Last week, I just put another sent of E3's on my 2003 Midnight.
The shop I have used has always been good with tires for my Sporty. So I went to them as usual.
Two weeks ago I ordered a set of E4s and then I got a call back from the owner stating, "The E4's have a national back order with no estimated time of delivery." In need of tires, I went with the E3's again.
E3's came on the bike when I purchased it in 2017. I replaced the rear tire after the first day that I rode it, due to a nail that I picked up (a 250 mile ride). Shortly after replacing the rear tire in 2017, I had a flat front tire while getting off of I-90... It was a bad valve stem. The Indy shop replaced the broken stem with a 90 degree valve stem.
Last week, with the new tires on, I rode to work only to have a front tire go flat 40 miles up the road from home (the same place along I-90 as the first time)... Valve stem again!!!
This time I looked up the front tire valve stem online, only to find that I had been running the last 19,500 miles with the WRONG VALVE STEM!!! The unseen mercies of God!!! I plan to ride to TN in October and hit the Dragon's Tail one of day's that I'm down there. Thankful for being near home when the stem went and not on a leaning curve!!!
Local Yamha dealer replaced the valve stem with the proper one (Tr 412) and rebalanced the tire for under $21. I've always done my own work, barring mount and balance...
Lesson learned: If I'm taking the time to turn a wrench by the book, I also need be sure that valve stems are replaced with what the bike's engineers call for.
Bottom line, I've been happy with the E3'S and have rode many miles in the rain with full confidence. Granted, I do know the roads well (no low spots with standing water) on my almost 90 mile round trip to and from work.
My next set will be the E4.
Ride safe and check those valve stems!!!
Shaka brah