New Tires and Rain

[JerseyEd]

So I will be picking up my 08 next week, and surprisingly the forecast is for rain until June (shocking, I know). I have a buddy that tells me that i absolutely do not want to ride home with new tires in the rain. I have ridden plenty in the rain (this IS Seattle after all) but never with new tires. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Should I wait until it dries out a bit or go borrow my buddies trailer?

It may be hard to wait a day or two,but maybe you should. It depends on your riding skills. New tires are slippery on dry pavement. If you are okay with the bike sliding a little you should be fine. I would tell you the FJR sits higher then then the Honda and will move more when the tire breaks loose. The other thing that may surpise you will be if you baby it and shift to a higher gear at low rpm and that give it gas. The tire is going to break free even under dry conditions. Enjoy, best bike!!!!!!!!

 

[JerseyEd]

So I will be picking up my 08 next week, and surprisingly the forecast is for rain until June (shocking, I know). I have a buddy that tells me that i absolutely do not want to ride home with new tires in the rain. I have ridden plenty in the rain (this IS Seattle after all) but never with new tires. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Should I wait until it dries out a bit or go borrow my buddies trailer?

It may be hard to wait a day or two,but maybe you should. It depends on your riding skills. New tires are slippery on dry pavement. If you are okay with the bike sliding a little you should be fine. I would tell you the FJR sits higher then then the Honda and will move more when the tire breaks loose. The other thing that may surpise you will be if you baby it and shift to a higher gear at low rpm and that give it gas. The tire is going to break free even under dry conditions. Enjoy, best bike!!!!!!!!

 

[mcatrophy]

So I will be picking up my 08 next week, and surprisingly the forecast is for rain until June (shocking, I know). I have a buddy that tells me that i absolutely do not want to ride home with new tires in the rain. I have ridden plenty in the rain (this IS Seattle after all) but never with new tires. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Should I wait until it dries out a bit or go borrow my buddies trailer?

My only advice would be to take it easy. Gentle throttle, gentle braking, no aggressive leans in corners. Give the tyres a good 100 miles before fully trusting them, wet or dry.

And a little rain just after a period of dry gives a much more slippery surface than after any amount of heavy rain.

The first half hour of any rain is the worst, it has to wash off a layer of grease and dust.

After that, you've about 80% grip unless you go through standing water at above about 50 mph. I've ridden at 40mph plus through 6 inches of standing water without any problem (I knew the road surface underneath was good).

[edit]Also treat painted lines, ironworks and tar snakes as if they were ice; when you go over them make sure the bike is upright and you're not braking or accelerating.[/edit]

I've also turned off a main road onto a minor one just after rain started, changed into 2nd, and thought I'd got total clutch slip, only to realise that the back wheel was starting to go sideways and had simply spun up (this on my previous mount).

So, ride in the rain, but if in any doubt, wait 30 minutes after it starts to give the road surface time to clean.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[Shane]

All kidding aside,

If you have to ask the question, you probably should not ride.

That said, I would not hesitate to ride given the same situation. There is no boogey-man aspect to this new tire-rain equation, just respect the machine and conditions.

I've seen new riders dump new bikes in front of the dealer, but not because of the newness of the tires.

I've seen racers roll onto the track with shiny new tires and not crash, in spite of the newness of the tires.

Rain may actually clean off the residue from the rubber faster than riding in dry conditions would.

Shane

 

[KnuckleHead]

As an experienced rain rider, you should be fine riding home. I pass through Auburn on a bike every day and as you know it's often raining. Like others have said, I take it easy in the rain and a little easier on new tires. Riding on new tires is not like riding on a skating rink - they do have some traction.
I change my own tires and use the sandpaper trick on new tires before hitting the road. The rear is easy to sand while on the centerstand and in gear. The front requires my wife to sit on the passenger seat and lean back to get the front wheel up in the air (or use a jack under the engine). I use the sandpaper trick whether it's going to rain or not just so I can maximize traction as quick as possible.

BTW, where are you getting your new scoot? I'll be looking for that beautiful black FJR on the road soon :yahoo:

I bought it at RMC. Same place I bought my VTX a few years back. I like the sales department, but I have had bad experiences (plural) with their service department so I take my bike elsewhere for service.

I was down there yesterday signing the papers...they were putting it together. I am just waiting for the heated grips to come so they can get them on and I will pick it up...probably Wednesday.

Thanks all for the advice; I think I will just ride it home.

 

[protondecay123]

I think I will just ride it home.

+1

 

[Low Level FJR Pilot]

Just put a set of BT21's on mine and as long as you take it easy, no problem. I had rain the day after I got them and they handled well.

 

[Panman]

Knucklehead, just take it easy if you’re a rider you’re a rider, remember what Forests mom said Stupid is as stupid does! Oh stay off of them darn white strips they'll leave hash marks when it's dry.