| Author | Message | ||
     Buellerxt |
I was returning to South Texas from a great trip to Sturgis and Colorado; 2900+ miles on the trip with the Uly NOT missing a beat, when 580 miles from home I noticed cords showing on my rear Pirelli Angel. I have a new Michelin Pilot Road III waiting at the dealer and I didn't want 'just anybody' messing with my rear wheel so I got a U-Haul and brought it home. Not cheap, but I'm particular about my bikes and who touches them, especially my Uly!  What would you folks have done? The asphalt is rough where I was and I didn't want to risk a tire failure. If I was 50 miles out, I would have but 580 miles was too much. The tire only had 5900 miles when I left but the next time I'll replace it just to give me the freedom to add side trips and go where I want to go without tire concerns. Thanks. (Message edited by buellerxt on August 10, 2012) | ||
| Thumpthump |
You did what you felt was right. Better safe than sorry. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I would have pulled the wheel myself and had a local shop install the tire. Easy enough to do with average tools that you should have with you. Alternatively, I would have looked up a local Bueller using the BRAN and borrowed their garage for the swap. I know I would have been more than thrilled to help a Bueller on a trip through Kansas City! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I just recently road from the Michigan Upper Peninsula back to Omaha, Ne which was about 900 miles the way we took. Cords were showing down the rear tire middle for about a foot for most of those miles. Same as you, I had a new tire at home to put on and didn't think the cord showing tire would make it. Slowed things to 60 to 65 mph and not only did we make it home without mishap but got near 60 mpg. My wife's Sportster got almost 70 mpg. The tire in question was a D616. Cords were showing way more miles than the 580 you are mentioning. I'd go for it. It seemed that once it got into the cord that the wearing slowed way down. My tire didn't look any different at the end of the trip then it did when I first noticed the cords showing. Check the wear every time you stop and keep the speed to no more than 60 to 65 and and you'll most likely be just fine. If you are riding two-up then that is a completely different scenario. If you a riding solo then just keep in mind that if you let some shop work on your bike then they'll probably mangle the job and then you might end up shelling out one of those bearings. Not ideal to have to ride so far on a worn out tire but not impossible as my recent experience shows. And it was hot as Hades for most of our return trip and the tire still held up. Good luck whichever way you decide. | ||
| Jomartijr |
Well you asked and here's my take- I probably would have changed a 5900 mile tire before the trip. But finding the cords showing while 580 miles from home and considering the rough texture of most West Texas roads and the hot riding conditions I would have done the same. Expensive but prudent and no one wants a blowout ( almost unheard of these days) or loss of air pressure out in the wide open spaces. | ||
| Buellerxt |
I appreciate the responses. Glad you made it okay, Electraglider, but I didn't want the risk. I had a blowout at 70 mph 12 years ago when a rear took a puncture and blew out whatever it was that punctured it. That got real squeamish and shaky as I coasted to the side but cords showing could lead to a much worse tire failure. I don't like to throw money around, at all, but I don't want to do take an undue risk to save money. Riding any distance on a corded tire, let alone 580 miles on rough roads, is high risk to me. I've since spoken with motorcyclists I have a lot of faith in and all of them have said they wouldn't take the risk. I appreciate your perspective, Jomartijr, and agree with your "I probably would have changed a 5900 mile tire before the trip". That will be my practice from now on, FOR SURE. In fact I did that on the front which I 'thought' still had 3000+ miles left. In the future I'll change the tire and have the peace of mind. I'll have a lot more freedom to take alternate side trips which I considered on this trip but didn't take because of the tire mileage concern. Thanks for all of the replies. As I often say, I'll be saying 'live and learn' even if i live to 100! | ||
| Reepicheep |
I started back from a "fly and ride" with a bald scorpion sync (seller advertised as 70% life left... he meant 0% in the middle and 100% on the edges). I went for it anyway (not knowing at that point how absurdly thin the carcass of a scorpion sync is). I made it half way home, to the middle of freaking nowhere, when the tire let go. No cell phone coverage, no good options. Fortunately for me, Alex Prior was only an hour away, and he bailed me out with a truck and a spare tire and a place to crash for the night. But it cost him 100 miles of driving and interrupted a nice dinner. It was a miracle everything lined up as it did. Based on my rolling the dice and loosing... I'd say you made a reasonable call under the circumstances. | ||
| Etennuly |
No doubt you made the smart call for the circumstances you found yourself in. I am not so bright, I would have probably ridden it at least part of the way with a lot of monitoring of it's condition changes. The brand of tire makes a huge difference in this kind of situation. This is why I so firmly believe in paying up front for a good tire. When I ran the Scorpion Syncs if a thread started to show the air was soon to follow, very thin carcass, the D616 I did not test. the Michelin Pilot Road II's I have extensively tested and would have confidently run that distance. A buddy of mine brought his CBR to my shop with a thread bearing Michelin rear to be changed. He wanted to see what it had left so he did a big smokin' burn out that could have easily seen several hundred miles of easy running. My daddy always said better safe than stupid, if you can come up with the money! | ||
| Redtail |
Get a set of spoons and rim guards throw them in your tool kit and next time change the tire yourself for the not trusting anyone with the bike. Most Honda shops can get you a tire that fits quick, faster than other shops. That's what I do. Use Dynabeads in the rear and you are done. The avrg on a rear for me is 6,500 mi so I would have to change before the run.. If you get in a jam in Northern Virginia give me a call. (Message edited by Redtail on August 10, 2012) (Message edited by Redtail on August 10, 2012) | ||
| Teeps |
Buellerxt Posted on Friday, August 10, 2012 The tire only had 5900 miles when I left. Yikes! I would have installed the new tire before starting the trip. But, considering the circumstances, I would have done the same thing... | ||
| Buewulf |
I would have found a shop, pulled / installed the wheel myself and let them mount a new tire. (Was it a Sunday or something? Why the Uhaul?) I definitely would not have ridden on it, though. You probably would have made it, but that would have been a little risky. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
The only reason I was even riding a worn out tire was because I had to use my son's 07' ULY at the very last second for a 2000 mile trip. My ULY blew the left front fork seal and I didn't discover that until we were gassing up a mile from home while heading out on our trip. I must admit that I worried throughout that whole cord showing ordeal but I lucked out. Two days after getting home my son's bike got shod with a brand new D616 on a brand new black 2010 wheel that were both just waiting for his other tire to be used up. I used it up for sure. Just lucky I guess that it made it so far without mishap. I've blown out a few tires over the years and it never was that big of a deal so I just figured that if it exploded I'd just be ok. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Good point, Teeps, and I've learned my lesson. The previous rear, a Diablo Strata, was changed at 9500 miles and had tread left so I figured that the 'updated' Angel would do even better. I didn't figure in the rougher asphalt, higher speeds while on portions of the trip, the constant high temps, etc., and I should have. Buewulf, there were no shops in the small town I was in and the closest sport tire shop was about 200 miles away. Being concerned with who touches the bike, and even more concerned with the spacers and bearings, I chose to haul it home and have the tech I trust install my waiting Michelin Pilot Road III. I'm happy with the decision and would do it again though I'll try to avoid putting myself in that position. Next time, I'll set out with a new tire or one that has many thousands of miles left. Cheap insurance and much less stress. I really appreciate all the comments and thoughts. We all experience the same situations and the input/thoughts are helpful. Thanks. (Message edited by buellerxt on August 10, 2012) | ||
| Od_cleaver |
All you would have needed to do was follow the example below>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab3NRut64X8&feature =player_embedded And if you could have found some of that tire mold release (the kind that takes 200 miles to wear off) you would have been set for another 1,000 miles. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
In Our Opinion Safe is better. YRMV | ||
| Uly_man |
Just me but I never go much past the "wear" bars, they are there for a reason, on a tire. In the UK you get 3 points on your ticket for each bald tire 12 points and you lose it. Kill someone in a accident with a bald tire and you may end up in jail. And thats a fact. Also the cops will take your bike from you if you get caught. No insurance and they will crush it as well. Once it got to the wear bars I would have been looking for a place to change it out. Knowing what I do now I would have made them do it my way so it should not have been a problem. Exposed cords. Very scary? |
