News

Replacing my Suzuki Hayabusa tyres after 5 years & 10,000 km

27th January 2022, 15:14 by Rahul Nagaraj

I initially wanted to fit the Michelin Road 5 or Metzeler M9RR but went ahead with the newly launched Apollo Vredestein rubber.

BHPian SnS_12 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As I had mentioned earlier, the tyres were due for a change as they were over 5 years old and had run for a little over 10k km. Further on my last ride, I noticed the rear was acting in a weird way (squared tyres) and moving around more than I would like especially when going over contoured deformations on the road surface. Hence, I decided I wanted to change the tyres immediately and started finding out what was available for an immediate replacement.

My first preference was to either get a Michelin Road 5 or the Metzeler M9RR. Both of these were not available with my regular contact in Mumbai and I asked forum members Athek, Neil.jericho and RohanDheman if they can ask around if anything is available with their contacts. Managed to locate a set of M9RR’s down South in the stock size for 46.5k. I asked the seller to send me a picture of the tyre with the manufacturing date details. Once the pictures were shared with me over WhatsApp I found something unusual about the manufacturing date and recollected what Neil had mentioned on our WhatsApp group about people being sold re-stamped tyres. This is something which has become a nuisance post the import ban where sellers try to get rid of the very old stock by showing them as been manufactured recently or to get the newer prices on older stock. Considering the M9RR’s are fairly newer models I guess this could have been done to be sold as newer/latest stock. I am not sure who does the stamping scam but this is something I definitely didn’t want to get into. Also, these were supposed to be the last set available which didn’t give much confidence either.

So, I went back to my Mumbai contact who had mentioned that he had the recently launched Apollo Vredestein tyres in stock. I was keen on trying these but wanted to try out some stickier rubber to see if it helps my riding style on the street. Now, since that option was no longer available this was the second-best choice or rather the only choice I had as an immediate replacement. Forum members had good feedback on these tyres including some journo friends who had reviewed them on BIC recently.

So I informed Ravi who owns Kwik Fix in Mumbai that I will go with the Vredestein and fixed up a time for the following Sunday to get the tyres changed.

Some pictures...

Almost squared off and I ideally should have changed them at the 9 to 9.5k km mark.

The horn and plastic covering near the bottom of the front fork T bracket need to be taken out to fit the front paddock.

Fresh Made In India rubber...

Using the right machine/tools to get the old rubber off the rim without damaging it.

Showing its age as the made in Japan rubber had gone quite hard.

Since I had to change the valves too I got these 90-degree valve stem adapters installed. 1100 for a set + GST and I was told they come from Bangalore. MotoUsher also sells something similar (design-wise) online which is made by WUNDERLICH and retails for 1150 for a single piece.