Australian_Motorcyclist_2016_08_

SPECIALFEATURETYRES

Oi! You want tyres, I’ve got tyres, ol’

chap! / Why are you laughing? I’ll

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RUBBERS

WE ALL NEED THEM AT SOME POINT

BRIDGESTONE

http://www.mcleodaccessories.com.au

T30 EVO

Createdin response to motorcyclists

wanting touring tyres that deliver

A

somewhat less than reliable

colleague of mine once

suggested that condoms could be

used for emergency petrol transport.

I imagine that this is possible

(maybe?), but I would just add his

warning that they should not be used

for their original purpose afterwards.

But of course there are other things

in the motorcycling universe that are

made of rubber. A quick trip to the

planet “Italy” will reveal its use for the

seat of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mark

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aboard one of these incredibly exciting

but staggeringly uncomfortable bikes

I described the experience as being

like straddling a tractor while someone

tries to hammer a rubber bung up

your backside. That is still a good

description, as long as we remember

that the tractor was – and is - a superb

motorcycle as well.

Fuel lines are made of rubber,

too, in some cases; mostly in older

bikes. Some do not like ethanol, and

although it doesn’t seem as if they’ll

melt when in contact with it, they can

harden and possibly crack.

But back to the round, black things.

My most memorable experience

with rubber (no sniggering at the back

there) came on a trip to Queensland

with a mate aboard his R 60 BMW.

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third time, the tube had acquired so

much pinch damage that it was useless.

The problem, you see, was that it

was butyl, not rubber. We had been

using standard repair methods – sticky

patches – and while they work a treat

on rubber tubes, they do not work on

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and bought a new tube, but by then

the tyre itself had sustained so much

damage that it was useless in turn and

we had to buy a new one as well.

And a condom would have been no

help whatsoever. PT

N

ow that The Bear has sort of,

“lightened” the mood, or maybe

confused you with his introduction

I have compiled the latest offerings

from the various tyre distributors,

which is what this special feature is

really about – tyres! SW