Why is my MPT so low?

[slapnpop]

Did we do that one at EOM? If not why the hell not?

It was on the maps. I know a few people rode it, but I'm not sure who.

 

[Ignacio]

These guys getting 9k out of tires must be driving the speed limit all the time and never WFO the thing.

Sure. I'm driving the speed limit twice. Once as I zoom through it and once as I hit the brakes slowing down. My average is about 7-8K for a rear....with the exception of one tire that gave it's short but very entertaining life to the Nevada desert.

 

[vectervp1]

These guys getting 9k out of tires must be driving the speed limit all the time and never WFO the thing.

That's an interesting theory. But I will say, and my riding buddies will agree, that it is completely inaccurate.

Hmm.. I could probably hit 9k on a set of tires if I didnt have to replace them early so I could run out and do another 1000+ mile ride somewhere 800+ miles away. I think all of my tires have gone a minimum of 7000 before being replaced (including a particular set that was worn almost solely in the Nevada deserts).

 

[Toecutter]

I went back and looked at the mileage I had when I bought the tires.
It seems I've put 10,100 miles on the tires. So I guess I'm pretty pleased with that. B)

What model of tires?

 

[twowheelnut]

OK TWN, you skinnny little pocket protector slide rule wearing dweeb you... not only do you insult my ability to engage gravity, but you find a link about improving the Pilot Roads in Jan 2007 literally 10 minutes after I just ordered another set. I hate you! Matter of fact, I've been noticing that only you skinny little dweebs get good mileage... I'm starting to think it's a conspiracy... so just how did you skinny farts get the tire manufacturers to build the long lasting tires for you while selling us gravity-endowed fellows lesser tires..

Not fer nuttin', but my Azaros would be toast by 6K... Feel better now, Fatty? :haha:

 

[Inlaw1]

These guys getting 9k out of tires must be driving the speed limit all the time and never WFO the thing.

That's an interesting theory. But I will say, and my riding buddies will agree, that it is completely inaccurate.

You will note the smiley I inserted as I didn't really think y'all were supporters of road regulation. Tell me, please... what is accurate?

I would be interested in your, or anyone's opinion for that matter, as to how or why yourself and many others can get twice the mileage than, say, many of us.

I keep my tires pressured properly and I'm not running a ton all the time, nor am I rarely running with the bags on or a passenger, so why am I not getting 7-9k out of a rear?

I don't get it and while I won't loose any sleep over it, I am wondering if anyone can offer an opinion. :huh:

 

[Mike-H]

Inlaw1...there will be some that may disagree, but one of the most important things to tire life is throttle control, & in that I mean smoothness....you'll find those that whack the throttle open or & closed see higher wear than those who roll on roll off smoothly....whether it is quick or not becomes irrelevant when your smooth...hopefully. this helps @ in answering your question?....hope so....

 

[dcarver]

Inlaw1...there will be some that may disagree, but one of the most important things to tire life is throttle control, & in that I mean smoothness....you'll find those that whack the throttle open or & closed see higher wear than those who roll on roll off smoothly....whether it is quick or not becomes irrelevant when your smooth...hopefully. this helps @ in answering your question?....hope so....

Yep, I tend to agree. Ever since I installed the G2 throttle tube, the Madco throttle lock, and the Audiovox CC, my MPG has increased to 57 and my MPT is up to about 35k now! ... and if you belive that one....

 

[Inlaw1]

Inlaw1...there will be some that may disagree, but one of the most important things to tire life is throttle control, & in that I mean smoothness

I've heard that one before and it does make some sense. While 'smooth' has been used by others to describe me in and out of corners on roads I know, I do tend to whack the throttle a bit in straight lines, yank the front end, yadda, yadda. Maybe I'll work harder on being smoother with the throttle opening and closings and see if my tire mileage improves. I'm having a hard time thinking it can double the life of what I get now though, but we'll give it a try.

 

[vectervp1]

Inlaw1...there will be some that may disagree, but one of the most important things to tire life is throttle control, & in that I mean smoothness....you'll find those that whack the throttle open or & closed see higher wear than those who roll on roll off smoothly....whether it is quick or not becomes irrelevant when your smooth...hopefully. this helps @ in answering your question?....hope so....

Well I totally disagree with your opionon.... but only because someone has to!

There are alot of reasons for varied milage. Higher milage also comes from doing lots of highway miles too. Twisty roads seem to eat up tires quicker than long flat roads. Whacking the throttle hard enough to lift the front is definately going to chew up that rear faster.

One last thing is weight. I aint saying I'm at my 'ideal' weight range, but the closer you are, the more your rear tire is probably going to last.

 

[twowheelnut]

There are alot of reasons for varied milage. Higher milage also comes from doing lots of highway miles too. Twisty roads seem to eat up tires quicker than long flat roads. Whacking the throttle hard enough to lift the front is definately going to chew up that rear faster.

Good, then would you please try to get your goofy friend down in CG to understand this simple concept. His brain is glazed over hard about this little tidbit of reality.

 

[vectervp1]

Good, then would you please try to get your goofy friend down in CG to understand this simple concept. His brain is glazed over hard about this little tidbit of reality.

Yeah right. That's like trying to explain how to use toilet paper to my cat.... never gonna happen.

 

[Ignacio]

I would be interested in your, or anyone's opinion for that matter, as to how or why yourself and many others can get twice the mileage than, say, many of us.
I keep my tires pressured properly and I'm not running a ton all the time, nor am I rarely running with the bags on or a passenger, so why am I not getting 7-9k out of a rear?

I don't get it and while I won't loose any sleep over it, I am wondering if anyone can offer an opinion. :huh:

Don't discount road surface type and treatment. We may say "two-laners", "blacktop", or "mountain twisties", but each of those can have totally different road types.

I think the technical name of cheaper roads (usually county roads in the West) tend to be bitumous asphalt or "chip seal". That's a layer of asphalt oil that they then drop gravel on the top of. Traffic then packs it down and it turns darker. These roads vary in aggregate size and if viewed very closely are very hard on our bike contact patches. Sharp edges wear tires more quickly.

The other type is hot mix asphalt that is layed down and poured like big, black, sick marshmallow and then gone over with a compacting roller. I think these road surfaces are much smoother at a close-up level and friendlier to our bike rubber.

I think the other big factors are throttle hand discipline.....Lifting front tire off ground.....very very hard on tires. And another is loading.....fat rider asses and loaded down bikes. But, being a fat ass with a loaded bike I can get 7K+ if nice to my throttle and tend to stick on the rolled asphalt roads, local streets, and Interstates.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I think the technical name of cheaper roads (usually county roads in the West) tend to be bitumous asphalt or "chip seal". That's a layer of asphalt oil that they then drop gravel on the top of. Traffic then packs it down and it turns darker. These roads vary in aggregate size and if viewed very closely are very hard on our bike contact patches. Sharp edges wear tires more quickly.
The other type is hot mix asphalt that is layed down and poured like big, black, sick marshmallow and then gone over with a compacting roller. I think these road surfaces are much smoother at a close-up level and friendlier to our bike rubber.

Both of these surfaces also get very hot in the summer mid-afternoon sun and are often 50 to 70 degrees hotter than the air temperature. If the asphalt is 150-170 degrees then the contact patch in the middle of the tire is also going to be pretty close to that temperature or even higher and those higher temperatures make it pretty easy to scuff rubber off the tire. A concrete surface usually runs 30 to 40 degrees cooler than asphalt.

 

[vectervp1]

I keep my tires pressured properly and I'm not running a ton all the time, nor am I rarely running with the bags on or a passenger, so why am I not getting 7-9k out of a rear?

Sumpin I just picked up on. You mentioned your old bike was a CBR. If it wasnt a Blackbird and was a sport bike (600cc 900cc), then I'm gonna go out on a limb here. (I feel qualified to do this because I not only play a doctor online, but an acrobat too). Besides, if I'm wrong you can have your money back.

Most sporbikes run at 33psi front 36psi rear. Thats fine and dandy for a 370lbs sportbike, but low for a sport touring bike. Try running your air pressure closer to 40psi front and rear. (the exact pressure will vary person to person) Personally I run 40psi front and 42psi rear.

 

[Ignacio]

Personally I run 40psi front and 42psi rear.

I prefer to run both of mine at 2.86 atmospheres......or 2896 millibar for you metric folks.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I don't recall who said it to me, but it originally came from this forum...

"You didn't buy an FJR to putt around on."

While my throttle may not fall into this all-so-popular conotation of "smooth", I am confident that my throttle management and overall power control hangs with the best. But tire mileage is not my forte', and I'm growing more and more convinced that I am not alone.

Personally, I have no desire to run on a hard-ass tire, most of the time. If I knew there were 5,000 miles of slab ahead of me, then I might consider an H-rated tire for mileage. But that would seriously cut into my fun once I arrived in mountains or wherever. I do think there is room for better mileage without sacrificing too much in grip and tire performance.

Hence, I will continue being "quick" on the throttle, "smooth" where I need to be, "fast" every chance I get, and "happy as hell" to be riding my FJR in the manner which God intended me to!



Next tire brand to test, please! :yahoo:

As a side note... I saw the same kind of unusually short tire life on my 2003 Suzuki XL-7 SUV with it's stock rubbers. And that rice burner beast won't hardly get out of its own way! It took four sets of tires to find a brand/type that lasts around here. So it's not just the FJR. I'm very convinced that typical road surface is, by far, the key contributor/factor in tire life.

 

[James Burleigh]

Hence, I will continue being "quick" on the throttle, "smooth" where I need to be, "fast" every chance I get, and "happy as hell" to be riding my FJR in the manner which God intended me to!

[SIZE=24pt]Amen, brother! Amen and Amen! Throttle that chicken! [/SIZE] :yahoo:

 

[James Burleigh]

I went back and looked at the mileage I had when I bought the tires.
It seems I've put 10,100 miles on the tires. So I guess I'm pretty pleased with that. B)

What model of tires?

Avons.

 

[Mike-H]

Pirelli diablo front.....& diablo strada rear....or new BT 021's.....(if really insane Pirelli corsa front/rear )