Effect of long term storage on tires?

[Helix910]

Was looking at a '79 R65 that was for sale in my area. It had been in storage for 12 years. It has 9K miles on it, which I believe to be true, judging from the condition of the paint, chrome, engine, frame, etc.

The current owner had bought the bike 12 years ago and put new Metzeler tires on it.  The bike has been stored for 12 years in a heated, air conditioned space.  The tires still show the nubs on them.  The tires show no flaking or cracking, but they are very shiny. The seem "hard" compared to a new tire (pushing my finger nail into the tread), but I am no expert.

Question: Even in ideal storage circumstances, will the passage of time (12 years)change the properties of the tire rubber?  If yes, will these changes make the tire less safe than a fresh tire?

Doug in Jacksonville, NC

[Bob_Roller]

The rubber in the tire will get hardened to some extent even in the best storage conditions. My suggestion would be to replace both tires, and tubes before riding it. The last thing you want to find out , is that your tire isn't up to the job you are asking it to do , when you need it the most ! If you check the sidewall, there will be a four number code molded into the rubber, something like 4606, which would denote the tire was manufactured in the 46 th week of 2006.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I am afraid I have to agree with Bob on this one, Doug.

I would rather have ugly fresh tires than pretty aged tires.

I really hate falling over!

[Bob_Roller]

Another factor, is how old were the tires when they were mounted on the bike ? The size tires on our bikes, don't seem to be in too high of demand, so they could have been sitting around for some time before being mounted on the bike.

[thrang]

I'd junk the tires and tubes as a matter of course, I'm not sure I'd like to trust my life on structural integrity of 12 year old rubber. Another factor to be aware of with a bike that has been stored for such a time is the condition on the wheel bearings especially if the bike has been rarely moved with the front wheel raised by the center stand. If the wheel was left unblocked then the weight of the wheel will have been stressing just one point on the bearing.

If you're replacing the tire's the wheel's got to come out so pay special attention to the state of the bearings, if they are stiff, have any play or look/feel rough then swap them out, a front wheel bearing giving way at speed is a quick way to score a free NHS taxi ride to casualty.

[Bob_Roller]

Not to start a dreaded tire thread, but a set of Metezler Lasertec tires and tubes ,mounting, balancing and sales tax is running a minimum of $335 here in the Phoenix area, you may want to look at other tires, Michelin seems to be a favorite here on the site.

[Semper Gumby]

Replace 'em and the tubes.  Don't even think about riding on them.


+1 one what thrang said.  I usually clean and grease the bearings and replace the seals on every tire change.  The seals are rubber too.  The seals rub on a steel coller around the axle shaft.  If they are cruddy or rusty clean these up as well.  Probably more than you wanted to know.

[Helix910]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Confirmed what I was thinking; can't trust 12-year old tires & tubes.

BTW, I'm not buying the bike.

Thanks again.


Doug in Jacksonville, NC

[Justin B.]

Just to be nosey, what killed the sale?  A true 9k bike would be pretty nice...

[Helix910]

Short answer, the price killed the sale, for me anyway.

Owner had originally listed it in Craiglist for $4,000. After awhile, came down to $3500.  He is firm on the price. He admitted it is overpriced, but he is holding out for, as he said, "a collector or someone who had a bike like that in their youth."

It's a '79 Champagne. Stored inside for last 12 years. Periodically rolled out, started, and warmed up by the owner.  Stabilizer in the gas.  Tank was very low when I saw it.

Judging from the condition of the paint, chrome, and motor, I believe the low mileage to be true.  It ran crappy and the clutch needed some kind of attention (did not engage until almost at the beginning of the clutch lever travel.)

Some aged, cracked rubber bits including bar grips. Small dent in tank. No centerstand, had stock sidestand, missing one mirror, rear fender cowling had a lot of paint chips missing, almost like it was hit by a shower of gravel, worn-through spot on rear edge of seat. Tires too old, as we know.  

So, its a good low mileage specimen that needs work.  I know I would have to spend hundreds of dollars to make it a nicely equipped, good running, safe, reliable bike (I am not much of a wrench).

However, to start spending that kind of money on top of a $3500 base price, is too much for me.

That's the story.

Doug in Jacksonville, NC
(and still lookin')

[nhmaf]

If the seller was that firm on $3500 about a bike that wasn't actually in true "on-the-road" condition, you did
well to avoid it, even if it was a bit painful to do so.   I wouldn't have offered over $3K for it, and probably
a bit less.     Let us know where you are and what you're interested in, and we can help you find some
more "sane" sellers, if you like...

[NC Steve]

Shoot, barely ran, bad clutch, bad tires, other rotted rubber, dented tank, no centerstand, mirror missing, raggedy seat, lotta paint chips...
Sounds like the only thing this bike had going for it was it's (supposed) 9K miles, and I'd be doubtful of that: musta been damn hard ones, if that odo's accurate.

$1200, $1500 tops, and I'm betting it would cost at least another thou to get the mechanicals & tires right, then there's the cosmetics to boot...I see a bottomless pit of $$$

Sounds like one of the many "my BMW is made of solid gold, never mind how it looks/runs/smells" sellers.
Smart move, at least in my humble opinion...

[SCJJR65]

Yeah, I'm with Steve.  Sounds like the story with Britta, when I picked her up in June of 2003 for "only" $1,400 and thought I had made the "buy of a lifetime".  (Of course, I should add here that I was fully aware that the bike already had 108,000 miles on the clock.  But the thought that it had only been owned by two people, and the second was a retired German butcher who had graduated from the AMA Motorcycle Mechanic Institute in FL and had done all repairs and maintenance on the bike for the ten years he had owned the bike was just too great to ignore.)

Well, needless to say, I have had to put in much, MUCH more into parts and labor than I ever thought I would have to in the four years since purchasing the bike, like over $5,000!  But I have managed to put over 40,000 miles on Britta since buying her, so it's not a complete loss.  I  know I will never recoup what I've put into her to keep her on the road, but at least she is in good health for her age and mileage!

Would I do it again?  Probably not.  However, I did learn a lot along the way about being realistic when you are looking at a used bike that "seems" like it's in good shape!  

[xeffer]

That sounds very familiar... I've come to the conclusion that the Barn Yard Bargain is a myth - there is no such thing as a Brand New Second hand - the term itself is contradictory... this does not mean that you Wont find the Airhead thats right for you, but one has to be realistic about the age, as mileage isnt the only measure of a bikes condition (I would rather buy a high mileage, often ridden bike, than a low mileage, stored-for-12-years bike). There are things like rubbers and other more long term items like clutch/shocks/gears that is going to HAVE to be replaced sometime....

Makes me think of my sister that got married the other day. When I asked her how much it all cost, she answered that they had a roomy budget, but in spite of that they still went over it. "Its the small things that get you" was her answer "You think 'Its only a couple of extra $$$ for this and only a couple of $$$ to get that' but in the end it all ads up..." The same would go for a bike. I dont know the prices, but I'm willing to bet that replacing all the rubbers and Boots and seals on a airhead amounts to more than a top-end overhaul... So would it be cheaper to buy a bike thats stored for 12 years and "only needs new rubber bits", or should you rather buy a high mileage well maintained bike with low compression and be prepared to open the engine? At least then you know the engine will last ANOTHER 150 000 miles

Different strokes for different folkes I guess

[Bob_Roller]

When I go look at an R65 that's up for sale locally, ( I've looked at about 15 or so in the last 12 years here in Phoenix), I take a list of the most common problems found on our bikes . After I show them what's wrong with the bike and how much it will cost to make the repairs, they are in amazement that just letting a bike sit in a garage here in the desert could cause so much damage. On average the costs to bring it up to ride-able condition will cost more than the price they are asking, which is usually way high for the condition. There's a red '82 R65 with 43,000 miles on it, for sale on Craig's List locally, it's been listed for a little over two years his first price was $4500, now after two years it's down to $4000. I told him two years ago, that he wouldn't get more than $2600-2800 for the bike.