New tires kind of twitchy

[racurley]

I put new tires on the bike. First time with new tires on the R1150R for me. Went with Shinko Raven 009 front and rear. Took it out this evening to test them out. I noticed them right away as I pulled away. Front end seemed twitchier where I was not nearly as confident at slow speeds. Just had a weird feel. Sitting at a light, the front end would more easily turn. Felt like the bike was taller. I went with the stock size 120/70ZR17. The whole bike was a bit taller with the extra rubber on the tires.

Does this seem normal?

Previous tires were: Bridgestone Battleaxe BT023 on rear and Michelin Pilot Power 2CT on front.

[Buckster]

Very normal....enjoy it while it lasts!
Your old tires had sort of flattened out in the middle from use. Your new tires will be slightly taller in the middle now and will make turn in quicker.

[riceburner]

Shinko Raven 009

Chinese? Korean?

Let us know how you get on with them.

[racurley]

Shinko is Japanese. According to their website, they purchased tech and molds from Yokohama. Designs are done in Japan and manufacturing in South Korea.

A few folks on this board plus some other boards report having them and having good results. Price was very good - like $150 for the set.

What is spec PSI for the bike? 36 rear and 32 front? I've been running them slightly higher.

[motorcycle_monkey]

I put on a set of the same tires in June and noticed the exact same issue. Took me about a month before feeling confident. I did a 1000 mile trip over 3 days around Colorado and was much more confident in the corners. They stick, you just have to get used to the new feel. I had a set of Shinkos on my R1200C, they were great! Good quality, cheap tires.

[racurley]

Thanks. I went back and read some reviews on retailer websites. I ran across a couple of comments about them feeling unsteady for the first so many miles. The comment was along the lines of "I thought I had made a mistake in buying these until I had ridden them for 50-75 and then they settled in." I guess I will have to see.

It is a little strange with the groove running the circumference of the tire right in the middle.

[racurley]

Looks like the recommended tire pressures are..

Solo: 32psi front, 36psi rear

2-up: 36 front, 42 rear

I was running 36/41 on the last set all the time. I think I will drop these Shinko's back down to recommended pressure and see how they handle.

[Sunbeemer]

BMW recommends front/rear psi:
Solo: 31.3/35.5,
2-up: 35.5/38.4

I run my Bridgestone Batallax BT023 at 36/38psi front/rear.

New tires may still have mold release agent on them which is like grease, so for the first 200 miles until they get scrubbed in and wears that stuff off it's recommended to not push them too hard.

[lcarlson]

Most modern motorcycle tires do not have mold release compound on the treads (only on the sidewalls, to produce clear letters/engraving). The molds are now Teflon. So the old notion of "scrubbing in" new tires is essentially obsolete.

[Sunbeemer]

Good to know...thanks!

[riceburner]

Shinko is Japanese. According to their website, they purchased tech and molds from Yokohama. Designs are done in Japan and manufacturing in South Korea.

A few folks on this board plus some other boards report having them and having good results. Price was very good - like $150 for the set.

What is spec PSI for the bike? 36 rear and 32 front? I've been running them slightly higher.

Depends on the tyre manufacturer - check their website first.

Most seem to run 36/42 - but CHECK the TYRE manufacturer site first.

eg Pirelli Angel GT : (copied from their site)
120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL - 2.5 BAR FRONT
180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL - 2.9 BAR REAR
120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL - 2.5 BAR FRONT
180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL - 2.9 BAR REAR

[racurley]

Always seems funny to me that it would be based on the tire manufacturer and not the bike manufacturer. Automobile tires are established by the vehicle, right?

[riceburner]

Always seems funny to me that it would be based on the tire manufacturer and not the bike manufacturer. Automobile tires are established by the vehicle, right?

How can the bike manufacturer set pressure recommendations for tyres that haven't even been designed yet??? Remember - our bikes were designed in the last century!

[peels]

normal, go ride.

take it from a cheapskate who runs his tires to the belts. lol.

flat spot creates a harder curved edge, its stable in a straight line, and light turns. But, when you turn the bike hard, it leans sluggishly, then, snaps into the corner. new tire, smooth curve, goes right over right away aka "twitchy". always feels like a new bike for a brief time.