Is this normal?

Hey,
I think excessive backlash is causing my rear tire to wear out too quick. Here's a video I made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oJnrTfGxyc

Does this seem like a normal amount of back and fourth? It's in 1st gear.

My rear was leaking so I got this one off ebay. It supposedly had less than 10K miles on it... I think my old one had less play.

Thanks

 

That looks like a normal amount of backlash (remember, there are 2 sets of 90º gears between the rear wheel and the gearbox), and excessive backlash won't cause a tire to wear out faster.

What tires do you have?
How often do you check the air pressure?
How aggressively do you ride?
Do you ride two-up with gear, or solo?
Are your rear shocks kaput?
What mileage are you getting out of the rear?
Do you live in the "Land of Straight and Boring Roads" (the plains states)?

 

that looks pretty good to me. it should have no sideways play though.

 

What tires do you have?
Currently I've got metzeler marathons. It's got less than 3000 miles and needs replacement. Front is wearing to a point. I've never got more than 3000 without riding on a bald tire.
How often do you check the air pressure?
Every week or so.
How aggressively do you ride?
Very aggressively.
Do you ride two-up with gear, or solo?
Not often enough to speak of.
Are your rear shocks kaput?
They're not pogo sticks at least.
What mileage are you getting out of the rear?
Less than 3000
Do you live in the "Land of Straight and Boring Roads" (the plains states)?
I live in the land of the twisties.

I was thinking excessive lash contributes to wear when I let off the throttle and then the rpms drop while the lash is being taken up so it skids a little when the lash is all taken up and hits the engine break...

If it looks good to you guys, I'll just chock up my tire wear to aggressive driving...

 

there is a drive damper in the middle gear assembly to take up the on off shock and you can adjust the lash on the final set of bevel gears.
but there's really no more play in yours than most chain drive bikes

 

Wait, whoa.

"My rear was leaking so I got this one off ebay. It supposedly had less than 10K miles on it"

So this is a USED tire? Did you check the date code? How about the date code on the previous tire?

If you're only getting 3000 miles out of old, or "less than 10K" used tires I'm not surprised.

Try a set of brand new tires and see how long the rear lasts.

After you replace the rear shocks. If original, at 22K they are toast whether you realize it or not.

 

I get ballpark 3k or so out of a rear tire.......

Most of my roads are straight, so I wear out the center while the nubbies can still be on the side. Just not enough twisties hereto spread out the miles, but I don't care for them anyway.

Dave F

 

I think he got a used rear drive hub off of eBay instead of a rear tire.

 

it's the used air he's putting in the used tires, always make sure you get the original air that came installed from the factory

 

If the OP's sentence is read as written; he was speaking about having replaced a leaky rear drive, not a rear tire.

 

Haha sorry I got a used rear drive off of ebay. Tires were new last summer. I've put like 4 or 5 rear (brand new) tires on this bike since I've owned it.

It seems like this wear is normal, so I'll just expect this kind of wear from any tire I get.

I forgot that that middle gear has a huge spring on it... Thanks Polock. Also I only fill my tires with purified argon

I need to update my sig, the bike actually has 28k on it now, so I guess my shocks are really shot huh? Len's about to get over a grand from my R1 fund so the shocks will have to wait. I assume they're not cheap.

Thanks everyone

 

DOH, now I have to change the air in all my tires.

 

Ha, initial reading, I was on the same page as the Fitz. Never buy used tires.

Since that isn't the case.. I get 10K+ out of my Shinko rear on a bike much more powerful. Marathons are 'ultra mileage' rated, so something's up. Aggressive riding will have something to do with it, but nothing that dramatic. My initial reaction is that some alignment of the rear wheel is off? But my Seca's been 'under construction' for a couple years, so I can't remember if that's possible..

* Is the rim true & straight?
* Are the tires professionally replaced? Properly balanced?
* Are the rear brakes dragging? (doesn't look like they are)

Backlash looks fine.

 

* Is the rim true & straight?
It's the straightest rim I've ever seen! Front has maybe a 50thou wobble.
* Are the tires professionally replaced? Properly balanced?
They were professionally mounted and balanced this time (first time I've had them professionally done).
* Are the rear brakes dragging? (doesn't look like they are)
No.

Maybe the frame's a little crooked?
There seems to be 2 kinds of mileage reports from what I've turned up; there're people who get 10k+ out of their tires, and then there's people like me who get around 3k.

 

How many miles you get out of a tire boils down to five factors (assuming there are no mechanical issues) the type of tire (sport v. touring), how aggressively you ride, maintining proper air pressure, the types of roads you ride on (concrete v. tearmac v. chipseal v. gravel), how much weight the tires are carrying (one up v. 2 up luggage).

 

The Avon AM26 Road riders seem to last forever, and the grip on the ones I have on my Honda 750 is pretty good. Maybe you should try a different brand/style of tire.

 

I think the tires need some fresh air.
Im hoping to get 5k out of my rear tire. Im at about 3500 and its pretty worn in the center. But i ride aggressivly and have done a few burnouts on the tire

 

Well I ride my GS1000 hard and it uses the same 130/90-18 rubber, I'm getting 5K out of a shinko 230 and that bike has a lot more torque than a 700. My CB750 gets 7k from a sport deamon, and 12K from a AM26.