FJRiders.com

Changed engine and gear oil to head to a tech day. Seems counter intuitive.

Blueridgerider wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:01 pm I had a not too pleasant experience away from home on a long trip not long ago where I thought the tires would hold up only to find wear bars with too many miles left to go Messes up plans quickly and told myself never again, if in doubt they get changed. I am looking forward to all the great times ahead putting some miles on them.

Rich men change tires when the wear bars appear.

Next time cut the tire open and see how much rubber exists between the wear bars and cords. It is a lot.

This is an RS3 front off my FJR:

^^^^

I think Wheatie just found his new Avatar picture. Heck he might get a print of that and hang it on his mancave wall!

Ignored it...and walked past. Jwilly can't be too happy with me.

Rode it into the Mountains. My wife continued on to her women's ride event. I am in Turkey Creek campground unsupervised.

Packed and ready to shove off tomorrow for tech day. My Road6 front showed up but no rear. I hope something isn't amiss. Both were supposed to be in stock.

N4HHE wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:14 pm

Blueridgerider wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:01 pm I had a not too pleasant experience away from home on a long trip not long ago where I thought the tires would hold up only to find wear bars with too many miles left to go Messes up plans quickly and told myself never again, if in doubt they get changed. I am looking forward to all the great times ahead putting some miles on them.

Rich men change tires when the wear bars appear.

Next time cut the tire open and see how much rubber exists between the wear bars and cords. It is a lot.

This is an RS3 front off my FJR:

I love this post so much I had to quote it. Look how much rubber you still have when you hit the cords. Shoot, I can get a couple hundred more after the cords are gone I bet.

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:23 pm I love this post so much I had to quote it. Look how much rubber you still have when you hit the cords. Shoot, I can get a couple hundred more after the cords are gone I bet.

Every model of tire is different. A friend had a white stripe appear on his rear 50 miles out. We limped to my house. It had worn through 3 plys of cords to rubber. Bulging. Popped when he pushed a finger though it in my driveway.

Have found tires to be safe until bald but when cords show it is an emergency.

250 spirited miles today on the fjr. Met A bunch of riders in Hiawassee and we went north into North Carolina. Wayah road, etc. I think we were 10 bikes in total, all good riders.

Had a good time.

Put new tires on it and bleed my brakes so now I have brakes and new shoes.

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:23 pm

N4HHE wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:14 pm

Blueridgerider wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:01 pm I had a not too pleasant experience away from home on a long trip not long ago where I thought the tires would hold up only to find wear bars with too many miles left to go Messes up plans quickly and told myself never again, if in doubt they get changed. I am looking forward to all the great times ahead putting some miles on them.

Rich men change tires when the wear bars appear.

Next time cut the tire open and see how much rubber exists between the wear bars and cords. It is a lot.

This is an RS3 front off my FJR:

I love this post so much I had to quote it. Look how much rubber you still have when you hit the cords. Shoot, I can get a couple hundred more after the cords are gone I bet.

I've never done that. Sounds dangerous.

gixxerjasen wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:23 pm I love this post so much I had to quote it. Look how much rubber you still have when you hit the cords. Shoot, I can get a couple hundred more after the cords are gone I bet.

Something else comes to mind that needs to be added:

Tread rubber is not the same stuff as used to bind cords. Not the same stuff as used for sidewalls. Not the same stuff as used to line the tire to hold air in. Once the wear bars and tread grooves are gone a careful observer will see the color of rubber change. The stuff holding the cords together is much softer than the tread rubber. The rubber between tread and cords wears very fast when exposed.

I have run tires bald until patches of different colored rubber appeared. That tire was not ridden again.

I had my tires changed yesterday. I told the guy I hated to do it because I had another 1000 miles left in them. He poked the center of the rear tire and it was soft. He said "You didn't have 1,000 miles left in this tire. One more day trip and I could have checked your air pressure with a flashlight".

Made me laugh. I hadn't heard that one before.

Rode the crap out of it with ViperDad into WV. Found a few new roads that were fun. 510 miles, put my new Roadsmart 4’s to the test. Holy smoke! It’s like getting a new bike. Turns faster and easier than ever. Sticks like glue. I’m in love.

Got ViperDad to ride it to confirm it wasn’t my imagination. He confirmed my experience as well. So excited about those tires and the way my bike feels now.

Went for a short ride to enjoy some colors and breakin the new sneakers

Rode it. Horse show season duties are over for now, allowing me to get reaquinted with Vader. We rode to tech day and back.



and this happened.

Getting ready for Baker City meet. Panman and I leave Saturday, taking a few shortcuts via MT and WY to shorten the trip!

Flushed rear brake circuit, rewarded with a firm pedal. Packed a few tools to help stranded BMW riders encountered en route. Dusted cobwebs off saddle bags, installed those and finally...to give wheatie a stroke, sponge bath and spritz of spray polish.



Finished!!

~G


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BMW LOL!

George, it would give me a stroke if you didn't. Don't blame your cleanliness fetish on me! Lol

Had a set of RSlll rubber installed as the stock were to far gone for the trip to EOM. I should have them for next year's big trip to the west too. Also have a set of Road6 waiting...

Spininprop wrote: ↑Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:58 pm Had a set of RSlll rubber installed as the stock were to far gone for the trip to EOM. I should have them for next year's big trip to the west too. Have also have a set of Road6 waiting...

You should get a good feel for the difference between BT023GT and RS3. After that a comparison of RS3 to R6. A friend bought an early set of R5 not-GT for his FJR and they sucked. Wore fast and rode bad the last half of their life. He is a die-hard PR4 man now.