thanks; i am actually doing this job today or tomorrow, and don't have a service manual, so the info will come in handy.

 

I do highly recommend getting the service manual. Authorized is best (simply 'cuz that's the right thing to do). Regardless if it even cost over $100 it will save you cash for gas if you do much of your own service and work on the Burgman. The instructions I give here are for 2013 and after models. But I don't think there's much, if any, difference with the earlier models for this job. At least not enough to be unable to figure it out using this same information.

@joe_silverburg , do find and check out @LeDude 's tutorials and YouTube videos for anything you need to work on with your 2003 model AN650.

 

All I can say is WOW! Is that ever different!!!
First 3 miles on the new front tire was really a different experience. Partly due to being a new tire. But the biggest thing is going from an OLD RADIAL tire that was at end of life to a NEW BIAS PLY tire.
Bias ply tires have stiffer sidewalls than Radial tires. The very first turn out of my driveway I was taken by surprise at how much the Burgman "FELL INTO" the turn. I barely thought about turning out of the driveway or the first corner after that and the front tire just took over and pulled me around. It had a mind of its own. I have enough experience on different bikes to not loose it in such situations. I also have plenty of experience going from an old tire to new, but this was way different than I was expecting. Took at least 2-3 miles to get used to it and it still sometimes surprises me just how my Burgman now really wants to turn into any curve or turn. I've never had issues with my Burgman needing extra effort to go into a turn but the difference I was feeling with the new tire made it seem like I must have been really pushing it into curves... just the impression, not the reality. But it does now seem like I have to work to keep the front wheel from turning farther than anticipated for how much lean I am putting into it. At least the first few miles. My Burgman also seems to roll easier... getting up to speed faster or with less effort... just seems like there is less rolling resistance now. Just enough to be noticeable. I'm getting used to it now so it's becoming more natural to me. Put on another 46 miles today. My route to my son's house takes me around 4 traffic circles that I usually take at near 30 mph. Today, on the new tire, until I get it scrubbed in, I am taking those at about 25 mph just to take it a bit easy. I did notice the Shinko tire tends to follow the grooves cut in the pavement on bridges now. Don't remember if my Bridgestone tire did that when it was new but when worn it didn't. I am keeping 35 psi in the front for now. Says 33 psi on the sidewall but everywhere I read on this tire indicates the slightly higher psi should be fine. I do keep 42 psi in the rear Shinko.

 

All I can say is WOW! Is that ever different!!!
First 3 miles on the new front tire was really a different experience. Partly due to being a new tire. But the biggest thing is going from an OLD RADIAL tire that was at end of life to a NEW BIAS PLY tire.

did you also change to a narrower profile tire? I'm wondering if that is going to make a difference in my new tire handling

 

A Bias ply was a stiffer sidewall and it has a more pointed crown than a radial. So when you transition over in a corner they tend to steer quicker. A radial will flex and remain wider so it slows down the steering a bit.

I LIKE a fast turn in bike. Some do not.

 

@mikeyMarine , No it is not a narrower profile tire. Same exact size spec as the OEM Bridgestone before it. But it is as @Dave_J stated. Being Bias ply it holds the crowned shape much more than a Radial would so it can seem to ACT like a narrower profile. If you do actually put on a narrower tire you will have a difference in handling. But I think this is better. 😁

Did I mention that it seemed like I didn't have to lean as much to turn in the same? That is part of what took me by surprise. Felt like it was taking the turn a lot more than the lean I was putting into it. Now to find out just how much tighter I can turn at speed if I lean a little more!!! 😁
After I scrub off all the new tire oils of course.

 

I guess the difference is like understeer and oversteer with a vehicle.

 

From the looks of the wear on that old tire, I would check the wheel bearings and the steering head bearings (tightness). That tire wear looks like wobble wear. A bias ply tire will accentuate the problem.

 

Did check wheel bearings. They are fine. I may do as many here have said they do and replace them at the next tire change. Never noticed any wobble before so maybe a check just to be sure on snugging up the steering head.

 

Last weekend (Wednesday through Sunday) I traveled to Wisconsin for a moto camping event with ST-Owners. There was heavy rain almost all the way there for 280 miles. The rain really didn't totally let up until Saturday afternoon so 3.5 days of mostly rainy weather resulting in very wet roads. Had a really good test of how the Shinko SR567 front tire ran in rain. I also was able to determine that the wobble or head shake I was feeling is really due to how this tire really follows every little crack, crevasse, and groove in the pavement. It is especially apparent on bridges around here where the concrete pavement is cut with wiggly rain grooves on almost every bridge. I realized the head shake was only happening while riding over these types of surfaces and not at all noticeable on smooth asphalt or concrete. I've been told that bias ply tires will exhibit this behavior much more than radials.

As to rain or wet pavement management... not so good. I noticed many times during this very rainy trip when going around turns and curves in the rain on very smooth newer concrete, smooth asphalt, and tar snakes the front tire would tend to slip. I ended up going much slower for the curves than usual. On dry pavement I didn't have this issue. But on wet pavement I had to be very careful. I let some air out to take it down to 33 psi (per the sidewall and tire fitment guide on the Shinko web site) and that improved things a little but not really a lot. The rear tire has been great so far and I have no issues what ever with the rear.

I'm a very conservative rider so I can cope with this behavior... mostly. Still, it is unnerving when not expecting it. I can still hold a fast curve around the Roundabouts (traffic circles) in the area at twice the posted recommended speeds on dry pavement. But on wet pavement I have to slow down to that recommended speed or the front tire will slip a bit. I'll likely be going back to the Bridgestone tires when these wear out in (hopefully) 7000-9000 miles.

 

Here is the link to my rear wheel remove and install thread:
Remove and Install rear wheel- 2013 Burgman 650

 

Done STUCK this.

 

THX. Just seemed like a reasonable request.

 

I used this tutorial yesterday to put a new front tire on the bike. I used the tutorial for the rear wheel last week (that link is three posts north). Both are excellent and kudos to that helpful Iowan RJS for taking the time and trouble. It's great to see info dedicated for 2013+ models.

Since there is no uniformity on how to jack up a Burgman, I will add my unique version. If Dwight Shrute on "The Office" was The Overkill Killer, I am the Overjack Jacker.

I started with the scissors jack from my Prius under the engine, right next to the (engine) oil drain bolt. I only needed to raise the bike two or three inches and the weight shifted smoothly to the back, so the rear tire was resting on the ground. Already, the bike felt stable.

I added a floor jack (two-ton, Harbor Freight, $29.99) under the gray frame tube behind the radiator. I snugged it up so it wasn't bearing much weight, but was engaged enough to support the bike if the scissors jack failed.

Finally, to complete my patented three points of jack safety technique, I snugged two wooden ramps I use with my car under the forks. Again, not really weight bearing but engaged so if the other two jacks failed the bike would be resting on the forks. The ramps are simply three 2 x 12's screwed together. There's a little lip on one end where I place an individual board to serve as my ramp (or for height adjustments).

The bike was up for 36 hours and felt solid as a rock. While it was in the air, I changed the spark plugs behind the radiator (access is MUCH improved with no tire or fender in the way). I changed my coolant last February so I didn't need to tackle that, but you can see it's very accessible. Also did the brake pads while I was in the neighborhood.

 

What, no 5T block and tackle from the ceiling in case both jacks failed and an earthquake took out the boards?

 

"What, no 5T block and tackle from the ceiling in case both jacks failed and an earthquake took out the boards?"

Haha, I like your thinking, but earthquakes don't happen in South Florida. My overjack jacking is practical. I don't want to spend my final minutes with a 3,000 lb. Prius on my chest, and I sure don't want to shell out the big bucks to replace Burgman tupperware.

 

No earthquakes then.... sinkholes. What r ya doing about sinkholes? Why would anyone be under a Prius? Unless the silent killer glided up behind them at a crosswalk.

 

"Why would anyone be under a Prius? Unless the silent killer glided up behind them at a crosswalk."

Ha, two lol's in one night. Must be that dry Canadian wit. With the Prius I do oil changes (10k) and ATF and coolant changes (roughly every ice age). Not much maintenance on the silent killer.

As for sink holes, none in South Florida. Cat 5 windstorms, sharks, coral snakes, gators and old drivers are the hazards here. Sinkholes are common east of Tampa, where a high school buddy of mine lives. Every time I hear of one on the news I call him up and say, "They're coming for you, buddy. They're getting closer."

 

... Cat 5 windstorms, sharks, coral snakes, gators and old drivers are the hazards here...

WHAT! You mean Sharknado is REAL?!?

 

"WHAT! You mean Sharknado is REAL?!?"

I wouldn't bet against a Floridian somewhere believing Sharknado is real. For sure, there are frogs, fish, worms, snails and even alligators raining from our heavens ....

National Geographic Society Newsroom

Ideas and Insight From National Geographic

blog.nationalgeographic.org

 

I can testify to a rain of invectives occurring, Swmbo can generate a storm quite literally in any season

 

I have had a good feel from the Michelin on the front. It just looks like the tread pattern on the Shinko would do a better job on a wet road, and the Michelin might be better on dry. I have had bad cupping with 3 Bridgestone and don't plan to go back to that.