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Shinko 009 Raven

mtnbiker1185

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So I am going to need to replace the stock tires on my NC750X here in the next month or two. I have pretty much settled on Shinko 009 Raven's due to them having pretty good reviews and being about half the cost of Road 5's. A number of reviews have mentioned that they take awhile to warm up. Being as winter is coming and I plan on riding throughout the winter, I was wondering if anyone who has used these tires knows how well they perform in cold (30-40F) temps?
 
I have almost worn through a front Shinko Raven, and I love this tire. Turn in is quick, and the center tread is deep, so they last awhile. I'm at around 15,000 miles now on my front, and I'm wearing the sides down more than the center due to riding twisties when I travel out if state. Since I live in flat land, it is unusual for me not to wear down the center first. The Raven front had been my favorite tire so far for the NC.

My Raven rear tire hasn't been on very long so I can't report on it yet. I ride in winter sometimes but not aggressively so I have had no problems with cold tires.
 
Just an update on this. I ended up having to ride home from work this morning with about an inch or so of snow and slush on the roads and had zero issues with the Raven's. They did slip once or twice, but it was in places I expected them to, like on the seam between the road and the incline of the gas station. Overall, I was rather impressed with how they handled and their ability to grip on the wet and slushy roads.

With that said, I would not consider them a winter tire nor will I be attempting to repeat my morning adventure again any time soon, but that has more to do with the ability of drivers to drive in the snow in southeast Virginia than my confidence in the tires.
 
Winter tires for motorcycles - hmmmm.
You sir are crazy.
Here you'd never get going if it snowed and you're on two wheels.
Do you have tree trunks for legs to keep yourself upright??
 
The road in front of my house is currently a sheet of ice....no motorcycle tire will get up or down the hill in front of my house...I have watched 3 vehicles (one a 4x4) end up end the ditch losing traction coming up the hill....Brave man...you wont see me riding my motorcycles on snow covered roads (and I have ridden over 200,000 miles in the last 14 years)..
 
To be clear....I didn't intend to ride in the snow. When I went to work it was in the 50s, when I left at 6 the next morning I had to push about 2 inches of snow off the bike. I do not intend on repeating that mistake again. Also, the roads around here are pretty much straight and flat. If I still lived in PA or had tontake back roads home it may have ended differently.
 
I now feel a little better about buying these. I ordered a pair of these on online, so they are sitting in my garage waiting to be mounted. Ironically, it will be snowing tomorrow, so I'll have nothing better to do than try out my new harbor freight tire changing setup.
The closest I have come to hitting a car during braking, was while riding at 16°F, on OEM tires. I have decided that even with heated gear, I won't ride around when it is that cold with frozen tires. Actually, I just won't commute in traffic where I have to panic stop if it is below freezing. Wish I had ABS, but not sure if it would have been any different.
 
I now feel a little better about buying these. I ordered a pair of these on online, so they are sitting in my garage waiting to be mounted. Ironically, it will be snowing tomorrow, so I'll have nothing better to do than try out my new harbor freight tire changing setup.
The closest I have come to hitting a car during braking, was while riding at 16°F, on OEM tires. I have decided that even with heated gear, I won't ride around when it is that cold with frozen tires. Actually, I just won't commute in traffic where I have to panic stop if it is below freezing. Wish I had ABS, but not sure if it would have been any different.
What kind of tire change setup do you have?
 
I have the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Automotive manual tire changer and motorcycle tire changer attachment. I also got the tire balancer from them. I still didn't get around to it past weekend. I have no doubt that when I get it set up and start trying to use it, I will spend the whole time thinking about how much it costs to just drop the wheels off and pay someone to do it. May or may not even get it finished, depends on how many injuries I acquire, and how many beers I go through.
 
I have the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Automotive manual tire changer and motorcycle tire changer attachment. I also got the tire balancer from them. I still didn't get around to it past weekend. I have no doubt that when I get it set up and start trying to use it, I will spend the whole time thinking about how much it costs to just drop the wheels off and pay someone to do it. May or may not even get it finished, depends on how many injuries I acquire, and how many beers I go through.
I have that HF setup, but with the added mojoblocks and mojobar. With those items added, nothing but nylon will ever touch the rim. I have changed many, many scooter and motorcycle tires, as well as trailer and minivan tires. It succeeded with every tire I threw at it. Easiest to change is car tires. Somewhat hard to change are small diameter scooter tires. Most difficult is Goldwing tires.
 
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I got it to also do trailer, minivan, and car tires. Currently scoping out an older Goldwing I want to buy, but might skip on doing those then when the day comes.
 
I ordered a set of 009's and they are now in my garage waiting for a little warmer weather. I have been mounting and balancing my own for over 25 years now and usually set them out in the sun to warm up to make it easier. AMT had the best deal I could find at $154/set with free shipping and no tax (not many still do that)
One drawback with the Shinko's is no light spot mark like Bridgestones (yellow dot)--but for the price, I will deal with it. BTW, they sent 2 very recent manufacture date tires, unlike some other suppliers.
 
I ordered a set of 009's and they are now in my garage waiting for a little warmer weather. I have been mounting and balancing my own for over 25 years now and usually set them out in the sun to warm up to make it easier. AMT had the best deal I could find at $154/set with free shipping and no tax (not many still do that)
One drawback with the Shinko's is no light spot mark like Bridgestones (yellow dot)--but for the price, I will deal with it. BTW, they sent 2 very recent manufacture date tires, unlike some other suppliers.
Yes, I buy about 95% of my tires from AMT. They are fast and usually have the best pricing.

I don’t know if you mark your wheels for the heavy spot, but I have checked 4 bare NC wheels (2 front, 2 rear) and only one out of the four had the valve as the heaviest point in the wheel. Typically the NC’s wheel heavy spot was 90 degrees or more away from the valve. Goldwing wheels were no better. I have my heavy spot on wheels for Goldwing and NC all punch marked on the inside of the rim to make the next tire swap go faster and require fewer weights.

For the Shinkos you got that have no dots, it won’t matter, but maybe for next time . . .
 
Yes, I buy about 95% of my tires from AMT. They are fast and usually have the best pricing.

I don’t know if you mark your wheels for the heavy spot, but I have checked 4 bare NC wheels (2 front, 2 rear) and only one out of the four had the valve as the heaviest point in the wheel. Typically the NC’s wheel heavy spot was 90 degrees or more away from the valve. Goldwing wheels were no better. I have my heavy spot on wheels for Goldwing and NC all punch marked on the inside of the rim to make the next tire swap go faster and require fewer weights.

For the Shinkos you got that have no dots, it won’t matter, but maybe for next time . . .
Yup--first thing I do on a new bike tire change is find the REAL heavy spot and mark it. I also us a "yellow tool" sidewall depressor along with 2 others to facilitate the second bead--first one with warm tires usually requires no tools. I also took the guts out of one of my tire inflators to get lots of air quickly for seating the bead and try not to exceed 40-50psi. Now I just need some warmer riding temps to wear out my front Battlewing
 
I ordered a set of 009's and they are now in my garage waiting for a little warmer weather. I have been mounting and balancing my own for over 25 years now and usually set them out in the sun to warm up to make it easier. AMT had the best deal I could find at $154/set with free shipping and no tax (not many still do that)
One drawback with the Shinko's is no light spot mark like Bridgestones (yellow dot)--but for the price, I will deal with it. BTW, they sent 2 very recent manufacture date tires, unlike some other suppliers.
That is interesting that yours didn't have a dot on them. Mine had a pink circle. It was kind of faint, but it is there.
 
That is interesting that yours didn't have a dot on them. Mine had a pink circle. It was kind of faint, but it is there.
Just had to go check and you are correct! Years ago Bridgestone confirmed that their yellow dot was the light spot-----so I assume that the Shinko pink circle would be there for the same purpose. Thanks for bringing this to my attention (and all the rest of Shinko users). Cheers, Leo
 
How stiff are the sidewalls of the shinko? I’d like to do the swap myself but I’ve heard horror stories about certain brands being very difficult to get on the rim.
 
How stiff are the sidewalls of the shinko? I’d like to do the swap myself but I’ve heard horror stories about certain brands being very difficult to get on the rim.
The Shinko tires are not a really stiff sidewall and can be easily spooned on (when warm). Two persons make it a lot easier with one pressing the bead to the deep center of the rim and the other spooning the opposite side. I like the "Motion Pro" 16" levers, tire lubricant and these or similar rim depressors allow one person to complete the task easier: Nylon rim protectors also help prevent scratches--but number them and count when you are done (yes I have lost one inside b/4)
https://www.amazon.com/Sutekus-Tire...VR7W9Y0DJ78&psc=1&refRID=JDY552KYCVR7W9Y0DJ78
 
Hello there,

I recently pull the trigger on a set of Shinko Raven following advice from members here. I also want to give 5 stars to American Motorcycle tires in AZ, shipping was fast, and guys even called me when something else was on backorder, for me to get everything quickly and fast, in one shipment. I will give an update once I install them, hopefully later in next week. We got some snow in the Chicagoland area yesterday.

Best,

Tony
 
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