Just dropped my GS

[Spikidave]

I have a 56 GS which came with a set of Anakee 2 tyres which seam okay on road both wet and dry. However I'm planning on taking the bike to the Dragon Rally next Feb so in readiness for this and the potential snow and ice, I decided that a pair of TKC80 would be the best tyres for the winter. Rather than replacing the tyres, I found an excellent pair of alloy wheels, with discs all straight already fitted with a good set of part worn TKC80 tyres on E-bay.
Having swopped the wheels over, I thought I'd get a bit of experience riding with the TKC80 tyres on before Wales and allow the discs and pads to bed in, but now I deeply regret it. As whilst going round a smallish roundabout the bike just disappeared out from under me.
I can't for the life of me understand why, I wasn't going at any speed, the road was dry and I wasn't powering out of the turn, I can only assume that perhaps I was leaning too much for these tyres, but being part worn they should have been scrubbed up nicely.
I can only assume that these tyres just aren't suitable for any sort of cornering on the road. I've put the Anakee's straight back on.
Damage to bike not too bad considering it slid sideways on tarmac for about 5 metres: grazed engine guard and head cover (head would have been seriously damaged without these) grazed rear foot peg, grazed rear axle and plastic insert, scratch to mirror plastic and hand guard.
Damaged to me: Sore elbow.
But now I'm aprehensive about riding this bike again, I wonder if this bike is up to any sort of leaning. Should I ditch the TKC80's are they hopeless when leaning over, should I keep the Anakees on. So many questions need answering before I venture back onto the bike. I haven't been back on the bike since, waiting for my elbow to heal, may use the Blackbird for now, I know that won't slide away from me no matter how low it leans.

Basically just pissed with the bike at this moment in time, but it's likely to be my fault not the bikes.

Any views anyone else has on the performance of TKC80's would be appreciated

[Schtum]

Cold tyres + cold tarmac perhaps or was there diesel on the roundabout? It's hard to know from your description but TKC80s aren't usually as deficient in grip as it would appear from your post.

[marc]

I've only run TKC-80 on the front and have had no issues with them sticking to the road regardless of the lean angle.

However.. you said your other bike is a Blackbird. I bet you can lean a Blackbird further than a GS. Of course that's because you'll hit hard parts on the GS before you will on the Blackbird. I think the center stand is the first to hit unless you've lowered your footpegs. I've touched my footpegs to the road... on an off camber turn.

How old were those TKC-80s? Old tires get hard. I have to replace the tires on my vintage bike every 4-5 years even though there is lots of tread left for just that reason.

[Spikidave]

Originally Posted by marc

I've only run TKC-80 on the front and have had no issues with them sticking to the road regardless of the lean angle.

However.. you said your other bike is a Blackbird. I bet you can lean a Blackbird further than a GS. Of course that's because you'll hit hard parts on the GS before you will on the Blackbird. I think the center stand is the first to hit unless you've lowered your footpegs. I've touched my footpegs to the road... on an off camber turn.

How old were those TKC-80s? Old tires get hard. I have to replace the tires on my vintage bike every 4-5 years even though there is lots of tread left for just that reason.

Good point about the age of the tyres, I've no way of knowing their age, perhaps I should change them as a precaution, it may be better in the long run than dropping the bike again and perhaps seriously injuring myself.

I had done about 10 miles but it was a cool evening so maybe the tyres weren't warmed up enough. Although it's not something I've ever concerned myself with on other bikes and as far as I know, there was no sign of any diesel

[marc]

There's a date code on the side wall of the tire. Let's see....

The 4 digits date code on this TKC-80 is 3708, or the 37th week of 2008.

[Spikidave]

That's a very useful bit of info, I'll have a look later, thanks Marc, much appreciated

[zman1968]

Hi, I just wanted to add that I've carved canyons in southern CA with a set of TKC's on and once scrubbed in, they did just fine. Realistically, I didn't push my GSA to super aggressive, but I pushed a bit and they gripped the tarmac just fine.

I'm guessing that it may have been external factors such as asphalt temp or something. That is, unless your TKC's were very old.

Glad you're ok. That's most important.

Cheers.