Tail end wiggle

[varminter]

Seeeing as the new (second hand) bike is a whole lot esaier to lean on corners I've tried leaning much more then I would on the old GN. However to my consternation if I go too far the back of the bike feels like it's slipping, looking at the chicken strips they are unworn hard & shiney. The bike seems to have been stored for a long time unused. So, do I run the sanding tool over the edges of the tire

[vifferman]

Sanding the chicken strips won't help - if the bike has indeed 'been stored for a long time unused', the tyres won't miraculously get grippy again. It's not just the scuffing in that gives the surface some grip - the rubber is also designed to get warm and stickier when used. There comes a point where the tyre won't do this any more, due to loss of volatiles in the tyre. and the tyre becoming harder and unredeemable. That's why old tyres develop cracks.

Are you sure your tyre pressures are OK? Wrong pressures can make the bike feel unstable. Plus (also), the tyres may well have worn such that there is now a noticeable change in profile, so when you lean to the point where you are starting to get onto the unworn bit, it goes from being a little reluctant to tip in, to suddenly wanting to. Very disconcerting...

[MSTRS:Me]

V-man has it covered. Except...what brand/model tyre is it? Often the owners of 250s put cheap and nasty tyres on, instead of decent rubber.
To help you determine how old the tyre is, have a look on one side of the casing for the marking shown here http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11
If it's more than, say 5 years old, then ditch it, even if tread is still 'legal'

[Insanity_rules]

V-man has it covered. Except...what brand/model tyre is it? Often the owners of 250s put cheap and nasty tyres on, instead of decent rubber.
To help you determine how old the tyre is, have a look on one side of the casing for the marking shown here http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11
If it's more than, say 5 years old, then ditch it, even if tread is still 'legal'

I second this.

[sinfull]

Ditto To the above ! Sounds like your into pushing the limits !! Don't pay big bucks on a bike and then scrimp on tyres, sell your aunt if ya have to, but buy quality tyres !

[varminter]

Thanks for all the advice. I called in to the local dealer and asked him to look at the tires, he said the rear is decidedly suspect and the front worse and not to use it in the rain!!!. I'm assuming that whats happened is that the bike has been stored in some Japanese garage for ages and the tires are perished. Then it gets shipped here and I take it out for a few runs and open up all the cracks. I phoned the dealer at The Mount that I bought it from and he sounds like he will replace them. Big plus to him if he does with no problems. The pucker factor is high now so I'll take it over in the trailer. Watch this space for an update...bugger bikeless again

[<Rhino>]

Sounds like your taking right approach to me - bikeless you may be but safe you will be. +1 for you man.

[riffer]

Good the dealer is coming to the party.

You need good quality tyres, especially in the wet and cold.

Most of us found this out the hard (and painful) way.

[3umph]

Yip tyres are what connect you to the road... don't skimp... good to hear the dealer is coming to the party with them

[varminter]

Collected the bike today with new tires on it. Rode it back from Pye's Pa, good to be back on two wheels. The dealer is Adrenalyn Bikes at The Mount so a big plus to them.

[MSTRS:Me]

So tell us what sort of tyres you have.
(so we can bag them of course)

[varminter]

Fuckedeyfuckfuckfukyfuk. I just had a look after reading the thread about kenda tires and guess what, no prizes for the right answer, yes, they are kenda tires. Well, I suppose I start saving for proper one's. No money left so I'll have to take it easy until the bank balance looks better.

[MSTRS:Me]

Kenda tyres, huh? They'll be ok in the dry. But be VERY wary when cold, and moreso when wet.
I suggest you look into Bridgestone BT45s. Brilliant allrounders that last well too (I believe they are dual compound). Sting you for around 300-350 a set.

[varminter]

Thanks heaps for the advise. A further question, the tires have 25psi in the front and about 30 in the rear, the wording on the side says 40psi on both, who's right ?

[MSTRS:Me]

I'd be using 25 front and 28 rear. A little soft, but that forces the tyres to generate slightly higher running temps, and that can only be a good thing (hotter tyre usually means better grip).
Note that you will get increased and 'odd' wear.