3CL steering head bearings. I'm not that bright, I don't understand....
- Thread starter ghwallice
- Start date
AndyW
Hero member
Am with you there except for the Bridgestones which are good when they are new but seem to cause (me) all sorts of handling issues once they start to wear. I think the rear tyre is more forgiving than the front which I found created head shakes on fast bumpy sweepers and a general nervousness on the road despite having good tread remaining and no sign of scalloping. Swapped to a Pirelli Phantom and the handling issues were cured instantly despite the tread level being about the same as the worn BT45 (not sure how long it's going to lastnick7 said:
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Legs
Guest
Really not a fan of mixing and matching front and rear tyres, like to keep them as a set. Have noticed a vast improvement in handling after upping tyre pressures from 32/36 to 36/40.
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
Sounds like mixing them up had the opposite effect for Andy. Obviously you go with what works - I'm just so glad I never had to deal with stability issues on the SF - until I fitted 17s, which immediately highlighted a major flaw in the 38mm MIRs ... ie NO rebound damping (someone had removed the plastic rebound piston ring and fitted a piece of scrap that probably came from the gutter outside Gowanlochs!). Ian G sent the correct part down pronto, but stiction was always a prob.Legs said:
But all those dramas were associated with the front end - the overall stability never faltered.
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Legs
Guest
Had a ride on Andy's Mirage last week, seemed to handle quite well IMHO.
motoddrob
Hero member
- Location
- S/W Australia
By the way Andy, spoke to JC and he still hasn't received his rally badge. Said he'd ask ask Bear about it as Bear knows the organizers.
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Grant
Guest
AndyW said:
Not so much to do with tread pattern which to me seems to be more about trendy design and branding.
Most top end modern tyres have very little tread on them these days.
To me it's more about mismatched tyre profiles. Front and rear are designed as a set to complement each other. Each has a different job to do but they have to work well with each other.
Mixing and matching is more random, You may achieve something you like but it could be a fluke.
Manufacturers spend millions developing them as a pair, must be some reason for that.
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Grant said:
Well, the cynical answer is so they can sell 2 tyres rather than one.
Anser me this, I thought the tread was to allow water to escape the contact patch.But modern tyres have less tread but are way wider with a bigger contact patch, how does that work when it rains? I am sweating on the new Bridgestone T31 being made and arriving in the size I want for the coming Tassie ride, I would love a set of matching tyres for once.
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Legs
Guest
Who rides in the rain these days, who rides as daily transport, very few I would have thought. Riding is now more of a pleasure activity than anything else and that's the market the tyre companies are targeting, IMHO.
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Legs
Guest
Been there and done that Vince. Bet you don't see too many sports bikes out and about on a wet day though.
Simonr501
Hero member
- Location
- Lympne, Kent. UK
I think it time to split this, it has turned into a rear shock and tyre thread!
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Legs
Guest
So, that's how conversations normally go, no big deal.
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Grant
Guest
Legs said:
Never been to Scotland, have you?
Alan
Senior member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
If ya don't ride in the rain, ya won't be riding very often in the northern side of thing's. 
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Legs
Guest
Yes I have Grant, based at Faslane. Rode in the rain but it certainly wasn't for pleasure.
blab
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide South Australia
If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
AndyW
Hero member
Or in Tassie either where it?s generally four seasons in one day every day. Even when it?s dry the roads can be wet in many places which is why they?re so mossy... best get yourself a set of knobblies and fit some stabilisers whilst you?re there...Alan said:If ya don't ride in the rain, ya won't be riding very often in the northern side of thing's.