tyre pressures

hi, im havin bother with my k8 sv650s sport. handling over the last few months has got worse and worse, to the point where im nervous on the bike in the wet now. i put it down to the front tyre, which is still the same one from the showroom, possibly at the end of its life, although in inspection, it still has about 3-4mm of tread left. i have replaced the rear with a bridgestone 021, and im wondering if perhaps the pressures might be the problem? any one give me advice so i dont have to go find the book and look up the pressures!???

[DarrenSV650S]

33 front 36 back

[TEC]

Originally Posted by guzz316

.... i have replaced the rear with a bridgestone 021...

Ok so I don't ride an SV but guess what, I have the same problem Whats on the front

As the 020 is no longer available for my bikes I swapped to the 021, supposed to be better. Well after only getting 4.5k miles out of a front* I was not impressed and managed to locate a few 020's so they got put on the front, no rears available so 021 still on rear.

Slowly both bikes have developed a slow speed wobble, been through everything, bearings, shocks, swinging arm on one (was a bit rotten anyways) and the wobble was still there. Well rear on K bike got a 2nd nail a couple of weeks back so its been swapped, another 021 and surprise surprise the wobble has gone

So I am now convinved a mix of 021 rear and 020 front will just make me feel a little unstable at slow speeds, both bikes have been fine at normal speeds so handling not affected

Long term plan is to swap to a totally different manufacturer, I don't think Bridgestone (IMO) care too much going on the email conversations I have had with their own sales/support techs about the 4.5k wear, on what is supposed to be a sport/touring tyre, used to get in excess of 9k out of a front

*Still getting 8k+ out of the 021 on the rear

[combatfred]

I've had this happen before and it's been down to the front tyre being worn. You might have good tread in the middle of the tyre, but if the sides have worn then that changes the profile of the tyre so that any time you start to lean it feels nervous as hell and seems to drop on it's ear too easily. I'm heavy on the sides of my front tyres, so I normally end up changing both front and rear when the rear needs replacing.

Hope you get it sorted.

Fred

[JamesMio]

Try a set of Avon Storms on the Pan TEC - that's what I put on mine in May, they'll have done 5k now and still look almost brand new. Oh, and the handling felt spot on too.

[TEC]

Originally Posted by JamesMio

Try a set of Avon Storms ....

Will be kept in mind but

.... in May, they'll have done 5k now

Not 100% convinced yet, have done three sets since May

.... and the handling felt spot on too.

In the cold n wet? Thats the really big one to me just now, somthing thats going to handle the winter as well as 020's have done

[JamesMio]

Haven't had a fair chance to try them in the proper cold as my Dad's now got the bike, but they coped beautifully with some spirited riding through the heaviest rain I've seen let alone ridden through in France. No slips, slides or general uneasy feelings to report.

I still class myself as a big fat newbie in biking terms so I'm probably even more wary than most and these were very confidence inspiring for me.

I have 021's F&R and find they take a little while to warm up (less time than the old Dunlops however) and they like to be driven through a corner in the wet (whilst keeping the bike upright - moving the upper body off the bike) rather than ridden gently around stayiing ontop of the bike.

I don't advise you do this - I just found that a couple of r/abouts on the way to work, that I know to be slippery in the wet when taking things real easy, are better if hit with a bit of speed than not. The tyres seem to bite more.

[TEC]

Didn't have a problem with 021's in the wet, in fact found them to be rather great out on the open road little switchy in town though was more the wear rate that has put me off them

thanks 2 all for ur replys guys, problem is over, got 2 metzler's fitted at saltire this afternoon, feels like a new bike, suppose the front was worn down real bad!