When you love a thing in this world, that thing comes at a price, sometimes at a higher price that is. What is more when you love a motorcycle! Motorcycle has been one of the most well-loved vehicles around the world. You cannot blame them for loving it. A motorcycle brings more than joy to a rider. After the revolutionary invention of Hilderbrand and Wolfmuller in 1894, motorcycles have faced countless modifications that will surely cater to the buying public, especially those who are considered motorcycle connoisseurs. Also, the use and the clamor of motorcycles have since been dominated not only by the Western but also by the Eastern market. In fact, in Southeast Asia, you can find the biggest motorcycle manufacturing companies in the world. As per the expansive market research conducted last 2014, the most successful, competitive, and biggest motorcycle companies can be found in Japan; these are Honda and Yamaha. While for India, Hero Motocorp is the trusted brand for motorcycles. Motorcycles are so famous for these regions because of some reasons like economic standing of a country. For some of these countries, most people rely on buying motorcycles because they cannot afford to buy cars. Motorcycles and its fuel both come at a very consumer friendly price. This reason alone makes a motorcycle the premier mode of transportation for a lot of people. Just for instance, in the Philippine provincial mega cities, motorcycles dominated most of the national highways and roads. Motorcycles are not only used for personal reasons. Some are using motorcycles for business purposes.
The Western countries on the other hand have a different story to tell about motorcycles. The United States of America for example has a whooping 8,410,255 registered motorcycles comprising private and commercial entities. This remarkable number just proves that a large portion of the population are veering away from buying cars which seemed to clog down every major road in the country and starting to use motorcycles which have its own surprising number of advantages to the relief of commuters. Transportation is the primary reason why people use motorcycles among any other vehicles. Aside from the reasons stipulated above, the other reasons are mostly about feels. Driving a motorcycle brings so much joy, pleasure, and freedom. As other riders would state it, it feels like being in a euphoric trance whenever a rider drives a motorcycle. The feelings that you can experience while driving are quite unexplainable. You can experience and feel the environment you are passing by. You get to feel the freshness of the air, the relieving heat of the sun, and sheer pleasure of freedom while navigating your ride. Motorcycles prove also efficient when it comes to battling daily struggles a rider has to face especially when he or she is living and working in urban cities. With a motorcycle, you do not have to sit your butt off in traffic, which is not uncommon anymore even in rural areas, because a motorcycle has a slender and small size so you can just pass through those cars and find your way to your destination at a much quicker pace. Of course, before hopping off to your motorcycle and swap your car, one should be wary of road and driving rules as stated by a state (if you are in the USA, because each state has its own different laws). First and foremost, one has to obtain a license first. You cannot drive in accordance with the law if you do not own a license. Note that owning a license is actually on the advantage of the driver. In case of emergencies, if a driver has a license, then you will be protected by the law and your insurance will honor the damages incurred. With regard to insurance, this is of utmost importance because this will not only aid a driver in times of sudden accidents but also will let the driver follow the law. And of course, aside from all the paperworks, a person who aspires to own a motorcycle then having an appropriate license and a guaranteed insurance should not forget to know how to drive. There is a big difference about driving a car and a motorcycle. In driving a motorcycle, one should have a good grip of balance, presence of mind, and most importantly the appropriate motorcycle apparel such as motorcycle hats, motorcycle beanies, and many more. Well there is no need to look further just to put your hands to these much-needed gears in motorcycle driving because J2W Clothing has them all. Also, there are various organizations in the world like the The USO® and the wounded warrior project which are impacting the world with their helpful causes with motorcycles.
So much for all the first-timers, owning a motorcycle really entails bigger responsibilities. A motorcycle is a machine and that makes it vulnerable to time, climate conditions, untoward incidences, machine breakdowns, and the like. Therefore, one has to take care of his or her motorcycles. Below are the questions and the corresponding answers that continue to boggle first time and even already experienced drivers:
1. Which tire is better, a bike tube or tubeless?
This debate has been in the industry for a very long time. But actually, the debate about which is really better between bike tube or tubeless is answerable by a very much easier one. It depends on the driver’s preference. Both types of tires have their own set of advantages and disadvantages and to better differentiate the two one has to try the tires. The bike tube tires are characterized by having a separate inner tube within a tire itself which inflates and then dictates the overall riding performance of a tire. The tube tires can be easily repaired, can be conveniently carried inside a tool kit for a motorcycle, and can be cost-efficient since it is unexpectedly inexpensive. Since there are different sizes of tires, there are also various sizes of tubes. Even if a tube tire can be lightweight, when it will be partnered with tubes, they will eventually become kind of heavier than the usual. One of the only concerns for this type of tire is that these tires are not susceptible to objects that can easily puncture it. Because of its bigger size, some sharp objects can prick it; however, with practice and skill, it is easy to repair a flat tire. Furthermore, one has to bring always a toolkit so he or she will be ready when an emergency comes. On the other hand, for tubeless, these tires are characterized for not having a tube but it needs a specialized rim which has a slip to ensure a proper sealing for the tire. This kind of tire is preferred by a lot of motorcycle owners because they cannot be easily punctured or pricked by any sharp objects. So the motorcycle is kind of safe for flat tire situations, which is a relief considering it is a big hassle whenever someone encounters this embarrassing incident. Therefore, as for many accounts and preferences, tubeless are much preferred and the choice for many drivers because the tires are protected.
2. What are the different types of motorcycle tires?
Like motorcycles, motorcycle tires come in varied sizes and types also. So when it comes to choosing the tire, one has to take into consideration the way a driver rides, weather conditions, and most importantly the kind of motorcycle. As stated, motorcycle tires come in different types but these can be boiled than into 5 main categories. First on the list is the Cruise Tire: Harley-Davidson, Victorys, Indians, and customs both share the same kind of tires and these are Cruiser Tires. These tires are characterized by its thick, stiff, and heavy built which makes it appropriately designed to big bikes such as those mentioned above. Having this type of tires will help the motorcycle handle miles and miles of driving and even in different kinds of roads and weather conditions. Cruiser Tires may be intimidating and quite hard to handle but they do serve their purpose. (2) Roadrace Slicks are the type of motorcycle tires that are only common to enthusiasts and to those who can afford it. These tires are expensive and are made especially with its own set of criteria. That is why these tires are said to be the highest standard when it comes to tires. The performance is outstanding! However, these tires are sensitive to temperature and/or weather conditions and can only be used to a specific type of road. (3) Dot Roadrace Slicks are the lower version of Roadrace Slicks. These are still slicks but with only few tread groves to meet the standards set by the Department of Transportation. DOTs work only in the dry, can offer sufficient traction for heat cycle, and specifically made for the racetrack. (4) Sport Touring Tires are the result of the combination of cruiser tires and a new bigger performance. These tires are versatile and can work in different weather conditions. It is very durable and affordable. (5) Hypersports Tires are the kind of tires that can roll on a rocky road and at the same time rock a flawless racetrack. These tires are set as the premium when it comes to the street spectrum.
3. Where would someone get snow tires for motorcycle?
There are so many manufacturers right now that offer snow tires which can pass the Department of Transportation guidelines. One of these manufacturers is Anlas. This is a tire maker from Turkey. They offer snow tires for different types of tires.
4. Is it okay to plug or patch motorcycle tires?
Perhaps this is one of the common dilemmas drivers are facing nowadays. Generally, plugging or patching motorcycle tires is safe and okay as long as it is not always done. It is also recommended that if possible you have to have your tire fixed at a trusted mechanic so that everything will be done in place.
5. What is the best tool for slashing a motorcycle tire?
It is hard to slash a motorcycle tire. According to mechanics, by quickly puncturing a tire, you will already have a flat tire but on its natural face. Cuts or holes will no longer be visible. Awl, bodkin, bradawl, pricker, etc. are those that can be used to slash a motorcycle tire.
6. Why do many sportbikes have virtually no tire tread pattern?
The tires of sportbikes are made specifically to have much traction from their contact patch. And because sportbikes are generally not used in rocky roads, there is no need for a tire tread pattern.
7. Why do Moto GP motorcycle tires look smooth?
It is not hard to miss that the tires of Moto GP motorcycle look smooth and really sleek. These tires got this smooth look because they do not have some groves. Dispersing water when raining is the primary function of groves.
8. Why do I only get punctures in the rear tire of my motorcycle?
Getting your tires punctured is pesky especially when you are travelling. But the reason why the rear tire is almost always got punctured is a mystery to all. Actually, the answer is practically obvious. For instance, when the tire encounters a lying nail, it is the front tire that will be able to roll over the nail and then kicking it at an angle and at a timing that will lead the nail to the rear tire.
9. Why do motorcycle tires have uneven wear?
For those keen observers, they will not miss noticing that the tires of a motorcycle have uneven wear. As can be seen, the left side wears more than the right because first and foremost roads are curved.
10 . Why do cruiser bikes have smaller rear tires?
In motorcycle tires, the capacity of the engine determines the sizing of tires. Thus, when a motorcycle is big, its tires must also be bigger in size. Motorcycles such as Harley-Davidson and Ducati Diavel have the most fattest and biggest tires.
11. What does grooved pavement do to a motorcycle?
There are so many surface hazards that can harm a motorcycle. One of these hazards is grooved pavement. One must be very careful and must be aware of these surface hazards. There are so many kinds of grooves. Sometimes a groove pavement, because of its nature, can influence somehow the steering of the motorcycle. Another type of groove pavement is when the road is under construction and has smaller holes and rocky stones that will wrestle with the motorcycle.
12. How much psi pressure is required in motorcycle tire?
For motorcycle tires, there are required psi pressures depending on some circumstances. For a slow commute and with a normal single person, riders can use 22 and 32 psi. As for double person, it should be 25 and 35 psi. For those who want to have a speedy take, the psi pressure can be 30 and 40 psi.
13. Is nitrogen useful for a motorcycle tire?
In racing, aviation, and heavy transport, nitrogen has been the useful one. And as the years go by, nitrogen has been introduced now to motorcycle tires. The following are the characteristics of nitrogen: odorless, colorless, and is present in 80 percent of the atmosphere because it is non-reactive. Nitrogen is truly useful for motorcycle tires because it ensures tire pressure, thus optimizing handling, gripping, and braking performance of a motorcycle. With nitrogen, a motorcycle tire will not wear out quickly and will improve fuel economy.
14. Why don’t tires have deeper treads so they last longer?
Sometimes, tires do not have deeper treads because of the type of the motorcycle. To ensure that tires will last longer, it is important that air pressure is being checked on a monthly basis, the tires must be rotated every 5000 miles while also balancing it at the same time, and also alignment checking is done two times a year.
15. Which tire is good for wet roads?
When it is raining or if the road is wet, the driving performance of a tire changes. Thus, it is important to choose the tires that can easily adapt to these circumstances. First, one has to choose tires which have excellent traction. Tires like Mebzeler tires ensure outstanding grip and total stability during these conditions. Other tires that can perform well in wet roads are Michelin Pilot Road 4, Metzeler Tourance EXP, Pirelli Angle GT, etc.
16. When should I replace motorcycle’s tires?
Motorcycle tires wear out easily than a car’s tires. So a motorcycle owner must be observant to the tires of his own motorcycle. It is high time to replace motorcycle tires when there is a remarkable tread depth, when there are noticeable defects, and when it is old already (more than 4 years).
There you go, at the end, there are actually real and sometimes obvious answers to some of our life’s dilemmas especially those about our beloved motorcycles. Things like motorcycles are actually important in our daily endeavor. It not only serves as a mode of transportation but also serves as a sweet escape for those who want to have a riding experience like no other. To continue enjoying the perks of having a motorcycle, one has to learn how to take good care of his motorcycle correctly and appropriately.
