New Goodyear TT mounted today!!! Avon delaminated...through with them.

[NCGhostrider]

I finally took my red and black I/S to the darkside.  Been there before on my other I/S not sure why I waited so long.  This Avon, like the last one began to delaminate.  It was getting to the end of its life anyway.. but it bothers me to look at a tire before a short trip.. see plenty of tread and when you get back, notice rubber pulling away from the center.   My pressures are good, and I check them regularly.  I have a theory...  overload!  The weight limit of the Avon venom (now cobra) is a 73 (writing from memory) or so, which correlates to about 825 lbs.. dry weight of Valk over 820lbs..add me..280lbs...passenger..140lbs...fill bags...60-100lbs..and overload!!!   I am tempted to run the rear tire onto a scale and see how much weight it actually carries.  Anyone? Anyone?? 

Will have to say, there are some subtle differences in the fender clearance of this bike and the other one I did.   Did the nutcage mod..and the fender still hit the tire.  I ended up removing the outside chrome bracket (rh side) and putting a couple of washers in the center mount bolt (PIA) and then torquing everything back down... seems to have pivoted the rear out enough now to do the job.  Started to put a bottle jack in the fender and force things wider, but the other side was already at about 1/2 in. (before anyone asks, swingarm is tight etc. etc.!).   Didn't want to move the left side anymore...so I focused on the right hand side.

BTW, my splines still look new, been using waterproof grease..and will continue to do so. 

While I am down for repairs/maintenance..going to change out the intake o-rings...local parts store didn't have the size.  May have to go to the "big city" tomorrow!   

I even bought a couple of flap disks to smooth the insides of the intakes with... just in case I feel energetic!..  When I get done, I will have a new bike!!   

[Oldswimr]

Tire Size? That's what I want to put on my Red and Black 2000 I/S. And did you remove the nut guards?

Thanks!

[NCGhostrider]

I did a 205 60    I wish I could go taller, and may try that next time, but I didn't want to waste the money, so I bought what I knew would fit.   The 205 60 is real close to the same height as our motorcycle tires, I can't afford to be turning more rpms..gas mileage is bad enough!! 

I did remove the nutcages, but some of these bikes have variances in the alignment of the fenders, swingarms etc.  It is subtle and in my case enough that I was still hitting the fender some where it was pressed.  You probably will get by with the nutcage mod and be fine though.

Do the strap over the seat method with the shocks off, and test for clearance and maximum rear swing arm compression... It works!

I used a die grinder and split the cages and then twisted them out with pliars this time.  Last time I removed the complete rear fender half and did the same thing with a grinder... not necessary, and you have to remove/unplug wires, which can be cranky!

Good luck!!

[Oldswimr]

Do the strap over the seat method with the shocks off, and test for clearance and maximum rear swing arm compression... It works!

I've never heard of this step..?

[NITRO]

You can also run carriage bolts from the inside of the fender out with a nut on the outside. This give you all kinds of space since those square nuts and the cages are out of there. I did this per MP's recommendation and have had no problems in the last two weeks and 2,000+ miles on my DS IS.

[asfltdncr]

I put a 205/55 on my I/S and don't have any rubbing issues but I think next time I'll look for a 195/65.
By the way, I run my GY TT at 40psi and it behaves.  Don't forget to put that Dunlop D404(rear tire) up front.  Twice the tread depth as a front tire.
It sounds like some waterproof grease and the above tires will take you down the road for 20k miles without monkeying around with new rubber or spline service for those that like to keep their hands clean.

[NCGhostrider]

The carriage bolt replacement is a good thing.  I have the stuff here to do that also, probably don't need it now. I did that on the last bike and it works well.. just check for clearance between the bold end and your saddle bag lids if on an I/S. 

The strap across the seat is a small ratchet strap like you would use for holding down your bike or a load on a trailer.  Attach it to the swing arm on both sides (consider where it needs to be to clear shocks, misc etc.   With the shocks loose on the top or off completely, you can bring the tire up to remove the axle bolt, check clearance etc.   Beats messing with the pipes etc.  BTW, I actually took my seat off..  Do a search on the board for this trick... I think there is a pic posted..

You still need to consider maintenance yearly, or every 6-8k miles.  Too easy to take a chance ruining the splines..