Yamaha Scorpio SX-4W basic maintenance

**jrandom** · 25th April 2011, 10:32

Originally Posted by BMWST?

It is a steep bumpy,badly cambered ,peice of road ,travelled by many cars some of which arent the most highly maintained,buses and trucks no doubt spilling deisel.Sparkling clean motor way it definetly is not.

To bin on the Wainui hill, you'd have to either simply fall off because you were going too fast and ran yourself out of room, or get taken out by another vehicle. Traction isn't the issue. Even IRCs aren't going to let go if you're travelling within speed limit tolerances. It is basically a motorway. And, compared to many back roads and city intersections, it is sparkling clean.

In any case, the hill is a red herring. Travelling any particular road, particularly a four-lane one that's all of 2km long, while managing not to bin is not actually meaningful data.

Fact is, the stock Scorpio IRC tyres are dangerous. They don't give any warning of it when you're riding within their limitations. But do the wrong thing at the wrong time, most particularly in the wet, and you're history.

This isn't anything I have my ego invested in. I just know it to be true from experience and from observing Scorpios and their riders over the years. I really hope the OP takes me seriously, and I honestly boggle at why people are arguing against this.

I guess you'd feel a bit dumb if you ride around on tyres that someone else comes along and claims are shit, and you'd want to defend them. But, folks, those IRC tyres are shit. Worst case, they'll kill you when shit goes down and you try to brake and turn in the wet, when better tyres would've done no more than give you a chirp and a tight-sphincter moment. And you can never predict in advance how much of your bike's handling envelope you're going to want to call on without notice.

I honestly boggle at people who try to save a few bucks on tyres and their mileage. It's your life on the line, guys.

**blue rider** · 25th April 2011, 10:39

Yes, I had to buy her, she was pretty, new, below 2000 km and cheap. What was not to like.
As for dropping the bike - already done that , round about to slow - plonk, very undignified. Result new back break. Ouch

currently i am taking lessons (classes?) at rider skill, which is awesome and much fun. next one on friday....sweet
Not to keen to go on my own just yet!

As for the tyres and the disconnecting of terminals

that will be for tomorrow.

**Bonez** · 25th April 2011, 10:41

Not everyone is Rossi wannabe JR. Your message is good. But there is a bit scare mongering going on there as well.

**Ocean1** · 25th April 2011, 10:43

Originally Posted by jrandom

Traction isn't the issue.

You're wrong. That road is routinely awash with oil and deisel, it's one of the local roads most likely to see a traction related off.

Having said that, you're right, the standard Scorpio tyres are shite, particularly in the wet. It wouldn't matter so much if one had a good feel for the machine, but they're not appropriate on a novice bike.

**jrandom** · 25th April 2011, 10:45

Originally Posted by blue rider

As for dropping the bike - already done that , round about to slow - plonk, very undignified. Result new back break. Ouch

Ouch.

Bet that wouldn't have happened on Lasertecs. Did you watch that video I posted above?

Originally Posted by Bonez

Not everyone is Rossi wannabe JR.

You are a very bad man for trolling. But I'll respond anyway, because it's important to be clear that being a 'Rossi wannabe' has nothing to do with putting good tyres on one's bike.

You really want to stay upright if anything unexpected happens and you have to use more braking or turning input than you planned to from one second to the next. The correct tyres are an absolute first necessity for this. Like I said above, I mean, we'll never know for sure, but I'd put good money on 'blue rider' having been able to avoid that bin if his [edit: sorry, her!] Scorpio had been wearing Lasertecs.

**jrandom** · 25th April 2011, 10:49

Originally Posted by Ocean1

You're wrong. That road is routinely awash with oil and deisel, it's one of the local roads most likely to see a traction related off.

OK. I'm no local. I concede the point. I must've been there on good days.

But, yes, that's a red herring.

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Having said that, you're right, the standard Scorpio tyres are shite, particularly in the wet. It wouldn't matter so much if one had a good feel for the machine, but they're not appropriate on a novice bike.

Yes. Like I said, I did a whole bunch of miles on them. They work within their limits. Rode Auckland to Welly and back in one weekend in the middle of winter last year on a Scorpio with IRCs. Didn't fall off. But I'm pretty sure I would've if I'd tried to do the same seven years ago.

**blue rider** · 25th April 2011, 10:53

yea watched it, and all the clips of japanese cops doing awesome stuff with cones on even bigger bikes. Thats going to be me.

Not sure if my bin was not due just to not having a clue what i was doing or the tyres. I could not tell ya, i put it down to information overload and she should not have been out on her own.
Anyways, I booked in with Phil for one on ones and nursed my bruise and had the bike towed to get fixed. learning moments.

Having just spend quite a bit of cash on gear, nice booties ( i so love shoes) and good waterproof jacket, plus the beak break, plus the classes.......cash is in short supply, but will look at the tyres.

**Ocean1** · 25th April 2011, 10:54

Originally Posted by jrandom

But I'm pretty sure I would've if I'd tried to do the same seven years ago.

Knobs. The bestest tyre to learn on is a knobbie, huge and predictable feedback, they should be standard issue on all learner machines.

**kiwifruit** · 25th April 2011, 11:11

Originally Posted by blue rider

Having just spend quite a bit of cash on gear, nice booties ( i so love shoes) and good waterproof jacket, plus the beak break, plus the classes.......cash is in short supply, but will look at the tyres.

I'll happily fund you into a new set of tyres. How does twenty a week at zero percent sound?

**blue rider** · 25th April 2011, 11:17

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

I'll happily fund you into a new set of tyres. How does twenty a week at zero percent sound?

Your a banker?

**jrandom** · 25th April 2011, 11:20

Originally Posted by blue rider

Your a banker?

No, just my flatmate and a man who's very concerned about motorcycling safety.

**White trash** · 25th April 2011, 11:40

Originally Posted by jrandom

Did you watch that video I posted above?

Yeah, and it's an embarrasment to the two riders filmed. They each have far better skills than that wobbly, piece of shit display. Hardly a good choice of vid for what can be performed on a Scorpio.