Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Fucking fuck fuck. I am not enjoying this tube-replacement shit. My palms are blistered, one of the two spare tubes snake-bitten, and damage to the bead from trying over and over to get that last bit over the rim. Fuck this. I will never complain about bicycle tyres ever again.

I'm trying to work up the courage to do my r80 tires for the first time in nearly 20 years, just in case I ever needed to do it by the roadside. Still don't fancy it and your experience is not encouraging. Hopefully you've got it done by now and are relaxing with a cup of tea.

That's all good to know but it would have been great if there had been a massive warning sticker telling you that on the angle sensor. You could have had a serious accident before finding out that little bit of info.

If you installed the LED spots would it have been treated as your fault?

If you installed the LED spots would it have been treated as your fault?

I did install the spots myself.

I guess, had I been in an accident, it could have been found to be my fault? Either way, the BMW tech who showed up this morning didn't care at all. He just fixed it.

Once I hosed the bead and rim with super slippery stuff until it was more slippery than a slippery thing, I managed to get the spare-spare tube in without snake bites.

Some superficial damage to the edge of the tyre bead but I assume it’s not going to affect integrity of the tyre. Not with how much of a bitch it was to fit, and how far away from the hook of the rim it is.

Took for a quick ride around town and mostly sat in traffic. Tyre didn’t deflate or fall off the rim.

Off to get a second wheelset tomorrow, mechanics will fit Avon Trailriders for me. Hopefully they live on the bike except for specific dirt riding days, and I have a more confidence inspiring experience on the road. Especially with the upcoming rain-until-June.

Talc powder, two levers, a plastic rim protector thing and sone serious patience. Don't ever get too greedy. And every time you run out of slack, push the tyre back into the valley of the rim. Do it over and over again and you'll get it on no bother.
Also have found that TT = tube type tyres. Slight difference in sidewall strength mostly (they are softer on sides than tube leas tyres), but if you have tubeless tyres ans are putting a tube in them, its possible but quite tricky!

That's pretty decent service then. Still seems like a very easy mistake to make fitting some aftermarket parts or even looking for storage space if you're touring.

It took a long long time, no greed just suffering. Tube type Michelin knobblies. I guess the first is always the mosr painful.

Agreed. Before placing the canbus listener there, I’d had a large disc lock stored under there too. It’s where it’s lived in every bike I’ve owned...

Shirley if it’s so bad for business, the area should be plated over to avoid interference?

You would think so

Other top tips....
It’s worth leaning the tyre up against a radiator or leaving it in the sun to warm before.

Buzzetti tyre levers are the best.

Next time you go to a tyre shop take a small container and scrounge some proper tyre paste.

If you end up chasing the bead round the rim not being able to get the last bit over a wood working clamp on a section of tyre that is “in” can help, pad the jaws if there not soft.

Right. So. I thought I was buying a set of Suzuki wheels, turns out I bought a set of Spanish-Made Akront wheels.

We got to Folkestone (from Swindon) and I wasn’t going home empty handed. In the car on the way back a quick search online turned up only positive remarks about Akron. Apparently long-established, competition level stuff and quite sought after. So I hope they work on my DR (apparently they were fitted on the ‘99 SE the guy has). I’ll find out Next week once the mechanics fit the tyres plus new tubes. The guy gave me a 3 year old and relatively new looking set of Avons gratis, so I saved on buying tyres for the time being.

When I got home, the emergency tube I’d used yesterday was already at 3.5psi, down from 20. So I had a third attempt at tube changing, with the new UHD tube from the mechanics.

Lubed the rim and bead like a night in Soho and it was so incredibly painless, I’m embarrassed I had so much trouble last time.

The trick really is to keep it slippery.

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Gonna leave this here

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Suzuki did use Akront rims as OEM parts at various points so they could well be original wheels from one of the different models in the 90s.

Ah I see. Well, maybe I’ll be okay. I would hope they will fit, just nervous. Since the guy had sent old photos of them fitted to his ‘99 SE, I am hoping to be in with a chance.

Has anyone had experience with the Bowtex under armour?

https://the-cafe-racer.com/brands/bowtex-motorcycle-kevlar-leggings

I normally have full leathers but now I'm using the bike more casually I want to wear more casual gear.

I've not crashed in them, but they have some pretty convincing video footage and the fit is decent. Their standard leggings fit under jeans a little easier than the slightly cheaper option from Merlin, though I went for those in the end, purely based on price

How sweaty do they get?

I wouldn't stay in them all day at work, but not a problem on the bike or wandering around outside if it's not baking hot anyway

Cheers.

Nearly washed out the front end earlier. Knobblies on wet roads. Not my jam.

Bit of a violent gesture, I guess it was instinct to flick the bars and regain control. Heart-in-throat brown trouser moment for sure.

So. As-is with tyres at 20psi (22psi is manufacturer spec) the tyres felt squirrelly and horrid on the road.

Felt like they were squirming around under me, not slipping but flexing. But I might be wrong. The brown moment was tapping front brake in rain while committing to a turn too fast, so that was lack of concentration.

Mechanics said (after fitting bike seal earlier today) that 20psi felt too low, like the rear tyre is moving on the rim. They said I should up to minimum 25psi for good road manner, to seat the tyre better and reduce it moving about.

Experienced rider says drop my tyre pressures to 12/14psi for the road, or else it will feel like riding on ice.

Gonna have to try both, but amazing how they are saying completely opposite advice. Bike has a rim lock on both wheels, but no wheel weights to balance.

Higher, awful. Lower, squirmy but manageable.

Crazy narrow weedy looking things. Avon Roadriders fitted to second wheelset. Way better on the road, much more confident. Managed to actually hit the speed limit for a change.

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