rubbersidedown
Member
- Jan 16, 2005
- 145
- 0
I recently put an IRC Vulcanuro 100/110 on the back and went up a tooth (48t) on the rear sprocket. I really didn't expect to feel that much difference but there is from what I can tell after one ride...I think.
That tire has an incredibly agressive and wider pattern and definitely covers more surface and coupled with the extra tooth to my surprise took some of the spin out of the rear.
At first I thought the engine was running bad. I was thinking the gas was too old, I need to rejet for the warmer temps now etc... but I soon realized it was a geometry thing ;)
I didn't like the feel at first, I felt like acceleration from a stop was definitely sacrificed but then I decided to see where this new feel would benefit so I dove into some thick woods and started to ride some deer trails. The entire length of the trail was off camber and this always poses a challenge in itself aside from the fact that the ground surface was loose rocks, loose soil with a nice covering of dead leaves.
The bike felt more comfortable in these conditions, nice new rubber is always a good thing, but I felt like I was making more contact with the ground resulting in better control.
The true test came with the number of log crossings I made effortlessly. Before the changes to the bike I would approach a log and blip the throttle and occasionally make contact too fast and almost lose the bike. Now the bike seems to make a less hyper approach along with feathering the clutch and I still have the same power, just less "snap" in these situations. The bike seems to just roll over without the feeling of stalling or having keeping the revs up as much, making for a more successful crossing. Do I dare say it rides more like a 4-stroke? :ohmy:
On the same ride in the woods I also had what my fiance' calls a "blonde moment". I got myself caught up in an uphill section I couldn't get out of. The incline was too steep, the rear wheel was just hurling melon size rocks and descending rapidly. I was surrounded by small saplings that I swear were moving themselves closer to the bike every time I turned my back.
I was exhausted at this point, both wheels were wedged between rocks, a small tree maged to grow up through my frame past the skid plate and I couldn't get the bike in nuetral.
A beautiful 65 degree day now felt like 85 with all my gear on, my muscles were screaming..."Why can't I pull this damn bike out?" Then it hit me...I had the steering damper up pretty high which was draining my arms as I'm trying to knife the front wheel back and forth as I was pulling at the same time. :bang:
So I just thought I'd share that little ride/test with anyone who may be thinking about what difference a tire size, or gear change makes. I'm still learning, not to mention still bleeding from all the thorns I pulled out of my upper arms last night.
Life is good, I love this sport, be safe.
That tire has an incredibly agressive and wider pattern and definitely covers more surface and coupled with the extra tooth to my surprise took some of the spin out of the rear.
At first I thought the engine was running bad. I was thinking the gas was too old, I need to rejet for the warmer temps now etc... but I soon realized it was a geometry thing ;)
I didn't like the feel at first, I felt like acceleration from a stop was definitely sacrificed but then I decided to see where this new feel would benefit so I dove into some thick woods and started to ride some deer trails. The entire length of the trail was off camber and this always poses a challenge in itself aside from the fact that the ground surface was loose rocks, loose soil with a nice covering of dead leaves.
The bike felt more comfortable in these conditions, nice new rubber is always a good thing, but I felt like I was making more contact with the ground resulting in better control.
The true test came with the number of log crossings I made effortlessly. Before the changes to the bike I would approach a log and blip the throttle and occasionally make contact too fast and almost lose the bike. Now the bike seems to make a less hyper approach along with feathering the clutch and I still have the same power, just less "snap" in these situations. The bike seems to just roll over without the feeling of stalling or having keeping the revs up as much, making for a more successful crossing. Do I dare say it rides more like a 4-stroke? :ohmy:
On the same ride in the woods I also had what my fiance' calls a "blonde moment". I got myself caught up in an uphill section I couldn't get out of. The incline was too steep, the rear wheel was just hurling melon size rocks and descending rapidly. I was surrounded by small saplings that I swear were moving themselves closer to the bike every time I turned my back.
I was exhausted at this point, both wheels were wedged between rocks, a small tree maged to grow up through my frame past the skid plate and I couldn't get the bike in nuetral.
A beautiful 65 degree day now felt like 85 with all my gear on, my muscles were screaming..."Why can't I pull this damn bike out?" Then it hit me...I had the steering damper up pretty high which was draining my arms as I'm trying to knife the front wheel back and forth as I was pulling at the same time. :bang:
So I just thought I'd share that little ride/test with anyone who may be thinking about what difference a tire size, or gear change makes. I'm still learning, not to mention still bleeding from all the thorns I pulled out of my upper arms last night.
Life is good, I love this sport, be safe.
