New Tires

[Cobia]

No, this is not a what tire is better than the other thread. I needed tires and based on informed opinions I ordered the Kinko 712 for the rear, and since I don't like a front tire with a grove down the middle I ordered the 733 for $8.00more because it has the interlocking squares accross the face.
But where I'm going with this is to note what a difference experience makes.
BikerPhil offered to come up and help me put them on. As it turned out HE put them on and I was just handing him tools and assisting. Long story short, in 1.5hrs we had both tires balanced and installed on the bike and were ready to ride.... Whew !!! Thanks Phil.
It was like watching one of those master chefs at a japanese steakhouse...LOL!!
Bike rides like a dream now.
BTW- I bought Kendas the last time, and although they lasted about 5k miles, both tires needed to be replaced. What motivated me was that after our last ride, 135mi approximately, Phil noticed that the cords were showing on the rear tire !!!!
When we took them off the rear was slightly thicker that 4 condoms, and the front was very soft and pliable. No wonder the bike was wondering all over the road....
The sidewalls on the Kinkos seem very rigid and stable, we'll see how they play out. Regardless....
Thank a bunch Phil.

[bikerphil]

Hey, no problem Robert, glad you are safely cruising again. I like the Stinkos too, they seem plenty sticky and seem to have decent longevity. We installed them so fast due to that high test pot of coffee you made.

[trbig]

The groove down the center helps a BUNCH in the rain, but if you don't ride in the rain...

And it's a Shinko, not a Kinko.

[fredintoon]

The groove down the center helps a BUNCH in the rain, but if you don't ride in the rain...

Hi Tod,
and there's folks who ride fenderless because they "don't ride in the rain"
But whatcha gonna do if it starts raining while you are out?
Lurk under a bridge until the rain stops and the streets dry off?

[trbig]

Other tires aren't worthless in the rain, (Unless they're bald) you can still use them, it's just that some are better than others in this instance.

[xs11jack]

I just gotta ask, how many of you out there keep a bunch of condoms laying around your garage to measure thickness with??????? I, for one don't. I use flatened K-Y jelly tubes!!
Ole "slick" Jack

[GLoweVA]

Tire changing experience is the key!

I took my tires/rims over to TC's and we had them both swapped out and ballance in about 1.5 hrs too. It helps to have knowledge and decent tools (like a compressor and a valve removal tool) to get the job done quickly and correctly.
Thanks again TC. They ride like a dream on my SG.

It sure is nice to have local XSives in the area that like to help.


Also, I bought the Shinkos, because the price and my rear on my G got almost 10K out of it (in 7months) with a few more miles to go before it starts balding.

[Crusty Snippets]

Grooves

Well my Yami front wheel wonders all over the place, when almost stopped, when just taking off, and when going around corners. The front tyre has a groove down the middle. In the rain most of the squiggle comes from the back end. I attribute that mostly to the total weight of Yami.
My Suzuki is much better to ride in the rain, but then it is much newer with excellent suspension, and tyres with no center groove.
My plan is to change the front tyre on Yami for a non center groove. Would probably but on a slightly wider tyre if there was room.
I also have a new set of steering head bearings to install.
Unkle Crusty, riding in the pissing rain often.

[Crusty Snippets]

Grooves

Bike rides like a dream now.

Thank a bunch Phil.

Would you care to elaborate on your rides like a dream statement.
What was it like before compared to how it is now.
I am having wiggle problems with my Yami.

Unkle Crusty

[trbig]

Check your swing arm adjustment and wheel bearings. Some tires follow grooves in the road worse than others, but a wiggly feeling isn't going to be caused by a grooved tire.. or non-grooved tire.

[DGXSER]

I also have a new set of steering head bearings to install.

Might have something to do with it.

[BA80]

+1 on both trbig and DGXSER's posts. Loose swing arm pivots or sticky steering head bearings will cause what you are experiencing.

Also, as your rear tire wears and gets a flatter surface in the center it will tend to follow grooves in the pavement more.

[Crusty Snippets]

Wiggle

+1 on both trbig and DGXSER's posts. Loose swing arm pivots or sticky steering head bearings will cause what you are experiencing.

Also, as your rear tire wears and gets a flatter surface in the center it will tend to follow grooves in the pavement more.

I will study the swing arm in greater detail when I change the rear shocks soon.
Inspection so far seems to be okay.
The steering head did have a tight spot which has been adjusted out. There is likely some residual damage, hence the new bearings to be installed.
Rear tyre is fairly new, front tyre is also okay.
The wiggle is likely a combination of a few small things. But I am still not crazy about the front tyre. All will be fixed in time.
Thank you all for the input.
I should add that Yami is my main means of transport, so can not be laid up for very long.
When I switch bikes in the spring I can spend more time working on him.
Unkle Crusty

[BA80]

It doesn't take much slack in those swingarm bearings to make it feel squirly the same with the steering head bearings, just a lttle flat spot in roller will make the front end feel wobbly.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Crusty,

I would highly suspect the steering head bearings, you said you found them to be a little too tight and adjusted them, but If you didn't actually take the neck apart and clean and regrease/repack the bearings, then you are probably still experiencing old dried/caked grease, as well as possibly dimples/notches in the head bearing races that will prevent the steering to be able to be as loose as it needs to be, and so will seem like it's constantly oversteering and WANDERING all over, poor handling/stability especially at lower speeds.

You don't need to take out the races, the lower bearing will come out with the lower triple tree assembly, the upper after the top TT is removed....best/easiest to take the front wheel off first to release/remove the weight/stress....then jack/prop up the front of the engine/frame so the forks are not making contact with the ground. Take off the top TT, pull the forks/lower TT down/out, then you can inpect, clean and repack the bearings....will also allow you to at least inspect the races for notches, so then you'll know if you will need to plan on replacing them in the future. But cleaning/repacking the bearings will make a big difference alone, even if you do have some notching!

Grease is cheaper than tires, would suggest doing this FIRST, and then see how it behaves, may not be the tires at all!

T.C.