Harley Take Off Tires?

[mmattockx]

About the tires,around here the Harley dealership cuts the bead wires.

Anyway, to actually answer the question: no, a dealer won't sell or give you a used tire. Some even cut the beads or make large holes to discourage dumpster divers. Very, very few independent shops in the US would ever sell or give away used tires either.

That is retarded beyond words. Around here tire shops will happily sell used tires for all sorts of vehicles with no issue. I have also bought brand new OEM take offs from a local bike shop when the owner bought the bike as a race bike and immediately took the OEM Bridgestones off and put race rubber on. Why would a shop turn down the chance to make a buck on what would otherwise simply be garbage to them?


Mark

[bwringer]

That is retarded beyond words. Around here tire shops will happily sell used tires for all sorts of vehicles with no issue. I have also bought brand new OEM take offs from a local bike shop when the owner bought the bike as a race bike and immediately took the OEM Bridgestones off and put race rubber on. Why would a shop turn down the chance to make a buck on what would otherwise simply be garbage to them?

Perhaps you've heard of our world-famous lawyers?


There are a few grubby independent shops that might sell you a take-off. There are also shops near race tracks that sell used race rubber. Since the wear is all on the sides, they'll get you through a few thousand miles of cruising around town (although they're all sportbike sizes), which is all 95% of riders do anyway.

Established dealers don't want the liability attached to selling someone a used tire -- their insurance very likely specifically requires that they disable used tires so there's no chance an employee or dumpster diver can obtain a bad tire from their shop. There's also the issue of the state-mandated tire disposal fee -- if you're collecting the fee but not sending all the tires out for proper disposal, you can get in a lot of trouble.

It also makes sense from an overall business standpoint -- they can sell more new tires, and they avoid a reputation as a low-rent sort of place that takes chances like that.

There are shops in certain neighborhoods of larger cities that sell used car tires, but the situation is a little different there -- a bad car tire is an inconvenience, not a good chance of a grisly demise.


Take-offs from new bikes are a different matter. Those are usually snapped up by the employees or customers well-known to the shop.

[OldVet66]

I bought a used tire for my CB350 from a neighbor for $10 in 1976.

But I'm sure it's considered improper etiquette around here, as you can tell by the snide comments.

Are you working for the PC Police? I hear you make a lot of comments like that for fairly innocuous remarks. I think concerning used tires and similar safety issues negative remarks no matter how they are handed are just good common sense like maybe that isn't such a good idea.

[mmattockx]

Take-offs from new bikes are a different matter. Those are usually snapped up by the employees or customers well-known to the shop.

Since OP was talking about new take offs, I was referring to that. Disposing of worn out tires by cutting the bead is a much different thing and makes sense to me.


Mark

[dude99]

Not sure how cheap you need to go but a new set of Kenda tires are pretty cheap. A new set for my GS750 was $120 shipped for the pair. I put the same Kenda challengers on my RD350LC about 3 years ago. Haven't had any problems, they are wearing well and seem to stick well through the twisties.

I don't usually ride in the rain so I can't attest to their wet performance but there dry performance seems excellent for the price.

I wouldn't trust a used tire on a motorcycle, especially since you have no idea why the tire was discarded.

[bwringer]

Not sure how cheap you need to go but a new set of Kenda tires are pretty cheap. A new set for my GS750 was $120 shipped for the pair. I put the same Kenda challengers on my RD350LC about 3 years ago. Haven't had any problems, they are wearing well and seem to stick well through the twisties.

I don't usually ride in the rain so I can't attest to their wet performance but there dry performance seems excellent for the price...

I and many others can attest to the wet performance of Kenda Challengers in one word: SUCKS. Other suitable words might include: death, maimed, slide, slippery, greasy, dismemberment, lowside, fear, fright, scary, and nope.

To be honest, they ain't so hot in the dry, either. There are many far better options nowadays.

If you need to save a few bucks, order up a set of Shinkos (230 or 712, depending on what fits your bike). They work great in the wet or the dry.

[Grimly]

Funnily enough, every used car or bike I've ever bought has come with used tyres on it.
I've never bothered changing them until I really felt the need to - either lethally slippy junk like certain crap tyres of yesteryear, or they simply wore out, like all things.
By gawd, I used OLD TYRES and DIDN'T DIE.

[OldVet66]

Yes but when you get older and are no longer indestructible, you might. I certainly survived a lot of idiocy when I was indestructible and can't figure how I walked away from it today. Went down quite a few times without much more than a few scrapes and bruises and thinking about it today makes me think I was one lucky DumbAss.

[dude99]

To be honest, they ain't so hot in the dry, either. There are many far better options nowadays.

I think that depends a lot on your intended use, I fit squarely in the "sport touring" description. I accelerate through twists but by no means race through them. To be honest you are the first person I've heard speak ill of them. I did a lot a of research and read a lot of reviews before I bought them and 99% of them were positive.

If your goal is hard cornering and absolute grip in all conditions, then yes, there are better options, but for how I ride, they are perfectly adequate. At any rate, they are far better than a set of unknown used tires.

[gsgeezer]

If you need to save a few bucks, order up a set of Shinkos (230 or 712, depending on what fits your bike). They work great in the wet or the dry.

They are a great choice!