Spot Motorcycles » bias http://www.spotmotorcycles.com Motorcycle Accessories and Apparel Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:30:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Bridgestone Hoop Rear Tire | Bias Ply Scooter Tires Tube or Tubeless http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-hoop-rear-tire-bias-ply-scooter-tires-tube-or-tubeless/ http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-hoop-rear-tire-bias-ply-scooter-tires-tube-or-tubeless/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:07:13 +0000 Ila http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/?p=4356 Bridgestone Hoop Rear Tire Scooter tires should not be neglected. Far too many people don't seem to understand the level of wear that stop-and-go traffic can put on rubber, even if that rubber is under a very light machine. If your tires are looking a little worn down, don't take risks like skidding during a stop because your tire isn't providing enough traction. You may sense that I'm speaking from experience. Yes, the skid did look pretty neat in retrospect, but that was after the terror of almost sliding into an intersection had worn off.

Bridgestone is a good standby for tires on any vehicle. They've certainly been in the business long enough. The Hoop rear tire is OE on some scooters, so manufacturers thinks they're good enough and they'll fit. If your machine didn't come with the Bridgestone Hoop, it's worth checking out for a replacement.

Riders who have this model say it's ideal for routine street use, and riders have the option of getting this bias ply tire in tube-style or tubeless. The tread pattern is similar to many of the most popular motorcycle tires and designed to offer a high percentage of surface to surface contact and channel water away if necessary. These are optimized for dry conditions. Don't let that be too much of a deterrent though; how often were you planning to ride your scooter through a hurricane, anyway?

The price of the Hoop tire is appealing, but not out of this world. S-rated, you'll be safe up to 112 mph, so these will suffice for the more powerful modern scooters.

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]]> http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-hoop-rear-tire-bias-ply-scooter-tires-tube-or-tubeless/feed/ 1 Bridgestone Accolade Front Tire | Bias Classic Retro Ribbed Tread http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-accolade-front-tire-bias-classic-retro-ribbed-tread/ http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-accolade-front-tire-bias-classic-retro-ribbed-tread/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:07:36 +0000 Ila http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/?p=3912 Bridgestone Accolade Front Tire In this economy, I've been seeing more classic bikes trading hands. I've even seen repair shops specializing in these machines popping up. I don't believe this has anything to do with them being cheaper or folks having time to work on them. I think it's good old-fashioned nostalgia.

If you're fixing up an old bike, or trying to fully restore it to its former glory, there are a few places to get retro tires. Bridgestone's Accolade is constructed of new materials and in an old style. The rib tread on fresh rubber will give the impression of years gone by on your classic machine.

These are bias ply tube tires, and you'll have to check if they fit your bike, but don't expect these to run like modern tires. The rib pattern creates a bit of a shaky feel during straight riding due to the, oddly enough, straight lines. A little tread variation helps the tires to loosen their grip and decrease wobble, but not by a lot.

If you're going to get the Accolade front, you ought to get the rear as well. Technically these will ride up to 130 mph, but don't even think about it. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. The feel is far too uncertain.

Because of the ride quality, I would look for these on sale. You can actually find an amazingly good price if you poke around, and they will look great on a classic bike.

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]]> http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/bridgestone-accolade-front-tire-bias-classic-retro-ribbed-tread/feed/ 0 Dunlop Bias Tires D404 | Cruiser High Grip Water Tread http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/dunlop-bias-tires-d404-cruiser-high-grip-water-tread/ http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/dunlop-bias-tires-d404-cruiser-high-grip-water-tread/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:57:41 +0000 Ila http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/?p=3880 Dunlop Bias Tires D404 Tires: Those big, round, expensive things that you can't leave home without. Take every mile into account and they're pretty cheap, but it never looks that way when it comes time to buy them. Even those as tight-fisted as myself must understand that tire shopping is not where you want to cut corners. Economic bitterness aside, you can still find an inexpensive tire that isn't a cheap tire.

Dunlop, the manufacturer of many OE tires, provides the D404. This is what they call their "high-value" bias tire. This is not the peak of engineering, and it's not W-rated, but it will carry you safely to your destination as long as you're not getting there at over 112 mph.

That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but what more does a cruiser really need? Realistically, I'm not going to be laying out at 168 mph, ever. I don't think my bike would do that kind of speed, and I wouldn't know if it did because my speedometer only goes to 130.

The D404 comes in many sizes to fit many bikes and is constructed of a compound made for a happy medium between grip and long life. The tread pattern is designed for efficient water evacuation to provide safer wet cornering and stable straight riding. The bias-ply structure should provide smooth riding under variable loads.

Like I said, not top-of-the-line engineering, but you're also not paying for tires with features you'll never use. Bragging about them isn't using them. A perfectly acceptable tire for a perfectly acceptable price.

Also see the Bridgestone Hoop bias tires.

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]]> http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/dunlop-bias-tires-d404-cruiser-high-grip-water-tread/feed/ 0 Dunlop Sport Bias Tires | Wet Surface V Rated GT501 http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/dunlop-sport-bias-tire-gt501/ http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/dunlop-sport-bias-tire-gt501/#comments Sun, 31 May 2009 10:08:24 +0000 Brad http://www.spotmotorcycles.com/?p=692 Dunlop Sport Bias Tire GT501 If you're prejudiced against bias tires, listen up: sport tires are often bias-belted because the criss-cross pattern gives the tire a more consistent flex when cornering to handle a variety of surfaces. As comparison, radials have "slip-flex," or softer sidewalls which keep more of the center tread on the road. Usually thrown around much harder than cruisers, sport bike tires need to be able to instantly respond to and grip variations in asphalt, concrete, various surface hazards, and weather factors such as rain.

Dunlop says the GT501 series has an increased tread-to-void ratio to increase traction in general, but also to give it more stick on a wet road. The tread-to-void ratio is the relationship of how much rubber is hitting the road as compared to the grooves, or voids, in the tire. How these grooves are lined up is important, too. The Transportation Research Board (TRB.org) states that straight rib patterns are superior to zig-zag patterns when it comes to traction on wet surfaces. After a certain depth, of course, it doesn't make any difference what tire you have, because it may hydroplane. And other factors (see first paragraph) will certainly have an influence on how well the tire holds the road. Dunlop recommends a 100-mile "run-in" period for their tires. This recommendation is specifically intended for the rider to become accustomed to the handling of the new tire.

This tire has a "V" speed rating, meaning up to 149mph.

The GT501 is Dunlop's mid-range sport tire. Price, performance and wear factors all point toward more average use. User opinion is generally high, with the occasional and typical exceptions.

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