Recent rear 150/70-13 rear tire experience

Took off Metzeler Feel Free 150/70-13 @6300 miles, plenty of rubber left but had worn soo square handling was seriously bothered, climbed in ruts, made steady long sweeping corners hard-----I don't like "rear Wheel steering" on a bike, Replaced with Michelin Power Pure SC of same size, previous SC yielded over 11,000 miles of wearing round and no handling bothers AND Michelin $35 cheaper than Metzeler!! Tire experience here on my Burgman 400-----the tires are/were on Burgman 400,2011, leftover ABS .... Based on SilverWing ownership tire performance should be same on both bikes.

Additional---I usually do all own tire work......had Metzeler put on by shop in NEB---in idle of trip to BC they screwed up/cocked brake pads---causing me to replace pads yesterday and disk is not in good shape.... but will/should work until trade time in March. Bike has 33,000 miles, but leaving for San Diego in AM. 2600 miles each way

I use Ride On as balance medium and it seems to work well.

How you going on looking for a new bike John? Have you seen the Kymco 700? A very good report with pictures, done in America. www.justgottascoot.com/myroad.htm.

I put the Michelin Power Pure SC around 2,000 miles ago. It performs well. No slippage on wet roads. I picked up a dry wall screw about 1,000 miles ago. I plugged the tire and it is still going strong.

Yes I have looked at Kymco-----they are tuff and parts are cheaper than the Japanese brands or BMW.

But my $$ I want something that is almost turn-key=buy it ride it. What I am try to avoid in next new scooter is spending time making it to be comfortable ( buffet free!)

I can buy a leftover,fresh SilverWing, Black in Chattanooga spend for Givi carrier/Givi adjustable windshield, come up with some windguards and Baker Air Wings and have a really comfortable/reliable ride----don't like working on it, be doable. Only draw back is 15-20,000 drive belt changes and associated expense. Also both SilverWing and Burgman 400 can have the same jerky power delivery----my take belt/rubber band probably works better in 125 or at most 250 (had 4 Helix).

I have test ridden BMW scooter=highprice, Kymco heart---as BMW owner since 1958, it would mean putting up with their attitude and blaming every thing on customer. Power shield nice.

Burgman 650 nice,discounts in winter, dealers just want to get them out the door. Bought new, cared for IAW Suzuki shop book, I foresee 50,000 miles at least of trouble free riding. Again power shield nice. Their transmission problems are often in people's minds----buy used, not knowing maint. history and then not being able to pay for proper repairs----Just left Suzuki shop in Dalton GA this AM---they have sold a lot of Burgmans----Mech. told me they have one customer with over 100,000 miles and did on another change belt at 48,000 miles (owner abuse, used junk??)
Age-75 in May/liking dry feet will keep me on scooters until I croak---I still have one registered motorcycle, too, but hate open chain and no centerstand, bottom line always dreaming and thinking about next bike=fun. I have purchased over 75 new since 1955.

john grinsel wrote:

Also both SilverWing and Burgman 400 can have the same jerky power delivery----my take belt/rubber band probably works better in 125 or at most 250 (had 4 Helix).

A set of Dr. Pulley variator sliders in 24 gr, 26 gr, or 28 gr weights will smooth out the belt slap and low rpm acceleration vibrations. Pick the weight set depending on your acceleration requirements. The lower the weight, the stronger the acceleration. Your highway cruising rpm will also be lowered by about 500. It's a no brainer for a lot of us, and likely the best $60 you ever spent on a Silverwing. If you can change a drive belt yourself, you can easily install the sliders.

I agree about the 2013 Burgy 650. With their recent mechanical and drivetrain upgrades, it would be my choice if I wanted a new large scooter.

My take on clutches/rollers on rubber band drive scooters.....and I have over 300,000 miles on them since 1990---just leave them alone, use OEM parts, want better/difference performance.....buy a different bike! Nice if you have trouble underway easy for dealer to deal with ordering OEM replacement parts, etc.----my scooter this year has been to Key West, Quebec, BC----no drive line troubles BUT if problem Suzuki dealer could have dealt same with same too for Honda.

UPDATE on tire/ wheel-----I carried new spare tire with me had ATV shop as they had tire buck change tire in Neb----they got brake pads in cocked, causing me to replace pads at 33,000 miles---non OEM which all dealer had----aftermarket are thicker than stock, causing some drag and warm up of disk until worn down----sanded, etc. Prefer to do everything right myself.

But you need the Hyper-Pro fork springs for "blasting through the twisties", a load of Dr Pulley stuff, to get a bit more poke away from the lights, a Power Commander, the HIT clutch, fancy rear shocks, maybe an imported exhaust system, the seat's no good so buy a Russell or Corbin seat and a back rest while you're at at it. A headlight modulator and a fancy rear light set up because you have to be seen, and then by the time you've got all this junk fitted the "riding season" is over.

Never mind there's now 5 or 6 months to look online for more unnecessary junk to fit next year.

I agree with Mr Grinsel basic is best.

Meldrew wrote:

But you need the Hyper-Pro fork springs for "blasting through the twisties", a load of Dr Pulley stuff, to get a bit more poke away from the lights, a Power Commander, the HIT clutch, fancy rear shocks, maybe an imported exhaust system, the seat's no good so buy a Russell or Corbin seat and a back rest while you're at at it. A headlight modulator and a fancy rear light set up because you have to be seen, and then by the time you've got all this junk fitted the "riding season" is over.

Never mind there's now 5 or 6 months to look online for more unnecessary junk to fit next year.

I agree with Mr Grinsel basic is best.

One person's junk is another person's treasure. I love my junk. So does my wife. :lol!: 

Hi bigbird, Mrs M's gone all Canadian lately, she's started buying bagged milk!

I would agree to a certain extent, Meldrew but, the Dr pulley sliders give that extra push sometimes needed when the unexpected happens, and the "Butt to Backrest" has made a big difference with my back problems. As you know, the Givi Airflow screen is a huge improvement on the stock screen. The other things like a stronger, wider opening, seat strut and fitting a topbox are little things that matter to some people, and as you and i know, WE don't have a riding season.  

No one has to be right. Only true to their own convictions. Stock power seems to be good enough for me but I would enjoy trying someone's bike with those improved rollers.

If I was touring on my Silverwing, I would pull my trailer and haul spare rollers, belts and some tools to do the job..... as well as the creature comforts I require to enjoy myself while camping on the road. Next season, I will get some moto-camping experience with the Silverwing.

If I was doing a long distance tour, I would probably leave home with a freshly mounted 40,000 mile rear tire.

lalee wrote:

 

If I was doing a long distance tour, I would probably leave home with a freshly mounted 40,000 mile rear tire.  

What tire/tyre would that be?  

Hi Yo wrote:

lalee wrote:

 

If I was doing a long distance tour, I would probably leave home with a freshly mounted 40,000 mile rear tire.  

  What tire/tyre would that be?     

Don't ask. You know there's only one answer to that question, and it will cause a firestorm of debate.

lalee wrote:

If I was touring on my Silverwing, I would pull my trailer and haul spare rollers, belts and some tools to do the job..... as well as the creature comforts I require to enjoy myself while camping on the road.  Next season, I will get some moto-camping experience with the Silverwing.

Why would you take spare rollers, belts, and tools to do the job with you?  It's the same principle as tyres here, if it needs changing get it done before you leave home. As for hauling a trailer full of creature comforts along, that's fine if you if you like camping but there's all the creature comforts you need in the tens of thousands of B&B’s, hotels, and motels that are just off the road in your country.

When I was in the Southwest with Mrs M earlier this year we stayed in a variety of memorable accommodation, from the hotel in Phoenix where we stayed our first and last nights, the cabin in a canyon just outside Sedona where hummingbirds fed at feeders attached to the windows, the Zeppelin hanger of a room we had in Las Vegas, a couple old style motels near the Grand Canyon and in Page AZ that feature in countless movies, the B&B near Zion Canyon where we got the occasional static shock off the carpets, to the beautifully restored old railroad hotel in Winslow AZ, where mile long trains went past the windows

Memories of campsites are usually confined to the state of the bathrooms/toilets, and who'd really want to be sleeping in a tent in the summer heat of Arizona, or elsewhere in the US if you have to haul your food high up in a tree to keep bears away.  

The original poster spoke of a Michelin Power Pure SC tire, so I commented on my use and my reasoning for that tire selection.

I put a Michelin Power Pure SC on my Swing in August of this year as the Swing has been my local puddle jumper. I had a Goldwing and a Cruiser for long distance rides and moto-camping.

I sold the Goldwing and as yet, I have not bought an 1800 Goldwing. I am debating my motorcycling future and I am not convinced that I will be doing many more long distance solo tours. Hence, I probably won't be buying an 1800 Goldwing. So the Swing might become my occasional long distance touring motorcycle. It certainly is capable and I have a hitch on mine.

If my plans were to take a 10,000 mile motorcycle tour, I would leave home with a tire that I would be sure that could go that distance and more.

I would prefer a run flat tire and use my tire pressure monitoring system to keep informed as to what is going on with the tire pressure and if my tire pressure started to decline, the run flat would keep my bike upright until I could safely stop.

Thank you for your interest in my thinking. If anyone has a question for me, please don't hesitate to send a PM.

Meldrew wrote:

lalee wrote:

If I was touring on my Silverwing, I would pull my trailer and haul spare rollers, belts and some tools to do the job..... as well as the creature comforts I require to enjoy myself while camping on the road.  Next season, I will get some moto-camping experience with the Silverwing.

Why would you take spare rollers, belts, and tools to do the job with you?  It's the same principle as tyres here, if it needs changing get it done before you leave home. As for hauling a trailer full of creature comforts along, that's fine if you if you like camping but there's all the creature comforts you need in the tens of thousands of B&B’s, hotels, and motels that are just off the road in your country.

When I was in the Southwest with Mrs M earlier this year we stayed in a variety of memorable accommodation, from the hotel in Phoenix where we stayed our first and last nights, the cabin in a canyon just outside Sedona where hummingbirds fed at feeders attached to the windows, the Zeppelin hanger of a room we had in Las Vegas, a couple old style motels near the Grand Canyon and in Page AZ that feature in countless movies, the B&B near Zion Canyon where we got the occasional static shock off the carpets, to the beautifully restored old railroad hotel in Winslow AZ, where mile long trains went past the windows

Memories of campsites are usually confined to the state of the bathrooms/toilets, and who'd really want to be sleeping in a tent in the summer heat of Arizona, or elsewhere in the US if you have to haul your food high up in a tree to keep bears away.  

Thank you for sharing your opinion.  I would buy the replacement rollers and most of the tools needed for that repair would be already included in my packing plans.  Especially if I was leaving on a 10,000 mile trip today.  My bike has 10,500 on it.  I would want belt and a set of rollers in my trailer.  I am gonna buy a set of them soon enough anyway, why not have them along?  

I have camped all my life.  When I traveled to Hawaii, I stayed in a condo.  When I rode my Goldwing to Phoenix a few years ago in March, we camped some but 75% of the time we stayed in motels or with friends.

Last year, on my trip to Zion, the Grand Canyon and other points of interest we camped at Zion for 3 nights and the Grand Canyon for 4 nights.  Then we stayed with friends in Phoenix for 3 nights.  

I prefer talking to other campers in the camp grounds than sitting in a square box watching tv and sleeping on other people's bedding.  I like setting and breaking camp, cooking meals and enjoying the sunset rather than the air conditioning of a hotel room.  I am a moto-camper.  I also have been a pickup truck camper, a motorhome and various other RV type of things.  I prefer tent camping now.  I use a motorcycle to travel and I prefer to camp when I travel, so I make accommodations for it.  

On some weekend trips, I make room for my inflatable kayak and even some fishing equipment.  

The original poster posted about tires, but I was asked.  I apologize to anyone who had no interest in anything other than the original tire question.  

If anyone has a question for me, please don't hesitate to send a PM.

A couple of questions, given your dislike of sleeping on other peoples bedding, do you take your own bedding along when you stay in motels? Of course you don't and neither do you when you stay with friends without the risk of offending them.

I take it you're not retired, so how much leave or holidays do you have to take to fit in a 10,000 mile trip? Before I retired I worked 21 days out of a 28 day monthly shift cycle then had 10 days off, plus I had 22 days annual leave and could carry over a maximum of 10 days unused leave. So even allowing for my generous time off work back then which allowed me to do regular Euro trips before ferries started changing their highest rates, I'd have had to think carefully about planning a 10,000 mile trip.

So your 10,000 mile trip doing 500 miles a day would be a 3 week job, and averaging 50mph you'd be riding 10 hours a day, add in all the faffing about with camping gear, fuel, food, and comfort breaks, you haven't really got much time to do anything else.  

Meldrew wrote:

A couple of questions, given your dislike of sleeping on other peoples bedding, do you take your own bedding along when you stay in motels? Of course you don't and neither do you when you stay with friends without the risk of offending them.

I take it you're not retired, so how much leave or holidays do you have to take to fit in a 10,000 mile trip? Before I retired I worked 21 days out of a 28 day monthly shift cycle then had 10 days off, plus I had 22 days annual leave and could carry over a maximum of 10 days unused leave. So even allowing for my generous time off work back then, I'd have have to think carefully about planning a 10,000 mile trip.

So your 10,000 mile trip doing 500 miles a day would be a 3 week job, and averaging 50mph you'd be riding 10 hours a day, add in all the faffing about with camping gear, fuel, food, and comfort breaks, you haven't really got much time to do anything else.  

I have been retired from full time employment since 2010 at 57 years old.  I still manage some rentals, but I can safely travel 24 days a month.  This year, I moto camped a mere 16 days as we had some illness to contend with.  

We are leaving for the San Diego area and then Phoenix on or about the 17th of December and will be returning on Jan. 3rd.  We will travel down to the San Diego area in our van, trailering my SWing.  Our plan is to leave the van at our camp site and tour the areas with the Swing.

We can set up camp in 30 minutes, break camp about the same.  We enjoy cooking our own food and sleeping in our own bed.  We have great cots and cot pads so the comfort is great.  I make great coffee and breakfast is much better than the motel free donut.  On travel days, we do treat ourselves with making sandwiches for lunch before leaving camp, but we stop for breakfast and use some internet.  

Here is a photo of our campsite on 3 night trip last summer:



Also, I might add that I belong the the GWRRA.  Goldwing Road Riders Association.  They send out a "Gold Book" every year to all members and it lists members who are available to assist with camping space, trailer and tool help or local guide service in their area, because some want to host other members traveling.  I have been hosted by many and hosted some.  Dan from Texas, a member of this forum stayed with me last summer and we toured the North Cascades National Park on a 450 mile day ride.  If anyone from this forum comes up this way, I would love to meet for a cup of coffee.

I am not going to post any more on this thread.  No sense hijacking a thread.  

If anyone wishes to chat with me about how's and why's of motorcycling, please don't hesitate to send me a PM.

Funny....lots of talk about camping and then I find out"trailer biker" Ride it is better.

john grinsel wrote:

Funny....lots of talk about camping and then I find out"trailer  biker"    Ride it is better.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We will be in sunny San Diego for Christmas and in Phoenix for New Year!

Gentlemen, can we stop pulling each other's string. I'm detecting a note of sourness creeping into some of the above posts.