Gertrude (Finally) Gets a New Front Tire (Ordered)

[GrandpaDenny]

Couldn't find an Elite 4 at all, went with an American Elite. I thought about getting a wide white wall because that would look so cool on Gertrude, but that would require keeping it clean. She is rarely bathed - I'm too busy riding! (Did I mention 12000 miles since June?) Ordered from Dennis Kirk. Lots and lots and lots of miles on the old front tire, and it's JUST almost to the wear bars - about 12,000 miles after I thought it was close to the wear bars LOL. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking somewhere in the 26000-29000 mile range on the existing front tire. The Elite 4 has been an exemplary tire, still grips fantastically in the rain (it was an oil-coated rear tire on a drizzly oily road that caused my crash a while back). Tar snakes don't affect it at all, but ridges in the road (like seams) certainly do. Handles extremely well - I regularly keep up with a souped-up C14 in the mountains. I also take Lincoln Drive at 70 mph (ok, 45-50 in the tight turns). I admit, I've been going a bit slower since the accident, but I'm getting back up there again. It's FUN!!!

[Nails]

I admit, I've been going a bit slower since the accident, but I'm getting back up there again.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. - Will Rogers

I always encourage folks to get new tires before you really need them.

[GrandpaDenny]

I'm amazed at people who are surprised their tires get like that. Am I the only one who does a pre-ride check?

[Nails]

Not really an excuse, but that was coming home from a 4K trip that actually went a bit over 5K. I could see the tire getting bald, but I was only seeing the good side.
So it actually was a surprise to find, a couple weeks after I got home. ;)
For no clear reason, I tend to go faster and farther on my last day of a long trip. Been working on that.

[GrandpaDenny]

For no clear reason, I tend to go faster and farther on my last day of a long trip. Been working on that.

I forget what it's called, but horses do that too - after lugging carriages around central Philly all day, on the way home they develop warp drive. So, I hate to break it to you, Nail, but you're exhibiting normal behaviour.

For a horse.

Nah, it is a normal thing, the desire to get one's a$$ out of the saddle and into the recliner. Home Sweet Home. When I left Florida in '94 and went home to Phoenix it took me 41 hours, including two motel stops. When I went back to Florida nine months later, it took me five days. Florida was never "home" for me, despite living there 25 years.

[Nails]

Not to over-analyze, but "smelling the barn" evidently afflicts lots of riders ... from what I've read anyway. It's a safety issue, as I can testify. Which is why I'm bringing it up here.

I'm not sure it really has much to do with the cantankerous horses I've owned. I wasn't tired -- if anything I was kinda pissed that I had to cut out visiting a friend because my back tire was, like, bald.

But there's some weird psychology going on there. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!

[cranky]

... a few years back I tried out the dreaded car tire on the back of my '01 Kaw Nomad..
and later took a trip up to Deadwood, SD.. Yeah, I check my tires... but for some
reason went to ZZZZZ on it... on the way back, spent the night in Delta, Ut and for
grins checked my back tire.. yes, it was bald.... Delta is NOT the home of motorcycle repair!!!

.. not knowing how much casing I had left, and hope springs eternal.. on down the road..
on US 50, self billed as the Lonliest Road in America... crossed the state line and
humming right along at road speed and BLAM!!!!!!!!!!! Boy Howdy that thing went!!!!

It was real nice about it, I rode it right down to the side of the road, all was fine if you
call being 60 miles from Ely, Nv..... They are NOT the home of scoot tires on racks either!!!

It didn't help, when the tow guy got there, that I still had it if first gear.. it was "heck"
dragging that thing into the trailer... Oh, this was June... got to stand in a rain
cloud for a while... thinking, it was pretty nice... NOT hot!!!!

So I got to spend 2 not paid days in a Motel 6!!!!

I was headed for home, refresh and on to Solvang!! My slack time got spent
at Motel 6!!!! %$^@$^#$%&%^

Headed on south to Bishop - then on to Solvang... well while I was on that
jaunt, I kept hearing this rattling sound... at the motel in Bishop, I found
out my right muffler was busted!!! ... it just keeps going... sigh..

Next dayI headed out and kept missing gas stops, finally headed into the
desert with a bit over 1/2 tank, and yes I just entered into the desert and NO stops.........
I put in one 1.5 L of my carry gas and got to Kramer junction at 395 and got gas
and was on fumes....

... long story, yes Nails there are those of us that been there... sigh....
. and at Devil's Tower.. lost my kickstand spring...

My Deadwood blog and the "tire"...
http://cranky16804vroc.blogspot.com/201 ... sited.html

[GrandpaDenny]

The American Elite is finally mounted. It's an MT90B16, which is supposedly the same size as a 130/90B16. It's slightly taller, actually. So my speedo error is a little less than before. Impressions of the new tire:

1. Rides better than the Elite 4.
2. Handles pavement irregularities better than the Elite 4 - I can feel that it's definitely the rear tire (one of the very last Elite 4s made) getting tossed around.
3. No more 35mph wobblies
4. Handling is slightly slower but way more stable than the E4. I'm getting used to it. A little more parking lot practice time will help.

For those interested, I got right around 30,000 miles (give or take a grand-ish - I don't remember the exact mileage I put the old one on) out of the Elite 4.

Next rear tire (the E4 I put on in June already has 12000 miles on it. 3/32" tread. Looks like the pattern's going to continue to be a rear tire a year, a front tire every two years, roughly.