120/60 and 140/60 tires, another adventure!

[Dr.Sparkie]

so i got my shinko podium 006's and i took them to my local tire shop here in brampton. i paid $160 CAD to get them to remove the wheels, mount and balance the tires, and reinstall the wheels.

i know that is exorbant, but i didnt have time to go anywhere else, as I was picking up my GF from the airport that day, and very busy for the rest of the week. I also wanted the tires done right awya, whch was my downfall.

So the guy who mounted the tire was a farkin' butcher, tore up the sidewall on the front tire just enough so that when i took the bike over 60km/h (30 to 40 ish for you imperialists, god save the queen!) all the air would blow out. below 60 the air would stay in, and below 40 psi the air would stay in. I figured this out on the sweeping onramp from the 427 to the gardiner, when my bike (which had been pulling to the left hard, and making me regret the tire purchase) WOULDNT TURN. i had to take the ramp so slow i felt like a motorcycle virgin again.

On the way home I aired up the tire (twice, still trying to find the "speed limit" at which it held air) and rode all the way from toronto to brampton at 40 kilometers an hour. I was angry.

then my local bike shop tells me that "the tire is poop, and there's no warranty because you didnt buy it from me", then tells me that the tire is discontinued, and tries to sell me a $170 maxxis. I take my tire and walk out, 160$ poorer.

today I finally get the time to visit a guy I can trust, Joe at West end cycle in caledon. he hears my story, looks at the tire, and get this, tries to make it right. my local shop was only interested in selling me a new tire, but joe went ahead and tried to fix it. half an hour later (we were taking it easy) my tire holds air, and as such is not poop, and does not need to be replaced by a tire that costs three times as much. and joe did it all for 20$

moral of the story, I will never go to that shop again. twice they have screwed me, they've shafted my friends, and i hope they all die in traffic.

now on to the tires. the shinkos are sticky. the 140/60 clears the chain and torque arm with no issues, the 120/60 fits nicely up front in my honda forks.. good luck with your suzukis.
the sidewalls are super short, and the front tire was a bit tight during mounting (Joe did it carefully, and stopped when the tire squeaked for mercy) the speedo is probably waaay out.
the most important thing is that with the shorter tire up front, the trail has been reduced, and the bike is now telepathic. i no longer have to push to steer, i only think about steering, and the bike turns. I could fart left and the bike would turn in from the propulsive effect

I would love for someone else to ride the bike and tell me if i've ruined it.. personally i like it, and i've hit lower lean angles with these tires simply from the confidence they inspire. i would not reccommend them for a beginner because of the twitchier steering, and the completly knackered speedo.

more feedback to come after a few more kilometers of riding.

[joshr08]

your front tires actually a bit taller then stock and actually corrected the originallly way off speedo a bit.

[The Buddha]

so i got my shinko podium 006's and i took them to my local tire shop here in brampton. i paid $160 CAD to get them to remove the wheels, mount and balance the tires, and reinstall the wheels.

Oh wait ... brampton ... there is a bike shop in brampton ... Back in 99 there was one on steeles ~2-3 miles east of brampton ... I thought all the cycle world and other BS shops went DOA a couple years ago from all you ontarians comming over the border to buy the bikes ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[Dr.Sparkie]

your front tires actually a bit taller then stock and actually corrected the originallly way off speedo a bit.

really? by a sidewall calculation ive lost 5mm of radius (120*.6 =72 110*.7=77) but i doubt that compensates for mounting the 120/60 on a 2.5" wheel. i meant to tape measure both wheels, but now the old front isnt mounted, so i'll get around to the new sometime and maybe gsjack has taken some measurements?

and buddha: cycle world tanked when honda consolidated their bike sales with their dealership network. that was the straw that broke the camels back. that bike shop by steeles is still there.... i wish it werent. alot of local bike shops have gone under, and now in the GTA there's only a bunch of yuppie shops that'll mount new tires on your harley for a million and a half dollars. it sucks because now the only mechanic i can trust is 50km away, and though its a nice ride to caledon, if I need a farkin mechanic there's no way i could ride there.

but yah, those tires are pretty sweet. im gonna go do the oil now, and maybe go for a little bomb about town.