Triumphrat

Psychlopath · 07-16-2006

I JUST got my bike back yesterday after so long having her at the shop..After a wreck..

Anyhow.

I know that after my wreck, I'm a little more timid with the bike, but it seems like when I go around corners now at a moderate speed, I can feel the back just start to slide...a hair. Like it wants to wash out but I'm just not turning sharp enough. Maybe it's imagination, but I'm curious...can these tires polish??

I slid a good ways on the rear wheel and locked up about 2x before I wrecked...would that have polished it and made it slick?? It's just a stock tire, so maybe I'm expecting too much..Maybe I'm just seeing things..

Bonafide · 07-17-2006

Tires are cheap enough that why not just replace your stocker and see if it helps?

bgaz · 07-17-2006

No, you wont do anything to the tire, but:

Did they put any stuff on the tire to make it look shiny?
That is the stupidest thing one can do, put what acts like oil on a tire to make it look nice. My bike had it on when I picked it up, what madness!

Bent rim? That might cause an odd feeling....

Rear wheel alignment?
That would also cause an odd feel.

Tire pressures...make sure its right....

Brett

Silverado57 · 07-17-2006

This might sound weird, but if I accidentally leave the rear shocks adjusted to the highest load setting, sometimes the back wheel feels just a little bit "loose" - to use a NASCAR term. Maybe it's just my imagination?

Yesterday my buddy was pointing out how shiny the sidewalls are on his Rocket due to the Armorall he put on them. I told him NO!!!!! Less shine, more traction...

dazco · 07-17-2006

Make sure your foot isn't barely touching the rear brake. When i first got my speedmaster i noticed the same thing happening. I soon realized i was accidentally applying a bit of rear brake when making slow turns. That'll cause it to slide. The disc on the rear will lock insanly easy, so even a tad of pressure on the pedal will give you a good amount of braking. I may have been doing that because when the bike gets leaned over my foot may have been prone to moving just enough to touch the pedal. Could be the same thing happening to you, or maybe even as you said you're a bit skiddish after the accident and are subconciously braking the rear. But in any case, my rear was doing that quite often and i was wondering why till i realized i was touching the pedal. Thats probably also why my rear pads wore out at 6k.

bobmig · 07-17-2006

Check the tire pressure too. I find that even a couple pounds below the recommended 33/38 will make the Bonnie start to feel a bit squirrelly in corners.

Bob

monkeyboy · 07-17-2006

I know mine has slid a little while cornering. Usually when at an intersection crossing the painted lines.

I can definately feel it.

wonderdog · 07-17-2006

Armorall on sidewalls causing slide is urban myth.

[ This message was edited by: wonderdog on 2006-07-17 10:06 ]

dazco · 07-17-2006

Quote:

On 2006-07-17 10:06, wonderdog wrote:
Armorall on sidewalls causing slide is urban myth.

Maybe, but have you ever heard the word "creep" used to describe how some products will move from the sidewall to the tread via centrifical force? I can tell you that is NOT an urban myth from my 1st hand experience. Whether or not armorall will do that i dunno. I do know that i used a couple ture black products on mine and they did just that. I don't know which one or whether both did, but what happens is thru centrifical force the product moves up onto the tread. In my case i crept up to about 1" onto the tread from where the tread begins. The result was a hard glossy surface on that 1" or so of tread that was so hard i had to sand it off ! I stopped using tire dressings and it hasn't returned.

So while armorall may not do this, but i sure wouldn't count on it, some products do, and the rubber is without the slightest doubt very dangerously hard and slick. You may find it hard to believe, but i assure you had you seen my tires you'd agree. Lucking i'm not a peg scraper or it may have been more than a story about sanding that s**t off.

Silverado57 · 07-17-2006

Wonderdog, not to be argumentative, but I just checked my bottle of Armor All as well as 3 different brands of tire shine.
They all caution against use on cycle or motorcycle tires as well as control surfaces.
I had made the mistake of using those products on my foot controls & pegs and they make them VERY slippery.

Be safe!