[immortal13]

While riding with my daughter saturday morning, I heard something break and hit the road. I was like wft??? We were on a very smooth piece of highway going probably around 75 mph. Anyway, I pulled over and the rear tire was smoking and not sure why. Got off the bike and looked at the rear tire had about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch groove cut into it all the way around, somehow was not flatted. License plate gone... kawi taillight...gone. Called a buddy to come with a trailer.

When he got there had him lift up on the fender, so I could use a pair of pliers to pull the twisted up license plate bracket back away from the tire. Loaded bike up and took it home. I was wondering the whole way home what might have broken. Dog bones were intact and the spring looked fine. Got her home and pulled the fender. Nothing appeared broken. It seems that what happened was the plate was too close to the tire when riding two up. My bike has the 2.25 lowering links and 240 Avon. The plate must have touched the tire and was sucked in and ripped off along with the taillight. I just didn't realize there wasn't enough clearance with 2 people on the bike. Could've prevented this from happening by bending the plate out from the bike a little bit.....I just didn't realize it. Thought I would post this so that no one else has this happen to them. Could've been really bad if it had caused a blowout at that speed....especially with my daughter on the bike. As it was, I just ruined a brand new tire and lost a taillight.

 

[bimperial1]

**** dude that sucks, but luckily you and your daughter are ok. What was the total weight with you and her on it? Looks like you have a good reason to get a side mount plate and LNM tailight lol

 

[traxscr]

Wow, glad to hear that no one was hurt.

 

[chris]

Time for a burnout video ;D

 

[UrbanRage]

Glad to hear you and your daughter are ok. Like you said, it could have been alot worse.

 

[immortal13]

Time for a burnout video ;D

Haha i may do that

 

[immortal13]

**** dude that sucks, but luckily you and your daughter are ok. What was the total weight with you and her on it? Looks like you have a good reason to get a side mount plate and LNM tailight lol

This was not in any way caused by the taillight. I may decide to use a side plate mount, although I hate the way they look. I will put her all back together as soon as I get the new taillight in the mail, and try bending the plate away from the bike and see what I think. I know I definitely need to put 2 people on the bike and survey how much clearance there is.

About 300 lbs combined weight with me and my daughter or girlfriend.

 

[galo8]

Wow man at least you guys are safe...

 

[straightjacket]

Thats a bummer, glad everyones allright! That groove looks deep, does it go into the radial, or is it just cosmetic?

 

[immortal13]

Thats a bummer, glad everyones allright! That groove looks deep, does it go into the radial, or is it just cosmetic?

Not sure. It is a little deeper than the tread grooves, so I think yes. It's quite deep. If not for it being a new tire, it would most definitely have caused a blowout.

 

[kraaazymike]

Dang! Glad you guys are safe! I actually had that happen to me on my last bike. But my only damage was a bent plate. You able to salvage your plate or do you need a new one? Bending them back is tough!

 

[immortal13]

Dang! Glad you guys are safe! I actually had that happen to me on my last bike. But my only damage was a bent plate. You able to salvage your plate or do you need a new one? Bending them back is tough!

Plate is gone. Walked up the highway but didn't find it....tall grass. I can get a new plate, so that's the least of the problems.


Just make sure you guys have better clearance than I had, especially if you've lowered the bike.

 

[fujums]

Scary stuff. Glad to hear that you are both safe.

 

[toby]

While riding with my daughter saturday morning, I heard something break and hit the road. I was like wft??? We were on a very smooth piece of highway going probably around 75 mph. Anyway, I pulled over and the rear tire was smoking and not sure why. Got off the bike and looked at the rear tire had about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch groove cut into it all the way around, somehow was not flatted. License plate gone... kawi taillight...gone. Called a buddy to come with a trailer.

When he got there had him lift up on the fender, so I could use a pair of pliers to pull the twisted up license plate bracket back away from the tire. Loaded bike up and took it home. I was wondering the whole way home what might have broken. Dog bones were intact and the spring looked fine. Got her home and pulled the fender. Nothing appeared broken. It seems that what happened was the plate was too close to the tire when riding two up. My bike has the 2.25 lowering links and 240 Avon. The plate must have touched the tire and was sucked in and ripped off along with the taillight. I just didn't realize there wasn't enough clearance with 2 people on the bike. Could've prevented this from happening by bending the plate out from the bike a little bit.....I just didn't realize it. Thought I would post this so that no one else has this happen to them. Could've been really bad if it had caused a blowout at that speed....especially with my daughter on the bike. As it was, I just ruined a brand new tire and lost a taillight.


[/quote]
Glad to hear you two are ok. Could have got hairy scary there.
What mods did you do to the taillight and plate mount? A little description so we know what to look out for.

 

[immortal13]

Well, like I said the light did not cause the prob. I had a kawi zxr6 light mounted tight up under the fender and flush with the outer edge, just like I wanted it. The plate mounted just below the light(right up against the bottom edge). I used the factory mounting brackets, just trimmed them down.

One of the sharp corners of the plate mounting bracket, which you can see in this pic, is what got bent backward and dug into the tire.

Here's what it looked like completed. Seemed to be plenty of clearance but obviously not with 2 people on the bike.

 

[SmokenJoe]

That could have been DISASTROUS................glad you and daughter are OK. If that had blown out at 75.........could have been deadly.

 

[Frag]

Good to see you guys are ok!

If you like that setup, while aren't you setting the lowering kit to 1'' instead of 2.5'' ? I guess that it would be alright that way...

 

[Skwerlee]

Dang man I'm glad yall are OK! That is scarey stuff for sure.

Hopefully you'll luck your way into another non-defective Kawi light! ha ha

 

[dreadly]

Glad to hear you are ok!!

 

[redline]

Wow that sucks, but all things considered could've been worse. The tyre I guess is the most expensive part to replace. Your lives on the other not too cheap. Maybe if you space the next plate out a 1/4" inch and bend it a little in the other direction. The pic you posted looked like it would clear even under full compression but I guess that is just the angle, or maybe a gust blew it towards the tyre just that little bit??

Anyway all's well that ends well or ends ok at least.