Rides like new

[crosscountry]

I finally replaced the stock TW front tire. It has just shy of 17000 miles. I'm pleased with that. The rear lasted ~12k

First thing I notice is that the bike handles way different. I'd say it's more responsive, but what I really notice is that it seems to dive into corners. I had gotten pretty good at diving into the corners with that old tire, and now it wants to do it on its own. Very odd feeling. I kind of liked the old handling.

It's an 07 Wee by the way, that I bought in May with >9k miles.

[guzziknight]

I felt the same way when I replaced the worn Dunlop on the rear with a Tourance EXP. Felt off for a bit, not I've gotten used to it, so I think it handles great. Give it some time, you'll get used to it.

[rcfield]

Hey CC...replaced the stock tire with WHAT??...couldn't tell whether

it was another TW or not.

RCF

[bwringer]

Crikey, how many times do you re-use teabags and condoms?

[crosscountry]

Originally Posted by rcfield

Hey CC...replaced the stock tire with WHAT??...couldn't tell whether

it was another TW or not.

RCF

yes, a TW. 17000 miles is good, and I was completely happy with the way they handle on the road. Not much off road yet.

[crosscountry]

Originally Posted by bwringer

Crikey, how many times do you re-use teabags and condoms?

haha, no more than twice for either

[Keep_it_on_the_DL]

Originally Posted by crosscountry

I finally replaced the stock TW front tire. It has just shy of 17000 miles. I'm pleased with that. The rear lasted ~12k

First thing I notice is that the bike handles way different. I'd say it's more responsive, but what I really notice is that it seems to dive into corners. I had gotten pretty good at diving into the corners with that old tire, and now it wants to do it on its own. Very odd feeling. I kind of liked the old handling.

It's an 07 Wee by the way, that I bought in May with >9k miles.

Are you sure that the bike hadn't already had a new rear tire installed before hitting 9K?

The reason I ask is that I am not getting anywhere near that kind of mileage out of my TW. I bought my bike with 5500 and the dealer had installed a fresh TW. The original front was still on there, but pretty badly cupped and I replaced it around 6000-6500. I blame that on improper air pressure since my replacement TW is wearing much better...

...but the rear is about gone with just over 5500 miles currently. I expect it to go 6-6.5K before it is toast. I have been happy with the way the TW has handled on and off road, but the mileage for me sucks. I don't ride terribly ham-fisted, but perhaps it might be the chip-seal roads we have everywhere in Texas. Still, I was getting 10K out of a rear tire on a 150 lb heavier bike with twice the power (FJR).

I am going to run one more TW on the rear to hopefully wear out with the front and then switch to Battlewings or Conti Trail Attacks.

[dljocky]

I've been through two rear TW in the past yr. Averaged about 8500 miles each. I would be happy to have that kind of life.

[kenneth_moore]

I had a similar experience replacing the TW with the Road Attack: the bike "dives" into corners, and steers much more lightly at low speed. I think the experts refer to this characteristic as "good handling."

Seriously, it was a bit unnerving at first, after 17k miles the OEM TW was square, and handled like it. After a couple hundred miles, it's a wonderful thing! You will get comfortable with the new tire quickly I am sure.

[Stromin'Nroman]

I had a Continental TKC-80 on the front last year and ended up doing a lot of highway miles on it, resulting in something akin to a 1943 MB Jeep tire.

When I replaced it with a new Metzeler Tourance, the bike actually rode more like a motorcycle than a Jeep.