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Brammo Empulse / Re: Time for new tires!
« on: February 16, 2014, 05:54:56 PM »
Finally found time the change the tires. It's a bit cold, but I managed to scrub the new Diablo Rosso Corsas in. I'm following Pirelli's recommendation for tire pressure, using the upper end of the range due to the cold and the Empulse's girth. I put in 35/32 and it felt pretty nice once up to temp. When pulling out of the neighborhood, they were still pretty cold and the wheels felt a little "square". The profile of these tires is a little taller than the Avons. This gives them a nice side contact patch, but it means that they want to be all full lean. I'll have to see how they do once it gets a little warmer out, but so far they feel a little loose in the transitions, but they feel great once cranked over.
Couple of tips I picked up:
Even though the forks have holes in the bottom to accept a front stand with studs, you don't want to use them. My cheap front stand uses hex head cap bolts as the studs, and the hole in the right fork leg is so shallow that the stud form the stand hits the axle. This made the axle a pain to get out, and it scored the axle a little. Well that scoring did a number on the inside of the fork as the loose material worked its way through. I managed to clean the burrs out just fine, so no harm done. I ended up ordering a new front stand that lifts under the forks but without studs.
The caliper bolts do not appear to be treated with anything from the factory. I had to break them loose with with some PB Blaster and my big impact wrench. I cleaned the corrosion from the threads on a wire wheel and then used some anti-seize on them. I'm not too worried about them coming loose, but if they do I'll just retorque them and then safety wire them.
Couple of tips I picked up:
Even though the forks have holes in the bottom to accept a front stand with studs, you don't want to use them. My cheap front stand uses hex head cap bolts as the studs, and the hole in the right fork leg is so shallow that the stud form the stand hits the axle. This made the axle a pain to get out, and it scored the axle a little. Well that scoring did a number on the inside of the fork as the loose material worked its way through. I managed to clean the burrs out just fine, so no harm done. I ended up ordering a new front stand that lifts under the forks but without studs.
The caliper bolts do not appear to be treated with anything from the factory. I had to break them loose with with some PB Blaster and my big impact wrench. I cleaned the corrosion from the threads on a wire wheel and then used some anti-seize on them. I'm not too worried about them coming loose, but if they do I'll just retorque them and then safety wire them.