Bought a new '09 EG Police bike that I'm going to convert to a 2-up touring bike. A sticker on my rear fender says "Tires rated for one person. If motorcycle is changed to carry two people, tires must be changed." It says serious injury or death may occur...

What's up with that??? Is it something about the "run-flat" tires?? Would I have to change just the rear tire, or both??

Thanks

 

I don't believe that the run flats for the 09's Bikes have been manufactured yet. They put the sticker on in anticipation for the run flats. But last I heard they were using the same tires as non police models.

 

dang that's good to hear....how do I confirm that my tires are "normal" tires? The dealer seemed baffled by the sticker

 

My department had a loaner 09 and the first thing I was told was that the tires were not run flat. I have not heard of the run flat tires coming out yet for the new bikes.

Neil
RDMC

 

more better good news...not that having tires that will run flat isn't a good thing, I just don't want to put the cash out for new tires when I go to a 2-up seat

 

if you go to a harley dealer and look at all the numbers, sizes etc, information about the tires that's printed on the sidewall, on a bike in the showroom and the numbers are the same as the numbers on yours, then i'd think theyr'e the same tires. if you know of a place where cop bikes are used, then check with that dealer who services their bikes, they'd have all the information on them. in tulsa it's meyer durham hd. they service the cop bikes for tulsa.

 

just check the load ratings on the side of the tires. if the rear is ~800 and front around ~600 you are good to go.

 

I am far from an expert on tires but I was told that the Police bikes have the 404 load rating and the touring bikes have the 402?

 

i think the police tires are bead lock so that they will not unseat in case of blow out or shoot out. these tires are not weight rated for two up. the front is sufficient but the rear is not. run flat is not an accurate term.

 

Disclosed is a run flat tire for motorcycles having a high handling stability, cornering stability and durability even when the tire is punctured during running and the pneumatic pressure inside of the tire becomes equal to atmospheric pressure. The run flat tire has a pair of sidewall-reinforcing layers each comprising (1) an elastic filler extending from an end location adjacent a bead core in a bead portion to the other end location in a tread portion through a sidewall portion of the tire and (2) at least one reinforcing ply which extends along one side surface of the elastic filler toward the tread portion, is turned up around the end of the elastic filler in the tread portion and which then further extends along the other side surface of the elastic filler toward the bead portion.

Run flat tire info. --- http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4202393.html

Run flats are not designed to be ridden 2 UP WHEN FLAT. That's why they are not on civilian bikes.