net purchase will be .....http://rhinotire.com/ |
Arctic_firebolt
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 08:43 pm: |
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Damn Slaughter! I put us over quota, did I? I would be more than happy to change that....someday.  |
Arctic_firebolt
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 08:47 pm: |
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The rhinotire folks, just may have something there. It's certainly a neat concept, I am impressed. I wonder how it stands up in the long run.
(Message edited by arctic_firebolt on February 12, 2009) |
Edgydrifter
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 11:23 pm: |
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I've been curious about Rhinotire for a while now. I just wish I could find more reviews and independent tests of the product. Most of the info available online seems to be stock marketing stuff. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 01:22 am: |
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The part of the rhinotire ad copy that worries me is this quote:
"Extends tire life by lowering operating temperature"
Cold tires, or even just making them warm up slower is a very dangerous thing on a sport bike.
The tires don't give their best grip until they are good and hot. This is why tire warmers are
such an advantage at the race track for motorcycles. It's less of a problem in Nascar or
on the "Family Truckster" as you head out on "Holiday Road".
I also wonder how much unsprung weight is added to the wheels. Erik and the Elves went to an
awful lot of trouble to shave every last gram they could from our wheels so that the wheel
could stay in contact with the road. While I don't shop for the very lightest tire on the
market I don't see throwing away all those hours in FEA modeling either.
Just another take on the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of stuff. I've run slime
in all of the off road and garden tractor tires I've had for a very long time, but this is
a very different application with different design parameters. |
Arctic_firebolt
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 10:04 am: |
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I did a little more digging on the Diablo 'T' and as most probably know this tire is not available through most retail channels, if any. It is however, available through Buell dealers and can be seen on their website. I also noticed that it is the 2nd most expensive tire they sell.
http://www.buell.com/en_us/gear/accessories/produc t.asp?Menu_ID=2&ProductLineID=4&CategoryID=8&Produ ctID=3188
Does anyone know anymore about this specific tire? Does it cost more because it is an OEM spec tire or is it actually a premium tire?
Just curious. |
Jwhite601
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 09:01 am: |
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You can get the T-spec tire here. Last year they ran pre-order sales where as you could preorder a set for $169  Ran it at least 2 times, maybe 3. http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=10&L3 =155&L4=&item=PAR_1430200_G I've been waiting for over a month for them to have another, but no luck. I finally gave up (income tax/warming weather) and ordered a set of Conti Sport Attacks for $236 shipped. I hope they don't make the bike handle funny. |
Arctic_firebolt
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 08:11 am: |
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Thanx for the info Jwhite601. I only have about 110 miles on the Strada so it is barely broken in. We'll see how it goes in the long run.
Keep us posted on the Cont's. I would certainly like to know what you think. That's a great price for the pair. |
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