Tire Life on Friction Drive

[ut1205]

I just finished my first gallon of gas on my Stanton R/S friction drive bike. Got 115 miles on the gallon of gas. It will probably improve some since the engine has gone throught the "Break In" period but due to the hills around here it probably won't be much better but I am satisfied. It is only a little more than twice what my Prius averages.

I am concerned with tire wear. Everytime I ride I notice alot of black dust on the engine and rear of bike. In about 90 miles on this tire, other than the "casting ridge" in the middle of the tire, I can't tell that there is a whole lot of wear but there is no way I will get the 1500 miles that BMP says you can get. The original tires were 40 psi max and it was like pedaling a tank. I am running 65 psi on the new tires and effort is alot lower.

Has anyone gone throught one or more tires on this setup? How many miles did you get between changes?

[xlite]

Originally Posted by ut1205

I just finished my first gallon of gas on my Stanton R/S friction drive bike. Got 115 miles on the gallon of gas. It will probably improve some since the engine has gone throught the "Break In" period but due to the hills around here it probably won't be much better but I am satisfied. It is only a little more than twice what my Prius averages.

I am concerned with tire wear. Everytime I ride I notice alot of black dust on the engine and rear of bike. In about 90 miles on this tire, other than the "casting ridge" in the middle of the tire, I can't tell that there is a whole lot of wear but there is no way I will get the 1500 miles that BMP says you can get. The original tires were 40 psi max and it was like pedaling a tank. I am running 65 psi on the new tires and effort is alot lower.

Has anyone gone throught one or more tires on this setup? How many miles did you get between changes?

I went through about 20 tires back in my friction phase. With a "round file" roller like BMP it was possible to ride in the rain (barely) but tires wear in 100-200 miles. With smooth iron pipe wet riding was totally impossible but tire lasts 400-600 miles. I get a couple thousand miles from the same tire on my current chain drive HTs.

[ut1205]

Thanks for the reply. Base on what I'm seeing now I am going to estimate 200-250 miles on my current tire. If you figure a $20.00 tire wears out in 200 miles then that is $0.10 per mile. Pretty expensive especially when you figure that gas cost you less that $0.02 per mile. Are you using the same motor on your gear drive? If so, how does the power compare to the friction drive on dry roads. If the power is the same or better then I am ready to upgrade to gear drive using my current R/S engine.

[xlite]

Originally Posted by ut1205

Are you using the same motor on your gear drive? If so, how does the power compare to the friction drive on dry roads. If the power is the same or better then I am ready to upgrade to gear drive using my current R/S engine.

My friction motors were several 27cc and 33cc IIRC homelite and one Honda or Ryobi 4 stroke weed wackers. The gear drives are generic 44cc and 67cc chinese 2 stroke kits. The difference in performance is HUGE. And there's the issue with wet roads. However I do miss the light weight friction setups and specially the zero drag penalty.

[toker_ace]

Tire wear is more when the tire is new.I guess its just softer high on the tread.Once you get down into the tire..tire wear is very little.Make sure you haven't got the roller down to far into the tire.Also, make sure your unit is sitting flat and not tilted toward the motor side.I personnaly love my friction drive.Once the motor breaks in you will be suprised at how much power these little 35cc subaru motors are!

[xlite]

Originally Posted by toker_ace

Once the motor breaks in you will be suprised at how much power these little 35cc subaru motors are!

Oh Yeah... I fogot about my first ever MB. 43cc Dimension Edge Mitsubishi. Crummy mount but it had much more power than any of the weed wacker engines. Closer to the HTs. Wore tires even faster than the wackers though. And let's not even mention those wooden rollers.

[ut1205]

I have noticed that my tire is wearing a little more toward the motor side. Will figure out how to raise it alittle this weekend. Makes sense that the tire would show more wear when new.

[toker_ace]

take you a strap and wrap it around the motor and hang it up in the air and then tighten your bolts that hold it in place.Its hard to hold it level and tighten the mount bolts at the same time.Once you get it right you will wonder why anyone would ever mess with these chinese crap? Staton-inc, build a bullet proof set-up!

[ut1205]

I will try it that way!!!

[bikenoobie]

you can buy a rubber drive roller, they grip just as good as steel and your tires last a lot longer