turtle Posted April 30, 2014 #1 Posted April 30, 2014 I just picked up anew to me old bike it is a Yamaha 1100 xs. It was stored in a guys garage for the last ten years on a trailer . The tires look like he has about 1000 miles on them plenty of tread left and no signs of cracking or dry rot. My question is to replace or ride with them. I will only use as a local commuter any advise would be appreciated.
etcswjoe Posted April 30, 2014 #2 Posted April 30, 2014 I would not feel comfortable riding on tires that had sat that long they may have developed flat spots too.
dacheedah Posted April 30, 2014 #3 Posted April 30, 2014 Replace them! 5 years from the manufacture date and pull them off. The tires break down and on the road is not the place to find out. Put som E3 or commanders on her
turtle Posted April 30, 2014 Author #4 Posted April 30, 2014 Thank you that was my feeling to cheap insurance, wife thought they would be fine
bongobobny Posted April 30, 2014 #5 Posted April 30, 2014 Yup! You only have 2 wheels, not 4, and you are only issued 1 life here on Earth... 6 years or more, out the door!
Peder_y2k Posted April 30, 2014 #6 Posted April 30, 2014 If they are nylon or aramid cord tires, they are fine, (but polyester cord tires made from old recycled stretch jeans are crap). However, the tread may be kinda dry and have lost some stickiness (road grip) so avoid the hard acceleration and braking that the bike is capable of. Keep an eye on the tread and sidewall for cracks, when these develop it is downhill for ANY tire. These bikes don't turn well at high speed, but you said it was for around town use, so just stay out of the rain. My barn find '87 Virago has the original nylon tires and they are still in excellent roadworthy condition for my riding and won't be changing anytime soon. That line about the time expiration is BS and a ploy by the manufacturers to compel you to spend money you don't have to. There is a sucker born every minute, don't be one of them. -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA
MidlifeVenture Posted April 30, 2014 #7 Posted April 30, 2014 Thank you that was my feeling to cheap insurance, wife thought they would be fine Check to see if she recently took out an insurance polocy on you.
RedRider Posted April 30, 2014 #8 Posted April 30, 2014 An 1100XS huh? You should be able to wear out that rear tire in no time. RR
frankd Posted April 30, 2014 #9 Posted April 30, 2014 If they weren't severely cracked I think I'd get the bike running and decide if you like it enough to ride it much. However, as Peder says, do NOT ride it in the rain, or attempt any high speed, peg scrapping turns. They won't stop as good as new tires will, so be careful there also. On my XS-750 (the 3 cylinder version of yours), I used to get about 8,000 miles on the rears, and about 12k on the front. Those old tires didn't last all that long. When you do replace the rear tire, remember that it will need the driveshaft greased just like the MK I first Gens. Also on these bikes, the center gear runs in 90W that needs to be changed when you change the shaft drive unit lube. Do you have the shaft drive and center gear dipstick? It's the same as the MK I Venture, except you use both ends of it.
crazygaucho Posted April 30, 2014 #10 Posted April 30, 2014 from manufacture date I will no go over 7 years, 5 is ideal plus you don't know how exposed to the sun they were ................ you probably know but manufactured date is 4 numbers after The DOT the first 2 are the week the last 2 the year my tire arrived yesterday it shows 5012 than means middle December 2012. my Suzuki boulevard was 07 and was showing some very fine cracking don't take chances on tires
Sylvester Posted April 30, 2014 #11 Posted April 30, 2014 I just picked up anew to me old bike it is a Yamaha 1100 xs. It was stored in a guys garage for the last ten years on a trailer . The tires look like he has about 1000 miles on them plenty of tread left and no signs of cracking or dry rot. My question is to replace or ride with them. I will only use as a local commuter any advise would be appreciated. I want to know more about the bike. The tires are toast. Need pictures.
kevin-vic-b.c. Posted May 1, 2014 #12 Posted May 1, 2014 Thank you that was my feeling to cheap insurance, wife thought they would be fine Careful she may have a large life insurance plan on you ! Throw them and throw them far! Cut them or drill holes in them so nobody else tries to use them.
BlueSky Posted May 1, 2014 #13 Posted May 1, 2014 When I bought my 85 Kawasaki ZN700 from a barn in WI, it had 1,053 miles on it and the original Bridgestone tires looked almost like new with no cracks or signs of age. I replaced them anyway with Metzler Lazer Tecs bought from Motorcycle Superstore. The rear was 5 yrs old when it arrived. I put in on anyway. Hey, now it's ten yrs old!
crazygaucho Posted May 1, 2014 #14 Posted May 1, 2014 you can get tires for around $100 .........Puc just found some front ones on amazon for $59 . just for a very short ambulance ride (just the ride) I'm paying close to $800 you do the math
mm482 Posted May 1, 2014 #15 Posted May 1, 2014 Congrats on the XS1100 find. You need to check out the www.xs11 web site. There is a lot of info on the xs11 there. I am putting a 80 XS1100 Special back together now and I have too more parts bikes. My Son-law rides a 80 XS11 Special too. Earl:clap2:
Peder_y2k Posted May 1, 2014 #16 Posted May 1, 2014 just for a very short ambulance ride (just the ride) I'm paying close to $800 you do the math If you are associating riding motorcycles on older tires with a trip to the hospital, then that is a failed argument as there are MANY non-motorcyclists who would argue the same about all motorcycling. As example, my neighbor thinks I am inviting disaster simply by ridng any bike. Been riding mc's for some 45 years now with NEVER an injury incident, and that's not luck, it is the result of being skilled, experienced, observant, and conscientious. ANY activity has inherent risk (even staying in bed all day), leaving us to live with calculated risk for everything we do. -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA
crazygaucho Posted May 1, 2014 #17 Posted May 1, 2014 If you are associating riding motorcycles on older tires with a trip to the hospital, then that is a failed argument as there are MANY non-motorcyclists who would argue the same about all motorcycling. As example, my neighbor thinks I am inviting disaster simply by ridng any bike. Been riding mc's for some 45 years now with NEVER an injury incident, and that's not luck, it is the result of being skilled, experienced, observant, and conscientious. ANY activity has inherent risk (even staying in bed all day), leaving us to live with calculated risk for everything we do. -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA the minute we get on our bikes we are taking risks, we are all riders here ........ tires are a lot cheaper than medical bills, and if can be avoid it is no accident, an old toasted tire blowing on the freeway while you are doing 70 or 80 mph, regardless on how skilled experienced etc etc you are if it doesn't send you to a hospital at least is gonna scratch your bike. is just an opinion and, I've riding bikes for some time and many times had no choice and rode on tires that were beyond bald, but now I'm not that young to know everything, and if I have a chance to choose, I like the tires fresh and with some tread and if tomorrow a cager runs me over and kills me while he was texting so be it. that I can't avoid
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