Recently traded my Striple 675 for a T120 Bonnie as I felt it would be more befitting a guy in his 50’s. Just finished some custom parts, went for a ride and bang, hit the deck sliding round the roundabout shaving off all that nice paintwork. I’m sitting in A and E wondering what the heck happened. Road surface seemed okay, wasn’t going too fast, leaned probably less than I did on my old Striple but I did shift my butt on to the edge of my seat as I used to. I’m not sure what the tyres are but think they are original on a 2016 T120. Not sure how long the dealer had this bike but tyres seemed okay. In short, do T120’s tend to slip on to their sides when leant over!!!???
Tyres do have a best before date. The compound tends to harden up with age. No manhole covers or drainage gratings? That’s what got me, only 10 mph and broken collar bone, shoulder blade and rib. The collar bone now has a 25° crank in it As for “more befitting a guy in his 50’s”, late last year I bought myself a new Street Triple R because I could see that the days where I could comfortably manage the riding position of my Ducati would be approaching their twilight. Oh, and as for you youngsters that have already decided on which style Zimmer frame you will get, I had already started school when Liz’s Coronation took place.
Ha ha. Many points taken! Spent all this dosh on custom bits and should have focused more on tyres. Hoped the dealer would have been my safety net! He’s got my triple so might ask for it back!
Hi Wosco Hope you're ok, so many variables for this scenario but probably not the bike, as with most bikes they will happily corner provided there are no issues. Things it could be (not exhaustive) oil/diesel/other lubricant on the road surface, cold tyres/cold road combination, drain cover or other slippy surface, wet road/white line to name but a few. The bike is only 6 years old so I wouldn't say the tyres are too old (unless they were already old when fitted). Hope you fix quick
I agree with @Helmut Visor about the tyres. They do go off but I believed they’re good for at least 5 years, and they shouldn’t turn to Tupperware even after that. You could try the nail test - dig a thumbnail into the tread. It should leave a small indentation. Also, the tyre should have a 4 digit code denoting the week and year of manufacture. E.g. 2319 would be week 23 of 2019.
Thanks all. The roundabout is used for a petrol station and industrial estate so could be diesel but looked fine. The tyremark is on the edge of reason so maybe a bit too spirited but no more than my street triple and yammie xjr from years ago. Fractured rib thankfully nothing more. I’ve attached a few pics. Tyres are original 2016. Seem okay. Nail test difficult as just cut them! But not too much difference to the new BT46 on my sons 125.
How many miles has the bike done? The chicken strips look very shiny to me, looking like the bike has not been over very far during it's lifetime. I also agree with @Helmut Visor on the other reason that could have caught you out. Glad you are not to badly hurt.
No just a bit daunted on how well a Bonnie handles. I guess I sort of assumed Modern bikes can be laid down if the road ahead looks like the red carpet has been laid out. I had a CB400N that fell over in a car park at 5 mph once and this reminds me of that but I paid £500 for that not £7500! Anyway I’m eating humble pie and will be taking bike to Dynomite in Boscombe for an inspection.
I would change the tyres immediatly! In my experiance they are to old (6 years) and won't give you the road feed back of newer ones. I would change the tyres immediatly! Even if the profile is still sufficient, your safety should be worth it. The tires simply become harder with age and lose their driving characteristics.
The phantoms that come from new do have a bad reputation. I noticed it and am in no way a racer. In my view it is the profile that means you hit the ridge to the side wall quite early and suddenly.
Old? 6 years? It's heat up and cool down cycles that age a tyre, not Sat on a shelf or on a bike in the garage, tyres aren't rubber anymore when age did properly degrade themprobably just hit some diesel...
I'm with Wessa on the tyres, they look unworn towards the edges. Stored correctly, away from temperature extremes and especially sunlight, the tyres should easily last 5 years IMO, but they do eventually harden and can even crack with age. A crude test is if you can easily leave a mark with a thumbnail in the unworn edges I'd say they're OK. The fall is probably down to something on the road surface or perhaps a small piece of debris of some kind that you didn't see. I had a similar fall on a roundabout a few years back on the dirtbike with knobblies on. The road had been newly resurfaced 3 days previously with nice smooth tarmac and it was damp so that was my bad. Having said all that, if you still have doubt in your mind about the tyres, change them.
I'd be more interested in the front tyre if you low sided but still not convinced it's due to a tyre issue
To me it looks like the tyres edge hasn’t even been ‘run in’ and still shiny. Looks like a combination of two, virgin tyre edge and a slippery surface where you rode it. I’ve a vintage bike that’s got a pair of 25year or older tyres that I’m currently riding and it still feels supporting as it’s not had any heat cycles. I know it sounds like I’m taking the piss regarding tyre age but also my old 2013 bonneville had 2001 year tyres on that were new old stock and still passed the fingernail test which I rode ‘spirited’.
