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467 Posts
I've been running the Federal Formoza FD1 for about 20K miles now (same tire), and until Wed. was ecstatic with it. Since Wed., I've started worshiping it! :lol: I am also a member of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), and have been so since 2007, before I bought the Burg 650.
Wed., May 15th, I was running down I83 South at roughly 75mph, about the speed of traffic, when some "Hole" in a SUV jumped in front of me going about 20mph slower, in the left lane, just as we were passing the on-ramp at Shrewsbury, Pa. No reason, except the person was an IDIOT!! Anyway, I slowed, put my sig on, and decided to just pass the fool on the right. As I was changing lanes, the IDJIT behind me sped up, and the woman behind him jumped into the lane I was going in (the right lane) and gunned it around him, forcing me to commit to the lane change prematurely (must've also got irritated).
Unfortunately, some responsible tractor trailer driver left half of one of his tires laying in the middle of the road, right between the lanes, and as I was coming around the SUV who jumped in front of me, I saw it... at the last minute!
Fortunately, as I started to brake, which would've, at the least got me rear ended, and at worse, flipping end over end when I hit the retread (it was huge, and I had no where else to go... barely any shoulder at the side of the road, and a rocky cliff-face on the inside of that), something SHOUTED in my head to "GAS IT!!", and reflex took over. I may have closed my eyes, I don't know, as all I can remember is the thought of me flipping end over end, hitting the ground head first, and then getting hit by the car speeding up behind me, and the last thing I remember seeing is the speedo accelerating past 101mph...
Instead, what did happen was a loud, "BAM!!" sound, and a significant "jolt" as the rear which lifted me off the seat a bit. As my mind raced, I noticed that my hazard lights were on, and I was easing to the side shoulder; throttle closed, and with a SCREAMING in my head NOT to hit the brakes... then, as I neared the shoulder, the bike started to "wobble" a bit, then a lot as I hit the shoulder, but I was able to control it. That's when I eased onto both brakes (was only going about 5mph by then), realizing I had a blown tire, but not sure if it was front or rear.
I had to hold bike upright as the "shoulder" was only about 3ft wide and the tractors who couldn't or wouldn't move over were blowing past so fast the wind was pushing the bike... not to mention the "shoulder", which they call a "berm" up here, was slanted down to the right, so the natural lean from the kickstand was negated. Couldn't center stand the bike. Flat tire made it sit too low and it's just too daggone heavy for one person to force it! When I finally got off bike and took a peek, the rear looked intact, as if the bead was just broken.
As I looked behind me, at the road, where cars were now dodging what was left of the retread, I discovered what the loud "BAM!!" sound was... I had split the retread in HALF!!!
I had borrowed a cell to replace my misplaced "emergency phone", which I had bought just for such an occasion (being stuck in the middle of nowhere without internet service or the ability to walk where I could get help), as I travel quite a bit and commute through dead-zones regularly. Well, that borrowed phone died on me, and it's charger needed a wall socket, so I was stranded, until someone finally called a cop (surprised that, in a biker State, no one bothered to pull over, but then again, there really wasn't enough room). When a cop finally came, his cruiser was partially out in traffic, so he helped me center-stand the bike and got me off of the highway, taking me to the State Police Barracks, 10 miles North.
Now, here's where it get's interesting.
For a $45/yr membership fee to the AMA, you get a subscription to "American Motoryclist" magazine (a bunch of political and social articles, and info on registered "local" rides and organizations across the U.S.), some activist power, if you are into that stuff, and, most importantly, FREE TOWING (which includes hookup, drop-off, and 35miles per incident for ANY VEHICLE you are traveling in... you do NOT have to be the owner), AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (lockout service, gas, etc...; even, at one time, they searched the internet and called around for me, on a Sunday, to find a local locksmith who could make me a key to get into my gas tank when I lost it!!) If you have to be towed further than 35 miles, you ONLY pay for the additional mileage, and can submit to your insurance or AAA for reimbursement if you have those services too. Additionally, unlike most insurance companies and AAA, they give you SPECIFIC information of which company is coming to get you AND how long they will be. THEN THEY CALL BACK to make sure the company does get you, and will call they company back and get into their "arse" if they don't! Had it happen once. They do not play! They also make sure the company can tow your "bike"... PROPERLY (if it's a call for your bike), not send a car-ready tow truck to "rig something up".
So, I call them, and they send someone to... PICK ME UP at the Police Station, and THEN THE BIKE on the highway. They had to call 8 different companies to find someone to do it, and then, when the company said they'd charge an extra $25 to do it, they agreed to pay it for me!!!
YOU CAN NOT BEAT THAT!!! PERIOD!!!
When I got the bike on the flatbed, I had my 1st look at the tire... was completely intact, all the way around. Couldn't see any damage treadside, whatsoever. When we got it home, it was pouring down rain, but later, I had a chance to carefully inspect the tire (I'll post pics when I get ready to take it off, prob this weekend). The sidewall has a small cut in it, from what I can see, and that's it.
I dread thinking of what would've happened if that was a MC on the back. Remember, the Formoza had almost 20,000 miles on it!
I've also run through torrential downpours (happened just last week, in fact) which, with the OEM (even when new) I would be afraid to ride more than 60mph in. You'd feel the tire slipping a bit, especially when accelerating. The Formoza never slipped, not once, and you felt confident! Even at 80-85, in spurts, and around highway curves and inner-city corners, as well as small puddles (which actually surprised me, considering the tire is slightly flatter than the OEM), you never get the feeling of "being on the edge" of your traction or capability.
I keep it (checking almost daily) at 35psi, with my rear shocks set at 5. This gives me a "sporty" ride with the cushioning and comfort to ride over speed bumps and inner-city pot-holes without feeling like I'll be launched from my seat. It also allows the tire to properly flex into turns road obstructions (grates, grooves, debris, etc...), so that, even though you do notice it feels "higher" (and it is, as your speedo is pretty close to accurate), you still don't feel like the bike wants to tip over ("squirrelly"), or like you have to force it into a turn (as I stated, the profile is not much less rounded than the OEM).
I may try the FD2 from Formoza next, or the Nexen or something, but not because of disappointment with the FD1. I LOVE the tire, but I may want to experiment a bit, that's the ONLY reason.
Wed., May 15th, I was running down I83 South at roughly 75mph, about the speed of traffic, when some "Hole" in a SUV jumped in front of me going about 20mph slower, in the left lane, just as we were passing the on-ramp at Shrewsbury, Pa. No reason, except the person was an IDIOT!! Anyway, I slowed, put my sig on, and decided to just pass the fool on the right. As I was changing lanes, the IDJIT behind me sped up, and the woman behind him jumped into the lane I was going in (the right lane) and gunned it around him, forcing me to commit to the lane change prematurely (must've also got irritated).
Unfortunately, some responsible tractor trailer driver left half of one of his tires laying in the middle of the road, right between the lanes, and as I was coming around the SUV who jumped in front of me, I saw it... at the last minute!
Fortunately, as I started to brake, which would've, at the least got me rear ended, and at worse, flipping end over end when I hit the retread (it was huge, and I had no where else to go... barely any shoulder at the side of the road, and a rocky cliff-face on the inside of that), something SHOUTED in my head to "GAS IT!!", and reflex took over. I may have closed my eyes, I don't know, as all I can remember is the thought of me flipping end over end, hitting the ground head first, and then getting hit by the car speeding up behind me, and the last thing I remember seeing is the speedo accelerating past 101mph...
Instead, what did happen was a loud, "BAM!!" sound, and a significant "jolt" as the rear which lifted me off the seat a bit. As my mind raced, I noticed that my hazard lights were on, and I was easing to the side shoulder; throttle closed, and with a SCREAMING in my head NOT to hit the brakes... then, as I neared the shoulder, the bike started to "wobble" a bit, then a lot as I hit the shoulder, but I was able to control it. That's when I eased onto both brakes (was only going about 5mph by then), realizing I had a blown tire, but not sure if it was front or rear.
I had to hold bike upright as the "shoulder" was only about 3ft wide and the tractors who couldn't or wouldn't move over were blowing past so fast the wind was pushing the bike... not to mention the "shoulder", which they call a "berm" up here, was slanted down to the right, so the natural lean from the kickstand was negated. Couldn't center stand the bike. Flat tire made it sit too low and it's just too daggone heavy for one person to force it! When I finally got off bike and took a peek, the rear looked intact, as if the bead was just broken.
As I looked behind me, at the road, where cars were now dodging what was left of the retread, I discovered what the loud "BAM!!" sound was... I had split the retread in HALF!!!
I had borrowed a cell to replace my misplaced "emergency phone", which I had bought just for such an occasion (being stuck in the middle of nowhere without internet service or the ability to walk where I could get help), as I travel quite a bit and commute through dead-zones regularly. Well, that borrowed phone died on me, and it's charger needed a wall socket, so I was stranded, until someone finally called a cop (surprised that, in a biker State, no one bothered to pull over, but then again, there really wasn't enough room). When a cop finally came, his cruiser was partially out in traffic, so he helped me center-stand the bike and got me off of the highway, taking me to the State Police Barracks, 10 miles North.
Now, here's where it get's interesting.
For a $45/yr membership fee to the AMA, you get a subscription to "American Motoryclist" magazine (a bunch of political and social articles, and info on registered "local" rides and organizations across the U.S.), some activist power, if you are into that stuff, and, most importantly, FREE TOWING (which includes hookup, drop-off, and 35miles per incident for ANY VEHICLE you are traveling in... you do NOT have to be the owner), AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (lockout service, gas, etc...; even, at one time, they searched the internet and called around for me, on a Sunday, to find a local locksmith who could make me a key to get into my gas tank when I lost it!!) If you have to be towed further than 35 miles, you ONLY pay for the additional mileage, and can submit to your insurance or AAA for reimbursement if you have those services too. Additionally, unlike most insurance companies and AAA, they give you SPECIFIC information of which company is coming to get you AND how long they will be. THEN THEY CALL BACK to make sure the company does get you, and will call they company back and get into their "arse" if they don't! Had it happen once. They do not play! They also make sure the company can tow your "bike"... PROPERLY (if it's a call for your bike), not send a car-ready tow truck to "rig something up".
So, I call them, and they send someone to... PICK ME UP at the Police Station, and THEN THE BIKE on the highway. They had to call 8 different companies to find someone to do it, and then, when the company said they'd charge an extra $25 to do it, they agreed to pay it for me!!!
YOU CAN NOT BEAT THAT!!! PERIOD!!!
When I got the bike on the flatbed, I had my 1st look at the tire... was completely intact, all the way around. Couldn't see any damage treadside, whatsoever. When we got it home, it was pouring down rain, but later, I had a chance to carefully inspect the tire (I'll post pics when I get ready to take it off, prob this weekend). The sidewall has a small cut in it, from what I can see, and that's it.
I dread thinking of what would've happened if that was a MC on the back. Remember, the Formoza had almost 20,000 miles on it!
I've also run through torrential downpours (happened just last week, in fact) which, with the OEM (even when new) I would be afraid to ride more than 60mph in. You'd feel the tire slipping a bit, especially when accelerating. The Formoza never slipped, not once, and you felt confident! Even at 80-85, in spurts, and around highway curves and inner-city corners, as well as small puddles (which actually surprised me, considering the tire is slightly flatter than the OEM), you never get the feeling of "being on the edge" of your traction or capability.
I keep it (checking almost daily) at 35psi, with my rear shocks set at 5. This gives me a "sporty" ride with the cushioning and comfort to ride over speed bumps and inner-city pot-holes without feeling like I'll be launched from my seat. It also allows the tire to properly flex into turns road obstructions (grates, grooves, debris, etc...), so that, even though you do notice it feels "higher" (and it is, as your speedo is pretty close to accurate), you still don't feel like the bike wants to tip over ("squirrelly"), or like you have to force it into a turn (as I stated, the profile is not much less rounded than the OEM).
I may try the FD2 from Formoza next, or the Nexen or something, but not because of disappointment with the FD1. I LOVE the tire, but I may want to experiment a bit, that's the ONLY reason.
