1999 bandit 1200 rear tire wear problem.

[rphillips]

The rear tire on my "99" b-12 is wearing the left (chain) side way more than the right. Couple of spots of cord showing on left, completely slick all the way around. Still see tread, though not a lot, all the way around on right, very obvious it's not normal. I can't feel anything abnormal while riding it. Alignment marks on adjusters are perfectly aligned. I've asked people that will be riding behind me to look for bike not to be tracking straight, but they can't see anything that looks out of line. I've ridden on a straight road for a while, then stop & look at the visible 1 1/2" contact patch & it looks perfectly centered. I've tried to measure from the swingarm to the wheel bead, on both sides, real hard to get a perfect measurement cause of stuff in the way, but that looks very very close. I'm wondering if maybe the front could be slightly not straight could cause this. Last year I hit a little fawn, just guessing appx. 20# to 25#. When I hit him I was at 70 mph., I figured I was really screwed, but I barely felt it. The wheel didn't run over him, just knocked him out of the way. I've looked & looked for the forks to be twisted or bent, but everything looks fine. This isn't a Michelin nor Metzler, it is a Shinko tire (don't call me cheap, I'm just thrifty) could it just be the tire, or am I missing something? Thanks

[TxGSrider]

Maybe do donuts to opposite direction every once in awhile and it'll wear out more even on both sides? lol

[bwringer]

Perfectly normal on streetbikes ridden on a lot of twisty roads. Most of the time it's noticed on the front, but it can affect the rear as well.

In England and Australia, people complain about uneven tire wear that affects the right side.

You live in a hilly part of the world. In flat areas, people complain that the tire wears flat in the center and starts to handle funny when they do find a curve.

The difference is not road crown, as is commonly thought -- it's simply that we ride on the right here in the colonies, so left turns cover more distance than right-hand turns. The fact that you can normally take left turns faster plays a part, too.

This page has a pretty good explanation:

http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/index.html

[hillsy]

Yep - road camber.

[tkent02]

What Bwringer sad, but...

If you can see cords showing anywhere on a modern radial motorcycle tire, it's way past time to replace it. That carcass is going to be paper thin. Cut it open when you take it off, if it's a 16th of an inch thick I'd be amazed.

[lurch12_2000]

You may be thrifty but riding a Bandit 1200 rear tire with any cords showing is foolish. A small sharp rock may nick that tire through. Be smart and thrifty, and order a new 180/55-17 Shinko 009 Raven radial for $87 shipped to your door. I ran them on my '98 B12 and you should get 5-6k miles out of them, even with the torque of the B unless you smoke your tires alot. You can get more out of the front but for another $60 just replace the front tire too. With a nice new matched set you can hit the tail of the dragon down there and be happy and secure.
I don't care what others may say, but Shinko is an inexpensive but good performing tire, rain or shine.

[rphillips]

I was just a little concerned, as I've been riding these same roads for the last 40 yrs., but hadn't seen this before. I've got a new Shinko 005 sitting here, but I guess I'll put this new Pirelli Diablo on there & see what happens as I don't know what else to check. Yeah, Heck, we were riding the Dragon, back when it was just Hwy. 129, no traffic nor nuthin in the whole 12 mi. stretch, then the one little country store at the top of the hill. You may have seen a couple of bikes & an old farmer or 2 in their pick-up trucks. Now progress has found it &, well, with all the traffic, congestion, & stuff that comes with progress, it just ain't fun like it used to be. Thanks

[JJ]

The rear tire on my "99" b-12 is wearing the left (chain) side way more than the right. Couple of spots of cord showing on left, completely slick all the way around. Still see tread, though not a lot, all the way around on right, very obvious it's not normal. I can't feel anything abnormal while riding it. Alignment marks on adjusters are perfectly aligned. I've asked people that will be riding behind me to look for bike not to be tracking straight, but they can't see anything that looks out of line. I've ridden on a straight road for a while, then stop & look at the visible 1 1/2" contact patch & it looks perfectly centered. I've tried to measure from the swingarm to the wheel bead, on both sides, real hard to get a perfect measurement cause of stuff in the way, but that looks very very close. I'm wondering if maybe the front could be slightly not straight could cause this. Last year I hit a little fawn, just guessing appx. 20# to 25#. When I hit him I was at 70 mph., I figured I was really screwed, but I barely felt it. The wheel didn't run over him, just knocked him out of the way. I've looked & looked for the forks to be twisted or bent, but everything looks fine. This isn't a Michelin nor Metzler, it is a Shinko tire (don't call me cheap, I'm just thrifty) could it just be the tire, or am I missing something? Thanks

Cord showing, and slick all around, and you're still riding it?!?! WTF?

[bwringer]

Yep - road camber.

A common misperception. It is not road camber or "crown" -- it's the added distance around left turns.

The page I linked to has a very complete explanation:

http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/index.html

[argonsagas]

Cord showing, and slick all around, and you're still riding it?!?! WTF?

Those were my immediate thoughts, too.

The bike should be parked until new rubber is mounted.

[rphillips]

Thanks, & I do appreciate the concern. I do realize the chances I take by riding on a tire that is warn past the wear indicators. The Mfg.'s do tell us to "never" ride on a tire warn past the indicators as it could cause serious injuries. Didn't leave home with cord showing, I'd been watching the tire, & when I returned home from appx. 130 mi. Sunday afternoon ride, I could see the 2 small spots of cord. I've already replaced the Shinko with a new Pirelli. I really don't think the camber of the road nor the left hand turns will be the problem as I've ridden this bike & my other bikes on these same roads with no issues. I was kind of hoping I could get an idea of something else to check for, I guess now all I can do is keep a watch on this new tire & hope it doesn't wear like the old one did. Thanks !