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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 08:19:18 PM

Title: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 08:19:18 PM
I just got a new rear tire put on because of my incident...

I know tires are slicker when new, but what's the rule of thumb for something like this?  How many miles?  How fast?
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: pandy on August 08, 2006, 08:37:30 PM
I've always heard gentle riding and taking curves gently for the first 100 miles (and this is what I've done).

Found a couple of things to back that up (Googled..sorry...too lazy to read the manual tonight  :laugh:):

How do I break-in my tires? (http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/maintaining.html)
    If you take aggressive turns on new tires, you may dump your bike. New tires may have sticky or slimy goo on them, either mold-release compound from the manufacturer to make sure the tire comes out of the mold, or lubricant to let the tire slip more easily onto the rim. (Tire manufacturers and installers deny that such materials exist.) In any case, new tires are smooth and have limited traction. Take turns gently, slowly increasing your angle of lean. Slowly is the key: You always want enough of the contact patch to be on the broken-in section that you don't lose it. Eventually your chicken-strips will disappear. YOU MUST RIDE TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR PROPER BREAK-IN!


Break-in Period (http://www.maxxis.com/Services/motorcycle_tire_school.asp)
In order for your new tire(s) to provide optimum performance, tires should be ridden very cautiously for the first 100 miles in order for the tread surface to be "Scuffed-In" and work properly. Directly after new tires are mounted, sudden acceleration, maximum braking, and hard cornering must be avoided. This will allow the rider to adjust to the feel and handling characteristics of the new tire and for the new tire to be "Scuffed-In" correctly in order to achieve optimum grip level. YOU MUST RIDE TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR PROPER BREAK-IN!
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 08:57:52 PM
So basically, I've got to "re-learn" how to ride in the next 11 days before my MSF ERC course.

That means riding to work EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

WOOOOOOOT!!!
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: pandy on August 08, 2006, 08:59:13 PM
Quote from: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 08:57:52 PM
That means riding to work EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! WOOOOOOOT!!!

This is a VERY important part of tire break-in!  :icon_mrgreen: :cheers: :thumb: :laugh:

In fact, I modified what I posted above since I'd forgotten this very-important part....  :cookoo: :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 09:09:24 PM
I'm just not sure where I'm gonna be able to gradually lean more and more...  I don't have any twisties near me...  Plus I don't have the time to just go out and ride.  Not anytime soon anyway
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: pandy on August 08, 2006, 09:15:55 PM
I'm betting you don't have to have twisties, per se. Do you have any cloverleaf on/offramps? Take the corners gently at first and then steadily lean a bit more, and take them a bit faster/harder? I'm sure others will chime in with more ideas.

I just break my tires in the way I normally ride, just taking it easy and being more cautious for the first 100 miles or so...  :cheers:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 09:16:50 PM
Well...  I guess my normal riding techniques involve running over potholes.
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: pandy on August 08, 2006, 09:58:06 PM
Duh! That's where you practice swerving! :laugh:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 08, 2006, 10:09:49 PM
This "swerving"...

What is it?  Does it cost money?  What kinda of mod is this?  I can't find anything when I search...
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: pantablo on August 08, 2006, 11:08:45 PM
ride it like you're riding in the rain for the first 100 miles. Depends on the tire though. On the pilot powers I have full lean within the first 5-10 miles of twisties (with about 25 mile freeway ride to get there). At the track they're scrunbbed in within a couple laps.
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 11, 2006, 12:02:53 AM
With riding to and from work in the last two days, I've gotten the first 80 miles out of the way.

WOOOT! :laugh:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: GSRider on August 11, 2006, 04:02:10 AM
I think it really depends on the tires you've fitted on the GS.

When I had Bridgestones, it would take a solid 100 miles ot get them completely scrubbed in.
Metzelers - about half the time.

The Pirelli's I have on now take me as long as it takes to get from the tire change shop to my home - which is about 5 miles. I just ride it the way I normally do, and take the cloverleafs. Not fast mind you, but I hang off the outside of the turn, and then the inside at a reasonable able-to-control-the-bike-if-it-gets-squirrelly speed. Even going down th estreet, I'll hang off the bike as far as I can go to scrub most of the tire in.

By the time I'm home, the tires are ready  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: Wrecent_Wryder on August 11, 2006, 04:16:49 AM
3d
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: flyingbeagle71 on August 11, 2006, 10:25:54 AM
I got new Avon's back in the spring.  Went over to the high school parking lot to practive emergency stops and ended up skidding the rear tire all over the place.  I think I had about 50 miles on them and they were slicker than snot.  I wouldn't recommend this break-in routine.  :nono:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: natedawg120 on August 11, 2006, 10:37:06 AM
i've always heard the "take it easy for the first 100 miles" as pandy has said before.  That is what i am going to stick to cause honestly i would rather be safe then road rashed. 
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: l3uddha on August 11, 2006, 10:59:25 AM
ummm..... nevermind  :thumb:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: scratch on August 11, 2006, 02:47:04 PM
MSF parking lot maneuvers.  25mph, 10-foot radius, 180 degree turns (okay, maybe 15mph).
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: annguyen1981 on August 11, 2006, 08:55:33 PM
I purchased the stock tire.  I know... I know...

I should have bought better tires, but I didn't wanna spend too much
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: GSRider on August 12, 2006, 04:21:21 AM
To say that spending the extra money on better tires is worth it, is a gross understatement.

:cheers:
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: Alphamazing on August 12, 2006, 04:22:05 AM
Quote from: annguyen1981 on August 11, 2006, 08:55:33 PM
I purchased the stock tire.  I know... I know...

I should have bought better tires, but I didn't wanna spend too much

Oh come on now...

Sport Demons - $163 shipped from Motorcycle Superstore.

I got my Pilot Powers for $234 shipped fomr MS too.
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: rangerbrown on August 12, 2006, 09:41:32 PM
my new set of bt-45 i washed with dish soap, anda brilo pad. then put them though a few heat cycles. wash them again, then ride the hell out of them.


my last tire (rear) i broke it in at deals gap
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: bettingpython on August 13, 2006, 07:34:31 AM
I just broke my new avons in this weekend. about 70 miles of easy highway riding some gentle sweepers on and off ramps stuff like that then we hit the twisties down by the lakes and I just progressively ran it harder and harder. I was running with one of the local track guys on his GSXR 750. Sweet ride and sweeter tires the Bridgestones never felt right to me. Just wish the temps would have been a little cooler. As far as stock tires I spent $135 on my tires from MAW and the guys I was riding with were running pilot powers on their gixxers. The GS kept up in the twisties, If it's never gonna go on a track why spend mad money on tires that wear faster, if you ride something as hard on the street as you do on the track you have no business on the street. No tires I have ever run on the street have had the chicken strip completely gone racing is for the track keep yourself within your comfort zone on the streets.
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: Kasumi on August 13, 2006, 01:59:21 PM
Find a deserted parking lot and just go around and around one way leaning further over and turning harder. Then do it in reverse, a few laps and they will be scuffed in. I personally just ride like i normally do having the cautions thought in the back of my mind that i am on new tyres.

As far as scuffing in new items, a friend at my dads work was caught scraping a set of knee sliders on his driveway so it looked as though he could get his knee down. He road an R1 which had a larger chicken strip than a goldwing with panniers on.
Title: Re: After getting new tires, what do you do?
Post by: bettingpython on August 13, 2006, 06:28:03 PM
Quote from: Kasumi on August 13, 2006, 01:59:21 PM
Find a deserted parking lot and just go around and around one way leaning further over and turning harder. Then do it in reverse, a few laps and they will be scuffed in. I personally just ride like i normally do having the cautions thought in the back of my mind that i am on new tyres.

As far as scuffing in new items, a friend at my dads work was caught scraping a set of knee sliders on his driveway so it looked as though he could get his knee down. He road an R1 which had a larger chicken strip than a goldwing with panniers on.

I used to ride a GL1100, pipes and pegs scraped on it when I needed it to turn and turn fast. The bike don't matter it's the ability of the rider.