[wsharp]

Ok gang,

I got my 1998 LC two weeks ago tomorrow. 2400 original miles on it, with original tires and no visible wear. I figured I would put some miles on them and replace them later... well it turned out to be "sooner" and I am glad it was. After putting a few hundred miles on them the front tire sidewalls started developing cracks. Yesterday we pulled the front wheel and took it to the dealer and I had them mount a new Dunlop wide white wall up...

As soon as I started on the ride home I could tell a huge difference. One turn in particular that the bike always seemed to "push" through was sliced through like it was a straight. The handling was much, much better than before and the ride quality went way up. When we pulled the wheel off I pushed my thumbnail, or tried to, into the tread of the old tire. That sucker was hard as a rock. The new tire rubber is nice and pliable and that made the handling and smoothness sooooo much nicer. Went on a 150 mile ride today with my brother and my best friend and man, it was great.

The rear tire is being mounted tomorrow. I am letting the dealer do it since I don't have the time or inclination to pull the rear wheel off... the dealer is only charging $40 (plus the tire and $5 to mount it) to do it and that seems like a good deal to me.

Moral of the story? Check your tread depth, check your pressure, but also check to see if the rubber is still pliable. You may find that a new set of tires will make your bike seem new all over again.

By the way, I have put nearly 900 miles on it in the last two weeks. What a blast!

 

[Pepe LePew]

Be careful! New tires require a break-in period. Usually around 50 miles.

Dennis

 

[wsharp]

Yep. Didn't take long to get beyond that mark. After getting it mounted took the bike through the neighborhood and did some low speed leaning turns to knock the coating off the tread. Then a ride through the country with some gentle sweepers, just for the fun of it.

Thanks,

 

[GNHebb]

What size are your Dunlop WWW? I want to replace my MAXXIS, too hard.

What I hear is the front is D 404 and rear is K 555. The rear is NOT same size as OEM that came on the bike. OEM was 180/70-15, Dunlop is 170/80-15.

Do see any problem with the size difference?

Thanks,

Gary

 

[wsharp]

That is correct, the original was a 180, the www I put on is a 170. No, I cannot tell the difference except that the ride is much, much improved over the original dried out and hard tires. The salesman and service manager at the dealership said they have subbed in the 170's many times and the only thing they have heard from some riders is that the 170 allows the bike to lean into the turns a little quicker.

I cannot speak to that since the old tires were so hard that anything new would be an improvement.

Here is a pic with the new tires on and the pair valve removed.

 

[GNHebb]

Mr. W.

Yep, she is a beauty! I have a 98' also. Bought it new in 98. Had problems with the clutch, replaced it twice, still same problem. Slipped in 4th and 5th gear when you crank it. Finally found a good dealer and mechanic. He did a test on the clutch springs, found they were VERY weak. He then bought a set of springs for the 2000 LC1500, totally different, Suzuki replaced them starting in 2000 but didn't tell us poor saps who had the 98/99 models. Problem all gone... So, if your clutch seems to slip after you ride a while when you hit the gas in 4th/5th, you'll know why.

Thanks for the tire info about the Dunlops, you answered my post.

Gary