Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: suzbnd12 on July 30, 2005, 01:56:38 PM
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Thanks to a damned little nail, my OEM tire has a slow leak in the tread section of the tire. :crybaby: It bubbles very slowly with some liquid soap applied to it to gauge the amount of the leak. I have read some very negative stuff about plugging a motorcycle tire and have never done so. Does anyone know if technology has advanced on plugs enough to attempt this?
If not, I guess I'm looking at a new rear which is a shame with less than 1000 miles on the tire. Looking on the internet I would probably go with either a Metzler Z6 Sport Touring tire or a Michelin Pilot.
What do ya'll think?
Bill
'05 B12S
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What's the stock tires on a 2005?
You want to get a tire that has the same kind of profile as the original to avoid quirky handling.
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You can usw a plug/patch that's inserted from the inside. It has a head or patch and a metal covered, tapered finger that pulls through a cleaned and reamed hole. The metal comes off by pulling and you then cut off the finger at the tread surface.
These work well, and although sold mostly for automotive applications can provide a safe patch that holds. I've used several of these over the years with good results.
You do have to remove the tire from the rim ti install them and most motorcycle shops won't do the job due to liability problems with their insurance companies.
I've also used rope style plugs with good success -- many times. In some cases I just left them in place, in others I've replaced them later with the plug/patch mentioned above. The key is the hole -- if made by a nail or something round they seem easy to seal. A jagged hole would dictate tire replacement in my opinion.
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What's the stock tires on a 2005?
The stock tires on that Bandit are Michelin Macadams, Paul
Bill
'05 B12S
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Thanks Ray.
The shop told me about the liability thing just as you said. I am checking in with a private mechanic that I have used in the past on another bike with regards to that patch that you are talking about.
:thanks:
Bill
'05 B12S
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Are they still using the 90X or have they finally gone to the 100X?
If you have the 90X, I'd replace 'em both as the front will start cupping soon anyway. Then you can buy a matched set of whatever you like. If you have the 100X, then I'd replaced the rear with a Pilot Road, which is essentially the 100X's replacement and is a better tire with a similar profile.
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Are they still using the 90X or have they finally gone to the 100X?
Thanks for the advice Paul. I appreciate the advice on the cupping but with less than 1000 miles on the front tire, I need to get a bit more wear out of it than replacing it now. This is IMHO anyway.
The Michelin Pilots do seem to have the same profile as the Macadams so if I decide not to plug the rear, I think that is the way that I will go.
Bill
'05 B12S
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If they're still using the 90X, you can expect to start seeing cupping in 500-1000 miles.
Of course, if you're a cheapskate like me, you can run the cupped tire until it wears out. You'll just get some vibes out of the front during braking and you can't take both hands off the bars under 35-40 mph.
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I haven't seen any cupping yet Paul. However I am very anal about checking tire pressures and keeping them exact everytime that I ride. It's one of my things.
And yes, I am the ORIGINAL CHEAP BASTARD. :lol:
Bill
'05 B12S
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And yes, I am the ORIGINAL CHEAP BASTARD. :lol:
As are most Bandit owners... :motorsmile:
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Mac 100's come on the 2005 Bandit..... I have 6500 miles on mine so far and the front started to cup at 5500 or so. The rear tire looks to be good for another 1000 just in time for a change before the Arkansas ride.
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My 2001 naked Bandit 1200 came with Michelin 90s and they lasted just over 11 miles. There was NO evidence of cupping on the front, but the rear had a marked flat spot down the center.
The tires were making a "siren" sound that was distracting. It reduced in volume on a corner, so it had to be the tires.
I went with Metzeler ME880 radials in a 120/70VR-17 front and a 170/60VR-17 rear. The rear was about 1% taller and reduced the speedometer error by that amount -- it was also easier to turn with, which makes sense to me.
So far the Metzelers are about half worn at 7K miles, assuming I change them when the tread depth reaches 2/32".
My next try might be Avon AV45/AV46 conbo -- I've heard of an FJR 1300 rider going over 15K before replacement.
Since I do mostly touring miles I want a long lasting tire.
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Plugs, hmmm I have heard all the negitive stories about them to, but like all things negitive they are usually started by those who have never ever used them. I have been personally been using the tyre plugs installed from the outside for years. Have never had a problem, have never had a failure.
On one tyre I purchaced on the saturday, punctured it on the monday, 20 odd thousand K's later the same tyre had 4 puncture repairs in it.
Never leave home without the repair kit, and its amazing how those who would bag the use of them soon put up their hand up for me to come over and fix it to get them home, and how many times do I ask the same person, months and in fact thousands of K's later,(Lost count) " Have you replaced that tyre yet?" Answer is always NO.
I find it funny how all the doubting thomas's change thier tune after they had thier weekend saved by a $1 tyre fix out in the middle of butt F*#* idaho.
As for tyre, best value for money tyre I've found is the shinko. Ref to tire section of the forum.
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Last year my dad ran over a roofing nail with my bike. which embedded itself in the rear tire. We pulled it and plugged the hole.
This year, it was the -front- tire that was low, the rear had lost about 3 psi over the winter whereas the front was down to 10psi. Still, unless you can see a real hole, I wouldn't consider using that spray-inside-crap. I've seen where it will sometimes all lump together inside a car tire, that could cause horrible vibration on a bike. Not to mention the fact that it makes changing the tire a real pain in the rear.
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I am going to aplogize for a newb sounding question but what is a cupped tire?
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You may also hear it called scalloping. It's when the tire wears unevenly with little cup shapes in the tread. When this happens on a car, it's often a sign of a bad shock.
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A cupped tire is when your front tire wears unevenly. You can run your hand over the tire and feelm the uneven tread. And they do'nt handle well. I had a Bridgestone 020 do that.
As far as the patching,I had a tire done with a hot patch, the tire has to come off and it is hot patched from the inside. I have a feind that still has a old fasion service station,they don't sell food,but they pump the gas,wash your winshield,check the oil or tires if you want.Have 2 lifts to work and inspect vehicles. And they can fix your tire. Seems like thy're becoming extict,but there are still some around.
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has any one heard of tadering? sounds like the same thing as cupping. my kaw. zx6 did this to my stock tire, looked a lot like a baked potato!
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its from running low tire pressure , if you get down eye level with your tire you will see treads wore off with a pointy section on them !
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I ran the OEM Mac 90s with the recommended 36psi and the front cupped at about 3k. Most of my riding is canyons.
Cupping as far as I understand it (and observed in my case) is when a tread block is worn more toward the front and the whole tire kinda looks like an armadillo.
I am now running Perelli Diablo Strada and like 'em better then both the MAc 90s and the z6s.
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Plugs, hmmm I have heard all the negitive stories about them to, but like all things negitive they are usually started by those who have never ever used them. I have been personally been using the tyre plugs installed from the outside for years. Have never had a problem, have never had a failure.
On one tyre I purchaced on the saturday, punctured it on the monday, 20 odd thousand K's later the same tyre had 4 puncture repairs in it.
Never leave home without the repair kit,
My last puncture was a 1/4" bolt, of all things. I bought a brand new rear tire on that one, (again :crybaby: )
It's always the rear... the front one kicks 'em up and the rear tire dies.
Thanks for the advice. It never ocured for me to carry this "kit".
Are these available in most auto stores? Bike stores?
How big a hole will they plug?