ME 880s Rubbing

[chief120865]

Anyone else run into this. My new metzelers are rubbing on the right side under the fender. it seems to be coming from a place where the fender rails bolt through to the rear fender. Only happens with a passenger. I have the shocks set on 'high", normal tire pressure. I weigh 190, my wife 160 so not a huge amount of weight. I have yet to break it down to see if it is just a longer bolt sticking through or what. I did not have this issue with the dunlops

[bogator]

sounds like you need to do the nut cage mod.

[f6john]

A 180 or a 200 Metz?

[chief120865]

200. Not to sound stupid, what is a nutcage mod?

[hubcapsc]

200. Not to sound stupid, what is a nutcage mod?

Not stupid, it's a funny name...

  http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

It's something people have to do when they put on a tire that's too big 

-Mike

[chief120865]

And to think the "nut cage" is where I thought I worked! I also saw some that do the washer mod, anyone have any experience doing this with the ME880-200? Will it give me enough clearance?

[Willow]

Do the nutcage mod first.  It's easy and quick.  It will likely solve your issue.

[f6john]

What Willow said, I had an Avon 200 on the back and had to do the nut cage mod.

[LL]

When I first went with a rear 200 Metzler I did not THINK it was rubbing till I made certain turns and I could smell just the slightest hint of rubber. I noticed a shiney streak on the right side of the tire, did the nut cage mod and problem solved. Some bikes need it and some don't.

[aviaator]

Some bikes need it and some don't.

Yeah, weird.....I'm running a Metz 200/60/16 on my rear with NO RUBBING and no nut cage mod....

Not to hijack the thread but, I do not like the wider tire.  It does not corner as well (I do mostly twistie riding and avoid the superslab at all costs).  When this one is worn out I will be going back to the stock 180/70/16.  I guess the Honda engineers knew what they were doing.

[fudgie]

Some bikes need it and some don't.

Yeah, weird.....I'm running a Metz 200/60/16 on my rear with NO RUBBING and no nut cage mod....

Not to hijack the thread but, I do not like the wider tire.  It does not corner as well (I do mostly twistie riding and avoid the superslab at all costs).  When this one is worn out I will be going back to the stock 180/70/16.  I guess the Honda engineers knew what they were doing.

I happened to like mine better. More traction esp around camp and up muddy hills. Went with a CT and noticed very little if any difference. It must be cause I was use to the 200 metz.

[fudgie]

What Willow said, I had an Avon 200 on the back and had to do the nut cage mod.

Double ditto. Easy to do. Mine never rubbed till I went 2 up. Then it was a smoke trail.

[Larry]

Some bikes need it and some don't.

Yeah, weird.....I'm running a Metz 200/60/16 on my rear with NO RUBBING and no nut cage mod....

Not to hijack the thread but, I do not like the wider tire.  It does not corner as well (I do mostly twistie riding and avoid the superslab at all costs).  When this one is worn out I will be going back to the stock 180/70/16.  I guess the Honda engineers knew what they were doing.

I remember when I put on my first set of stock sized Avons, the bike handled REAL good. Pretty much cornered itself. Took a couple R3's out, the Tourer one had a stock sized rear much the same as our Valks and it handled real well. The other, a Classic had a 240 on the back and it was noticably different. Right now I'm running a GYTT CT, it too is different but that's another story!  Had to do the nut cage and washer mod and a bit more on the frame to get it to work. Here is a link for the Nut cage mod:
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

[chief120865]

Never had an issue until we did the two up riding. Even then, only on left turns would I smell it. My guess it was really close all along 2 up, and the tire flexing in the corners started the rubbing. Up to that point one up no problem. I like the 200 it seems to ride better, a bit more traction in the rain (bigger contact patch?) not much cornering capability difference that I can tell

[chief120865]

with rubbing having occurred any opinions about possible structural damage or experience? Seems superficial to me but I ALWAYS opt on the side of caution when dealing with the bike.

[fudgie]

Mine wore a little and I rode it 15,000 miles. Its really not more then a 1/8" off the 'edge' of the sidewall.

[Andy]

I had previously done the nut cage mod just in case I ever decide to go darkside.
My Bridgestone Battlax 200 rubs on the driveshaft housing just enough to keep the tire clean with no wear.

[chief120865]

I did the nut cage mod. This was actually pretty easy. 4 bolts to get the saddlebags off, 3 bolts for the fender, unplug wiring harness. I think the hardest part may just be tucking that harness back under and aligning the center bolt. Only took about an hours worth of work. To look at it from the outset it seems daunting but in actuality pretty easy