I have been a lurker for quite some time. Have picked up some interesting tips from
the list. I just returned from my semi-annual trip from Memphis to the southern
Appalacians (Cherohala, Deals Gap, Blue Ridge Pkwy, north Georgia, etc). I seem to be
running through tires every 5K miles. This trip was about 400 mi.each way of 80mph
highway cruising, then a few days of twisties in between, for a 2000 mile ride. I do
not think of myself as an overly aggressive rider, but I do enjoy scraping the pegs on
my '94 blue beast in the tight stuff. The bags were packed, I am 200 lbs, so the bike
was loaded. My front tire has cupping on both sides and little wear in the center,
but the rear has the crown flattened significantly, with less wear on the edges. I
run Battlax BTT020's 120-70 front and 180-55 back, front 38-40psi, rear 44psi. I
don't understand why the tires have worn so differently. I would like to play with
the shock settings, but haven't figured out the diagrams for preload adjustment from
the shop manual. I would like to get more even wear from the next set of tires, but
don't want to restart the "dreaded tire thread". Any advice appreciated.
Tom Walsh
