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furygan man · #1 Post by **furygan man** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:04 pm

Went to Aprilia Performance to collect my bike on Friday, had service, airbox, Fireblade stand, mkII switchgear and AP rearsets fitted (very nice!). I'd also had a set of Roadsmart II's fitted, i was going to ride it back but the conditions were bad with the heavy rain...they (Griff) were advising against it and a guy from out Birmingham way who was there with a van on some other business offered to take me and the bike back to Hinckley thus avoiding a potential spill and crap covered bike, can't even remember the guys name but was very grateful...aren't biking folk wonderful people?

By the way Andy, swapping the switchgear managed to sort the 'internitent horn' problem out

wayofthedarkhand · #2 Post by **wayofthedarkhand** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:53 pm

You didn't ride in the rain because you were scared of dropping the bike?

I often enjoy riding the rain/storms, so long as I can keep myself warm enough.

furygan man · #3 Post by **furygan man** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:57 pm

wayofthedarkhand wrote:You didn't ride in the rain because you were scared of dropping the bike?

I often enjoy riding the rain/storms, so long as I can keep myself warm enough.

Wet conditions + brand new tyres + people who know better than me= don't ride, why risk it? I was all for it, they advised not too that wasn't the reason for the post!

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:20 pm

New tyres and new rear sets and rain..... Yep I would be wary

fatboy · #5 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:23 pm

Nice offer, right choice IMHO, un scrubbed tyres in shit loadsa rain ? Big up the van man !

Dalemac · #6 Post by **Dalemac** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:29 pm

I would not like to ride in the rain on brand new tyres.

wayofthedarkhand · #7 Post by **wayofthedarkhand** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:58 pm

Lol you are hardly going to die riding a bike in the rain with new tyres. Pretty much all tyres these days are designed to be ridden out of the box and don't have the super slick releasing agents they might have had on when some of you guys were young

If people were falling off right left and centre due to new tyres don't you think that a) there would be lawsuits, b) a manufacturer would sport a marketing opportunity?

It's like when you see racers (cars more than bikes) weaving from side to side to generate heat. More often than not, it does nothing. The heat is generated from acceleration (rear), braking (front), and fast cornering.

Kudos to the guy for giving you a lift though.

Dalemac · #8 Post by **Dalemac** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:42 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlQQfAz0fbM

randomsquid · #9 Post by **randomsquid** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:10 pm

The place where I buy tyres always does the new tyre, be careful bit.
He reckons it still happens, mostly with bandits.

Shetland Woody · #10 Post by **Shetland Woody** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:11 pm

The man with the van, first class

what was done with the airbox while she was at Griffs?
Sounds like the bike getting the star treatment. Any more joy with the clutch jet mate

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:46 pm

wayofthedarkhand wrote:Lol you are hardly going to die riding a bike in the rain with new tyres. Pretty much all tyres these days are designed to be ridden out of the box

Got to agree in the main - though I do take it easy on a new set of tyres until the surface has been cleaned off. They do seem to lack a degree of grip to begin with - but then in the rain it should be less of a problem due to the larger safety margin most of us ride within.

However if someone is not feeling confident and they don't think that taking it very gently is OK then discretion is the better part of valour and taking the lift wins every time.

I never enjoy riding in the rain though that doesn't stop me.

wayofthedarkhand wrote: .... and don't have the super slick releasing agents they might have had on when some of you guys were young

Release agents weren't a matter of discussion when I started out .... riding on Japanese tyres of the early '70s gave me the belief that no tyre can grip at all as soon as it starts raining.

wayofthedarkhand · #12 Post by **wayofthedarkhand** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:11 am

From Pirrelli

http://www.sportrider.com/tips/146_0810 ... index.html

Aladinsaneuk · #13 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:42 am

I take the point and that is an interesting article

I also do not mind riding in the wet - makes little difference to me BUT- I do factor in certain things

in this instance, i reckon furygan was right to take the offered lift. Not just because of the tyres either

in the work he had done, he had rear sets fitted - and that would effect the whole ergonomic feel of a bike and would take some adjustment - even if they have been fitted to fit the rider - our minds remember actions, and where as riding in challenging conditions means that we want to just remember where our feet go, it puts you off if you are having to relearn stuff

finally, though I think all the modern road tyres are safe etc, and can be ridden straight off, we do not know if the tyres were a like for like replacement - or a new tyre choice - and if so, the tyre characteristics are going to vary slightly.
(I am also pretty certain that the tyres would have been inflated to the standard 36/42 pressure - the rider may have had different tyres running at different pressures - and that would affect feel)

I guess the real moral here is to obey rule 1 - look after number 1! We all enjoy riding, but lets be safe out there

furygan man · #14 Post by **furygan man** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:03 pm

Thank you Pete/Andy, I've only been riding two seasons and as i keep saying it was Griff who advised against it!! The bikes had so much spent on it no point risking until the tyres have been used in the dry more. I originally had Corsa's front and back and changed to Roadsmart 2's so i can ride all year round more as i didn't enjoy aquaplaning on the M40 last year in the wet!

Have yet to play around with the rearsets but they look good and offer very good grip, so as you say Pete will take some getting used to!

The airbox mod was 'Griffs' Evo version, not the Hooked one so lets not start that debate off, i did have the 'homemade' option for a while but the seal was starting to deteriorate!!

The switchgear was the mark 2 version...the originals were a bit tatty

Had Fireblade stand fitted although the lean angle takes some getting used too

..Oh and finally bought an Optomate 4, my 'crappy' Oxford one finally gave up...useless piece of kit!

Clutch jet is staying where it is, neutral in motion or down from second is ok

MartDude · #15 Post by **MartDude** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:46 pm

Be honest - you didn't want to get the white boots dirty