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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires
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TOPIC: Re:? Breaking in brand new tires
#1016934
twowheeltherapy (User)
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? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
A young co worker just bought herself a brand new bike (360 cc)

She's a new rider and will not be a daily rider by any stretch. And a very slow, conservative, careful rider.

Therefore her break in period for those tires will be months away where you or I would take only a few days or a week.

Is there anything recommended like taking sand paper to the tires to scuff them up yourself to speed up the process?

What are different things you guys do besides just ride and be careful?

I think it's an FZ 09 (sport bike style) and based on her riding, she will only be on the center of those tires for months before the balance of those tires will come into play.

And please, not interested in various opinions on new riders purchasing a brand new bike. I know. Believe me, she's like a daughter to me but there was nothing I could do or say to steer her.

Thank you for your input!
 
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Last Edit: 2017/07/12 12:19 By twowheeltherapy.
 
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#1016935
Deerkiller (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
No sandpaper or any of that. Heat cycles and just normal riding. Just be aware that they will feel a little slippery in the beginning. So, really no different than normal riders. Tell her to go for a couple of nice longer rides and they'll be broken in no problem
 
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#1016936
MidwestMike (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
Deerkiller wrote:
No sandpaper or any of that. Heat cycles and just normal riding. Just be aware that they will feel a little slippery in the beginning. So, really no different than normal riders. Tell her to go for a couple of nice longer rides and they'll be broken in no problem

And on a side note,
it looks like PhotoBucket has determined you are now popular..
 
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#1016938
dnalen (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
I was recently told by a knowledgeable bike mechanic to lower the pressure of the tires so that more meat met the road. This will ensure the sides of the tires get scuffed and speed up the whole break-in time.
 
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#1016939
JEastonjr (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
See if she will let you take it for about half an hour to an hour and scuff the tires yourself.
 
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#1016940
twowheeltherapy (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
Deerkiller wrote:
No sandpaper or any of that. Heat cycles and just normal riding. Just be aware that they will feel a little slippery in the beginning. So, really no different than normal riders. Tell her to go for a couple of nice longer rides and they'll be broken in no problem
Thank you. Heat cycles, totally makes sense. I didn't think of that.
 
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#1016941
twowheeltherapy (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
dnalen wrote:
I was recently told by a knowledgeable bike mechanic to lower the pressure of the tires so that more meat met the road. This will ensure the sides of the tires get scuffed and speed up the whole break-in time.
Now that's a good idea. Thank you.
 
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#1016942
twowheeltherapy (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
JEastonjr wrote:
See if she will let you take it for about half an hour to an hour and scuff the tires yourself.
That's the first thing I wanted to do and just started to mention it and .....NO......no ones touching her bike!!!
 
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#1016950
Flashback (Moderator)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
the heat thing is probably the most important..it leaches any oils out of the tire..aggressive starts and stops in a straight away will help generate heat.....
 
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#1016959
jd750ace (User)
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Re:? Breaking in brand new tires 7 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
I wouldn't advise anything inconsistent like lowering pressure. Elevating the tire to operation temp and then cooling back to an ambient range breaks in a tire. Granted, wallowing around on insufficient air pressure WILL heat the tire up, but especially for a new rider, consistency counts. Ride it down the highway for about 40 minutes to an hour, and it's going to get up to operating temp good. Stop, have some water, and go again. When that brown looking residue everyone blames on the brakes starts developing on the sidewalls, you are pretty much broke in and the tire will thermally cycle and develop grip quickly afterward. As far as scuffing in the tires, I go straight to the combed finish concrete parking lot and do full lock turns and figure 8's to get that part over with. Unless you are on a race track, NEVER deflate your tires below OEM recommended pressure, and if you are running a heavier capacity tire than came with your bike, as so many of us are, find a good reliable source of info on reccomended pressures, because the decal is only valid for the OEM tire. Anyway, sweet bike, hope she thoroughly enjoys it. I know I would!!
 
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