Tire Time – It Draws Nigh

Posted by on January 25, 2012 No comments

Ok, Vernon, what the hell are you babbling about now?  I speak of my motorcycle tire, the rear tire, to be precise.  Its tread is worn down to about an 1/8 of an inch.  So it will soon be time to for the purchase of a Spring tire.

By Spring tire I simply mean that I’ll have the tire on during the Spring and likely into Summer.

So here I go again; shopping tires for the best value, best quality that I can get at that value, and then I get to mount the sucker on myself.

Don’t get me wrong; I rather enjoy working on my bike and getting things done – the sense of accomplishment and knowing that I can care for my own ride is pretty cool.

Pricing

I’m somewhat of a stingy bastard when it comes to shelling out money for motorcycle tires.  Well, I prefer the term frugal.
Thing is, tires can be damned pricey when it comes to motorcycles!  And what makes it even more annoying is the fact that they all wear at about the same rate; buying a more expensive tire won’t necessarily mean you will get more mileage out of a tire.

Here are the choices I keep in mind, in no particular order, for their price and equally so, the quality of the tires themselves:

  • Shinko – This brand of tire is actually a pretty good choice for me who rides a cruiser.  It generally has great tread depth, and its designs help with most road conditions and surfaces.  Its handling on wet pavement is above average and the tire tends to give you confidence in its predictability when maneuvering around curves and cornering.
  • Duro – I discovered this brand while looking for a vendor of the Shinko tire; it seems Shinko tires have grown in demand and end up on back-order pretty often.
    The Duro tire is also a relatively inexpensive tire but infused with quality .  Its tread depth is among the best for the class of tire I look for and its handling is comparable to the Shinko tire as well.
    The price was even lower than that of the Shinko tire, by about $10.00 on average.

Of course, there’s the original or OEM tires that came with the bike, but the price is definitely higher:

  • IRC – Average price:$125.00 up to $170.00 for a rear tire
  • Dunlop - Average price:  $113.00 up to $190.00 for a rear tire.

By comparison the prices of the Shinko and Duro tires:

  • Shinko – $84.00
  • Duro – 75.00

Now, on occasion you will also see the Bridgestone Spitfire motorcycle tires nicely priced at about $89.00. And if I happen to need a tire when they are on sale at these price ranges then I may consider it — after all, both the Shinko and the Duro tires tend to be on back-order, as mentioned earlier.

As to where I shop my tires, I tend to frequent a couple of online re-sellers:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com

http://www.jakewilson.com/

Both have been great in prompt service and shipping – JakeWilson was really nice when I had to return a front tire that would not balance out after mounting.  They were prompt in providing me an RMA number and a return shipping label.  Receiving the replacement tire was also prompt.

If you find yourself in the market for a replacement tire, because like me you rode on it until the nylon cords were visible,  then you owe it to yourself to shop around, online or your local biker shop.

If you don’t have the tools and hardware for changing the tire yourself, again, shop around for a inexpensive shop to replace the tire for you.

A remark on tire mileage

On average I have been getting about 8,000 to 9,500 miles out of a rear tire.  Some have said that this is a bit on the short end of a typical mileage life for a cruiser tire.

I commute about 85 miles a day.  My speeds vary between 30~45mph in neighborhood traffic to 65~85mph on the main toll roads I use when riding to or from work.

I have just shy of 40,000 miles on my bike; I have had a total of five tires including the original ones – that’s where my average comes from: 40,000/5 = 8,000 miles.

A tire, my second one, was a Kenda brand tire.  What a short-lived piece of shit tire.  I will not buy another Kenda tire, thank you much.  I think I might have managed to get something like 3,500 miles of the tire and it was down to the cords.  The first tire lasted almost 10,000 miles! I attribute the mileage to my “easy riding” since I was still somewhat new to riding a heavier cruiser bike and thus did not push my riding style, then.

Now, let’s see how much money’s in the “sock” so I can buy that next tire.

When I Grow Up…

Posted by on January 20, 2012 No comments

I have been going on for a while now about enrolling into school; acquiring an eventual Bachelor’s degree is something I have been planning for a at least a few years.

So, I get this degree at some point in the not-so-distant future, and then…what?

Granted, I will likely boost my income substantially.  But what will I be doing that earns me what I want?
Do I continue along the computer field I have been treading these last 5 years?  Or do I take stock of where I am and then consider other fields and options that have nothing to do with a computer?

I suppose that in the end I should do what will return the largest satisfaction, not to mention enough of an income on which to live comfortably, I suppose.

Again, the question arises: What will I do?

I’m open to ideas.  Are there non-computer careers out there that someone of my age can look to pursuing that will allow me to live well, and still have the free time to experience life, such as it is and improve upon it all?

Therein lies the conundrum.  I should not be so critical of things as they are now; relatively speaking I am doing okay.  Still, there is this part of me wanting to improve and enrich who I am and will be.

So it goes; I will try to make some time to hit up a few of the local junior colleges.  See about getting enrolled and at least start on some of the entry classes that will get me going toward an Associates’.

And who knows, maybe while I’m there I will discover the next career I want to pursue and will do so.

…here’s to self-improvement!

Anti-SOPA & PIPA Petition: Time to sign it!

Posted by on January 18, 2012 No comments

I recently spoke of the so-called anti-piracy bills making their way through Congress; if you haven’t already about this you’re living under a rock and are still impressed by Windows ’95.

I entreat you to take a quick minutes to sign the petition being facilitated by Google:

End Piracy, not Liberty!

It’s quick and it’s simple.

Motorcycle Auto-Wash – Yes please!

Posted by on January 17, 2012 No comments

I came across this web site that offers installation and set-up of a full automated motorcycle wash bay.  How cool is that?  I mean I’d love to have one nearby, or better yet,  own a few of these throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Who knows, I may just go ahead and jump into this – I went as far as submitting an inquiry.

Here’s a video they have depicting the Motorcycle wash in action (video may take a few moments to pre-load the first time you view it):

I figure, have a few of these within an enclosed building (for Fall/Winter upkeep, etc) and I should have an almost year-round revenue income from them.

Motorcycle Safety – Thrill? Or Buzz Kill?

Posted by on January 17, 2012 No comments

I thought it would be prudent to go ahead and post this sobering video provided the California Highway Patrol regarding safe motorcycle riding.  Be advised: This video contains some graphic images of actual crashes and the respective victims involved.

The video is originally presented on the CHP’s web site.  I obtained a copy and uploaded here for ease of access.

The point I’m trying to make is two-fold.  Yes, we are quick to say that it is dangerous to ride a motorcycle; motorcycle riders should pay careful attention – and they should. What also needs to be stated time and time again is this: You, the driver of the car, or van, or truck, or SUV, it is your responsibility to pay attention as well.

If a motorcycle strikes or collides into your vehicle, who do you think will likely be injured?  You?  Hardly.  And though I am a main proponent to holding a motorcycle rider to the task of always paying attention to what is going on around them as they ride, it is also the responsibility of the driver of any and all vehicles to also pay attention.

There is no excuse for riding stupid – if you are popping wheelies, stoppies, sitting backward while riding, or any other manner of unsafe riding – all for the thrill of it or to show your mad skillz, then you deserve what you get when you lay your bike down, get road-rash on 30% of your body, or crack your skull and smear your brains against a bus stop sign.

I love the Ride.  But I trust no one driving around me while in traffic; I drive as I am indeed invisible to everyone and make every effort to anticipate what is happening both near me and down the road.  I don’t think about my day, I don’t wonder if I budgeted well for the week; I don’t think about my wife/kids/dogs/socks/burgers or anything – I focus on what I am doing: riding a motorcycle.

So, for the sake of those of us doing our damnedest to ride safely, WATCH FOR US…I know I am watching for you.