[Mentat Ix]

I finally did it. My last metzler me880 wore out way, way too fast this time around. So on went a General GMAX 225/45-18. Thanks to szabla for trying this one out first. 8)

It did not go as easy as I'd hoped. Though I talked to szabla about it and he did not have the trouble I did. I ended up taking it to a shop to bead it up with a bead blaster. And I'm pretty sure if it ever goes flat it's going to pull itself off the bead. I ended up just removing the lower belt guard. That made it much easier to put the wheel on the bike by myself too. More working room. The upper belt guard was already off from when I put my bags on.

I've got about 500 miles on it so far and I am pretty happy with how it rides. It has actually made slow speed maneuvers easier and freeway riding more stable. Deep turns feel a little different, but it handles them well. All in all, I'm pleased with the result.

Now you may feel free to argue and wish a fiery death upon me. Discuss.

 

[MY LIFE]

Hope it works out for you and can always understand wanting to save money. Like the wide look, but don't like the non curve sides. Would not want to ride the Dragon with one.

 

[SmokenJoe]

Hope it works out for you and can always understand wanting to save money. Like the wide look, but don't like the non curve sides. Would not want to ride the Dragon with one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNMEv7VoH04

 

[toby]

Curious how many miles you got off the Mezt? I'm at 4,000+ on mine and don't think I'll get 2,000 more . That's still 45 to 50% more than I got off the oem Bridge. So I'm thinking I'll be going the dark side this spring if I don't try Avon Cobra. Wife is at 7,000 on her Metz and wont get another 1,000 off it. But we plan on riding all the way to Niagara Falls and New York, Miami and back along the gulf coast to San Diego then back up the pacific coast home late August and September. That's some 8,000 miles. I don't want to put a new tire on before I leave then need to put a new one on before we get home. Although I should get a few more miles off tires on open roads than on the goat tracks where I live. lol. We are going to put the Michelin commander 2 on my wife's bike, unless she get's her way then she will be riding that new 1300 deluxe, lol. Michelin claims It's a 25,000 mile tire.
They don't make one that will fit the Stryker yet.
Are you going to round off the tire by process of changing tire pressure during a brake in period? I believe it was running it low at first causing the edges to wear off a bit? I think it was zabla that mentioned that procedure.

 

[Guest]

@Toby - I guess the roads there are rougher than the roads here. This pic is @ 5400 miles and I don't think it's nearly half way worn out. Not too many good "twisties" around here, sorry to say.

Hope you're recuperating okay.

 

[SmokenJoe]

What tire pressure are you using?

Toby, hope all is well Bro.

 

[Mentat Ix]

I've gone through two metzler 240s. The first one I got about 13k out of, and was happy with it. Then second one had barely 7k, and you can see it in the picture there... I don't know why the huge difference; I believe my riding habits did not change that much.

The General I am keeping at ~40psi. I don't see any reason to "round off" the corners. Seems like it might even be a bad idea to me. I remember reading that szabla ran his tire pressure lower to start with because he thought ~29psi was right for the tire, but later found out ~40 works better.

 

[toby]

@Toby - I guess the roads there are rougher than the roads here. This pic is @ 5400 miles and I don't think it's nearly half way worn out. Not too many good "twisties" around here, sorry to say.

Hope you're recuperating okay. :

Ya thanks I'm doing really good. Wow your tire is doing really good. I wore my oem out completely bald in 3,100 miles.

 

[Mentat Ix]

As far as twisties go, I usually take the CBR to hit the twisties. But I don't think the tire will slow me down - it actually helps lean it more just because all the crap that drags is further from the ground. Which is also why I said it helps in low speed maneuvers - I can lean it over further without sitting cross-legged.

I don't know about you guys, but when I lean it that far over in the twisties the front end starts getting unstable, especially if I hit some bumps. To me, thats the limiting factor, not the tire.

 

[Skwerlee]

Mental IX Can you post some more pictures of this?

 

[toby]

I've gone through two metzler 240s. The first one I got about 13k out of, and was happy with it. Then second one had barely 7k, and you can see it in the picture there... I don't know why the huge difference; I believe my riding habits did not change that much.

The General I am keeping at ~40psi. I don't see any reason to "round off" the corners. Seems like it might even be a bad idea to me. I remember reading that szabla ran his tire pressure lower to start with because he thought ~29psi was right for the tire, but later found out ~40 works better.

Could be tire pressure that wore your 2nd one out faster. I experimented with psi the last 1,000 miles or so and found that at 38 psi on both the 950 and the Stryker on these roads after 300 miles showed cupping and abnormal flattening on the outside edges on the 950. Brought the psi up to the cold max psi on the tire sidewall, 42psi, and after 300 miles they both smoothed back of and appear to be wearing closer to normal but still faster than most of you other guys but that's just do to the roads up here. So I have found that it is extremely important to fine the right psi for the weight of your bike and your load. Just a difference of two or three psi can make a big difference. If your tire is under inflated for the weight it will cause the tire to heat up above the operating temp and that's what causes the greatest loss of stability and longevity.

 

[toby]

What tire pressure are you using?

Toby, hope all is well Bro.

Thanks Joe I'm doing fine. I's snowing so that's keeping down lol.

 

[J4patrice]

Glad to hear you are doing well Toby.

 

[toby]

Glad to hear you are doing well Toby.

Thanks Patrice and thanks for the inspiration. I got the surgery Tuesday and here it's Thursday night and I'm feeling fine. Just got to get used to this neck brace 24 7 for 6 weeks yikes.

 

[J4patrice]

Glad to hear you are doing well Toby.

Thanks Patrice and thanks for the inspiration. I got the surgery Tuesday and here it's Thursday night and I'm feeling fine. Just got to get used to this neck brace 24 7 for 6 weeks yikes.

Kind of crazy, but it depends on the surgeon as to whether or not a neck brace is needed. I never had one, but I have known many others who have. Hope time passes by really fast.

 

[MY LIFE]

Hope it works out for you and can always understand wanting to save money. Like the wide look, but don't like the non curve sides. Would not want to ride the Dragon with one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNMEv7VoH04

Little different on a Goldwing then our Stryker.

This vid shows how little tire is on the road when using a car tire.

 

[SmokenJoe]

Hope it works out for you and can always understand wanting to save money. Like the wide look, but don't like the non curve sides. Would not want to ride the Dragon with one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNMEv7VoH04

Little different on a Goldwing then our Stryker.

This vid shows how little tire is on the road when using a car tire.

Why? They both have original round tires. Ride a Goldwing and it's handles like a sport bike. Great bike and really handles the twisties.

 

[toby]

Hope it works out for you and can always understand wanting to save money. Like the wide look, but don't like the non curve sides. Would not want to ride the Dragon with one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNMEv7VoH04

Little different on a Goldwing then our Stryker.

This vid shows how little tire is on the road when using a car tire.

Why? They both have original round tires. Ride a Goldwing and it's handles like a sport bike. Great bike and really handles the twisties.

Im thinking the difference is in the weight and over all ergonomic design, larger front tire, rake etc, and weight displacement if that's the right word but you now what I mean. I think the GW is some 300 lbs more than a Stryker?

 

[Jazz86]

It's official, I am part of the dark side. Just installed a 225/40R18 TRIANGLE TR968 88V TL on my Stryker. My thoughts after two test runs. So far it's a lot different to ride. It likes strait line and the camber on the road effects it a bit. Turning is a ton different. 1. It's a stinking 225mm across so it takes a little to get if off that. 2. Once off the flat it will dive into any turn so you have to be prepared for that ( I think it's because if the small radios at the corner of the tire rather than a continuous one on a standard mc tire) but all in all its not bad so far. I'll keep you posted

 

[kevin]

darkside also

[/ATTACH]

worth the change feels good after the initial wear in , though i scraped pegs in the wet the only problem is the transition through twisties is to slow probably from the effect of the high low of a flat tyre , if u love the twisties i would stay with a bike tyre , for me it is minimal because with the lowered back it was no sportbike in the twisties anyway

for the record i am running a Kumho Ecsta AST 225 /40 R18 92H XL BSW cost $90 and a bit of nearly swearing to change