While on a ride today I applied my rear brakes, I heard a new squeak , I let off the brake and reapplied them. No sound and stopped normal. Continued my ride. I then came to another stop and this time there was a very loud noise from the rear brake. I rode to a safe location to check out my brakes. It appeared that inside pad was not seated right. I was lucky I was only a few miles away from my local dealership. It appears the caliper is bad. I'm still under warrenty thank god.

 

Michigan roads are not much better. I went thru 2 OEM in 12K - so this time I am going to try this Dunlop 205 - hope it last more than 7500.

 

That's a nice looking tire, I like the tread pattern. Seems to be less grooves (more tire). Maybe that's the ticket for someone who really doesn't ride in the rain often.

 

It has deeper tread 7/32 than the OEM and so far it works well. . . in the rain.

 

Nice, keep us posted on how they work for you.

 

I will be the first to admit I'm not a tire expert (but I'm getting there haha), but I did get advice from a guy that is and he said always follow the tire manafacturer's recommendations for air pressures, not the manual. The manual dosen't know what wieght your carring. Never put more psi in a tire than what it's max air pressure suggests.

The D408F and the D407 both have a maximum of 42psi (cold). I run both front and rear at 40psi, there is no need to run them any less and those that do it for a better ride won't get the miles out of the tire that is expected. I will bring the psi to 42 rear if I ride 2 up with gear and leave the front at 40psi.

That is why I have flipped the coin for better suspension front and rear. Jim I think you invested in a better front suspension also if I remember right. I'm sorry that I'm rambling a bit, but I have been really playing with tire types, psi's and suspensions for about two years religously and I'm just now able to speak from first hand knowlege and still have a ways to go. I'm a little more indepth about this on my touring bike than I am on my lo.

I don't look for how many miles I can get in a tire, I look for performance of a tire and that's why i switched to avon venoms (softer) on my bagger. I wouldn't say they are a better tire, but they feel and act better and I will be switching to them when my dunlops wear out on my lo.

Jim,
Did you install your Race Tech gold valves yet or is that a winter project?

 

JIMSFBL, Your not one of those guys that reads the side of his tire (car, Cycle) and puts that pressure in it? The tire manufactor does not know how much weight is going to be on the tire since all vehicles are different. They put the max PSI and weight the tire can handle on the side and tell YOU to follow vehicle manufactors guide lines for installed PSI, since vehicle manufacture has supposedly done the tests for handling.

 

Some new pics showing the dash wrap and tank panel by Xian Leather. Chritian does awesome work.

 

very nice work

 

Got the new fishies installed!