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| Thatch | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 13:17 Post title : The life and times of Thatch's tires | | | So I no longer hijack narsisco's thread I figured I'd post the latest update on my tires here...
As folks may have seen in the camping thread I've been having a fair few 'challenges' in getting ready for the coming Bled trip. With the local Triumph shop giving me a 3 week lead to getting the tire put on I needed to find another solution. Well after copious calling I finally found a local Suzuki shop that will do the deed for me (and even does custom painting for the damage I suffered on the trip ... to be sorted after Bled) The bike will have new shoes next week so all is well... or at least better.
Tell me though, is it a good sign when the owner in his broken English, while looking up the tire says ... "Wow, I have never sold a tire for so much money"? Then, to top it off, we go and take a look at things and there is some major deformation in the front tire as well and it needs to be replaced. The tire is lumpy, with areas that have little tread left. On casual inspection you don't see it because it isn't even. With 6500 miles give or take you'd think you'd have plenty of life left in the front tire. Some is either riding the hell out of this bike or these tires suck monkey nuts.... maybe a bit of both. Interestingly though, I've been off the bike so long and the environment is so much different here I'll not be riding hard for some time I think.... feels like I'll be playing catch up on the Bled trip. Hopefully it all comes back to me quickly.
Anywho, so I'm soon to be broke, still have crap to buy for the bike but it is all moving forward. Shame the local Triumph shop couldn't sort me out. They're probably too busy scrubbing the floor with tooth brushes and dressing the edges of the brochures. (I've seen surgery theaters that were dirtier than that place)
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 13:26 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | | Maybe you've got some spooky German garden gnomes that have been taking your bike out for joy rides while you've been out of the country?
Man, I sure hope this thread doesn't devolve into another fruitless exploration of the Metzeler Marathon! (We ought to re-name the whole forum, "Metzeler vs. ?"  )
Seriously, glad to hear you were able to find a shop to help you get sorted out... too bad Triumph wasn't able to.
Remember, we're ALL gonna want to see a whole, new "Thunder to Bled" thread with photos, videos, color commentary, and jokes from the road. I still want to see a photo with you standing next to the shortest rider in the group! 
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Birdy68 | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,352 | | Location | : | Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 13:35 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | narsisco_lopez wrote:
...Seriously, glad to hear you were able to find a shop to help you get sorted out... too bad Triumph wasn't able to. |
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+1
narsisco_lopez wrote:
...Remember, we're ALL gonna want to see a whole, new "Thunder to Bled" thread with photos, videos, color commentary, and jokes from the road. I still want to see a photo with you standing next to the shortest rider in the group! |
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Oooh - thanks there NL - you've just reminded me about finding a camera mount solution for the trip!
@ Thatch:
Glad things are moving forward. That Triumph garage and it's staff sound like a bunch of tossers! I couldn't be doing with that crap service.
I've got my fingers crossed for you with the SuckZooKeeper dealer.
| Birdy68
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Leave the pork pies for now - get the sausage rolls while they're hot!
 -x-  -x- 
more info at Fuelly.com
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| Domino | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 13:36 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | |
Thatch wrote:
... "Wow, I have never sold a tire for so much money"? ...
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He probably mistook the bulge in your trousers for your wallet, when in fact you were just pleased to be back on the bike!
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Best money I ever spent.
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| CornerBanger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,113 | | Location | : | Charleston, SC, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 13:37 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | |
Thatch wrote:
So I no longer hijack narsisco's thread I figured I'd post the latest update on my tires here...
As folks may have seen in the camping thread I've been having a fair few 'challenges' in getting ready for the coming Bled trip. With the local Triumph shop giving me a 3 week lead to getting the tire put on I needed to find another solution. Well after copious calling I finally found a local Suzuki shop that will do the deed for me (and even does custom painting for the damage I suffered on the trip ... to be sorted after Bled) The bike will have new shoes next week so all is well... or at least better.
Tell me though, is it a good sign when the owner in his broken English, while looking up the tire says ... "Wow, I have never sold a tire for so much money"? Then, to top it off, we go and take a look at things and there is some major deformation in the front tire as well and it needs to be replaced. The tire is lumpy, with areas that have little tread left. On casual inspection you don't see it because it isn't even. With 6500 miles give or take you'd think you'd have plenty of life left in the front tire. Some is either riding the hell out of this bike or these tires suck monkey nuts.... maybe a bit of both. Interestingly though, I've been off the bike so long and the environment is so much different here I'll not be riding hard for some time I think.... feels like I'll be playing catch up on the Bled trip. Hopefully it all comes back to me quickly.
Anywho, so I'm soon to be broke, still have crap to buy for the bike but it is all moving forward. Shame the local Triumph shop couldn't sort me out. They're probably too busy scrubbing the floor with tooth brushes and dressing the edges of the brochures. (I've seen surgery theaters that were dirtier than that place)
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Interesting Thatch, I have 12000 miles on my front and I ride aggressively. I keep the pressure at 40 PSI. and that seems to have helped life of the tire quite a bit. Mine is a little bit lumpy as well I believe it has to do with the way the tread gets pushed and wears when the tire is scrubbing around turns. Have a look at this, specifically the cupping section Link
Are you able to buy tires online?
| There are those who own and there are those who ride!
2010 Thunderbird
2007 Kawi KX250F
2010 Kawi KX85 (My boy's ride)
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 15:42 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Birdy68) | | |
Birdy68 wrote:
Oooh - thanks there NL - you've just reminded me about finding a camera mount solution for the trip!
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Check out www.ram-mount.com ~ Pretty much EVERYTHING for your mounting solutions. I'm betting there's a European web store... freaking awesome stuff.
This Panavise suction cup/windshield mount is also pretty versatile and sturdy... that is, if you've got a fly screen/wind shield to stick it to...
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 17:54 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Nars - you wouldn't be hijacking Thatch's thread now would you  
Good to hear you found someone to sort the Bird Thatch. Its pretty much what I was hearing when i rang round the independent shops - it was a case of 'are you sitting down'. i got used to it just like I get used to Triumph saying ' now if you would just like to bend over'.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 19:04 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | | Thatch wrote:
... With the local Triumph shop giving me a 3 week lead to getting the tire put on I needed to find another solution. ...
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A Triumph shop can't put a new tire on a Triumph bike in under three weeks????? That's insane. Tires are practically a walk-in thing around here. I guess those Germans believe that somehow you should know to the day when you will need new tires a year ahead of time.
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| wizard | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 430 | | Location | : | St Neots, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 29 Apr 2011 - 20:34 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: EnGage) | | | I had a puncture last september. I enquired at my Triumph dealer about repair, they said they didn,t replace but could change the tyre. When I asked for a quote he looked through his supplier list and made three calls in front of me. His answer was that a tyre to fit my 3-month old Thunderbird was not available. They were on back order with an expected wait of 3-weeks! I got the tyre repaired at an independant.
| It is the job of every senior manager to agree to a task then find someone who hasn't got time to do it!
1981 Yamaha RD50MX
1982 Suzuki GP100E
1978 Honda CB400 Dream
1987 Kawasaki GPX750R
1989 Honda CBR1000FK
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600
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| EnGage | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 12:51 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: wizard) | | | When I had my tire replaced last year I called the dealer and they had a set in stock. Told me that they knew Big Jack and I were close to needing new tires and wanted a set on hand for us. I took the tires and they said they would order another to have on hand.
| | Post edited by EnGage on 30 Apr 2011 - 12:52 |
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 14:55 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: EnGage) | | | You've got a good dealer then. I will give the European dealers a bit of grace on stocking things like that though, simply because space is a bit more of a premium here than stateside. Regardless, 3 weeks is just stupid.
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| Druid | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 15:27 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | | Go on Thatch how much are these buggers?
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| BigJack | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2009 | | Posts | : | 246 | | Location | : | Mishawaka, In., United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 15:35 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | | When I came due for tires a local independant bike repair shop here in town quoted me a good price mounted and ballanced if I brought just the rims and tire in.I took the deal and they ordered and had them in three days. Saved me a 90 mile trip to dealer.
| Big Jack, It's not what you ride,it's that you ride!!
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| paulc | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 08/05/2010 | | Posts | : | 441 | | Location | : | Brackley, ENGLAND, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 16:09 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: EnGage) | | |
EnGage wrote:
Thatch wrote:
... With the local Triumph shop giving me a 3 week lead to getting the tire put on I needed to find another solution. ...
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A Triumph shop can't put a new tire on a Triumph bike in under three weeks????? That's insane. Tires are practically a walk-in thing around here. I guess those Germans believe that somehow you should know to the day when you will need new tires a year ahead of time. |
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that's nothing i had a blow out on mine last year. called my local dealer to be told to " bring the bike in next week & we'll see what we can do"
| infidel troop scooter club
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| EnGage | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 19:06 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | | Thatch wrote:
You've got a good dealer then. I will give the European dealers a bit of grace on stocking things like that though, simply because space is a bit more of a premium here than stateside. Regardless, 3 weeks is just stupid. |
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My dealer has a small shop. Because of this he leave a semi trailer in his parking lot and stores tires there. He also purchased the house next to his shop and uses it for storage. The point here is that a successful dealer should do what it takes to stock the typical wear and maintenance items. Three weeks for a tire is embarrassing, or at least it should be.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 22:47 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: EnGage) | | | That's why I keep a front and a rear tire in stock.I don't like being embarrassed.And I don't like NOT bein able to ride my scooter.As soon as I use one,I immediately order another to replace it.And that's the way I've been doin now it for over 40 years.First time,shame on you.Second time shame on ME.lol Dave!!!
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 30 Apr 2011 - 23:29 Post title : Re: The life and times of Thatch's tires (Re: Thatch) | | |
Thatch wrote:
So I no longer hijack narsisco's thread I figured I'd post the latest update on my tires here...
As folks may have seen in the camping thread I've been having a fair few 'challenges' in getting ready for the coming Bled trip. With the local Triumph shop giving me a 3 week lead to getting the tire put on I needed to find another solution. Well after copious calling I finally found a local Suzuki shop that will do the deed for me (and even does custom painting for the damage I suffered on the trip ... to be sorted after Bled) The bike will have new shoes next week so all is well... or at least better.
Tell me though, is it a good sign when the owner in his broken English, while looking up the tire says ... "Wow, I have never sold a tire for so much money"? Then, to top it off, we go and take a look at things and there is some major deformation in the front tire as well and it needs to be replaced. The tire is lumpy, with areas that have little tread left. On casual inspection you don't see it because it isn't even. With 6500 miles give or take you'd think you'd have plenty of life left in the front tire. Some is either riding the hell out of this bike or these tires suck monkey nuts.... maybe a bit of both. Interestingly though, I've been off the bike so long and the environment is so much different here I'll not be riding hard for some time I think.... feels like I'll be playing catch up on the Bled trip. Hopefully it all comes back to me quickly.
Anywho, so I'm soon to be broke, still have crap to buy for the bike but it is all moving forward. Shame the local Triumph shop couldn't sort me out. They're probably too busy scrubbing the floor with tooth brushes and dressing the edges of the brochures. (I've seen surgery theaters that were dirtier than that place)
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I am getting 6k on the rear and 12k on the front on these crappy Metz. I will be changing both to a new brand at 24,000 miles. On just over 18,000 and the rear is severely cracked down the middle (does this count as treat - I think so). Booked in for a replacement and dealer has them on stock - dealer is great - not perfect like me but look after my Bird as if it was there own.
So Thatch - have a ride over here my friend - you have board and lodgings at my place and my mate will sort those tyres out.
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