Belt sanded the tires today

[Dale_K]

I've found belt sanding my tires to smooth out the irregular wear patterns makes a big improvement in the riding experience.  Basically you are taking off the high spots in places where there is a sawtooth or repetitive wavy pattern.  In other times there is a sharp corner transition from the flat central area over to the edge although my Shinko radials didn't have that this time.

I rode the bike right afterward and the tires were at least twice as quiet leaning into a turn.  It's almost like you've gone back to a semi-new tire again.  Well worth the trouble. 

Pro tip - don't let the belt sander grab your trousers as you reposition the tire for the next tread block, lol.

[sandy]

Go to you tube and search for "Max McCallister" He owns Traxxion. One of his vids is about suspension upgrades not being just for racing. He describes where cupping comes from and how to prevent it. I run my Avon Cobras at 42F and 46R with no wear pattern issues.

[Chrisj CMA]

My belt sander will stay in my shop.  Been riding over 40 years and never needed to sand a tire
  Not enough rubber on them things as it is 

[Jess from VA]

Aside from manufacturer's defects, almost all tire issues are caused by chronic under-inflation.

Although one big long ride under-inflated is all it takes to ruin a tire.

[..]

What!!!

Is it April 1st again?

[Valker]

Dale, I’ve sanded or filed high spots (caused by some of the mentioned reasons and some not mentioned) for the entire 50+ years I’ve been riding. Not all of my tires have required this treatment, but I don’t hesitate to use it once the tires start to wear funny. It has allowed me to get full use of my tires. I now have about 1.2 million motorcycle miles on all surfaces. I do what works for me and don’t worry about what most folks are concerned about.  

[Bighead]

Dale, I’ve sanded or filed high spots (caused by some of the mentioned reasons and some not mentioned) for the entire 50+ years I’ve been riding. Not all of my tires have required this treatment, but I don’t hesitate to use it once the tires start to wear funny. It has allowed me to get full use of my tires. I now have about 1.2 million motorcycle miles on all surfaces. I do what works for me and don’t worry about what most folks are concerned about.  

1.2 million miles. Did you ever work? Or were you born into massive amount of money?

[Valker]

Dale, I’ve sanded or filed high spots (caused by some of the mentioned reasons and some not mentioned) for the entire 50+ years I’ve been riding. Not all of my tires have required this treatment, but I don’t hesitate to use it once the tires start to wear funny. It has allowed me to get full use of my tires. I now have about 1.2 million motorcycle miles on all surfaces. I do what works for me and don’t worry about what most folks are concerned about.  

1.2 million miles. Did you ever work? Or were you born into massive amount of money?

I went into school teaching solely for the amount of time off it gave me. I averaged 30-40,000 miles every year for many years, then it slowed after my kids came along. I’m back to good numbers again now that they’re grown. I have about 15 weeks off every year. My riding chose my profession. I’m finishing my 40th year in the classroom.

[Whiskey Bravo]

Hi Valker,


You mentioned in your post that you were school teacher I wonder if we  could check your math? … LOL. (Please don't take offense just playing around)


As you stated "I averaged 30 to 40,000 miles every year for many years"


First, if we take an average of the numbers you provided, we may surmise and assume for this exercise that you have traveled 35,000 miles per year for many years


Second, if we divide 35,000 miles by your "15 weeks off every year"(105 days). That leaves us with an average of 2,333.333 miles per week


Third, if we divide 2,333.333 miles traveled per week x 7 days we are left with 333.33 miles of riding each day of your 105 days off each year for many years


Thus, if we divide 1,200,000 miles x 35,000 miles average traveled each year we are left with 34.285 years for you to reach 1.2 million miles



Therefore, you have spent approximately 34.285 years to reach 1.2 million miles by riding 333.333 miles per day on your 105 days off each year… WELL DONE!



FURTHER EXTRAPOLATIONS AND LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS:


Traveling 333.33 miles per day divided by an average speed of 65 mph reveals that you spent a minimum of 5.1282 hours in the saddle for each of your 105 days off per year for 34.285 years… Wow




Some of the above calculations were of course unnecessary but when I was in school we were always required to show our work (in my case it was the Socratic method) … Thus, the discussion supra


I hope everybody gets a little chuckle…



Regards,



Whiskey bravo

[recman25]

  I'm definitely watching this thread!

[Tfrank59]

Alright well since we're hijacking the thread to talk about miles per year, I'm a college instructor I teach 4 nights a week I get to ride basically all afternoon everyday unless it's raining and between my two bikes I basically ride 15-20K per year. Maybe if I live to be a 150 I'll be able to get to 1.2 million miles at that rate, and I've been riding for 45 years too

[Valker]

Hi Valker,


You mentioned in your post that you were school teacher I wonder if we  could check your math? … LOL. (Please don't take offense just playing around)


As you stated "I averaged 30 to 40,000 miles every year for many years"


First, if we take an average of the numbers you provided, we may surmise and assume for this exercise that you have traveled 35,000 miles per year for many years


Second, if we divide 35,000 miles by your "15 weeks off every year"(105 days). That leaves us with an average of 2,333.333 miles per week


Third, if we divide 2,333.333 miles traveled per week x 7 days we are left with 333.33 miles of riding each day of your 105 days off each year for many years


Thus, if we divide 1,200,000 miles x 35,000 miles average traveled each year we are left with 34.285 years for you to reach 1.2 million miles



Therefore, you have spent approximately 34.285 years to reach 1.2 million miles by riding 333.333 miles per day on your 105 days off each year… WELL DONE!



FURTHER EXTRAPOLATIONS AND LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS:


Traveling 333.33 miles per day divided by an average speed of 65 mph reveals that you spent a minimum of 5.1282 hours in the saddle for each of your 105 days off per year for 34.285 years… Wow




Some of the above calculations were of course unnecessary but when I was in school we were always required to show our work (in my case it was the Socratic method) … Thus, the discussion supra


I hope everybody gets a little chuckle…



Regards,



Whiskey bravo

I checked my math and discovered that my math was ok, but my memory was off. I forgot to include the 40 weekends that I'm off during the school year. My school contract is for 187 days. That leaves 188 days that I'm off each year (189 on Leap Years). A short ride for me a under 300 miles. I have ridden over a dozen 1000 mile days and the longest has been 1200 miles. I love riding Northern NM mountain roads, so I regularly take a day off from school (one of the 187 I work) and make an 825 mile day ride to the "Enchanted Circle" of Taos, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire then home. My currently owned bikes are: 1998 Valkyrie-164,000 miles; 2001 Valkyrie- 20,000; 2001 Honda Reflex 250 scooter-37,000; 2003 ST1300-94,000. So-315,000 on what's in my title folder right now...... Did I mention I love the perk of time off for a school teacher?
Now that should help you do the math.  

So, 35,000 ÷ 188 = 187.16 miles per day average. Therefore 187.16 X 7,520 (188x40 years of non teaching days)=1,407,443.2 miles total. This math shows me I'm slacking and have some make up work to do. Oh, wait. Full retirement is coming up...I can catch up then.

[Tfrank59]

Yeah I checked my math too and it turns out 1.2 million isn't that hard to do over a lifetime of riding if you could average about 25000 miles per year times about 48 years.  And I suppose most of us are doing that driving our cages around for a lifetime but only a few of us get to ride a motorcycle that much over a lifetime.  I suppose motorcycle cops, and us teachers if we ride every spare moment, might be able to do it.

And in deference to the original poster, I have never sanded my tires

[Whiskey Bravo]

Hello again Valker,



All in good humor and jovial repartee

I wish I could get out ride more or even have the potential for riding 187 days per year

Located in Los Angeles I usually ride weekends to Malibu, The rock store, Angeles Crest Highway to Newmark's ranch, and occasionally to Santa Barbara

On a good weekend maybe 300 to 400 miles and as such all my bikes are in many respects low mileage garage queens

So, I am more than a little envious of your long rides and many states traveled



Best Regards,


Whiskey bravo

[Valker]

Hello again Valker,



All in good humor and jovial repartee

I wish I could get out ride more or even have the potential for riding 187 days per year

Located in Los Angeles I usually ride weekends to Malibu, The rock store, Angeles Crest Highway to Newmark's ranch, and occasionally to Santa Barbara

On a good weekend maybe 300 to 400 miles and as such all my bikes are in many respects low mileage garage queens

So, I am more than a little envious of your long rides and many states traveled



Best Regards,


Whiskey bravo

Absolutely all in fun. I also forgot that I got my motorcycle license at 14,which was about 10 years before I started teaching. I had about 80,000 miles before I started teaching. Did I mention that I went into teaching for the time off???

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Bruce ( DDT ) just passed 601,000 miles on his Valkyrie . I'm hoping he will reach y'all's magic number of 1.2 million miles on the same bike.

[northernvalk]

Sanding tires.....now were talking about some Burt Monroe stuff!!!! You making cylinders out of old water pipes too!!!???

I prefer the asphault sanding they get, but the smoke can be a problem