Hard Cheese

[rem]

Well, the trip to Skagway Monday was a bit of a bust. Wet, rainy, crappy, yech, gag, puke weather. Ron was keen so off we go. Got to Customs on the U. S. side and the guy behind me gets out of his truck and starts walking toward me. I figure I had annoyed him in another life and he was gonna beat the snot out of me. He says, "your rear tire is flat". Suuuuuuuuuumbich. And so it was, or maybe 10 lbs of air. Pretty soggy. So there is a nice paved pull off right beside us. I push the bike out of line and Ron does too. Customs guy, who looks like a retired drill sergeant, comes pumping out of the booth. I guess getting out of line is a no no. But once I show him the tire and our passports, he becomes almost pleasant. I have to push the bike past the customs booth "for a variety of reasons" says the drill sergeant. "YES SIR, NO PROBLEM" says me. Ron and I double down into Skagway, have lunch, think it over, and decide to leave the bike there. I phone the Great Bear (my lovely wife Rita) and she says she'll come and get me. I didn't want to double all the way back to Carcross. Ron is like 230 and I'm about 220 with all the gear on.


Rita shows up on schedule and we have an uneventful ride back to Whitehorse. I grab a friend and head back with my motorsickel trailer yesterday. Load the bike, all easy peasy, and haul him back to Yukon Honda where he awaits now for repair. I'll know later today if the tire is fubar or not. Given the forecast is for the best weather of the entire year so far, tire is probably toast. And tire selection here is poor.


Anyway, that's my story. Lot's of fun. I was lucky the tire didn't give out on me during one of my 75 mph lean overs. Jeeze.


I knew you'd be worried sick not having heard from me. Oh, stop. You're embarrassing me. No, really, I'm fine. Oh, quit. You're making my neck red. I'm fine, really. Just quit. R

 

[colorider]

Dang Rem - glad it worked out (so to speak) and the tire did not rear it's ugly flat head at the wrong time in a curve! What kind of tire and how many miles on it?

Oh yes - we DID miss you!!!

 

[rem]

OEM tires for the ST1300. 10 grand kms (6000 mi) but we have chipseal up here and it's really hard on tires. Almost time for replacement. I'll have to order some in. Send money.


Oh yes - we DID miss you!!!

KILLING ME >>>>>>>


I think one of you guys should move to Skagway so you could help me out in situations like this. Consider it. R

 

[colorider]

OEM tires for the ST1300. 10 grand kms (6000 mi) but we have chipseal up here and it's really hard on tires. Almost time for replacement. I'll have to order some in. Send money.

Hmmm, been so long since I owned my '06 ST1300 so don't remember what came on it OEM. I'm thinkiing it was D220's.

We have LOTS of chipseal, so can relate!!

The checks in the mail............
;D

 

[rem]

Well, my awesome bike, BlackWing, is waiting for me now at the Honda dealer, sporting a brand new set of Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires. They just happened to have a matched set the exact size I required. The rear tire was pretty well fubar due to having to ride on it with low pressure for quite a distance before it finally gave out on me. So I replaced both front and back. I'm happy with that because I feel a lot safer. I'm off to Alaska for a week in about 3 weeks, so this is a good thing.

The checks in the mail............


I'll keep an eye out for that check. Much appreciated. R

 

[fredz43]

Hmmm, been so long since I owned my '06 ST1300 so don't remember what came on it OEM. I'm thinkiing it was D220's.

;D

Some had the D220's and some had the Bridgestone 020's. I had both and preferred the 020's.

 

[HoebSTer]

i remember the year i drove from Ohio to Fairbanks and back (10,700 total miles). I used a Metzeler ME880 first edition that had a psi rating of 50pounds of air pressure. It also had deep treads. I think it was a Bias tire, then the newer ones became radial?????? I don't know, but the load rating and the max psi rating went way down to 40 something. I was able to get 8500 on the rear tire on my ST1100 for that rough trip before having to change it in Cranbrook, BC on the way home.
As i pulled into home the front tire, was just about bald. I didn't know if i was going to make it all the way home for that trip in august and the hot weather.

 

[colorider]

Some had the D220's and some had the Bridgestone 020's. I had both and preferred the 020's.

Now that you mention the 020's, I think that is what I put on mine when the OEM Dunlops were gone. Like you, I liked the Bridgestones better.

I've been running Shinko's on my FJR and quite pleased with them for the money. Decent mileage and better than decent handling.

 

[colorider]

i remember the year i drove from Ohio to Fairbanks and back (10,700 total miles). I used a Metzeler ME880 first edition that had a psi rating of 50pounds of air pressure. It also had deep treads. I think it was a Bias tire, then the newer ones became radial?????? I don't know, but the load rating and the max psi rating went way down to 40 something. I was able to get 8500 on the rear tire on my ST1100 for that rough trip before having to change it in Cranbrook, BC on the way home.
As i pulled into home the front tire, was just about bald. I didn't know if i was going to make it all the way home for that trip in august and the hot weather.

I ran a ME880 on my '02 ST1100A. Got close to 18K! Not the best handling tire, but wore like iron.

 

[rem]

Well, I'm off to Haines Junction tomorrow. Got my brand new tires, so I'm gonna kick some pavement butt. Hope it's a better trip than last time. Weather is supposed to be fantasmlistic. You boys play nice until I get back. Night night. R

 

[colorider]

Well, I'm off to Haines Junction tomorrow. Got my brand new tires, so I'm gonna kick some pavement butt. Hope it's a better trip than last time. Weather is supposed to be fantasmlistic. You boys play nice until I get back. Night night. R

Enjoy your ride Rem!!! All these places you have been mentioning brings back fond memories of my trips up there in '07 and in '08. Also makes me antsy for my PLANNED trip up there in '12 on my SuperT!!!

BTW. take it easy on those new tires until they get scrubbed in.

 

[rem]

10-4, will do. They're handsome devils. Now that I've got new tires, I'm officially re-tired. Should have done this a long time ago. Supposed to be 70ish today, if you can believe the lying weather vermin. Aw, maaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnn. R

 

[rem]

Had to share. Yesterday was awesome. Hit 72°F. I almost had to ride nekked it was so hot, but the boys didn't care for the idea. Magnificent day. This pic is just outside of Haines Junction, Yukon. The mountains are in Kluane National Park. I was gonna ride again today but they want me to work. Have to generate revenue at some point I guess. I should have been rich. I would have been really good at it. R

 

[colorider]

Wow Rem, that mountain range with the snow is just beautiful!!! Great picture!!!

Glad you had a good ride! It's supposed to be in the 70's here today, but I'm taking my wife in for a Dr. appointment which will negate any chance of me getting in a ride today. The long weekend is looking "so-so" and hopefully it will be nice enough for our planned "top down" drive tomorrow in the Mustang!

 

[Venture]

Nice pic, Rem. I can almost see why you endure all that cold way up there...almost.

 

[rem]

Whoa, nice ride, Dude ... Uh, Colorider. Sorry, sometimes I feel like a youngster during these warm days.


Agreed, Venture ... Sometimes I almost understand why I live up here. Almost. Forecast is for splendiferous weather. I'm working all next week. Figures. Sun is up and it's hazy. We go from cold and wet to fire hazard in about 4 days. Hope you guys enjoy your long weekend. Let's be careful out there. R