Check out a co-workers back tire!
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MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,213
From: Gettysburg, Pa
Check out a co-workers back tire!
A guy I work with noticed his tire after a 200 mile ride this past weekend. He weighs over 350 and his wife was on the back. It's a Kawi Vulcan.
Thankfully he didn't ride it home. It was low on air and we told him it would probably pop if he tried to put more air in it. I just don't see how you can overlook something like this!! Dayum. My guess is he ran it low on pressure and it overheated causing the separation around the grooves. He says it only had about 10k miles on it.
Thankfully he didn't ride it home. It was low on air and we told him it would probably pop if he tried to put more air in it. I just don't see how you can overlook something like this!! Dayum. My guess is he ran it low on pressure and it overheated causing the separation around the grooves. He says it only had about 10k miles on it.
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SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
my buddy's was worse than that. I don't have a pic of it though. When on our trip last month, on the last day, someone noticed the problem. He had three spots on the tire (square in the middle) that were even worse than that.
These pictures were the solution. We were about 2.5 hours from home. His was the BMW K1200LT. Another buddy's HD seemed to want to ride in the trailer as well for some reason. LOL
These pictures were the solution. We were about 2.5 hours from home. His was the BMW K1200LT. Another buddy's HD seemed to want to ride in the trailer as well for some reason. LOL
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SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
the way that thing looks I'd be suspicious of an alignment problem. Since it's shaft drive, there's no adjustment, so that would only leave the possibility of something bent or installed wrong. has this bike been down before? I used to own one, but I NEVER had a wear pattern like that. 
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Squid
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 56
From: St Johnsbury VT
im a tech at honda shop you would be surpised and maybe a bit horrified to see what people will do. had a guy bring his GW 1800 in on a trailer because he had no rear tire left, just the side walls. the tread was gone, not just worn off but the entire tread portion of the tire was missing. he said it happend when pulling a trailer. with him and his wife on the bike.
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Back Marker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 139
From: Australia
I am probably a little bit toooo vocal on this issue,, however if is see KOKheads who run tyres like this, and share the same road as my family does, I do warn them that I really dont give a *** if it blows and they break their pathetic little necks, but GOD help them if by chance they cant stop, or it blows causing and accident that would involve one of my family members. Then they would pray that they should have replace it when it was due!!!
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Back Marker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 139
From: Australia
the way that thing looks I'd be suspicious of an alignment problem. Since it's shaft drive, there's no adjustment, so that would only leave the possibility of something bent or installed wrong. has this bike been down before? I used to own one, but I NEVER had a wear pattern like that.
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Back Marker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 139
From: Australia
on a side note............ It is fairly obvious these Idiots do not even check their tyre pressure on a regular basis... Tell them to sell their bikes, and buy a bus pass and do us genuine bike enthusiasts a big favor!
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
Riding on nothing but straight roads will too, see it all the time in south Fla. All the roads are crowned, (some more than other), to get rid of water so if you're always going straight you're always leaning left to stay straight.
Seeing that's in Pa. I doubt that was the cause unless it was all highway miles.
Seeing that's in Pa. I doubt that was the cause unless it was all highway miles.
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Squid
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 31
Amen to that. but i now cant help to feal a little over cautious when i check wear and pressure befor every ride as the bike is warming
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MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,213
From: Gettysburg, Pa
Riding on nothing but straight roads will too, see it all the time in south Fla. All the roads are crowned, (some more than other), to get rid of water so if you're always going straight you're always leaning left to stay straight.
Seeing that's in Pa. I doubt that was the cause unless it was all highway miles.
Seeing that's in Pa. I doubt that was the cause unless it was all highway miles.
+1. Most all my tires (in 20 some years riding) wear more on the left side.
Couldn't agree more. If he checked the pressure ONCE this year he probably would have noticed something! I certainly don't do it every ride, but several times a season.
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SuperSport
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
From: Asheville, North Carolina
I work at dealership/ in the service dept. And it is posted on the wall in the shop "Stupid Hurts". Last month, A rider came in from the highway(from NJ) to buy a rear tire, when I went to check the bike in for service- THERE was black duct tape wrapped three layer around, with the metal cord sticking thru the tape...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 31
most people "feal" safer turning left as well. its been a problem with getting/teaching my mates to try knee downs. left they find easyer then right. i have always put to down to the throttle being on the right side but thats just a guess
medium fast guy
Back Marker
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 212
From: western MI, rust & pot hole capital of the world
The secret to using duct tape, is not to use too many wraps. Two are OK, 3 or more, and it heats up and starts to move around on the tire. This is an old trick of the long distance guys, an emergency fix to get to a service stop or home at the end of a trip. Can be good for a 100 miles or so....
I work at dealership/ in the service dept. And it is posted on the wall in the shop "Stupid Hurts". Last month, A rider came in from the highway(from NJ) to buy a rear tire, when I went to check the bike in for service- THERE was black duct tape wrapped three layer around, with the metal cord sticking thru the tape...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
these bikes don't have that kind of torque though. On a dyno, mine was about 55 HP and 60 ft lb of torque. In fact, here's the chart. 
BikePics - 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
BikePics - 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
I work at dealership/ in the service dept. And it is posted on the wall in the shop "Stupid Hurts". Last month, A rider came in from the highway(from NJ) to buy a rear tire, when I went to check the bike in for service- THERE was black duct tape wrapped three layer around, with the metal cord sticking thru the tape...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
Got to talking with the guy, 60 miles he had ridden on that .....
Sorry i should start take photos...
The secret to using duct tape, is not to use too many wraps. Two are OK, 3 or more, and it heats up and starts to move around on the tire. This is an old trick of the long distance guys, an emergency fix to get to a service stop or home at the end of a trip. Can be good for a 100 miles or so....
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