YamahaLarry Posted May 11, 2015 #1 Posted May 11, 2015 Definitely a difference vs the recommended 150/18. May just be my psycho, but the front seems lighter, meaning that it handling turns much easier without that heavy feeling, but on open highway, seems it may be a little 'looser', in that bike moves a little. Gonna take just a little getting used to the different feel, but overall, so far I am very pleased. The Tail of the Dragon in a couple of weeks will be the real test. Really diggin' the slow ride, especially in this gigantic parking lot at work.
cowpuc Posted May 11, 2015 #2 Posted May 11, 2015 I wonder if the contact area on a 130 is just a little smaller than on a 150 and that is what makes it feel "lighter" in its steering.. I know you also swapped out the links on your mono, in the dirtbiking years ago - I had a full set of links for my KX - each set would alter the that feel in their own way.. Could also have something to do with swapping out those links,, maybe.. Either way,, sounds like your headed for fun Lar!!! Have fun challenging taming that Dragon!! Be safe! Puc
YamahaLarry Posted May 11, 2015 Author #3 Posted May 11, 2015 Yeah, I guess it could be a combination of both changes. Regardless, I think I will like the adjustments once I get used to them. Another note, while I was under the bike yesterday, I noticed that my rear shock is leaking some. Looks like a new shock is in the very near future. Just hope it doesn't decide to totally go out while I am wrestling with that Dragon.
Great White Posted May 11, 2015 #4 Posted May 11, 2015 Tires are a funny thing. You can get the exact same size from a different manufacturer and it can change the way a bike handles. Compound, profile, construction, and lots more. Typically though, a smaller contact patch will result in lighter steering. Just take a while and get used to the changed handling before doing anything "spirited". Also, new tires have a coating of release compound on them. it makes them a bit slick. Straight up and down it wears off the center pretty quickly, but I have known guys to not have "scrubbed in" the edges of the tire properly and gotten a nasty surprise first time they heel it over in anger. Just be mindful of it is all I'm saying.
YamahaLarry Posted May 11, 2015 Author #5 Posted May 11, 2015 Hopefully I won't have this issue. Due to the light blue crap they put on the whitewalls, tires where scrubbed using Purple Power after they were mounted on the wheels to remove all the light blue crap. Maybe it removed the coating as well, cause I washed that area too. There seemed to be a dark brown sticky substance between the plastic wrap on the tire and the tire.
Great White Posted May 11, 2015 #6 Posted May 11, 2015 Hopefully I won't have this issue. Due to the light blue crap they put on the whitewalls, tires where scrubbed using Purple Power after they were mounted on the wheels to remove all the light blue crap. Maybe it removed the coating as well, cause I washed that area too. There seemed to be a dark brown sticky substance between the plastic wrap on the tire and the tire. Sounds like you're good to go if you did all that scrubbing with a detergent.
cowpuc Posted May 11, 2015 #7 Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) Tires are a funny thing. You can get the exact same size from a different manufacturer and it can change the way a bike handles. Compound, profile, construction, and lots more. Typically though, a smaller contact patch will result in lighter steering. Just take a while and get used to the changed handling before doing anything "spirited". Also, new tires have a coating of release compound on them. it makes them a bit slick. Straight up and down it wears off the center pretty quickly, but I have known guys to not have "scrubbed in" the edges of the tire properly and gotten a nasty surprise first time they heel it over in anger. Just be mindful of it is all I'm saying. Sounds like you are way more informed than I am about tires GW,, all I know is they seem to wear out way to fast for my liking.. I wish someone would make a set that I could acutally get thru a whole summer without having to replace em.. My neighbor seems to be pretty up on bike tires like you, he has a 2010 Ultra Limited (oooo la la - GORGEOUS).. that he bought brand new. He swapped out the tires on it before he brought it home with some "dual compound" types? Apparently they are hard in the center and soft on the sides - suppose to make em last longer.. Said he was tired of watching me swapping tires on Tweeks everytime the wife and I pulled in from a short jaunt and didnt wanna have to fool with such nonsense.. He tried to talk me into buying a set for my bike BUT,, over 3 bills for the rear tire alone scared me (only paid 7 for the bike for crying out loud).. His bike is still under 3k miles so the those "Duallys" (thats what I call em) havent had a chance to prove anything yet. He is talking about riding out to Sturgis with me this year so MAYBE we can see what affect some road time and maybe even some hot tarmac actually has on em.. Anyway, THANKS for the info GW!! Puc DID IT AGAIN,,, sorry for the hi-jack Larry... Edited May 11, 2015 by cowpuc
YamahaLarry Posted May 11, 2015 Author #8 Posted May 11, 2015 No problem, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. I am not sure how many miles I will get out of a set of tires on the Venture. I have had it for not quite a year and put 12k on it so far. Rear tire looked almost new when I bought it and front tire was decent. The ones I just yanked off were pretty thin and loved tracking the cracks of the highway. But, in prior years, I have always managed to get better than 10k on a rear and maybe a little over 20k on the front, with my longest lasting tire being a Michelin.
friesman Posted May 12, 2015 #9 Posted May 12, 2015 At times mine felt a bit light in the front at hiways speeds,after installing the 130, but I found putting more air in the back shock solved the issue. and the Michellin Commander 2's are a dual compound tire. fyi. Brian
YamahaLarry Posted May 12, 2015 Author #10 Posted May 12, 2015 Interesting. I dropped the psi down to 20 yesterday after changing out leveling links to factory links.
videoarizona Posted May 12, 2015 #11 Posted May 12, 2015 Hmmm. May have to re-consider. PO gave me a new front tire to match the rear ...but it's stock size. Maybe I should order a 130 before I pay to get the front mounted....and try it out. I want the slow speed handling.... Thanks for the report! david
friesman Posted May 12, 2015 #12 Posted May 12, 2015 the 130 is WWAAAYYY lighter at slow speed handling. but I find I do need to run the back shock at higher air pressure at highway speeds or the front seems a bit too quick to respond. Brian
YamahaLarry Posted May 12, 2015 Author #13 Posted May 12, 2015 Hmmm. May have to re-consider. PO gave me a new front tire to match the rear ...but it's stock size. Maybe I should order a 130 before I pay to get the front mounted....and try it out. I want the slow speed handling.... Thanks for the report! david I don't think you would regret getting a 130/90. The height is only something like 1/4" less than the 150/80 and obviously 20mm narrower. And me personally, I like prefer the looks of the smaller tire.
rbig1 Posted May 12, 2015 #14 Posted May 12, 2015 well I run the 130 with lowering links. bike sits low but I really like how it handles. legs arn't straight at stop but don't care.
videoarizona Posted May 12, 2015 #15 Posted May 12, 2015 After reading about "lowering" the front end...I'm thinking may be that would be a better way for me to go. I'm 5'10" with 30" inseam so lowering the height of the bike would be nice for me. If it makes the handling more neutral...then I'm really all for it. So: Lower front end Stay with OEM front tire size Leave rear end alone. My benefits should be better handling, slightly lower ride height and normal tire patch on the road for those days when it rains in Arizona! Thoughts that agree/disagree with above? david
cowpuc Posted May 12, 2015 #16 Posted May 12, 2015 After reading about "lowering" the front end...I'm thinking may be that would be a better way for me to go. I'm 5'10" with 30" inseam so lowering the height of the bike would be nice for me. If it makes the handling more neutral...then I'm really all for it. So: Lower front end Stay with OEM front tire size Leave rear end alone. My benefits should be better handling, slightly lower ride height and normal tire patch on the road for those days when it rains in Arizona! Thoughts that agree/disagree with above? david OR,, forget all that nonsense and wear high heels :rotfl::crackup: Sorry David,, just feelin a little closer to normal today:sign67:
cowpuc Posted May 12, 2015 #18 Posted May 12, 2015 Grins! That's so good to hear! What size ya wear bro? @Skid may have an extra pair:hihi:,, him and those pretty blonde piggy tails flappin in the wind and all:guitarist 2: I gotta knock it off,,, better to pick on the Hell's Angels than get a bunch of you elbows looking for me... Oh,, wait minute,, you guys all ride 2nd Gens now,, nothing to worry about
videoarizona Posted May 12, 2015 #19 Posted May 12, 2015 What size ya wear bro? @Skid may have an extra pair:hihi:,, him and those pretty blonde piggy tails flappin in the wind and all:guitarist 2: I gotta knock it off,,, better to pick on the Hell's Angels than get a bunch of you elbows looking for me... Oh,, wait minute,, you guys all ride 2nd Gens now,, nothing to worry about Yea right...I rode the 1st gen this morning! Thinking of selling the VStar 950T. Love that bike but rather keep the 1st gen for camping! david
cowpuc Posted May 12, 2015 #20 Posted May 12, 2015 Yea right...I rode the 1st gen this morning! Thinking of selling the VStar 950T. Love that bike but rather keep the 1st gen for camping! david :dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::clap2::clap2: Thats the problem with benchmark,, everything else becomes suspect.. Truthfully David,, I wish Yamaha would re-introduce the 1st Gen's exactly as they were (heckster bro - I would even be happy with a tape deck - kinda old school cool) as their all new Yamaha Venture.. Stick em out there for 15k,, I would be first in line!! You probably didnt know it but I LOVE these bikes!! Sooo glad to hear you are still piling on the miles on yours!!:clap2:Ya make me proud my friend!! Fine Print: Dont tell no body but I really really LOVE the Gen 2's (RSV's and the RSTD's) and happen to think they are, bar none, the prettiest bike Yamaha has ever made!! Someday, Lord willing and the crick dont rise, there will be one in my garage too!!
Skid Posted May 12, 2015 #21 Posted May 12, 2015 Good grief I didn't have a dog on this thread and got brought I to it.
cowpuc Posted May 12, 2015 #22 Posted May 12, 2015 Good grief I didn't have a dog on this thread and got brought I to it. Guy runs around with blonde ponytails nailed on his helmet should spect such things to happen em:big-grin-emoticon:
YamahaLarry Posted May 12, 2015 Author #23 Posted May 12, 2015 My daddy, rest his soul, taught me to always read the fine print first.
cowpuc Posted May 13, 2015 #24 Posted May 13, 2015 My daddy, rest his soul, taught me to always read the fine print first. That daddy of yours was a VERY VERY wise man Larry!! Should listen to him,, specially when hanging around with the likes of some of these varmints,, a more apt to group there has never been!!
vzuden Posted May 13, 2015 #25 Posted May 13, 2015 So: Lower front end Stay with OEM front tire size Leave rear end alone. My benefits should be better handling, slightly lower ride height and normal tire patch on the road for those days when it rains in Arizona! Thoughts that agree/disagree with above? david that sounds like it would be the best plan based upon what you have described. Go for it!
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