Modern Vespa

Look at that scraping almost all the way to the edge (this goes all the way around).

Yesterday I put on a new rear tire and today I went to ride it. I turned off ASR and started riding and on the very first turn (from the front gate onto the street) the backend went out sideways for a very ouchy duration resulting in all that scraping along the tire.

I do know better but my head went into auto mode the moment I hopped on the scoot.

looking at the graph you can see that the rear wheel (red) going way faster than the front (blue). at the peak of the slide it was 34kph rear and 25kph front. if asr was still enabled it probably wouldn't have been so much

to keep it upright did involve instantly putting my foot down as though I was trying to do some powerslide / doughnut thingy. I credit my saving it from hitting the ground to my extensive riding on unsealed roads which of course does every now and then have the backend stepping out.

Before somebody asks: normal tire pressure 26/28psi @ 20C front/rear

(photo was taken a few blocks later when I reached my destination during which I had of course not been corning hard)

new tire and no ASR you were feeling brave LOL! I usually do 50 miles before getting aggressive on new 2 wheel tires...

I saw a guy at a motorcycle dealership drop his bike on the first turn in the parking lot after brand new tires were installed. Tore up that pretty GSXR. However, thanks for posting this, it's a good safety reminder.

A little trick I usually use when I install a new rear tire, is to stick the front wheel to a wall, pull the front brake, and speed up the rear one so that it slides a little to speed up the process of removing the wax they come with, if have gravel or gross sand on the floor is better.

I have also used coarse sandpaper (60-80 grit) and I rub it over the entire contact surface of the new tires before using it (I always do it with new fronts).

I normally also do and intended to. But as I said the moment I got on the bike my mind automatically switch to spirted mode

I have done that a few times in the past out of paranoia.

Been there, done that, ended up totaling my Buddy 170i with shiny new tires taking a roundabout at the speed I normally would. An expensive and painful lesson, to be sure, but one I won't forget and will try to convey to those who may follow.

Cheers,

Bob

Ouch! Glad you've recovered. Sorry about the Buddy, though!

On both my motorcycles and my bicycles ( they do 40 mph too) I sand the surface of new tyres after fitting. If they a fitted at a dealer I just pop an A4 piece in my pocket and rough up the sides.

Its the release agent from the mold and only takes a quick rub to clear it off

Great advise. I guess I just go straight and slow to rough the new tires up.
The knowledge on this forum is amazing.

Bob Copeland

I always mount my own tires so I pull all those little rubber mold spikes off the tire first one by one then a quick buff with 100 grit sandpaper my way of paying homage to the tire gods before rubber hits Terra firma this is the way I stay vertical after 14 tire changes on my gt200 so I can dress for the ride not the crash.