South Auckland Street Skills

[nzspokes]

ah I know this one. I was listening last time you told us. But I wont spoil the party. Anyone else

Ta. Lets see who else knows. Its very important to know.

[granda]

Has anyone done this lately. Thinking of doing it with the pillion week after next

[Gremlin]

So who can tell me how old your tyres are?

Tyres don't often stay on the bike long enough to matter

[nzspokes]

Has anyone done this lately. Thinking of doing it with the pillion week after next

Mates did it the other week, what would you like to know? Good stretch of gravel on it I believe.

Will you have your suspension sorted by then?

[Big Dog]

Did you lot filter through Tuakau about 8:30 Tuesday? If so you rolled past us at the fish and chip shop.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[nzspokes]

Did you lot filter through Tuakau about 8:30 Tuesday? If so you rolled past us at the fish and chip shop.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

Yes. That was us.

[Big Dog]

The girls got a bit of a thrill from the silver bike that waved.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[samgab]

The girls got a bit of a thrill from the silver bike that waved.

It wasn't white and silver-ish (grey)?

[granda]

Mates did it the other week, what would you like to know? Good stretch of gravel on it I believe.

Will you have your suspension sorted by then?

Yes suspension all sorted. Gone from 90mm to 75mm length cushion rods. Changesd the spring setting back to std and repositioned the front forks and unwound the susp back to std. Oh and yes I did remember to adjust the side stand at the same time. All that is left is to adjust the headlamps back. Bit wet tonight so tomorrow job.

[nzspokes]

Yes suspension all sorted. Gone from 90mm to 75mm length cushion rods. Changesd the spring setting back to std and repositioned the front forks and unwound the susp back to std. Oh and yes I did remember to adjust the side stand at the same time. All that is left is to adjust the headlamps back. Bit wet tonight so tomorrow job.

Bit wet?

Bet it will be a different bike. Enjoy.

[nzspokes]

It wasn't white and silver-ish (grey)?

Have you returned to a normal shape after your big ride?

Getting used to it?

[samgab]

Have you returned to a normal shape after your big ride?

Getting used to it?

Lol, yeah, shoulders felt better by the next day. It'll take me a while to be comfortable on longer rides (than my 10 minute work commute), but it's still a fun bike to ride, so I can forgive it that; it's really me, not the bike anyway. The more I ride, the better it will get no doubt.
I didn't get your question about tyre age... I'm sure there is something you were getting at, but I'm not sure what... Care to enlighten?

[nzspokes]

Lol, yeah, shoulders felt better by the next day. It'll take me a while to get comfortable on long trips, but it's still a fun bike to ride, so I can forgive it that; it's really me, not the bike anyway. The more I ride, the better it will get no doubt.
I didn't get your question about tyre age... I'm sure there is something you were getting at, but I'm not sure what... Care to enlighten?

Tyres that look good sometimes are old and hard. You can date the build time of your tyres. If you buy a second hand bike you dont know how old the tyres are.

Pro Tip, the build date is written on the tyre. Tell me when yours were made....

[samgab]

Tyres that look good sometimes are old and hard. You can date the build time of your tyres. If you buy a second hand bike you don't know how old the tyres are.

Pro Tip, the build date is written on the tyre. Tell me when yours were made....

Oh cool, that's good to know, thanks. I'll take a look in the morning out of curiosity and report back.

When I first got my VTR250 it had old, hard rubber on the tyres, and they were really slippy, especially in the wet. I couldn't use the rear brake without it wanting to lock up and overtake the front, and had to be super careful with the fronts. So I replaced the tyres with a nice set of new Michelin Pilot Streets, and it completely changed the nature of the bike, it felt like a different bike to ride. It inspired way more confidence cornering and braking; it just felt more planted and stable. Best upgrade to that bike ever.

Something I only learned recently that surprised me is that bikes that come with OEM branded tyres - like Bridgestone Battlax BT016 (for example) - have a different, inferior version of that tyre variant than the aftermarket tyre with the same name and labelling. That's a bit of a sneaky trick. They should have to name them something different to differentiate between the better, multi-compound, aftermarket version from the lower quality OEM spec version.

[nzspokes]

Oh cool, that's good to know, thanks. I'll take a look in the morning out of curiosity and report back.

When I first got my VTR250 it had old, hard rubber on the tyres, and they were really slippy, especially in the wet. I couldn't use the rear brake without it wanting to lock up and overtake the front, and had to be super careful with the fronts. So I replaced the tyres with a nice set of new Michelin Pilot Streets, and it completely changed the nature of the bike, it felt like a different bike to ride. It inspired way more confidence cornering and braking; it just felt more planted and stable. Best upgrade to that bike ever.

Something I only learned recently that surprised me is that bikes that come with OEM branded tyres - like Bridgestone Battlax BT016 (for example) - have a different, inferior version of that tyre variant than the aftermarket tyre with the same name and labelling. That's a bit of a sneaky trick. They should have to name them something different to differentiate between the better, multi-compound, aftermarket version from the lower quality OEM spec version.

Funny you say that. The tyres on my bike are Oem off a GSXR750. Seem to hold on fine.