Hi All
I haven't been around much due to other commitments but finally got an opportunity to take the K2 out last Saturday for a half decent run eventually, after buying it last September!
Considering the bike has been barely used for the last couple of years, in fact its only covered 900 miles in the last five years according to the MOT history she ran beautifully with no problems at all, mind you I have gone through it with a fine tooth comb over the winter, stripping, cleaning adjusting and tinkering which will have helped Hope
One thing that I did notice almost straight away was a noise which appeared to be coming from the front wheel area, the best way I can describe the noise is that it is very similar the the road noise you experience when travelling at speed in a car along a concrete road but it was there all the time from pulling off almost to full speed, if I hadn't just replaced all the wheel bearings and seals I would have put money on the fault being a dry bearing but it cant be
I may be worrying about nothing but I have recently found out that unknown to me when I purchased the bike it was a CAT D in 2006, in its self that doesn't really bother me as the bike is mint and in standard condition and has covered 10K miles and passed numerous MOT's since the CAT D, also I don't intend selling so not to worried about the value dropping
Has or does anyone else experience any similar noise and if so have they managed to find the cause? I don't recall this noise on any of the other 1400's that I have owned
Thanks in advance
Pete...
From what I read it's a repetitive road noise from standstill, like driving over the seams on a concrete road?
Maybe one of the following:
Flat spot on the front tyre?
Brake rotors warped or one of the floating disc carriers not freed up?
Unbalanced tyre?
I'd agree a slightly sticky disc bobbin or a pad that's not fully lubbed properly .
Or an old tyre can sometimes be noisy too.
Good luck :cheers:
Given the low mileage - how old are the tyres Will - could be the issue, as tyres do go "off" over time, and 5 years and only 900 miles, sounds like they don't get much chance to get worn out. Rubber will go hard over time.
To find your tyres age you need to find the DOT Date Code on the tyre. Find the raised DOT letters and numbers. Look for 4 numbers together, often enclosed in a raised oval. The first two numbers are the week the tyre was manufactured, for instance in the example below, 35 stands for week 35. The second two numbers are the year the tyre was manufactured. In the image below we see the 07, indicating the tyre was build in 2007. This particular tyre was made the 35th week of 2007.
If your brakes and rotors are ok, I'd be going for the tyre myself.
Have a look at the date stamp on both, because of the low mileage over the recent history, I think your tyres may be just too old & need replacing, just not flexing as they should & the compounds going hard, thus making a noise. Never mind how much tread is on them, if they're around 7 years old, it's time for some new shoes for the girl.
Morning & thanks for you comments, a few things to check & I have a feeling that I will be ordering a pair of tyres at the weekend :) any recommendations lol :rofl3:
Thanks
Pete.
Will, contact Suzuki GP team, Rins tyres after Assen should be cheap. Only did 9 corners. :)
Hmmm, reco for a tyre that has to travel around 900 miles every 5 years, hmmm, bloody near anything that's newly manufactured would do :whistling: :stir: :happy1: I know!, Ask Notty!! :whistling:
Whatever is the best price in your area really, Michy 5's, Angels, Metzler Bridgestone, all will do what need.
Michelin PR5's or a set of Road Angels. Both damn good tyres, nothing much (if anything) to choose between the 2
Barmy, what about Chen Shing or Kenda? I see them on so many golf buggies, must be good. :laugh:
Maxxis make tyres too, their forklift ones last for ages, wonder about their bike tyres? :imrgreen: :whistling:
Maxxis are made by Chen-shing and also make ago a plane tyres but I've never been convinced about there motor cycle tyres .
I did try them once soon a time and on a hot dry road they were ok but in the rain wow were they dodgy
:cheers:
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, 06:30 PM
Michelin PR5's or a set of Road Angels. Both damn good tyres, nothing much (if anything) to choose between the 2
As Dave says - no question quality tyres always since I was 18 ( 46 years ) :)
Quote from: seth on Thursday, 04 July 2019, 06:25 AM
Maxxis are made by Chen-shing and also make ago a plane tyres but I've never been convinced about there motor cycle tyres .
I did try them once soon a time and on a hot dry toad they were ok but in the rain wow were they dodgy
:cheers:
I'm interested to hear more
@seth about the Maxxis and the hot dry toad :happy1:
Hot dry toads are as hard and sticky as the road but wet toads are very slippery
(Bloddy phone )
:facepalm:
My Angels have Wings..
Thanks to Seth I am a convert to them..
I asked for the GT version originally on Sophie, but the Honda dealership that fitted them ordered the ST version (Same tread but a softer compound).. I am approaching 6,000 miles on them.. I recon they will at least equal the 7,500 miles I got from the Michelin PR4's I used to have on Sophie.
Angels get my vote !
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 04 July 2019, 02:43 PM
My Angels have Wings..
Thanks to Seth I am a convert to them..
I asked for the GT version originally on Sophie, but the Honda dealership that fitted them ordered the ST version (Same tread but a softer compound).. I am approaching 6,000 miles on them.. I recon they will at least equal the 7,500 miles I got from the Michelin PR4's I used to have on Sophie.
Angels get my vote !
That's interesting
@Speedy1959 . Why do you rate them over the PR4's which after all are a very good tyre, the PR5 being even better. What in your opinion makes them a better tyre as I thought they were on a par with the PR4.
I have PR4's on my Tex, and they still grip like mad and are only about half worn through after 7k miles, which includes touring across Europe, and thoroughly rate them.
Hi Barmy..
The main thing I like over the PR4's is the lack of tram-lining over road irregularities..
The PR4's did this quite badly.. So much so that I subconsciously altered the way I gripped the bars when approaching road deviations..
When I got the Angels it was as though I have a very good steering damper on..
Also I love the extra confidence the Angels inspire through bends.
Now I am by now means a "scratcher" that hoones around the lanes, but even my mates commented that I was riding "up a notch or two" in the bends.
And then of course there is the longevity..
The PR4's were very good for this..
The Angel ST's I have on look like they will last at least as long..
Next time around I shall get the GT's though...
Its always a bit of a gamble putting on a different set of tyres that your not familiar with onto your bike.. (Could be an expensive regret)..
But thanks to Seths consistent endorsements there wasnt really any risk..
I therefore recommend this tyre to the house (Mi Lord)
S
I agree on PR4 the tram tracking as they wear, new & only part worn, that issue wasn't there, but it slowly crept in & would track even on road repair edges where it was straight. & yes I too modified the way I rode on areas like that, just more aware & ready for when it happened.
I've got PR3's on the blue, close to retirement too, they don't seem to be as bad at tramtracking, but it's been a while, maybe I forget stuff. The Angels (ST) on the black don't track, they're about ½ worn & not getting a lot of use, as it's a 'spare / donor' most of the time. It's still fully rideable & it does go out on occasion just to be fair to it.
I'm thinking I'll give the P5 a go next time, but haven't they got a new version of the Angels out now too? Who knows, it'll be one or the other, both very good rubber.
I'm loving the new Pirelli Angel gt2's they feel as good as the gt's they replaced and I got them at a very good price that was very close to the gt's.
In comparison
The gt2's are a little more sensitive than the gt's .
The gt2's give loads more feeling and confidence in the wet for me.
The gt2's are seam to be wearing even better than the gt's did and at just over 3000 miles they still look like they were fitted yesterday (front and back)
Are the gt2's worth the extra I'm not sure yet but they do feel very close to the gt's(Better in the wet) but I suspect they are going to give an even longer life than the gt's s did.
I've only fitted Pirelli tyres in the last 6-7 years so know nothing about them .
:cheers:
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, 08:17 AM
Given the low mileage - how old are the tyres Will - could be the issue, as tyres do go "off" over time, and 5 years and only 900 miles, sounds like they don't get much chance to get worn out. Rubber will go hard over time.
To find your tyres age you need to find the DOT Date Code on the tyre. Find the raised DOT letters and numbers. Look for 4 numbers together, often enclosed in a raised oval. The first two numbers are the week the tyre was manufactured, for instance in the example below, 35 stands for week 35. The second two numbers are the year the tyre was manufactured. In the image below we see the 07, indicating the tyre was build in 2007. This particular tyre was made the 35th week of 2007.
Good call on the tyres Dave, have just had the time to go and check & it is time for some new rubber :cheers:
Front Tyre: Week 8 Year 2012
Rear Tyre: Week 3 2011
Think I will also change the chain & sprockets for peace of mind, tyres first though just to see if it alleviates the noise if not will work through step by step
Thanks
Pete
Quote from: Will14 on Sunday, 07 July 2019, 01:17 AM
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, 08:17 AM
Given the low mileage - how old are the tyres Will - could be the issue, as tyres do go "off" over time, and 5 years and only 900 miles, sounds like they don't get much chance to get worn out. Rubber will go hard over time.
To find your tyres age you need to find the DOT Date Code on the tyre. Find the raised DOT letters and numbers. Look for 4 numbers together, often enclosed in a raised oval. The first two numbers are the week the tyre was manufactured, for instance in the example below, 35 stands for week 35. The second two numbers are the year the tyre was manufactured. In the image below we see the 07, indicating the tyre was build in 2007. This particular tyre was made the 35th week of 2007.
Good call on the tyres Dave, have just had the time to go and check & it is time for some new rubber :cheers:
Front Tyre: Week 8 Year 2012
Rear Tyre: Week 3 2011
Think I will also change the chain & sprockets for peace of mind, tyres first though just to see if it alleviates the noise if not will work through step by step
Thanks
Pete
For sure they could be a little off Pete!!
Keep us apprised buddy, as if its not the tyres, then it will be interesting to find out what is causing the noise. When I got my Triumph new, the tyre noise from the standard Metzelers was awful, put a set of PR4 Trails on her at 4,500 miles and all the road noise went.
And the handling improved as well (which if your tyre's have gone off you'll notice).
Good luck!
Bugger using touring tyres.
If I had a bike that did 180 miles a year I'd use the stickiest tyres I could find. You're still going to be binning them before they wear out !