shakedown ride complete.

[5speed]

finally managed to get the bike out for a short ride.
first let me say it's a very good thing I never bought a sport bike when I was young and stupid. 
she worked great but when I got home it was smoking from around the front forks, fairing. I think the valve cover gasket is leaking..and of course I filled it with gas before coming home. lol
she needs a new front tire as well which I kind of expected. Took a real good look at it tonite and it's weather checked in between the tread elements.
but..it's what you get when you get in to vintage bikes.

[red]

finally managed to get the bike out for a short ride.
first let me say it's a very good thing I never bought a sport bike when I was young and stupid. 
she needs a new front tire as well which I kind of expected. Took a real good look at it tonite and it's weather checked in between the tread elements.
but..it's what you get when you get in to vintage bikes.

5speed,

Click the link, and scroll down a bit.  The FJ is a strong and heavy bike.  No matter about the depth of tread remaining, IMHO the tires are done after about five to eight years, depending on your storage area conditions.  We have lots of opinions on the tires you can buy.   

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

[Motofun]

Yeah, ditch those tires.  A front flat is no joke.  Came way too close at the Boone rally this past spring but Carey spied the nail in my front tire and saved my bacon.

If you confirm the oil leak from the valve cover grommets, no big deal.  They're cheap, just don't over torque the new ones.  Easy fix.

[5speed]

tks guys.
I replaced the back tire..should have ordered a front one at the same time.
I have a new valve cover gasket on the way..going to order the grommets today as well.

[Paul.1478]

finally managed to get the bike out for a short ride.
first let me say it's a very good thing I never bought a sport bike when I was young and stupid. 
she needs a new front tire as well which I kind of expected. Took a real good look at it tonite and it's weather checked in between the tread elements.
but..it's what you get when you get in to vintage bikes.

5speed,

Click the link, and scroll down a bit.  The FJ is a strong and heavy bike.  No matter about the depth of tread remaining, IMHO the tires are done after about five to eight years, depending on your storage area conditions.  We have lots of opinions on the tires you can buy.   

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

5-8 years. Sounds funny but I know age is a factor for sure. I have not had a set of tires last much more that a year or two on any of my bikes. Miles not time. I need new ones in the FJ soon and just put them on Oct 2020.

[5speed]

5-8 years. Sounds funny but I know age is a factor for sure. I have not had a set of tires last much more that a year or two on any of my bikes. Miles not time. I need new ones in the FJ soon and just put them on Oct 2020.

the back tires on my IROC are 16 years old..it's kept inside when I'm not driving it and they look brand new but I'm going to be replacing them soon.. after I um... shaving some tread off these ones..

[red]

5-8 years. Sounds funny but I know age is a factor for sure. I have not had a set of tires last much more that a year or two on any of my bikes. Miles not time. I need new ones in the FJ soon and just put them on Oct 2020.

the back tires on my IROC are 16 years old..it's kept inside when I'm not driving it and they look brand new but I'm going to be replacing them soon.. after I um... shaving some tread off these ones..

5speed,

Wrecking a tire (from any cause) is usually not a huge deal on a four-wheel vehicle. 
At almost any speed, a tire failure on something like an FJ can be hazardous to your health,
with NO protection from surrounding traffic, or from the bike itself.
Please do not lose track of that difference.

[5speed]

5speed,

Wrecking a tire (from any cause) is usually not a huge deal on a four-wheel vehicle.  
At almost any speed, a tire failure on something like an FJ can be hazardous to your health,
with NO protection from surrounding traffic, or from the bike itself.
Please do not lose track of that difference.

I'm well aware of the difference...I don't use any type of vehicle with old,worn tires...
the front tire has a lot of tread left and the checking is not all over the tire...my ride was short and under 45 mph. It's parked now until the new tire is installed.

[Pat Conlon]

 

Ask Dan McCoy (aka giantkiller) about old tires....he had some fun on a back tire with a date code from 2013. (a short ride spinning the back tire on his way to the burger stand)
That tire was sooooo hard, when he was finally able to lever the 150/80 off the rim (he had a hell of a time)  with the tire laying on its side you could not deflect the sidewall it was so stiff and hard.

I have never seen a tire that hard.....it was Amazing

[giantkiller]

That short ride was kinda fun. You could drift the back of the bike  back and forth spinning the tire without much throttle at all. The tire was so hard it didn't leave any marks on the road at all. My friend who was on his v-rod behind me said every once in awhile it would give off a small puff of smoke. While I was drifting it back and forth.
Took it really slow through the corners

[Motofun]

Careful with those IROC tires too.  Bought a '06 Vette that still had the original tires.  Only 9000 miles on them so they still "looked" pretty good.  When I bought new tires the shop had a hell of a time getting the old ones off the rims.  The spoon would punch right through the side wall as they were long time gone.  I'm soooo glad I didn't push them when I got the car.  The new freshies are amazing by comparison.

[5speed]

Careful with those IROC tires too.  Bought a '06 Vette that still had the original tires.  Only 9000 miles on them so they still "looked" pretty good.  When I bought new tires the shop had a hell of a time getting the old ones off the rims.  The spoon would punch right through the side wall as they were long time gone.  I'm soooo glad I didn't push them when I got the car.  The new freshies are amazing by comparison.

new ones are on the list.. would doing a huge burnout in the tire shop parking lot soften the sidewall? asking for a friend. 

[giantkiller]

Lol.
My first fj got totaled. Right after I put a new  back tire. So I  rode the bent bike out into the road in front of my house. And burned it off. Actually dug a hole in the asphalt about 1/2" deep.  Was fun.

[5speed]

Lol.
My first fj got totaled. Right after I put a new  back tire. So I  rode the bent bike out into the road in front of my house. And burned it off. Actually dug a hole in the asphalt about 1/2" deep.  Was fun.

this arrive a few days ago. It's up in the rafters for now. going to get it recovered this winter.

[giantkiller]

Lol.
My first fj got totaled. Right after I put a new  back tire. So I  rode the bent bike out into the road in front of my house. And burned it off. Actually dug a hole in the asphalt about 1/2" deep.  Was fun.

this arrive a few days ago. It's up in the rafters for now. going to get it recovered this winter.

There you go! I like both of my Corbins both the gunfighter and the lady and the gunfighter are great seats. Had to have both re covered. Definitely worth it.