| Author | Message | ||
     Keith_mahoney |
I have a question I am hoping someone can answer. I have not had my Uly but a couple of months now. I grew up on CBR's but have only ridden cruisers and dirt bikes for the last several years. This bike handles great and I am in love with it even though the rain and dirty roads here in Belgium (my bike probably stays just as dirty as Cityxslickers and I never have taken it off road)never let me use it's handling to its full potential. What gets me is the highly uneven tire wear. I have no chicken strips on my back tire and big fat ones over an inch wide up front. Now I know that backs always wear further than fronts but this disparity doesn't seem right. When I ride aggressively I keep my parts up on the "tank" to weight the front end and have even drug the peg feelers, but only 2x. I am really not worried about remedying the uneven tire wear I just want to know why it is happening. I have never had this happen on any of my 4 previous bikes. | ||
| Etennuly |
It is normal for a Buell. I like to think that is from a narrower front rim width. It is the way these bikes work. I can tell you from experience that to run the front tire to the edge of the strips will usually require crashing. Some people will likely post pictures of tires burned off to the edge of the front tread, but it probably won't be from normal street type abuse. I have run the Dragon many times and it will leave the side of the front tires unmarked while the rear chicken strip melted off. Sounds like you are having fun with it!  | ||
| Thesmaz |
Don't worry about not using all of the front tire. Like Etennuly said, trying to get rid of the front tire chicken strips will require crashing (on the streets) but you might get a little closer if you went and did a track day. The biggest thing is to get the suspension adjusted so that the bike stays composed in the twisties, doesn't beat you up around town and allows you to haul azz without scaring the crap out of yourself in the process. It took me a while to get the suspension set where I like it and when I've got the bags fully loaded I will adjust the rear pre-load to suit the demands of the road (twisty or straight). I am planning on doing the 06 to 07 front spring change so I expect that I'll get to start the process all over again - yeah! NOT! You ought to come down and try to do the Swiss 500 in June; it's a tough but awesome ride! www.swiss500.ch | ||
| Cityxslicker |
When you hit dirt, you want that tread, chicken strips are for the track. And if you are draggin a knee on dirt, you are either doing it wrong, or you way more talent than I have ever seen. You should get about a 2-1 change ratio from rear to front. Have fun, and do post some dirty filthy pics.  | ||
| Keith_mahoney |
Thanks guys, I figured it happened to Ulys like that. Like I said I wasn't worried about correcting it I was just curious as to why it was happening. City, I do not take this bike off road but these back roads here are covered in mud and feces from all the tractors (animal feces not tractor feces). I could never do on this bike what you do on yours. I would rather do that on a bike that weighs half as much and costs half the price. Thesmaz, that looks interesting but not really my thing. I don't really like having a destination when I go out for rides. I hate having to pay attention to where I am at. I would rather just zone out and scan for movement of objects into my chosen path. | ||
| Hmartin |
+1 on Etennuly's wear pattern. His matches mine. However, since I've got a family to think about, I'll be on my return leg or have some runout space before leaning it over that far; there's no room surprises at that angle. If your sportbike buddies are giving you hell about your front tire, you could always prop up your front wheel and use a belt sander.  | ||
| Tootal |
You bunch of sissys!! I use a pocket knife!  | ||
| Ourdee |
Just smoke you buddies in the corners and tell them you only used half the tire to give them a chance. (like tieing one arm behind your back)  | ||
| Teeps |
This is how the front tire (Shinko raven) looks after 9k miles.  The rear is similar.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Looks like I will have to roll through Belgium sometime and have a dirty shi@tty time of doing it. You can keep your chicken strips, I prefer rooster tails. | ||
| Dfishman |
The Stradas leave about 3/8" strip on the front....none on the rear.The original dunlops would wear to the edge.Different profiles of tire. | ||
| Keith_mahoney |
If your sportbike buddies are giving you hell about your front tire, you could always prop up your front wheel and use a belt sander. I don't know anyone with an RR. As a matter of fact the only person I know with a bike is the guy who bought my last one from me. |
