Engine Braking

[TalonChief]

Originally Posted by WarHorse

What caught my eye was the "excessive tire wear". I just had to reshoe my girl's back rubber after only about 3.5 k miles. That's pitiful for a tire, even a DunFlop OEM replacement that I put on. I was looking to place the blame for this bad performance somewhere (could just be a crap tire) and this is the most likely thing I can think of since I check air pressure and don't ride with it slammed or over weighted.


The Metz are performance tires and are softer compound than the Dunflops....I'd think they'd wear quicker than the Dunflops. Plus, more $$. Longer is better.....so I've been told.

Sorry to the OP for the thread jack!

If you only 3.5K out of a stock Dunlop, something was seriously wrong with the tire, or is seriously wrong with your bike. You should get closer to double that unless you're purposely abusing the tire. I ride the shit out out of my bagger on HOT Florida roads, and do compression brake, and still got 6-7K out of them before I switched to E3s. Metzlers should equal that for the casual rider.

Don't be sorry; it's what we do.

[why_me]

Originally Posted by cwilks

sorry.....it was funny as hell for those more adept

I was in the back on the pack when you did that. I heard a horrible squealing and a cloud of tire smoke rising up. If I remember right, we were approacing a turn and I figured someone didn't notice till the last minute.

It was definately funny once I figured out people weren't dying.

[BigSwede]

I wonder if engine braking is what's caused my compensator to work its way loose. That's what i think the clacking down by my floorboard is anyway........

[Bone Stockman]

I got around 9k on my last ME880 radial on the 'Train, I'll be lucky to get 5k out of this one (but the last one was pre-build). I'll take the grip over tire life any day of the week.

I replaced the rear 407/408 on the BSL at 9k, and probably had at least another 3k in it. I'm abusive as hell to those tires.

[WarHorse]

Originally Posted by TalonChief

If you only 3.5K out of a stock Dunlop, something was seriously wrong with the tire, or is seriously wrong with your bike. You should get closer to double that unless you're purposely abusing the tire. I ride the shit out out of my bagger on HOT Florida roads, and do compression brake, and still got 6-7K out of them before I switched to E3s. Metzlers should equal that for the casual rider.

Don't be sorry; it's what we do.

That was my thought....way under expected tire life. Had the fellas at the HD check it out when they put the new one on and they said everything was in order. Who knows...maybe Dunlop got over on me. We'll see how the new one does.

Here's what it looked like when my buddy waved me over while doing 85 mph down the interstate on our recent 2,500 mile road trip. That'll make your pucker factor go up. It went to the chords in no time cuz it wasn't like that when I started the riding day.

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by cwilks

its how I got my moniker

If I remember correctly, I was behind you when you did that. I got all bug-eyed and thought WTH??!!!

Then started laughing when it was apparent you weren't in trouble.

[Crabby Appleton]

Originally Posted by mongoose

If I remember correctly, I was behind you when you did that. I got all bug-eyed and thought WTH??!!!

Then started laughing when it was apparent you weren't in trouble.

ahhhh.....good times

[Infidel!]

Originally Posted by WarHorse

That was my thought....way under expected tire life. Had the fellas at the HD check it out when they put the new one on and they said everything was in order. Who knows...maybe Dunlop got over on me. We'll see how the new one does.

Here's what it looked like when my buddy waved me over while doing 85 mph down the interstate on our recent 2,500 mile road trip. That'll make your pucker factor go up. It went to the chords in no time cuz it wasn't like that when I started the riding day.

That sure sounds like an alignment issue.


On topic, however, I can see how no engine braking would add a bunch of useable miles to the rear tire, since you should be using your front brake for at least 75% of your braking force.

But I'm still gonna engine brake because it sounds really cool

[Scabbydoo]

Originally Posted by TalonChief

I read the paragraph and saw this -->

Are you insinuating something there bud???

[Scabbydoo]

Originally Posted by WarHorse

....It went to the chords in no time cuz it wasn't like that when I started the riding day.

Very familiar with that scenario.

[TalonChief]

Originally Posted by WarHorse

That was my thought....way under expected tire life. Had the fellas at the HD check it out when they put the new one on and they said everything was in order. Who knows...maybe Dunlop got over on me. We'll see how the new one does.

Here's what it looked like when my buddy waved me over while doing 85 mph down the interstate on our recent 2,500 mile road trip. That'll make your pucker factor go up. It went to the chords in no time cuz it wasn't like that when I started the riding day.

You have your pressure right; right? Gauge is accurate too? Looks like over-inflation damage, or possibly you let Scabby ride it for a while.

[TalonChief]

Originally Posted by Scabbydoo

Are you insinuating something there bud???

Not about you; that was just the most relevant smiley. I thought the article cited in the OP read like belligerent hot air.

[Scabbydoo]

Originally Posted by TalonChief

Not about you; that was just the most relevant smiley....

I'm glad to hear that but that guy wasn't even Eyetalian.