Tuesday, December 18, 2012 [23,284 miles]
Something for the R69S
I got a Christmas gift for the R69S. This will replace the hated Heidenau K34 that I mounted about 3 years ago. The new tire will go on the rear, matching the tire I put on the front back in April. I don’t care that I have tread left on the K34. The only thing keeping the K34 on the bike now is the weather. My fingers work better when the garage is warmer.
Friday, Jan 18, 2013 [23,347 miles]
New tire
The rear will come off
Bye-bye Heidenau
It’s finally in the 60s ºF which is my minumum temperature for replacing tires if given a choice. The new Avon is warming in the sun while I pull off the hated Heidenau from the rear of the R69S.
Lots of tread left
On the changing stand
Yeah, theres a ton of tread left. This is part of a set of Heidenau’s I bought several years ago. I soon removed the tire on the front, replacing it with an Avon. When the rear finally wore last April I mounted the Heidenau I’d removed from the front.
My bike has since suffered from a nasty head shake aroud 35 MPH. Last time this was an issue (and the front stearing bearings were found to be OK) replacing the rear tire did the trick. Given my experience with the Heidenau tires I’m hoping this tire change will resolve the head shake issues once again.
Tube leaks, slowly
New tube
Talc treatment
The rear tube is also fond of leaking air, slowly. It’s a Heidenau product, too. I think I’ll just keep away from their products in the future. The products don’t seem to like me. Others have great luck. In any case I’m putting a new tube in the new tire. In preparation I slightly inflated the new (Metzeler) tube then rubbed it down with some talc so it will slip into the new tire.
New tire mounted
2.5 bar (36 PSI)
Balanced
As is often the case it took me longer to clean and polish the wheel than it did to change the tire. I should have left the old weights on the rim as the new tire took the same weigh at pretty much the same position.
Clean shoes
Ready to ride
After cleaning the brake shoes and drum I mounted the tire. I found where paint had been worn off at the mating position between the flip up and fixed portion of the rear fendor. I put some grease at the junction to keep moisture out and hopefully inhibit the formation of rust.
The bike is ready to ride. I had other things to do this afternoon so a test ride will have to wait until tomorrow. I hope the head shake is gone.
Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 [23,406 miles]
The bike rides much better with the new rear tire. The 35 MPH head shake is gone.