Tires

[Wes Thompson]

G"Day group. I have a testimonial for Dunlop 491 tires. I was almost home tonight with my 9 yo son. It was raining and the road was slick as *(*)&_. 2 pickups pulled out in front of me. I was flashing the hi beams and they saw me. Stilled pulled lefties. I ride a 79 Special with Dunlop K491's. The tires enabled me to perform an evasive maneuver at almost 50 mph and avoid a t-bone crash. I wont ride on anything else ever again. My son is alive and unhurt. And me too as far as that goes. Oh yeah. The road surface was slick pol;ished asphalt. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. maybe someone likes me a little.
Just food for thought.
Wes Thompson
79 XS11 Special

[skids]

Way to pull it off! Maybe your son provided just enough weight to help out the friction! You owe him a treat! :-)

[Pain]

I just put the Dunlop 501GT's on my XS rear wheel. Also great in all road conditions, maybe better then the michilin I had before. In spring, when the front get a new tire I am thinking it will get the same thing.

-Pain

[sixtysix]

I used and recommended the K491 for all types of riding, even twisties. They just work great. Glad you guys are OK.

[Pat Kelly]

I had Pirelli's on my bike from when I got it running. They worked just fine. Replaced the rear this last spring with a 491 and am very happy with it. Just got the front 491 yesterday to replace the Pirelli and it's going on Monday.
I'm having the shop do the mounting and balancing (I'm taking them the wheel), guess I'm getting lazy. I've always done it myself in the past. You know I'll look it over good before I leave the shop.
New (sealed) battery went in last night. Again replacing the original from getting the bike running (3 years already!!). Rear MC kit on the way along with the tapered headset bearing conversion (anyone done this?). Also ordered something else but I forgot what, guess I'll find out when it gets here.
I heard that memory is the 2nd thing to go when you get old. I forgot what the 1st thing was.

[John]

I too only use The 491 Elite II's That's the only tire for my bike for the last 13 years.

[Wes Thompson]

Tires

I almost forgot. Danny Meyer has reminded all of us about counter steering. Not a bad thing to keep in mind. At the time the only thing I could think of was my son getting hurt. I just did what the rider safety instructers and all of you here have taught me over the years. It was also unacceptable to crash a really great bike.
Thanks again.
Wes Thompson
79 XS1100 Special

[rover]

Wes, glad it worked out OK. I have always bought 491's except once. I was ready for a week vacation, saw that I needed a rear tire, only one available quick enough was a Chen Sing. Wore it out on the trip. About two months ago, I bought a back rim with an almost new Dunlop 404 on it, and am running it now. I can easily break it loose with what was normal for a 491. I will stick with 491, maybe I won't even wear out the 404. I love to come out of turns under power, and I can break the 404 loose in third gear. Scares me.

[nashville_bill]

Metzeler ME880

Glad to hear that your Dunlops worked well for you. I've just put Metzeler ME880s on my bike and I am really happy with the way my bike handles now. It had developed a hinge in the middle and it's rock solid stable now. I haven't tried it in the rain yet, but I'm sure I will sooner or later.

[brock]

that's good advice on the counter stearing. I dont know how i never learned it, but i read it here, and tried it out on a long ride last weekend. if you get good at it, it'll save you on a last second evasive turn.

i'm still practicing, and i get confused about pull right to turn left. but i'll be damned, it works great.

what is the physics behind that, anyway? i figure it's called counter stearing cause it's counter intuitive.

[pgg]

Counter steering doesn't do much for me. Instinct takes over in a prang. Locking up the rear brake is the worst thing to do when crashing. I'd try and concentrate more on front braking - seems like everyone's dodging things on the road. You have to be travelling at warp speed to get any benifit from counter steering.

[jetmechmarty]

You have to be travelling at warp speed to get any benifit from counter steering.

I suggest you practice it a lot in case you need it! I don't ever want to here about you eating your words.

[Upright]

Glad to hear things worked out okay for you guys! And thanks for the testimonial regarding the 491's. I'll be shopping for new shoes soon.

[brock]

i disagree about "you have to be traveling at warp speed." anything out of 1st gear i'm using counter stearing alot now. i cant believe you dont get any result from it.

when heading strait down the road (with no cars around) at a constant speed, give a tiny pull toward yourself on the right side handlebar. the bike'll make a noticable swing left (pay attention, cause it's gonna do it, and it does it in the opposite direction you think it will).

i cant help think that if you dont see any movement, you are doing it wrong. Or maybe I'm calling it the wrong thing, but i just learned about it, and its a great little trick.

[nashville_bill]

My brother in law said it didn't work for him, but he was pushing down instead of forward. If you push forward, it will turn the bike very easily, even at speed where these bikes are hard to turn.