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.

 

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.

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

it was another TW or not.

RCF

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

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2002 Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, Dark Metallic Space Blue
1990 Suzuki VX800, Candy Luxury Maroon. And dents.
1983 Suzuki GS850G, Cosmic Blue.

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.

haha, no more than twice for either

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.

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K6 Silver/Blue Wee

Current mods: plenty

Future mods: Headlight guard, radiator guard, oil cooler guard, and handlebar risers. (Watch this list shrink).

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.

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.

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Hauling serious ass on a motorcycle is great fun. It doesn't matter if it's in a straight line or through the twisties, the faster the better.

Life begins at 100!

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.

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Stromin'Nroman NC28729, USA

DL650A K7 with the usual performance-degrading enhancements

"Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" Frank Zappa, 1975