Dunlop stock tires. Grrrrrrrrrr...

1951 Views 26 Replies 12 Participants Last post by bpf, Sep 10, 2010

_vrodman_

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2010

Someone sent me to this site. He said the forums here had input on stock Dunlops but I can't seem to find the thread. He said ALOT of people have been complaining about wear and ESPECIALLY the handling. I have been doing battle with HD about the stock tires, particularly the FRONT TIRE. Poor wear and "dead man's wobble" at high speeds (90 to 110mph). They think I am full of shit. This is my second Vrod (07). I never had a problem with my other Vrod at highs speeds. I am going to Metzlers but I want some back up comments from others and their problems with Dunlops so I can shove it up their asses... Thanks in advance. Stan

Save

21 - 27 of 27 Posts

Getsome122

· #21 · Sep 8, 2010

bpf said:
Never saw tires wearing so quickly on a bike

Never rode a bike with any real power before I would suspect as well.

Try having to change tires every 1000 miles or less.. lol

After 5500 miles on the stock tires on my bike I still really cant complain. they have held up well, worn well, handled well enough in the rain except when I got caught out the other day and the rear has next to zero tread left and that's not the tires fault.

The rear slipped a bit on me once while going thru a decreasing radius turn up in the mtns the other day at a speed most of the kids on ther sport bikes can't achieve and I more attribute that to the fact that the tire has been on the bike since 08. But this Friday those tires become a memory and are getting replaced since I am at the wear markers and then some now.

Save

AOW

· #22 · Sep 9, 2010

only 5500 miles on Dunlops that now need replaced, and you believe they are and or were fine?
Even Dunlop's biggest defenders would tell you that you should be getting way more than 5500 miles out of them.
I got 10k out of my Metz front and rear (front still had a good 2k miles before needing changed) and even though to the wear marker on the rear it never slid out on me in the rain

Save

Getsome122

· #23 · Sep 9, 2010

AOW said:
only 5500 miles on Dunlops that now need replaced, and you believe they are and or were fine?
Even Dunlop's biggest defenders would tell you that you should be getting way more than 5500 miles out of them.
I got 10k out of my Metz front and rear (front still had a good 2k miles before needing changed) and even though to the wear marker on the rear it never slid out on me in the rain

on tires that been on the bike that long sitting in front of the dealership baking in the sun every day since early 08. And as throttle happy as i am, yeah I am surprised it lasted that long.

I expect the new one to last longer. Will be able to judge it better after this next set.

Then will give the new Scorchers a go I believe since they are readily available now.

Save

Malcomx

· #24 · Sep 10, 2010

ElrodontheV-Rod said:
I'd like to try the better valves and the thin oil just as a comparison one day,but with the stock springs removed from both of my V-Rods,Progressive lowering spring kits,SE oil and the stock rear shocks cut to 12 inches and adjusted to 5,my V-Rods handle excellent.
I run my 07 real hard in curves so I do use the brace on the forks.There is a noticeable difference in keeping the bike into the curve with the fat rear tire because of the fork brace,and lowering the front reduces rake.I can keep some nice sharp curves at 130mph all the way to the edge of the chicken strip without the terrible plowing that some fat tire bikes like to do.
The 03 is lower than the 07 and since the 240 has been on it,I don't ride as aggressive because I don't think it's cool to scrape expensive parts.I have 1 inch of travel in the front on the 03 to keep the frame off the bumps when going real slow.It was close to 4 inches of travel from the factory!
I have 1 and a 1/4 travel on the 07.
In stock form,all VRSC's have very nasty mushy suspension due to the fact that there are rules that companys have to follow if they make more than 30,000 production units.
The way in which mine are set up,I would consider calling the style a true Street & Strip setup.The suspension alone brought me down from 1.70 to 1.58's for my 60 ft times.

Then,on the other hand,I have a Softail Heritage that is in stock form and handles as nimble as a bicycle at speeds up to 80mph,mostly due to the negative front caster.

I don't see how giving up ground clearance improves handling, unless you're talking about straight line handling. I'm already grinding the edges off the radiator shroud, if it was any lower I'd have to stop and walk it around the turns.

I'm by no means an aggressive rider, it's just easy to reach the cornering limits of a V-Rod.

Save

T-Rod45

· #25 · Sep 10, 2010

Avons or Metzlers are on the winter mod list for me!

Decisions, decisions...

Save

Malcomx

· #26 · Sep 10, 2010

T-Rod45 said:
Avons or Metzlers are on the winter mod list for me!

Decisions, decisions...

I just ordered a Bridgestone Battleax. At $150, it was the least expensive of the 200 tires. Most people over at the V-Max forums seem to like them, so I decided to give it a try.
They're hard to find though, apparently it's a V-Max OEM tire.

Save

bpf

· #27 · Sep 10, 2010

Malcomx said:
I'm by no means an aggressive rider, it's just easy to reach the cornering limits of a V-Rod.

I've done Ricors+Superbrace+Wilbers rear shocks. The whole suspension is now harder and I don't reach the bottom of the fork & shocks any more. The ground clearance is the same and cornering is much better, I touch much less.

I confirm the Metz are much better: I changed recently from the stock Dunflop and even under the rain the bike fell much more secure.

Save

21 - 27 of 27 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month