Instead of lifting your bike off the ground and deflating tires to 20lbs., can you store bike on 1/4" foam and store bike on ground (if you do not own lift)?

A lot of people don't have a lift to store their bike on and it really isn't a big deal. The important thing to do is have your tires inflated to their maximum recommended pressures if you can't get the weight of the bike off of the tires. If the bike is not going to be moved for a while, this will help prevent a flat spot from forming over extended storage durations. With 3 bikes, and only one lift, 2 of my bikes sit on their tires. If it starts bugging me too much, I'll roll them one way or another to get a different contact point to the floor once in a while.

As far as the foam goes....I don't know how good foam would work. The common thing a lot of people use is wood because it is a better barrier between the tire and the floor. The theory behind doing this is because a concrete floor usually runs several degrees colder than the air temp in the garage. The contact point of the tire will be colder than the rest of the tire, and it can lead to a flat spot and, or, cracking of the tire...or so they say. If you have a dirt floor, it's even more important to use something at the contact point of the tire because the moisture alone is enough to cause havoc with the rubber over a priod of time.

On the other hand, I have some friends that don't bother with any of it because they either don't care, or are just too lazy to bother with it...LOL..I guess it's another case of doing what you're comfortable with.

Hope this helps, Tom

BTW... While I'm already posting, I'm gonna rant about something. I know a lot of you will be reading this..... Why is it hardly anyone fills out any info in thier profile ?? WTF ?? What are you afraid of ? At least put down the city you're in or what you do for a living......and don't hide behind "anonymous" either. I can see not putting a phone number up for everyone ( I wouldn't call you anyway)  but I like to know SOMETHING about who I'm talking to, don't you ?    O.K.......  I guess I'm done for now. I'm getting thirsty anyway.

---

Owning a bike doesn't make you a biker.

you got to be kidding? my bikes have sat on the tires all winter for 39 years,with no ill effects.but then to be fair I go through 2 back tires every year and one front.

You may not have experienced any issues with your practices but you do go through tires more then what is the likely average for Michigan riders. As a footnote, it is generally regarded as a best practice by the "experts" to raise your bike off the ground during prolonged storage periods to prevent "flat spots" and premature aging of the tires. It is well known that concrete will absorb the oils that keep your tires from drying out which will effect traction.

I would also recommend that you log in if you wish to debate a topic in the forums. Your comments will be viewed with more credibility if they are not anonymous.

---

Tony Bertolini
Webmaster
Wolverine Chapter Clinton Township MI

In 39 years we have seen such "modern" innovations as radial tires, hydraulic suspensions, electronic fuel injection and countless others. Why would anyone think that something they have done for nearly 40 years is still valid today. I would even question if it was a good practice in the first place. Even car buffs all know that raising the vehicle off the ground for extended storage periods is a good idea, not only for the tires but also for the vehicle suspension.

I know a few people who have been drinking and driving for their entire life. Doesn't make it safe... or right. 

 

I have done all 3 things....

Parked the bike on cement.....

Parked it on a rubber mat I bought at the Swap Meet (cheap)

Now I lift it up, it is ez and quick

Never had any issues with tires due to the bike sitting, but then again, the bike never sits that long even in the winter... maybe 4-6 wks at a time

I agree with the admin on the 'expert' statements.  If my bike was going to sit for months, it would not be on the cement.

Drinking and riding is not good and has no affect on the tires while the bike sits in the cold.   :)

---

pBlot
Charter Member - Road Captain
W.I.T. - P.I.A.

I recommend original Dunlop tires, beware of metzler tires like the ones on pblots road glide. His tires look ok but the top of his head is flat.

cptn.don:

I recommend original Dunlop tires, beware of metzler tires like the ones on pblots road glide. His tires look ok but the top of his head is flat.

LMAO!! I'm not going to comment on pblots head, I don't know him well enuff!!

I looked on a couple web sites, it apears dunlops average about 150 a tire, does that sound right?

Any ideas on cost of getting an oil pump installed?

 

---

Ride Safe,

I bought a Dunlop front tire from Blue Water tire for 103.00 at the swap meet at Rock Financial.