tires

[Statussymbol]

So after having the bike about 2 weeks now. I checked tire pressure and noticed that I have the infamous Brickstone on the front (stock) and a Metzlers 880 on the back. From reading other posts and personal experience I have found that the Brickstone does not like grooves on the highway, kinda jerks left or right when it hits them. Now the tire looks like it has a lot of tread left (I haven't gauged it) so I don't plan on changing it until I have to (money). According to previous posts lowering the front, which I have no clue on how to do. Or raising the rear, which I can probably figure out. I haven't crawled under the bike to see if it has been leveled. i.e. dog bones are stock right? and where do I look? How hard it the job to level the rear? Side note, the Metzlers 880 has a lot of tread left too. Any thoughts?

 

Stat

[XV1100SE]

I see you have an 08 Venture S wth 25K miles...

 

My view....

Yes, Bridgestone's don't give you the best ride. People that have switched to other brands mention that they saw a difference in ride/handling right away.

 

Going to a 130 tire while making the bike "feel" less top heavy might make it feel unstable at higher speeds. For me, I went with the stock sizes front and back.

 

Lowering/leveling links - usually done by people so they can plant their feet on the ground. At your height you probably don't have this issue.

 

I know you've only had your bike a few weeks but I'd suggest doing some more miles on it before you start changing the height of the bike. I found after riding for a while the bike felt less top heavy as I got used to it.

 

Couple questions for you....

What is the date code on the Bridgestone? You mentioned that it looked new but an old Bridgestone rides worse than a newer Bridgestone - age of the rubber rather than any changes in the newer years (don't think they changed it at all)

 

The Metzler 880...if you have a lift and adapter...lift the bike and inspect the tread area on the tire. Several people have had issues with chunks of tread breaking off. Rotate it slowly and check rim to rim for any "defects"

 

While you have the bike on the lift....inspect the rear shock. Wondering if you've felt like the back end was bottoming out when riding which would indicate a failed shock. You can check the bottom of the shock to see if it is oily/greasy but that comes with age as well.

 

What air pressure do you run in your shocks front and back? An easy way to lift the rear a bit to see how it feels is to increase the air in the rear shock but this will also stiffen the ride. What pressure do you have in the front shocks? Raising the rear will also raise the centre of gravity and might make it feel more top heavy.

 

The questions are geared toward your safety and also either avoiding or limiting expenses in trying to alter the height.

 

With tires....when you go to replace them, to me the only way to go is Dunlop E3's front and back in the stock sizes. I think Dunlop 404's while listed as a tire for the RSV are for lighter bikes and this causes them to wear faster on a 800+ lb bike plus rider and passenger. Avon's have a number of reports of sidewall cracking. Metzler's "chunk". Dunlop E3's...I don't recall seeing any complaints about them and they last (harder rubber in centre of tread pattern).

 

[Statussymbol]

Couple questions for you....

What is the date code on the Bridgestone? You mentioned that it looked new but an old Bridgestone rides worse than a newer Bridgestone - age of the rubber rather than any changes in the newer years (don't think they changed it at all)

 

will check, at work now.

 

The Metzler 880...if you have a lift and adapter...lift the bike and inspect the tread area on the tire. Several people have had issues with chunks of tread breaking off. Rotate it slowly and check rim to rim for any "defects"

 

Don't have a lift. Would a piece of plywood and floor jack work? I know, I know.....center it.

 

While you have the bike on the lift....inspect the rear shock. Wondering if you've felt like the back end was bottoming out when riding which would indicate a failed shock. You can check the bottom of the shock to see if it is oily/greasy but that comes with age as well.

 

Not bottoming out at all, not bouncy....wife and I rode 200 miles....all is well.

 

What air pressure do you run in your shocks front and back? An easy way to lift the rear a bit to see how it feels is to increase the air in the rear shock but this will also stiffen the ride. What pressure do you have in the front shocks? Raising the rear will also raise the centre of gravity and might make it feel more top heavy.

 

No clue, I need to find a low pressure tire guage/pump.

 

The questions are geared toward your safety and also either avoiding or limiting expenses in trying to alter the height.

 

With tires....when you go to replace them, to me the only way to go is Dunlop E3's front and back in the stock sizes. I think Dunlop 404's while listed as a tire for the RSV are for lighter bikes and this causes them to wear faster on a 800+ lb bike plus rider and passenger. Avon's have a number of reports of sidewall cracking. Metzler's "chunk". Dunlop E3's...I don't recall seeing any complaints about them and they last (harder rubber in centre of tread pattern).

 

What about Michelin Comanders II's?

 

Thanks for the reply.

[GFRicky]

what Don said. I just put a E3 on the rear when my Bridgestone was worn out and I love it. Still have the Bridgestone on the front and will put an E3 on when it's done.

[Bert2006]

I have been running the Commander II's for 3 seasons now and will not go back to anything else. The 130 up front has not resulted in any high speed instability and the low speed handling is very much improved. Before that I had a Metzler up front and a 404 in the back. Handled terribly with those. Felt all of the snakes and could hardly get one season out of the 404's. This is my second set, I replaced the front and back at the same time this spring and got 14k out of the old ones. Could have gone a bit longer, but was preparing for an extended trip and did not want to deal with it while on the road. I truly recommend them.

 

Air pressure is very important for the handling on these bikes. I run 36 up front and 40 in back when by myself (rear shock at 35) . 2 up, I keep 36 up front and got to 41 in the rear(rear shock at 40). Front forks are always at 2.

[XV1100SE]

23 members in WI ....hopefully someone can show you the CarbonOne lift adapter...great purchase to allow you to work on and even store your bike.

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/memberlist.php?s=&securitytoken=1471890543-e0f4a577c327fb6337a8d9e29f468151441715d6&do=getall&ausername=&homepage=&field8=&field2=&field19=49&field19_opt=&field5=0&field5_opt=&field4=&field7=&field13=&field11=&field23=&field21=0&field15=&icq=&aim=&msn=&yahoo=&skype=&postslower=&postsupper=&joindateafter=&joindatebefore=&lastpostafter=&lastpostbefore=&sort=username&order=&perpage=

 

Lift adapter - http://www.venturerider.org/forum/photopost/showproduct.php?product=15&title=carbon-one-freestanding-lift-adapter&cat=15