Tyres + riding in winter

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

I ride a small-but-perfectly-formed CBR125.

Obviously there'll be some change in tyre behaviour and handling as the weather turnes colder, but what sort of thing should I expect to happen?

Lately, the back wheel's felt a bit skittish in the cold, not so much in the rain itself, but when it's chilly and damp. It wobbles quite a bit on painted lane lines - though I try to avoid them as much as possible - and on those horrid black shiny tarmas lines too. It's almost as it if 'follows' the bloody things sometimes. There's plenty of flesh on both tyres, so it's not the tread. I haven't gone skidding off into the ether yet, but then I hardly get to do more than 30/40mph or so on the way to and from work.

Should I be altering the tyre pressure in the cold months? If I let a little air out, might in increase the amount of type actually meeting the road?

Please don't flame me for being dense, I'm still learning!

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

tyres just take longer to warm up tis all and tyres don't stay warm for long! justy ride as if in the rain for a few miles before you start going for some extreme leans ,

cold tyres = no extreme leans , I still remember GSX750 J who thought he'd show off in middle of Jan ,

he got his KD , then bike down then helmet down etc.
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Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

No fear chief... there's no extreme leaning in the Ducky camp!

I experience this on the straits mostly, I think, even doin about 40 around the ring road this evening after work... I changed lanes and when I went over the white line I felt the back wheel wiggle a bit. Obviously what with the throttle open and the momentum in a straight line, I wan't going to come off, but it still got the adrenaline pumpin!

That's what I'm afraid of tho too... each little skip here and there gets my heart goin mad. I'm terrified of coming off it and coming a cropper under some truck somewhere.

Superlight · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Karma :

RELAX!

Yeah it gets a bit twitchy when it's cold and wet, but it gets a lot worse if you're tense.
Keep it smooth and relaxed, expect it to squirm when you go over white lines, but don't clench just go with it.
Unfortunately, as with cross winds, small bikes tend to be worse.

As long as you don't chuck it into a corner too quick, or grab a load of front brake, it should all stay shiny side up.

I know it's slightly different, but I locked the back wheel a few times this morning on the way to work - crappy roads, wet leaves, idiots pulling out (and MX rear pads!). I tend to judge how slippery it is that way, helps to avoid locking the front which is always going to be worse. Thumbs Down

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Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

So I shouldn't need to do anything with the type pressure then? I know with cars, the pressure varies from when it's hot and cold... I wondered if the same applies to bike types?

I only askin 'cause sometimes it feels as if there little more than an inch or so actually touching the road.

smartwhitelig... · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Karma :

Glad you borught this subject up as I was going to ask the same thing. My tyres seem to wobble on painted surfaces on the road and also on the tarmac seems. As I am new to biking, I thought there was something wrong with my bike.

I just started to reside to the fact that it is going to happen and try and anticipate it and relax. When it first happened, I shit myself (not literally lol) But have started to relax more. As long as the frost holds off, I will try and commute to work on my bike as long as possible.

Nb · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

Read this. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=96152&highlight=method+winter Thumbs Up

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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

check your tyre pressures when COLD , ie when the bike hasn;t moved , air expands , wears down tyres quickly! ,
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

Thanks - I've gathered a fair bit from reading that.

Ok, will pick me up a pressure gauge then, should've made this one of my priorities really. The psi gubbins will be in the owners manual I guess..?

I've been to work and back on it today, and it's been mostly dry, and I didn't seem to be skippin all over the place this time, so hopefully it's all do to with the road surface being so damp lately. Although I feel miles more confident in the daytime anyhow, and I wonder if I'd even notice the instability as much as I do in the dark...

Nb · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

CBR125. Should be 29psi front and 33psi rear. But it will say in your manual.
____________________
Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
Columbus travel insurance are crap!! Do not use!

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

Fantastic, thanks Thumbs Up

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Reppyboyo · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Karma :

I rode through last winter on my 125 CBR and about to do it again this winter!

I presume your useing standard "eagle grip" tyres?
They are not very confidence inspiring tyres, and Ive found do tend to slide easily on pant markings/tar lines/leaves.
They will do the job, but the bext advice I can give you is just to relax and take it easy, no hard leaning or hard acceleration.

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

Varying type-pressure I can manage... fiddling about with suspension is out of my league though - but thanks for the heads up. I might run it by the garage sometime and see if someone can check the front tyre over for me...I can't pretend to know exactly what I'm talking about/looking for, it'd be good to have some practical advice.

I didn't think they'd be many alternatives to the standard tyre on a CRB125... somehow I can't imagine they'd do slicks or racers to fit! Very Happy

I'd certainly consider investing though if you could recommend a better alternative... this might be my 'learner' bike but I like it a lot and I can see myself keeping hold of it for a good while yet, so I don't mind spending a few pennies on it if it's for a good cause.

Marcg868 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

When you get the chance, get rid of the Original Tyres on the CBR 125, they're bloody awful.

I reccommend when you get the chance, either of the Following tyres for it.

Bridgestone BT39's

or

Pirelli MT75's

Im currently on the Pirrellis at the moment front and rear, and not once has the back let go in the wet, or on the current salty and slippy roads.

Highly Reccommended Thumbs Up

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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Reppyboyo · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Karma :

Didnt they stop making BT39`s apparently? Question

Still BT 39`s (more sporty tyre) and BT45`s (more touring based) are highly reccomended by some.

Never head anything of Pirelli MT75`s, but its mostly a case of anything is better than the standard CBR 125 tyres, so if you can afford it and are going to keep the bike a good while its best to change them.

Marcg868 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

BT45s a touring tyre? , more like a courier tyre if you ask me , but then again mine is looking a bit shagged after 3 months and 2600 fast miles.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

Fab stuff, thanks heaps.

Might not be able to shell out this side of Crimble, though it's prolly the best time of year to be changing 'em*, will see what I can do.

*especially now I'm getting more confident Thumbs Up

Marcg868 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

Duckyboos · Traffic Copper Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :

No... no I don't. That sounds uber-awful.

I plannin on going home for Christmas and my folks haven't the faintest idea that I'm scottin about on two wheels, nor can I chance them finding out, or I'll be stayin home for good. If I ever have an accident on a bike, I'll have more than a plate in me 'ead to worry about... Shocked

Marcg868 · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :