Good day for a ride...UNTIL

[Freebird]

Fantastic weather today. Eileen and I along with Motive and his wife Julie and a couple that I had not met before decided to ride down to Waldo, OH for their famous bologna sandwiches. It was a beautiful day and we were really enjoying the ride but as we pulling into Shelby, OH my bike suddenly felt very rough and there was a lot of wobble at low speed.

 

Pulled into a parking lot and what did I find? I THINK it may be time for a new rear tire. This is a Dunlop. Not sure how many miles on it or how well inflation was watched before I got the bike. The bike only had about 18,000 miles on it and only about 21,000 now. They are not the original tires because these are the whitewalls. I have no idea when they were install though.

 

Oh well, I didn't care much for the whitewalls anyway and it was certainly getting time for a new front one so now I will just do them both. I wasn't able to find a tire today so believe it not, we rode this one the 50 miles back home. SLOWLY though.

 

[XV1100SE]

I know you didn't like the white walls... now is a good time to get the E3's or E4's !

 

Glad you weren't far from home !

[Guest divey]

Go with the Michelin Commander II with the smaller size on the front. You will not regret it for slow speed handling IMHO. Doug

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Buy the E4s we need a good review on them..... when it is time for new I think that is the way I may go. Not a huge fan of the Venom's I have on my 2nd gen but way too cheap to buy replacements until they are done.

I liked the E3s on my first gen and the Metzlers were a good replacement when I needed new.

[Bert2006]

Go with the Michelin Commander II with the smaller size on the front. You will not regret it for slow speed handling IMHO. Doug

 

I am with Doug on this one. Commander IIs all the way.

[WildBill1]

Commander IIs on rear for sure a little harder compound but more miles. You are lucky too get back with tire not blowing.

[djh3]

Don when you get it off for grins check the date code. That sure looks like it seperated due to age. I liked the Michelin also. Had a Shinko 777 I think on rear when traded. It was good imop. But I only got 5k on it before trade. Oh and by the way, my XCT has E3 radials on it currently. Dont know if oem as bike has 27k now. But they howl like a dog in corners now like my old tires on the RSV. Just that tread pattern I guess.

[SilvrT]

they howl like a dog in corners

 

Car Tires never howl......

 

FWIW though, my stock tires on the Vic never howled ... what pressure you running them at? 38 front and 40 rear is recommended.

 

I changed my rear at 21,680 kms and the front at 32,000 kms ... probably could have put a few more kms on both.

Edited October 16, 2016 by SilvrT

[uncledj]

Bologna (Baloney) samich in Waldo is over-rated anyway.

Glad ya made it home safe.

[Freebird]

I would be more than willing to try the Elite 4 but it doesn't appear that they make them in the right size. At least nothing for the rear. That being the case, I will likely go with the Commander II.

[ragtop69gs]

BFG TA RADIAL.... Best tire you'll ever run on the rear of the RSV.

 

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[djh3]

Silvr, I think i ran press up to 1lb under sidewall max. Rear shock @ 52psi. We are 2 up and loaded. When I saw the recomended shock press I had to look 3 times to make sure my glasses were on rite.

[BlueSky]

Glad you made it back home safely!

[cecdoo]

Ok, now I know the rest of the story on the tire, I always loved those Avons!!!

 

 

Craig

[dogman]

Glad you made it home safe with that tire. I'm sure your mind and senses where as sharp as they could be for that ride home. It must have been nerve racking.

[Freebird]

I can assure you that I was focused. Really wasn't that nervous because I felt I could control it if I kept my speed reasonable. My wife was a nervous wreck though. I can assure you that both hands were on the grips the entire time.

[XV1100SE]

For those following yet another tire discussion....good info on this link about tires and what things mean.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-tires/tire-data.htm

[eagleeye]

I can assure you that I was focused. Really wasn't that nervous because I felt I could control it if I kept my speed reasonable. My wife was a nervous wreck though. I can assure you that both hands were on the grips the entire time.

 

I can imagine! I'm actually surprised that she got on the back with you. Glad everything turned out safe.

[cowpuc]

WOWZY Boss - that is exactly what happened to Tip and I on our way back to Sacramento from the International at The Dalles back in '14!! Talk about a SICK feeling.. Soooo glad the 2 of you didn't have a blow out cause that is an adrenaline filled experience to say the least.. Having been there several times thru the years I can tell ya,, the real excitement of riding down a loaded touring bike with 2 up doesn't even begin till about 20 mph - that's when they get extremely squirrely (I am sure you know that too).. Unfortunately it doesn't always work out that ya get to know the thing is dangerously impaired but when I do - I have been known to crawl (5 mph) along the side of the road for miles to get to a new tire.. Gotta protect life n limb I tell ya!!

Anyway,, glad you folks came out in good shape!!!

Edited October 17, 2016 by cowpuc

[BlueSky]

Just re-read your post. 50 miles you rode on that tire to get back home! That's Evil Knievel daring! Not just the danger of the tire blowing but cars running over you because you are going slow! I push my luck way too often, but I don't think I would have done it.