So I have an odd question. I have about a 1/4 - 1/2 inch strip on my rear tire edge that I can't seem to wear. I really don't care as I ride to my comfort level and not beyond. The strange thing is, I ride with a guy on a CBR 954 and I keep perfect pace with him. He uses his entire tire (no pun intended) all the way to the edge. So the question is, do our tires have a different profile? I'm just not sure how I can take the same corners at the same pace, without going to the edge of my tire.
BTW, did my first good ride with the JDM rebuild and new superbrace. The bike feels way more stable and rebounds nicely. Now to either respring/revalve the forks, or change em out! 70 miles in the canyons in the 72 degree Northern California sun, above Folsom Lake. It was a spiritual experience.

 

Riding style and body position have a lot to do with how much tire you use.

It has been nice again, now if the roads would just clean up a bit.

Manybe it's time to see if we can get a NorCal ride together.

 

I'd say we must! But even considering a different style/position, how does that explain differences in tire wear. It just seems that regardless of position or style, if I'm taking the same turns at the same speed, the lean angles etc. would be very similar. He did know the road way better than me so I found myself a bit "suprised" a couple of times, but still..!

 

It depends on where the CG of you and the bike is located. If you have the weight farther to the inside of the corner, the bike needs to lean less to make the turn.

 

Ie the more you hang off, the more chicken strips you have... I have about the same as you on road, closer to the edge on track but not completely... But then again, I'm running a 190 on a 6" rim... The stock 180 tire, I was to the edge on track, but like you on the road...

 

A few variable to that question- Length of your bike, and his bike. As 8541 said were you place your CG(Center of Gravity). How far you lean YOUR body, oppose to pushing the handlebar in making the bike work(instead of you working)..

 

I used to frequently be on the edge no chicken strips till i started riding with a better group of guys. They instructed me to start hanging off the bike more makes it more stable. since then I am faster and the chicken strips have come back but only a little

 

Im the same way. Im breaking in a new tire so to impress the coffee shop crowd i wear the strips off. But i can hit a corner pretty fast and not have her leaned over all the way. Body position is a huge factor in this. Just hanging your shoulders off further will cause you to turn sharper.

 

When you ride are you chanting "dont lean dont lean" in you head?
Just kidding. Riding style is everything. Speed on the road depends more on turn in and apexing. If you are smoother and lean longer, your angle will be less. If you apex hard and all at once (later turn in, etc) you can lean way further but for less duration.

BTW you can use a sanding disc on a drill to get rid of the strips. Only squids really care about those.

 

All of the above is true but don't forget that tire profile makes a huge difference. Flatter profiles wear to the edges more than rounded/triangular ones.
Also if your turn in points are "later" you will edge wear more than someone who uses an apexing line through corners.

 

When you are following your buddy,- The members above mention riding smooth...
I have always been taught (riding, shooting, martial arts, etc.) Smooth is Fast as Fast is smooth...
Ken Schwantz taught to be smooth as move, which gives better control of your bike and YOUR balance on the bike..
It is so a squid issue, worrying about TIRE wear... I have always ONLY worried about when those tires are worn OUT... Ride safe, ride smooth in your motions on the bike... And enjoy evolving your skill...

 

I guess I'm a squid. I think I do concentrate on being smooth more than how fast I'm going. My bike isn't the most stable thing on the road, and, (as stated earlier) I ride to my abilties and not beyond. I'm having fun and whether or not I'm going to the edge has absolutely no bearing on that. It just made me curious seing the difference in our tire wear. I think the main reason is, I don't follow his exact line. I think I'm leaning longer, not farther.

 

i have chieck strips that sound about the same on my conti motions. I was actually curious about this as well since I get the bike leaned over to what I think is a pretty wicked angle. I dont hang my body off at all though. I have never felt the need too and it seems like more of a thrill to stay glued to the bike all the way over on either side.

 

Geek
Think of it this way if you are already leaned to the max with the bike and something unexpected comes at you mid corner then you have no more lean available to avoid an accident.
If you lead the corner with your chin and shoulder you can hang off more slightly and not have to lean the bike as much. Adding a half butt cheek increases your body lean decreass the bike lean corner speeds can increase and the bike will be more stable.

 

an excellent point

 

I have always been taught to lead with my chin and hang off. My Michelin man no longer has a head, but the rest of him is still hanging in there! Foothills are getting good for a group ride.

Michael

 

That's a good thing. Last thing you want to be doing is following your buddies line, if your staring at the back of him and he goes down, you're sure to follow.

Perhaps your chosen lines are better than his, and you don't need to use as much of the tire to maintain the same speed?

Slightly off topic, but still relevant:

I've had a photocopy of this for years, good read.

 

Hey man, what's up? We did the ol' Salmon falls road to 49 ride this weekend. Not much debris on the roads, and they're dry! Let's get together and hit 49 or 88 or 16 or whatever!

 

Rancho that means you are NOT a squid. A squid actually buys old race tires to LOOK like he is a hero. If you dont care that is non-squidlike. Not sure about the whole rest of your persona though. You dont have any spiked bolts on your bike do you?

 

Good read, Matt.

 

there is not necessarily a direct, one-to-one, correlation between being on the edge of your tire and corner speed. If that was the case, the rider who leaned the to the tire edge would always be the faster through the corner. One rider can be leaning to the tire edge and be passed by another rider traveling faster with less lean.

 

Hey thanks for inviting me........

 

You're always invited!

 

I'd rather be smooth and arrive home safe than worry about someone tellin me I'm not fully rideing my bike because I've got 1/2" of unused tread. I ask'm if they've ever done a track day or club raced.....95% or more say no. That's when you'll get FULL use out of your tires!

 

Good read, fo sho!

 

if you really wanna finish off the chicken strips, go find a clean parking lot, and at about 30 mph or so start to run and lean until youre as far as you can go, then lean some more. ive dragged my pegs at the track before raising them up.

i jus tlike having mine worn cause its a little game we play in our group. mind you out of the guys i ride with mainly only a couple oif us have and do track days so we usually have the best looking tires.

plus it really isnt about how much your back tire is worn, any joe blow can wear a back tire. its about how much you can wear off that front tire

 

I have made some progress
YouTube - ‪06-04-11 Progress since twist of the wrist 2‬‏

 

it's actually not a bad idea in a parking lot. just be sure it's empty and there's not sand or crap on the ground. Lay out a small course in your mind and keep going around it...even if just an oval and keep going around increasing your speed, then reverse it. it will allow you to explore the limits of the tires...and yourself....to be able to trust your bike on the streets.

Also it'd be best to have knee pucks. I've put holes in a couple pairs of jeans now accidentally touching down.

 

If you do this drill make sure to wear full gear. You are going to feel like even more of a jackass when you come on here to show us the video of emergency room that you went to due to poor preparation.