1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

Got a customizing or restoration project? Discuss it here

Moderator: rztom

Message
Author
hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#16 Post by hondaror » Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:11 pm

Thanks. The Spitfire is an old tire, 20 years. Wrong size too. The fender is on it's way.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

graham heise
Posts: 291
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:10 am
Location: gold coast Australia

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#17 Post by graham heise » Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:53 am

Hey Rory you have given allot of good advice on this forum. I would like to offer some. please buy some new tires for the bike. front and back. best performance upgrade on any bike with old tires, not to mention the increase in saftey is ten fold.
I bought a yr1 350 some years ago, came with 20 year old tires, took it for a short ride over to show a friend. ended up throwing it down the road through a round about from loss of traction in the rear. spent 2 months of work from a torn shoulder ligament, not to mention gravel rash. mount the spitfires on the wall and get some new rubber for your nice bike. my 2 cents. just looking out for ya.
yamaha fanatic.

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#18 Post by hondaror » Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:56 am

Thanks Graham. I appreciate that.
The front tire is brand new. I can tell that the old rear is not the hot set-up. The bike does not feel great, (Wrong width, wrong profile, and too old-hard, and worn poorly by the sod that didn't know how to apply power while leaned over, squared up) so, I'm not pushing it. I will get a new set of radial Conti's or Avons, in the future. I do enjoy sliding around, but with the pv jammed wide open, the thing jumps and flies much like my mid '70s TZs. The ones with no pvs.
On the lookout and taking it very easy, until I get a new rear tire. It's getting me to work, which is the most boring "L" ride, down two straight highways. Accelerating on it, is a real buzz. It flies.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

User avatar
JonW
Posts: 10599
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:33 am
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#19 Post by JonW » Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:23 am

I agree new rubber is the way, here (cos of our climate and UV) anything over 10years is past it in my book unless its been in the dark.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#20 Post by hondaror » Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:14 am

Dark and warm. I honestly get a little nervous over the two year mark. So, a twenty year old tire, for me, requires a major load of TLC. This tire is talking to me, that's for sure.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

User avatar
JonW
Posts: 10599
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:33 am
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#21 Post by JonW » Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:18 am

talking.... or screaming?
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

graham heise
Posts: 291
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:10 am
Location: gold coast Australia

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#22 Post by graham heise » Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:29 am

i have researched tire use by date. 6 years is considered max. Buyer beware. some tyres fitted from tyre shops may be 3 years old before being sold. doesn't leave allot of time before use by date. imoa it changes the value of a tire being sold by the date of manufacture printed on any tire sold. For those that own a few bikes and don't put allot of k's annually it is worth considering at time of purchase
yamaha fanatic.

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#23 Post by hondaror » Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:31 am

I've heard very similar info. Unless the rubber is fresh, I won't push the tires hard. For racing, I always buy the newest rubber that I can get my hands on. Once up to temp, they feel so confidence inspiring. They stick like shit to a blanket. That's when you start scraping everything, pegs, pipes, and getting huge feedback when you are on the limits of the tire's edge. There is no better feeling. Right now, my bike is not feeling like it wants to be pushed. I won't do it.
Last year running Super Motard, I went out on a KLX250 with old street rubber, 3 years old. I was shocked how those tire's heated up and worked. I was using the whole tire, and I sharpened the pegs in half. The bike is not very heavy, and has no power, plus my clutch springs were slipping. All the other riders were looking and laughing at my bike before we went out. After the evening of riding was over, some of them were talking with me about how they were realing me in, a little each lap. These guys were riding 400s, 450s and larger displacements. They were passing me on the straights, where their power, would blow me out of the water. At least they were not laughing at me anymore. The important factors, were the fun I had flogging the old bike and seat time. Priceless!
How do you compete against way better bikes and riders? You don't, you just survive being out there and let them practice getting around you.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

User avatar
JonW
Posts: 10599
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:33 am
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#24 Post by JonW » Sat Jul 21, 2018 9:52 am

Ahh I do love a good ride on a 'tard :)
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#25 Post by hondaror » Mon Jul 30, 2018 3:33 am

Well, the good news? The old rear tire is almost finished. It only took 3 tanks of gas. I'll find another old tire on another rim to burn off. All part of a master plan, so I can justify buying new rubber prior to my track day next year.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#26 Post by hondaror » Thu Aug 02, 2018 3:05 am

Worked on the bike tonight. I can ride again tomorrow. Also, I ordered some vinyl. It should be in my hands in a week or so. Stay tuned.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

User avatar
OldTZracer
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:21 am
Location: Alberta Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#27 Post by OldTZracer » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:23 am

I have a 35-yr old Spitfire you can have. It is the correct size but so hard you might cut yourself on the tread...
"...its a 2-stroke ya twit - Its supposed to smoke..."

hondaror
Posts: 2828
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:44 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: 1986-'90 FII build, AirTECH.

#28 Post by hondaror » Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:52 am

I'm not looking for bad rubber to run, just spinning off the crap I have.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

Post Reply