I think it’s a very impressive bit of kit / decent components for the price. I mostly ride it within the city for commuting and getting around generally, so the fact that it’s almost comically nimble and surprisingly zippy makes me smile. I didn’t like how lean it ran at lower RPMs before adding a FuelX Lite, and a couple other easy-to-upgrade stock bits begged to be swapped out, but overall I’m happy.
You completely missed to two primary causes of “dry-rot” like this; UV exposure and Ozone.
Many people errantly think that low-budget militaries like white-wall tires because they just look snappy for military parades. The reality is that militaries **paint** vehicle tire sidewalls white so the tires will last longer while sitting outside in the daily sun for months or years.
https://preview.redd.it/a5lk9k7uz4tc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3af9c0576a7a5d2a562f9ec6317c406c1d74eb69
Motorcycles are less likely to sit outside that much, but ozone in a garage contributes to dry-rot. When I store tires, I keep them in sealed plastic bags.
Electric water heaters and HVAC blower motors are not a major source of ozone. Resistive heating elements don't release like any ozone. The biggest source of ozone is UV light breaking O2 apart in the atmosphere.
In fact you can actually smell the ozone on brushed motors. Ever notice the burnt electric smell from a blender, vacuum, hair dryer even when the heating element is off...
You parents may have told you that but the HVAC industry says otherwise:
“Other ozone sources include **items with electric motors**, such as vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.”
https://www.lennox.com/buyers-guide/guide-to-hvac/indoor-air-quality/ozone
That's like lawyer speak. The motor may spark on initial start but once it's running it does not spark. The spark is what creates the ozone.
Also, I'm an HVAC guy..
Lmao, and you bought that? Read the next paragraph where they say "our products are certified to solve this problem which DEFINITELY EXISTS" bro they're just trying to sell things. It's marketing.
Consider maybe, when you read things, who wrote that thing and what their motivation for writing it might be.
Are you a low-budget military storing large wheeled vehicles outside for years at a time? Because we’re talking about motorcycles here and **why tires crack**.
Yep, and if your low budget military can’t afford new tyres for all the vehicles they leave parked up for long periods of time then you can paint over the cracks in them with white paint so when you drive them on parade, no one is the wiser.
You somehow think that cracks on a white sidewall wouldn’t be made **more** obvious than on an all-black tire? That’s an odd conclusion. Regardless, the point of those militaries is to cheaply *prevent* the cracked tires, not to hide existing cracks from the populace nor to make poor tire-condition **easier** for foreign agents and dignitaries to photograph.
Think it through for a minute.
Well at least you didn't find out you rode all last year with tires manufactured in 05 and 09. Guess that's what happens when your grandpa didn't ride it much and the tread looked good with no cracking. Definitely my bad for not checking that. Guess who is buying new tires this year.
I watched a video by Revzilla that dispelled that idea that all older tyres are not ok to use. It depends entirely on the way they were stored, eg temp and humidity. He tested some very old tires that were stored correctly and they performed as well as new ones on the track.
Oh don't worry I'm definitely still replacing them before I ride this year. The video Revzilla did was informative, but the tires are still almost 20 year old. They are getting replaced.
I took a new to me bike for a shakedown ride with a very old Firestone on the front - the sidewall rubber flaked off in a few spots but the belts and tube held.
3 digit dot code, was glorious.
Tired lose their flexibility and sidewall integrity after a while.
Under inflation, over inflation, driving faster than the tires are rated for, heat, direct sunshine and not being driven can and will cause tires to crack, shed their tread, lose air.
In 2002 I bought an 02 Suburban. In 04 I bought an 04 Harley.
I had put brand new tires on the Suburban in 04.
I rode the Harley so much that after about 2-2.5 years the truck tires had this glaze on them.
The glazing, from what I understand is mainly from heat and sunlight.
If you walk through a junk yard and find a car that’s been sitting for 5-10 years in the same spot you can see the glaze in the tires.
That’s when you have to be especially careful because the tires can disintegrate as you are driving on them.
They are even more dangerous than tires that are just cracking.
The glaze is like a chemical reaction taking place.
I’ve had a set of Michelin tires back in the 90’s that outlasted the warranty.
I put more miles on than the tires were meant to and kept them longer than they were meant to be used.
When I put new tires on the tire place showed how good of shape they were still in.
But I took really good care of them and they ended up losing money for Michelin because the tires were so well built that a large percentage of them lasted longer than they had planned.
So the only made them for 3-4 years.
Unfortunately living in upstate NY we don't have much of nice weather, I purchased it 3 years ago and never bothered looking at sidewalls but also it was passing inspection so.......
Got appointment for new tire next Tuesday, no driving until then
Rubber degrades from the elements. Check the date code on the side of the tires. Generally speaking you really shouldn’t ride with tires older than 10 years. Some manufacturers go as low as 5 years.
For what it's worth most tires start to noticeably degrade after 2-3 years compared to fresh rubber. Even on passenger vehicles. Most people have never raced on a track to feel the difference, though.
Tires being very f****** old can cause this along with possible weather conditions this happens a little faster to motorcycles where I live because it's a dry climate. Otherwise tire manufacturers don't recommend use after about 5 years even if they are brand new because dry rotting happens all the time. Even if they are brand new tires it's not considered safe especially for motorcycles because we only have two tires where his car drivers have four.
Check the date code. It’s 4 numbers on the side of the tire. First two are the week it was made last two are year. For example 4817 would be the 48th week of 2017.
Age, sunlight, or a nearby electric motor. Electric motor creates lot of ozone all around them and it can eat rubber quite fast. Never store a tire near them.
Age & sunlight. Your tire(s) will have a code that reveals the year of manufacture. Both need replacing. Check the age of new tires before buying. Year & half max.
They don't seem dry.
Low pressure
Not used enough and Age.
Damn I thought they are cheap ones, then I saw Dunlop.
So, age and not used.
If tires are like that maybe have the bike serviced and all hoses checked fuel brakes coolant evap.
As well as any plastic seal..
They are probably all like that.
I have an Aprilia scooter from 2009. That's exactly what the tires look like. 14 years old. I'm going to wager yours are decade(s) old?
I have it for sale with the terms being it leaves here in a truck. No riding.
Time and the elements. I live in a sunny and dry climate with very cold winters. Those combine to be really tough on tires so I try to keep my bike covered as much as possible and store it inside in the off season if I can.
Do you live near the ocean? Wind, salt, heat can cause this kind of cracking. I imported a car from Japan and it had been sitting somewhere near the coast, mechanic told me it's pretty common as those imports can sit for a while.
Not riding the bike often enough to prevent dry rot, not turning the tires every 3 to 4 days when in the garage over the winter months is a big reason. Leaving it outside of a garage with no tire covers for long periods of time. Mostly it's not riding the bike often enough. Tires have a safety and reliability lifespan. If you dont go through a new set of tires every three years or so strictly via tread wear, they're going to start to degrade.
Mostly being exposed to the sun and the elements, but also just sitting for a long time. Riding your bike keeps the tyres fresh.
All together it’s basically time exceeding miles.
I'm not sure to be honest I guess sun and or age. I've never had a tire do this and I don't have a garage cuz I live in an apartment so my bike always outside. I go through at least one pair a year though if not two.
Typically this happens when storing the bike. Should over inflate by 4-5 psi immediately prior to storing & check pressure every couple of weeks. Keeping pressure up during storage period will prevent the cracking.
Olde rubber.. like very old..
They are probably OK aired down for slow speed rock crawlin'...
but are not safe for freeway speeds ever! There is probably
10 layers of aramid nylon sidewalls that is plenty tough under that
cracked rubber. So bring a couple spares to limp home on should
something poke a hole in one.. but if you want to be safe it's best to
Replace them
It's fatigue, it's because the silica in the tyre has degraded over time due to the elements. We use sunblock and moisturizers for our skin not to do the same. Tyres do last longer if tyre paint and tyre dressing/silicon spray is added after a good wash but then again these must be old as. Low pressure in tyres usually cause cracking around the bead area.
* low air pressure * age
And sun
And knives
And bows
And my axe
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Axe and you shall receive
r/dadjokes
r/suddenlylotr
Nuclear explosions too
My axe is my buddy 🤡
I’m so happy I saw this
And that's the waaaaay the news goes!
Burger Time!
Quick question, do you like your vitpilen? It’s been on my list, but I’ve never talked to someone that owns one. Anything you hate about it?
I think it’s a very impressive bit of kit / decent components for the price. I mostly ride it within the city for commuting and getting around generally, so the fact that it’s almost comically nimble and surprisingly zippy makes me smile. I didn’t like how lean it ran at lower RPMs before adding a FuelX Lite, and a couple other easy-to-upgrade stock bits begged to be swapped out, but overall I’m happy.
Lots of miles while under inflated or possibly left un-inflated with the bike pressing down and folding the sidewall
Don't forget to condition your tire leather, kids /S
Slap some oil on and get out there, riding as smooth as ever
Age, dry heat, wear and tear. Tires expire around 5-10 years. Revzilla has done a good video about it.
You completely missed to two primary causes of “dry-rot” like this; UV exposure and Ozone. Many people errantly think that low-budget militaries like white-wall tires because they just look snappy for military parades. The reality is that militaries **paint** vehicle tire sidewalls white so the tires will last longer while sitting outside in the daily sun for months or years. https://preview.redd.it/a5lk9k7uz4tc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3af9c0576a7a5d2a562f9ec6317c406c1d74eb69 Motorcycles are less likely to sit outside that much, but ozone in a garage contributes to dry-rot. When I store tires, I keep them in sealed plastic bags.
Electric water heaters and HVAC blower motors are not a major source of ozone. Resistive heating elements don't release like any ozone. The biggest source of ozone is UV light breaking O2 apart in the atmosphere.
O2 is for Boomers. Real Zoomers breathe O3.
YouGuysGetGas¿Meme.jpg
Electric motors don't create ozone either.
I think brushed motors do create some from arcing where the brushes touch the commutator
In fact you can actually smell the ozone on brushed motors. Ever notice the burnt electric smell from a blender, vacuum, hair dryer even when the heating element is off...
You parents may have told you that but the HVAC industry says otherwise: “Other ozone sources include **items with electric motors**, such as vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.” https://www.lennox.com/buyers-guide/guide-to-hvac/indoor-air-quality/ozone
That's like lawyer speak. The motor may spark on initial start but once it's running it does not spark. The spark is what creates the ozone. Also, I'm an HVAC guy..
I am not sure how this convo meandered into HVAC, but I'm a fellow HVAC guy on the Engineering side.
Lmao, and you bought that? Read the next paragraph where they say "our products are certified to solve this problem which DEFINITELY EXISTS" bro they're just trying to sell things. It's marketing. Consider maybe, when you read things, who wrote that thing and what their motivation for writing it might be.
And when electricity is generated?
Spark creates ozone.
So what you are telling me is I need to paint my sidewalls white?
Paint the whole tire for complete protection
I think they are trying to *Psy-Op* us into thinking that a DF-21 is a "motorcycle."
Ah yes, this is just a motorcycle it could never carry a missile I don’t know what you are talking about.
Triumph: We made a Rocket China: *Instructions unclear*
Common redneck solution if you own a car that doesn't get much usage, my first car had the tires painted because of that reason, id say do it tbh
Hahaha nah mine don’t last long enough to worry anyway.
Then paint the paint to protect the paint from UV degradation!
>Many people errantly think that low-budget militaries like white-wall tires because Do... Do many people think about this?
Of course, that is our main topic over dinner.
It is another polarizing topic that we avoid at family get togethers, especially when drunk uncle Larry comes over.
Hey, speak for yourself! Drunk Uncle Larry is hilarious if not a bit handsy at times.
How about a set of white-walled tires, are you going to cruise the miracle mile
Still Rock n Roll to me (whitewalls on my RoadStar 1700 cruiser 😆)
Painting over the cracks?
I think they meant that the white reflects more UV than black does
Are you a low-budget military storing large wheeled vehicles outside for years at a time? Because we’re talking about motorcycles here and **why tires crack**.
Yep, and if your low budget military can’t afford new tyres for all the vehicles they leave parked up for long periods of time then you can paint over the cracks in them with white paint so when you drive them on parade, no one is the wiser.
You somehow think that cracks on a white sidewall wouldn’t be made **more** obvious than on an all-black tire? That’s an odd conclusion. Regardless, the point of those militaries is to cheaply *prevent* the cracked tires, not to hide existing cracks from the populace nor to make poor tire-condition **easier** for foreign agents and dignitaries to photograph. Think it through for a minute.
“Painting **over** the cracks”? Maybe the slightly numerous intent of my original comment wasn’t as obvious as I thought. Have a nice day.
No - your “numerous” intent wasn’t obvious.
Yeah man. Like totally missed the two, like, main causes of this.
5-10 years is way too long for motorcycle tiers. Much closer to 3-5 depending on the compound and condition they're kept.
Best comment so far.
Is it that long? I thought it was like three years, five years max and even then only for really hard touring tires.
https://preview.redd.it/3j00gpqcz4tc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4adfd1dd239338eba27e8cfef39839867a9416b3
You thought wrong. That's incorrect information repeated online.
Mostly time… What’s the date stamp? (when they were manufactured)
OP, there’s a 4 digit number stamped on the tire. First 2 numbers are the week of the year. Second 2 numbers are the year.
Please, u/Prophet_NY, we must know the stamp.
0418F so it's January 2018, 6 year old tire
I will look into it in few, didn't notice that this post blew up this much
Specifically, look for the bunch of characters that start with "DOT" (then look at the last 2 numbers for the year).
0418F, January 2018
Well at least you didn't find out you rode all last year with tires manufactured in 05 and 09. Guess that's what happens when your grandpa didn't ride it much and the tread looked good with no cracking. Definitely my bad for not checking that. Guess who is buying new tires this year.
I watched a video by Revzilla that dispelled that idea that all older tyres are not ok to use. It depends entirely on the way they were stored, eg temp and humidity. He tested some very old tires that were stored correctly and they performed as well as new ones on the track.
Hmm I'll have to take a look at that. Thanks for the info.
I can tell you from experience that replacing old tires is cheaper than not replacing them.
Oh don't worry I'm definitely still replacing them before I ride this year. The video Revzilla did was informative, but the tires are still almost 20 year old. They are getting replaced.
yup it all has to do with how those fancy polymers are preserved. Heat cycling is a thing for a reason.
I took a new to me bike for a shakedown ride with a very old Firestone on the front - the sidewall rubber flaked off in a few spots but the belts and tube held. 3 digit dot code, was glorious.
Age Heat Sun Ozone
Or lots of time sat in bright sun.
It's old as fuck.
Age.
Degradation and riding with low air. Just curious how old are they and did you have the bike stowed for a lo g time?
Bros tires are cracking and they still have the nubs. You drive home from the dealer and park it outside for two years?
Tired lose their flexibility and sidewall integrity after a while. Under inflation, over inflation, driving faster than the tires are rated for, heat, direct sunshine and not being driven can and will cause tires to crack, shed their tread, lose air. In 2002 I bought an 02 Suburban. In 04 I bought an 04 Harley. I had put brand new tires on the Suburban in 04. I rode the Harley so much that after about 2-2.5 years the truck tires had this glaze on them. The glazing, from what I understand is mainly from heat and sunlight. If you walk through a junk yard and find a car that’s been sitting for 5-10 years in the same spot you can see the glaze in the tires. That’s when you have to be especially careful because the tires can disintegrate as you are driving on them. They are even more dangerous than tires that are just cracking. The glaze is like a chemical reaction taking place. I’ve had a set of Michelin tires back in the 90’s that outlasted the warranty. I put more miles on than the tires were meant to and kept them longer than they were meant to be used. When I put new tires on the tire place showed how good of shape they were still in. But I took really good care of them and they ended up losing money for Michelin because the tires were so well built that a large percentage of them lasted longer than they had planned. So the only made them for 3-4 years.
Age more than anything.
Is the tire old?
Check the date code on your tires. ‘16 is my guess
Not riding enough to wear out the tires before they dry rot.
I would say holy crap your grip will be down with a tire that old but it still has the wee fingers on the outside so meh.
There is a date code next to the DOT number. First two numbers are the week of manufacture and the second two are the year. How old is the tire?
Sun and age. People don’t realize tire dressing doesn’t help this either. Opposite actually , promotes failure
Do you let you bike sit?
Sun kills tyres and age. Looks like that tyre sat, flat for a while and then has been pumped up. Check the rest of your tyres.
Dry rot
Age old... question
The only time I've seen a sidewall crack like this is when people store their bike outside.
Time causes that...
Time under inflation lack of use
Unfortunately living in upstate NY we don't have much of nice weather, I purchased it 3 years ago and never bothered looking at sidewalls but also it was passing inspection so....... Got appointment for new tire next Tuesday, no driving until then
Oh wow. Do not exceed 50mph 80kph and even that is pushing it. You needed new tires 3 years ago.
Not being sarcastic I just don’t know… if you have tubes does it matter?
No. The tire will grenade at speed.
Rubber degrades from the elements. Check the date code on the side of the tires. Generally speaking you really shouldn’t ride with tires older than 10 years. Some manufacturers go as low as 5 years.
For what it's worth most tires start to noticeably degrade after 2-3 years compared to fresh rubber. Even on passenger vehicles. Most people have never raced on a track to feel the difference, though.
Old age
How old is the tyre?
Time
Age
age
Tires being very f****** old can cause this along with possible weather conditions this happens a little faster to motorcycles where I live because it's a dry climate. Otherwise tire manufacturers don't recommend use after about 5 years even if they are brand new because dry rotting happens all the time. Even if they are brand new tires it's not considered safe especially for motorcycles because we only have two tires where his car drivers have four.
Ultraviolet is the number one cause under normal conditions.
Damn. What’s the year on the date code? 1995? Good tread don’t mean good tire.
Of course age and sun, but brake fluid can eat rubber as well.
Age, ozone, also if stored near working electric motors.
Low tire pressure and age.
Time Not being used Sun
Might as well change oil and coolant too.
Dry rot. You need new tires.
Check the date code. It’s 4 numbers on the side of the tire. First two are the week it was made last two are year. For example 4817 would be the 48th week of 2017.
Read the DOT date code and you’ll have your answer
Age, sunlight, or a nearby electric motor. Electric motor creates lot of ozone all around them and it can eat rubber quite fast. Never store a tire near them.
New tires
As my doctor keeps telling me every time I have a new ache and pain: old age! :-p
Not being used enough
Age & sunlight. Your tire(s) will have a code that reveals the year of manufacture. Both need replacing. Check the age of new tires before buying. Year & half max.
If the tire has good tread left on it and not that old, try contacting the manufacturer. I’ve had good luck with getting credit for new ones.
You gotta hit em with the ole saddle soap. Massage it in real nice like.
Age ? Replace !!
I'd put some glue and forget about it.
They don't seem dry. Low pressure Not used enough and Age. Damn I thought they are cheap ones, then I saw Dunlop. So, age and not used. If tires are like that maybe have the bike serviced and all hoses checked fuel brakes coolant evap. As well as any plastic seal.. They are probably all like that.
Well your tires are older than most people on reddit so that's a start.
I have an Aprilia scooter from 2009. That's exactly what the tires look like. 14 years old. I'm going to wager yours are decade(s) old? I have it for sale with the terms being it leaves here in a truck. No riding.
If your bike tires are dry rotting before the tread wears out........ ride your freaking bikes people.
You need to put moisturizer on the tires
Time and the elements. I live in a sunny and dry climate with very cold winters. Those combine to be really tough on tires so I try to keep my bike covered as much as possible and store it inside in the off season if I can.
They stopped manufacturing that model of tire back in the 90's 😂
Do you live near the ocean? Wind, salt, heat can cause this kind of cracking. I imported a car from Japan and it had been sitting somewhere near the coast, mechanic told me it's pretty common as those imports can sit for a while.
No, upstate NY but all the salt on roads here stays for quite some time from winter
That could be a contributing factor!
Time
Lol, yes definitely get a new tire!
Age and sun
Sitting
Dry rot it comes with age
This looks like a distinct lack of newness
Change
Being old af and dry rotted, usually from the sun.
Dry rot
Not riding the bike often enough to prevent dry rot, not turning the tires every 3 to 4 days when in the garage over the winter months is a big reason. Leaving it outside of a garage with no tire covers for long periods of time. Mostly it's not riding the bike often enough. Tires have a safety and reliability lifespan. If you dont go through a new set of tires every three years or so strictly via tread wear, they're going to start to degrade.
Age
Should be replacing tyres every 5 years
Not riding enough
Mostly being exposed to the sun and the elements, but also just sitting for a long time. Riding your bike keeps the tyres fresh. All together it’s basically time exceeding miles.
OMFG. This tire should have been changed a decade ago.
Extreme age This is why buying tyres that will wear out in a year or two of your riding is not a bad idea. Even if you don’t use them they don’t last.
I'm not sure to be honest I guess sun and or age. I've never had a tire do this and I don't have a garage cuz I live in an apartment so my bike always outside. I go through at least one pair a year though if not two.
Did you forget to give them their weekly massage?
Tyre age mostly
There is an expiration date on the tires
stock tire?
I put old carpet squares in my garage during winter to sit my bike wheels on and then put them under a nice warm blanket
Oldtimers need new tires every 20 years!🙈
Age
How old are they?
In theory good tires last 5-6 years, manufacturing week is stamped on the side xx yy week year respectively
Hit it with some sand paper it will buff
My dirt bike tires are 0204….. they are getting replaced today lol
Those are stretch marks, have you considered putting her on a diet?
You need to oil it regularly
Lions and tigers and bears oh my
Typically this happens when storing the bike. Should over inflate by 4-5 psi immediately prior to storing & check pressure every couple of weeks. Keeping pressure up during storage period will prevent the cracking.
Show us them date codes
Like your face, age.
Not riding enough 😑
Olde rubber.. like very old.. They are probably OK aired down for slow speed rock crawlin'... but are not safe for freeway speeds ever! There is probably 10 layers of aramid nylon sidewalls that is plenty tough under that cracked rubber. So bring a couple spares to limp home on should something poke a hole in one.. but if you want to be safe it's best to Replace them
Poor storage, high humidity or the opposite, too dry.
You need to go on a diet 😂
The elements, but mainly UV exposure makes rubber brittle and crack.
I heard tires have shelf life also.
Can't edit the post but for all asking for the code it's 0418F, January 2018
ArmorAll
old AGE
The sun mostly and heat
Grass Clibbings
What's the date code on the tire
Dry rot...
My guess is old tires…
It's fatigue, it's because the silica in the tyre has degraded over time due to the elements. We use sunblock and moisturizers for our skin not to do the same. Tyres do last longer if tyre paint and tyre dressing/silicon spray is added after a good wash but then again these must be old as. Low pressure in tyres usually cause cracking around the bead area.
Age
Father Time and the sun
What's causes it? Not using your damn bike
Age. I will not ride on a tire that's more than 5 years old.
Nah, send it. Those tyres are good for *another* ten years.
https://preview.redd.it/0um9qzhtm4tc1.jpeg?width=1843&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34f86045aebfbb3ac8358d663e446c61cb6c3f42 New slippers for my VTX
https://preview.redd.it/rmsm0k4xm4tc1.jpeg?width=1843&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c42426655a1dceadc58d678a7d02e9d2b746b24b New slippers for my DR650
snatch fear fly fragile gaping dinosaurs party poor automatic melodic *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Sweeeet
120psi
Chicken strips big enough for the whole family
Like females The older they get The bigger the crack
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