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278 Posts
Correct sorry I meant to say Heated Grips. My bad, here in Oz they want around $640.00 AUD for OMG Grips. I can buy the aftermarket Oxford for around $140.00 AUD and the Apollo for around the $200.00 AUD
Rear tire size question
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I found this interesting:
"Motorcycle manufacturers put their bikes through rigorous testing to find the right size tyres for both front and rear, and some bikes are very tyre sensitive. Changing from a 190/50 to 190/55 rear or vice versa may only serve to further highlight a handling problem, which is why we recommend that you look in your bike manufacturer’s handbook for more information regards tyre sizes. Technically changing sizes would also mean a slight change in gearing as the tyre’s diametre has changed, along with tweeks to the suspension to allow for a change in ride height."
From: http://www.cambriantyres.co.uk/moto...A 190/50 rear tyre,along with quicker turn in.
I'm going to ride with the OEM tire size and let the bike tell me what's best. Also, this is a sport-touring bike, after all, and quick turn-in, while nice on a sport bike, isn't the real mission the GT is designed for. Everything in life is a compromise - a sport bike turns quicker, but is less comfortable; a sport-touring bike turns in slower, but is more comfortable.
"Motorcycle manufacturers put their bikes through rigorous testing to find the right size tyres for both front and rear, and some bikes are very tyre sensitive. Changing from a 190/50 to 190/55 rear or vice versa may only serve to further highlight a handling problem, which is why we recommend that you look in your bike manufacturer’s handbook for more information regards tyre sizes. Technically changing sizes would also mean a slight change in gearing as the tyre’s diametre has changed, along with tweeks to the suspension to allow for a change in ride height."
From: http://www.cambriantyres.co.uk/moto...A 190/50 rear tyre,along with quicker turn in.
I'm going to ride with the OEM tire size and let the bike tell me what's best. Also, this is a sport-touring bike, after all, and quick turn-in, while nice on a sport bike, isn't the real mission the GT is designed for. Everything in life is a compromise - a sport bike turns quicker, but is less comfortable; a sport-touring bike turns in slower, but is more comfortable.
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592 Posts
Exactly, a quicker turn-in comes at the cost of highway stability, and I find it really hard to believe that a 55 tire doesn't worsen high speed stability at least a little. But I am probably gonna try a 55 tire when the original wears out, just to see for myself, then I'll at least know for sure instead of guessing.
As for the Snapjack, I bought the Snapjack V2 a couple years ago, I think it was like $40 back then. It works fine for chain lubing on touring trips, definitely easier than rolling the bike around.
As for the Snapjack, I bought the Snapjack V2 a couple years ago, I think it was like $40 back then. It works fine for chain lubing on touring trips, definitely easier than rolling the bike around.
I bought my GSX-S new in April of last year and put roughly 2500 miles on the original Dunlop Sportmax II's (190/50 and 120/70) before replacing them with Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's. They had plenty of life left, but I wanted better performing tires and also prefer to have matching rubber front and rear, so replaced both.
It's not exactly an apples to apples comparison, as the Pilot Power 2CT's are a much better performing tire, but the difference in overall handling was night and day. The bike feels lighter, more nimble, and leans with less effort, all of which inspire confidence in the turns. However minimal it would have been, I didn't want to lose any acceleration with the slightly taller 55 series rear tire, so I also dropped one tooth on the front sprocket at the same time. The change in gearing was noticeable, but not as dramatic as one might expect due to the taller tire helping to offset it some.
Overall, I'm very happy with the changes brought about by going moving away from the original 190/50 to the new 190/55. I can't see any reason to ever go back to the 50 series again. This also seems to be the common consensus among guys who have done this swap, with very few guys regretting the changeover.
It's not exactly an apples to apples comparison, as the Pilot Power 2CT's are a much better performing tire, but the difference in overall handling was night and day. The bike feels lighter, more nimble, and leans with less effort, all of which inspire confidence in the turns. However minimal it would have been, I didn't want to lose any acceleration with the slightly taller 55 series rear tire, so I also dropped one tooth on the front sprocket at the same time. The change in gearing was noticeable, but not as dramatic as one might expect due to the taller tire helping to offset it some.
Overall, I'm very happy with the changes brought about by going moving away from the original 190/50 to the new 190/55. I can't see any reason to ever go back to the 50 series again. This also seems to be the common consensus among guys who have done this swap, with very few guys regretting the changeover.
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278 Posts
It comes back to what you are comfortable with. You are the one that has to ride your bike and no one else. So I do as much research as I can or go with my experiences over the years then do what makes me feel good about my decision. I would not knock you or anyone doing what you want to your bikes as you pay for them and as I mentioned above ride them. I have to be honest at my age I tend to ride too fast and need to slow down lol Hence a Sport Touring bike works best for me.
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Let me start with the age thing. I, too, tend to ride fast (there really is no other way to properly ride an S1000RR, but that's another topic), and want to ease off a bit and enjoy the scenery. I can't tell you how many 1,000 foot deep river canyons I've ridden along and had eyes for the road ahead only, because that RR wants to giddyup. Hence the Suzuki.
As for doing what's comfortable for oneself...amen. I can recall numerous forum members on other motorcycle forums, who buy a new bike and, having read comments about "I'm gonna flash that ECU the minute I get the bike", or "I'm going to get a full titanium exhaust and THEN flash that ECU, put on magnesium wheels, change the gearing and rip up the road between my house and Starbucks...", decide they need to take their perfectly good, new motorcycle and start changing a bunch of stuff before they've gone 500 miles. A few months later these guys are on the forum saying, "I did all that stuff and the bike stalls at 78 mph for some reason", or "Why does my idle rpm fluctuate between 1400 and 5000 rpm?"...or, worst, "My bike won't start now".
So, yeah, I'm comfortable leaving the bike as it is from Suzuki and will see how I feel after a few thousand miles. If a bike needs too many changes right out of the factory, something's wrong. Somehow I can't picture Suzuki screwing up a new model, though...
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I cant agree more with what you have said. I have never been one to change too much on bikes unless it makes the bike more comfortable for me and at 67 years old 68 years, in June, I need that comfort more than say 10 years ago lol. I still love the speed and feeling of dropping the bike into a fast corner along with the odd sprint on the straights. I should just be happy riding along and enjoying the scenery but the devil takes over a bit too often. lol. Saying that I still won't ever endanger any other person I am riding with or sharing the road with. I am about 98% sure Suzuki will be fine in the comfort and power department to keep me happy.
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278 Posts
I don't think, well know that I won't be doing any mods other than changing the tyres to Pirelli, adding heated Grips so warranty won't be an issue, Maybe the Rox Riser/pullback for the bars that won't affect the warranty anyway. I read that Suzuki doesn't even want you to do your own oil changes etc. in between the normal schedule services, to keep the 3-year manufacturer's warranty. I suspect if you did that with a Suzuki Authorised dealer then that won't matter.
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Only 12 months unlimited mileage warranty here in the US and they do not care who changes the oil. I cannot ever remember the last Suzuki I bought that had a warranty claim. I think I would have to go all the way back to 1997 on a GSX-R750 SRAD bought new and before 800 miles on it the engine had to be completely taken down due to the wrong main bearing on #3 and #4 big end crank bearings. They paid for it all to be repaired and admitted the mistake which happened at the factory. Serious lack of QC on a major component in the engine. Luckily at the time the dealership I dealt with had a old timer really good technician and the rebuild went smooth. That is certainly not the case with most dealerships stateside now days.
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I don’t look at it as Suzuki screwing up a new model … more the fact manufacturers sell to people and we are the screwed up ones. They ( manufacturers) will never be able to make a one size fits all.
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We'll have to compare notes once we have the bikes. At 75, I still surprise myself pleasantly on the RR, which
So, yeah...modern dealerships... Every time I take my bike in, I cross my fingers.
Oh, boy...this reminded me of a couple of dealer-related experiences I've had. One not too terrible, the other...horrible. First one was when I took my BMW RR in for service and instead of the guy who usually works on it, I get a "new" guy because the experienced guy was busy with a hurry-up job for a police BMW RT. I get the bike back and the drain hoses weren't routed right, the service indicator not re-set, the chain way over-tight and greasy finger/hand prints all over the fairing. I complained and the "experienced" guy fixed it all. Second experience was making an appointment a month ahead of time for the "major" 18,000-mile service. Dropped off bike on appointed day, knowing this was a big service and it might take a couple of days. A week passes...no word. WTF? I email the service writer and ask...how's it going? I leave the house, come back to a voicemail message: "Sorry...we haven't started on the bike yet." Say...what? Long email to Service Manager basically saying, "excuse me...what the *&^% is going on here?" He fixed it...the bike's service was completed immediately in one long day.
So, yeah...modern dealerships... Every time I take my bike in, I cross my fingers.
Put Road Pilot GT4s on bike, the back being a 190/55. I will say it does feel better in turns. In my opinion the difference is greater than marginal.
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278 Posts
Mine will be changed the day I take it out of the creat, during the Predelivery I agree with going with the 190/55 and also changing from Dunlop to another brand that I will also be doing on the day.
I wish I could pull that off, but I hate the idea of wasting new tires. I guess I could see what my dealer would charge me and send him a pair of S22’s. I don’t know that I’m that advanced of a rider, I’m usually following fast guys in our ride groups.
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1,706 Posts
Here’s my thing. If I can sell a brand new set of the Dunlops off my bike with 0 miles for a 100 bucks I am going too. I don’t mind the extra few hundred for new tires if they last me yearssss
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1,706 Posts
im sorry I am confused what did you mean. Lol are you trying to buy my tires?
my local guy charges $100 for a set of wheels to be mounted. its not terrible, but I make a habit to put better tires on a bike due to cost to change out, will save $ in long run vs several sets
I already told him to schedule me up soon to swap my Dunlops for my road 6 GT's and hes a big motorcycle guy hes like "havnt even got the bike and already wasting your money" laughing at me, hes the guy if it isnt broken dont fix it til it breaks kinda guy. hes actually smarter than me, but damnit. I already bought my 400 dollar road 6's I want them on.
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