[valk]

Test road a Spyder RT yesterday and was impressed. Told the dealer right off, wouldn't be looking to buy on for a year or two, if I did, but wanted to test ride one as an option to triking my valkyrie in a few years.

There was a major vibration in 5th gear between, about 55 to maybe 75. Seemed to go away above 75 and was told it was the belt drive. Is this common?

I'm also wondering what kind of milage people are getting on their tires. I was shocked back in '97 when the OEM tires on the valk's were only getting about 7K. Now getting about 12k on tires, but since the Spyder uses car tires what could I expect or hasn't anyone worn any out yet?

Also what kind of gas milage are most getting? The valk only gets in the low to mid. 30 range. usually. (and even lower about 75mph)

Thanks. And there could be a Spyder in my future.

[SpyderSpouse]

We have a RTS SE5 and have NO vibration issues at any speed. Maybe we are just lucky. It is nice and smooth. Do not have enough miles to address tire wear question. We get mileage in the low thirties per gal.--about the same as my VTX1800.

[doctor]

SpyderSpouse, on 02 September 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

We have a RTS SE5 and have NO vibration issues at any speed. Maybe we are just lucky. It is nice and smooth. Do not have enough miles to address tire wear question. We get mileage in the low thirties per gal.--about the same as my VTX1800.

The spyder doesn't use car tires. You can put car tires on if you want, but that's not whats on them. If you can change them yourself it's not to bad, but the rear one is where the dealer will get you, could be as high as 300.00 just for the rear. About 7000 miles on mine, and that's with some burn outs.

[NautiBrit]

I had about 12,000 on my rear tire when I replaced it with a car tire. So far I have another 6,000 on the car tire with no appreciable wear. The fronts seem to last forever.

[Chrisj]

doctor, on 02 September 2010 - 06:30 PM, said:

The spyder doesn't use car tires. You can put car tires on if you want, but that's not whats on them. If you can change them yourself it's not to bad, but the rear one is where the dealer will get you, could be as high as 300.00 just for the rear. About 7000 miles on mine, and that's with some burn outs.

This is what BRP needs top get a hold of. Here in Canada our prices are usually way higher. My dealer put a new rear tire on the rim, balance etc. 180.00 out the door. I was figuring at first it was going to be about 500.00. When I was told $180 I told them I was good for 3 a year now.lol

[valk]

NautiBrit, on 02 September 2010 - 08:24 PM, said:

I had about 12,000 on my rear tire when I replaced it with a car tire. So far I have another 6,000 on the car tire with no appreciable wear. The fronts seem to last forever.

If you don't mind me asking, what brand and what size car tire are you using on the rear? There are a few valkyrie riders putting car tires on the rear of their bikes too.

Thanks.

[scudrunner]

valk, on 02 September 2010 - 03:41 PM, said:

There was a major vibration in 5th gear between, about 55 to maybe 75. Seemed to go away above 75 and was told it was the belt drive. Is this common?

I've got an RT-SE. There is a vibration between 4500 and 5300 rpm (more of a buzz than a vibration), so I cruise at 5500 rpm in what ever gear gives me the speed I want. 5500 is about 70 in 5th gear.

[Tonga]

Chrisj, on 02 September 2010 - 10:29 PM, said:

This is what BRP needs top get a hold of. Here in Canada our prices are usually way higher. My dealer put a new rear tire on the rim, balance etc. 180.00 out the door. I was figuring at first it was going to be about 500.00. When I was told $180 I told them I was good for 3 a year now.lol

Wow. I can't believe you got a tire installed, Oh wait a minute, that's the labour, What about the tire? What did you pay for that?

[NautiBrit]

valk, on 03 September 2010 - 10:41 AM, said:

If you don't mind me asking, what brand and what size car tire are you using on the rear? There are a few valkyrie riders putting car tires on the rear of their bikes too.

Thanks.

I have the Kumho Ecsta AST, which several members have used and approved. I've owned 3 Valks, 2 standards and an Interstate and I would not consider putting a car tire on any of them. Some swear by them and others swear at them, my concern would be safety and I'm just not sold that a car tire has the characteristics to run on a motorcycle wheel. The rear tire on a Spyder is basically a car tire in that it is not subject to the same sidewall forces that a motorcycle tire has to endure.

[valk]

NautiBrit, on 04 September 2010 - 12:37 AM, said:

I have the Kumho Ecsta AST, which several members have used and approved. I've owned 3 Valks, 2 standards and an Interstate and I would not consider putting a car tire on any of them. Some swear by them and others swear at them, my concern would be safety and I'm just not sold that a car tire has the characteristics to run on a motorcycle wheel. The rear tire on a Spyder is basically a car tire in that it is not subject to the same sidewall forces that a motorcycle tire has to endure.

Thanks for the reply. Has anyone here just tried increasing the tire pressure on the OEM tires. They seem to be recommending a very low pressure as did Honda for the valk tires. (33 in the front and 36 in the rear), and I don't know anyone now that isn't running upperwards of 40 and 40 - 42, which has increased tire milage from around 7K tops, to around 10k min.. And the Avon's that I run are getting me around 12k. I actually own 2 valk's right now, a '97 tourer with over a 100k on it and a '03 with 24+ (I had an '01 wing for 2 years that had over 25k that I traded in for the '03 valk.) Added an interstate tank to the '03 along with oem hard bags that I got off the internet from a guy who triked his valk interstate, plus added a windshield and have turned that one into a tourer as well.

But at only 7k again for milage on tires with a Spyder, I'd trike the '03 before I go back to needing new ones every time I took a ride across the country or down south, (living in Pa.) But if car tires fit the Spyder and get me car tire milage? Forget the trike. I'm going to be riding a Spyder in a couple of years.

Again, thanks for the feed back. Ride safe and enjoy your bike.

This post has been edited by valk: 04 September 2010 - 08:26 AM