In defense of Chicken Strips

eddiekay · September 10th, 2012, 10:02 AM

I stumbled across a Keith Code vid and he made a point that, if made by a mere mortal, would be ridiculed:
Chicken strips belong on street bikes.
And....if you're riding your bike on the street fast enough to rub them off...you're riding faster than the bike was intended to be used...on the street.
Unlike people....machines and devices....tires, frames, suspension have definite limits. Somehow, somewhere someone came up with the notion that we could push a machine to and past it's limits. Yeah...we can push ourseleves to take advantage of a bikes engineered limits but at that point the bike, tires, suspension,,,,,whatever...will fail.
Now...falling on the track usually results in a long graceful slide.
Falling on the street is not like that.
Personally....if I ever get to the level where I'm rubbing those tires clean on the street I'll know it's either time to slow down or time to spend the money to do track days. So...yeah...my tires have chicken strips and i'm so proud of them after listening to keith that I think i'll do a DIY on how to mount LEDS to the tips of them...that will be sooo cool.

menikmati · September 10th, 2012, 10:07 AM

I have pretty fat chicken strips since I only commute and rarely push it on the streets. Combine the fact that I'm also running a 150 rear makes them huge.

Kevin2109 · September 10th, 2012, 10:16 AM

Agreed, you have to be pushing your bike way to hard in the streets to scrub off your chicken strips.

I still have chicken strips on my street tires and I've pushed it pretty hard at times...

Unless you are doing it wrong....

Motofool · September 10th, 2012, 10:17 AM

If we can't use tires' strips as indicative, how can we know if a street rider is a chicken or not?

........or maybe Keith meant that it is OK to be a street chicken but not a track chicken?

Yakaru · September 10th, 2012, 10:21 AM

I 90% agree. With the way I drive my bike on the street, I'll always have a form of chicken strips simply from going straight so much more often than turning, and not doing the most pushed turn I can.

On the other hand, there's actual reason to get rid of them (and lean a bit harder on the bike than you need to) which is 'predictability'. Now, I'm not going to try to break out my physics text book like the other thread about chicken strips is requiring, but to my knowledge this all makes sense: there are two major factors to how a tire will act on the road in 'real life motorcycling': material and temperature. Tires are usually coated from the factory which results in a slippier texture than a broken in tire, and second they are cold until warmed. If I never push the bike to the edge then the edge is going to be slippery and cold compared to the rest of the tire and probably not function for me properly when I DO need it. I try and 'weave' inside my lane every morning I ride to make sure the tires are ready to go if I need them to be. It doesn't get me 'all the way over' but I find it does help (could just be psychological).

Old Lemon · September 10th, 2012, 10:23 AM

i have very tiny chicken strips, and i am in the process of removing them

Motofool · September 10th, 2012, 10:25 AM

All psychological:

http://www.sportrider.com/tips/146_0...s/viewall.html

alex.s · September 10th, 2012, 10:52 AM

tommy aquino:

he said in the photo that the setup wasnt making use of the entire tire. looks like chickenstrips to me.

Jiggles · September 10th, 2012, 11:06 AM

I've gotten rid of nearly all my strips riding in the slowest group of a mellow group ride

alex.s · September 10th, 2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I've gotten rid of nearly all my strips riding in the slowest group of a mellow group ride

use moar BP.

Jiggles · September 10th, 2012, 11:09 AM

But my cup holder gets in the way

alex.s · September 10th, 2012, 11:36 AM

i still think that cup holder is completely ridiculous. you should keep it on for the track... better yet safetywire an empty beer can in there.

Jiggles · September 10th, 2012, 11:48 AM

You know what else is ridiculous? Being refreshingly hydrated

Kevin2109 · September 10th, 2012, 11:50 AM

You know what else is ridiculous? I just saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico

Jiggles · September 10th, 2012, 11:53 AM

But you know whats really ridiculous? Geico wanted $550 a month for the 1000! They didn't even care about the cupholder

Kevin2109 · September 10th, 2012, 11:56 AM

Bastards!

choneofakind · September 10th, 2012, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

All psychological:

good read!

Gurk · September 11th, 2012, 08:41 AM

@Kevin2109 stop posting pics that were taken 15 mins prior to your lowside

OP: spot on.

csmith12 · September 11th, 2012, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurk

@Kevin2109 stop posting pics that were taken 15 mins prior to your lowside

OP: spot on.

Zing!!!!!!

alex.s · September 11th, 2012, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin2109

You know what else is ridiculous? I just saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico

my coworker is looking at me wondering why im laughing right now.

CThunder-blue · September 11th, 2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menikmati

I have pretty fat chicken strips since I only commute and rarely push it on the streets. Combine the fact that I'm also running a 150 rear makes them huge.

I run a 150 rear and have .5" chicken strips on them. What do you classify as huge? BTW, I also only commute on my bike.

menikmati · September 11th, 2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CThunder-blue

I run a 150 rear and have .5" chicken strips on them. What do you classify as huge? BTW, I also only commute on my bike.

Mine are about 3/4", I just call them huge because I can spot them from a distance.

CThunder-blue · September 11th, 2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menikmati

Mine are about 3/4", I just call them huge because I can spot them from a distance.

Yes, 3/4" strips are Ginormous. Learn to Lean noob.

J/k.

csmith12 · September 11th, 2012, 10:11 AM

I will not defend all chicken strips. I got this one from McDonalds and don't support it on the street.

alex.s · September 11th, 2012, 10:23 AM

do i get points for wearing into the sidewall?

csmith12 · September 11th, 2012, 11:12 AM

Mine before suspension adjustments.

alex.s · September 11th, 2012, 11:30 AM

haha cold tear much?

Jiggles · September 11th, 2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Mine before suspension adjustments.

NASCAR track?

ninjamunky85 · September 11th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Figure 8

Lil_Green_Demon · September 11th, 2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menikmati

I have pretty fat chicken strips since I only commute and rarely push it on the streets.

Same.

Ain't no thing but a chicken wing.

csmith12 · September 11th, 2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

NASCAR track?

Lol, no. It's just the picture that makes it look like that but both sides are like that. Tire was brand new and installed before the track day. Hence the sides are worn a lot more than the center. It's what happens when you put more miles down on the track than the street.

Kevin2109 · September 12th, 2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Mine before suspension adjustments.

When was the last time that tire was used?

Do you run warmers? That tire looks like its been heat cycled a few too many times

bdavison · September 12th, 2012, 10:32 AM

You can get rid of chicken strips by riding circles to the sidewalls in a parking lot at 20mph. Just like you can ride like a banshee on public roads and still have 1" strips. Having or not having chicken strips really doesn't mean anything.

csmith12 · September 12th, 2012, 10:39 AM

Was used in April of this year, on warmers and it's been overheated a few times. It's done from my point of view. I guess I could heal alot of that up with some street miles but dunno if it will make it back on the bike.

I used this pic because it was the only tire I have with large strips on it.

alex.s · September 12th, 2012, 10:54 AM

@Kevin2109, @csmith12

http://feelthetrack.com/?page_id=90

Kevin2109 · September 12th, 2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Was used in April of this year, on warmers and it's been overheated a few times. It's done from my point of view. I guess I could heal alot of that up with some street miles but dunno if it will make it back on the bike.

I used this pic because it was the only tire I have with large strips on it.

Why dont you run slicks on the track and have a set of street tires for the street? Best combo money can buy, nothing like super sticky rubber

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

@Kevin2109, @csmith12

http://feelthetrack.com/?page_id=90

Good to know, looks like ive been running a correct suspension set up and pressure

csmith12 · September 12th, 2012, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

haha cold tear much?

Not anymore hahahaha. It was April 15 and still cold weather. I was fishing for the right air pressure because the bike didn't feel right. I didn't choose well and it cost me a GPA.

Strange, I am normally pretty good at getting close from the start.

Turns out my youngest daughter (7yrs old) though it would be cool to turn the screws on my rear shock while "helping" daddy work on the bike. Which is why the bike didn't feel right. Needless to say, I put her nail polish on them now to see if they have been turned.

Revenge is sweet!

choneofakind · September 12th, 2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

I will not defend all chicken strips. I got this one from McDonalds and don't support it on the street.

rotate it 90 degrees CCW and what's it look like gentlemen??

Kevin2109 · September 12th, 2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

I didn't choose well and it cost me a GPA.

Strange, I am normally pretty good at getting close from the start.

You need to step your game up brah

The GPA is a good tire but it gets 1000x times better then them. I ran the GPA's for a little bit, street and track, and I can say the best upgrade I ever did was the pirelli superbike pro slicks. They last forever and are ungodly sticky

Kevin2109 · September 12th, 2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

rotate it 90 degrees CCW and what's it look like gentlemen??

Dick on the brain @chode?

September 10th, 2012, 10:02 AM	#1
eddiekay ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: eddie Location: Lawnguylind Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 300, WeeStrom Posts: A lot.	In defense of Chicken Strips I stumbled across a Keith Code vid and he made a point that, if made by a mere mortal, would be ridiculed: Chicken strips belong on street bikes. And....if you're riding your bike on the street fast enough to rub them off...you're riding faster than the bike was intended to be used...on the street. Unlike people....machines and devices....tires, frames, suspension have definite limits. Somehow, somewhere someone came up with the notion that we could push a machine to and past it's limits. Yeah...we can push ourseleves to take advantage of a bikes engineered limits but at that point the bike, tires, suspension,,,,,whatever...will fail. Now...falling on the track usually results in a long graceful slide. Falling on the street is not like that. Personally....if I ever get to the level where I'm rubbing those tires clean on the street I'll know it's either time to slow down or time to spend the money to do track days. So...yeah...my tires have chicken strips and i'm so proud of them after listening to keith that I think i'll do a DIY on how to mount LEDS to the tips of them...that will be sooo cool.

September 10th, 2012, 10:16 AM	#3
Kevin2109 KThanksBye Name: Kevin Location: Orange County Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 zx636r Posts: A lot.	Agreed, you have to be pushing your bike way to hard in the streets to scrub off your chicken strips. I still have chicken strips on my street tires and I've pushed it pretty hard at times... Unless you are doing it wrong.... __________________________________________________ ----> My Youtube! <---- Unregistered, watch my youtube page!

September 10th, 2012, 10:17 AM	#4
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	If we can't use tires' strips as indicative, how can we know if a street rider is a chicken or not? ........or maybe Keith meant that it is OK to be a street chicken but not a track chicken? __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

September 10th, 2012, 10:25 AM	#7
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	All psychological: http://www.sportrider.com/tips/146_0...s/viewall.html __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

September 10th, 2012, 10:52 AM	#8
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	tommy aquino: he said in the photo that the setup wasnt making use of the entire tire. looks like chickenstrips to me. __________________________________________________

September 10th, 2012, 10:07 AM	#2
menikmati crash 250, get supersport Name: Richard Location: San Diego, CA Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R SE (Sold 6/9/14), 2009 ZX-6R (Sold 6/25/14), Subaru BRZ Posts: A lot.	I have pretty fat chicken strips since I only commute and rarely push it on the streets. Combine the fact that I'm also running a 150 rear makes them huge.

September 10th, 2012, 10:21 AM	#5
Yakaru The Violet Vixen Name: Yakaru Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '16	I 90% agree. With the way I drive my bike on the street, I'll always have a form of chicken strips simply from going straight so much more often than turning, and not doing the most pushed turn I can. On the other hand, there's actual reason to get rid of them (and lean a bit harder on the bike than you need to) which is 'predictability'. Now, I'm not going to try to break out my physics text book like the other thread about chicken strips is requiring, but to my knowledge this all makes sense: there are two major factors to how a tire will act on the road in 'real life motorcycling': material and temperature. Tires are usually coated from the factory which results in a slippier texture than a broken in tire, and second they are cold until warmed. If I never push the bike to the edge then the edge is going to be slippery and cold compared to the rest of the tire and probably not function for me properly when I DO need it. I try and 'weave' inside my lane every morning I ride to make sure the tires are ready to go if I need them to be. It doesn't get me 'all the way over' but I find it does help (could just be psychological).

September 10th, 2012, 10:23 AM	#6
Old Lemon Lays er down Name: Michael Location: Maryland Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Lime green Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	i have very tiny chicken strips, and i am in the process of removing them

September 10th, 2012, 11:06 AM	#9
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	I've gotten rid of nearly all my strips riding in the slowest group of a mellow group ride __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

September 10th, 2012, 11:09 AM	#11
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	But my cup holder gets in the way __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

September 10th, 2012, 11:36 AM	#12
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	i still think that cup holder is completely ridiculous. you should keep it on for the track... better yet safetywire an empty beer can in there. __________________________________________________

September 10th, 2012, 11:48 AM	#13
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	You know what else is ridiculous? Being refreshingly hydrated __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

September 10th, 2012, 11:50 AM	#14
Kevin2109 KThanksBye Name: Kevin Location: Orange County Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 zx636r Posts: A lot.	You know what else is ridiculous? I just saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico __________________________________________________ ----> My Youtube! <---- Unregistered, watch my youtube page!

September 10th, 2012, 11:53 AM	#15
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	But you know whats really ridiculous? Geico wanted $550 a month for the 1000! They didn't even care about the cupholder __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

September 10th, 2012, 11:56 AM	#16
Kevin2109 KThanksBye Name: Kevin Location: Orange County Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 zx636r Posts: A lot.	Bastards! __________________________________________________ ----> My Youtube! <---- Unregistered, watch my youtube page!

September 11th, 2012, 08:41 AM	#18
Gurk Done here. Name: - Location: Track Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.	@Kevin2109 stop posting pics that were taken 15 mins prior to your lowside OP: spot on.

September 11th, 2012, 10:11 AM	#24
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	I will not defend all chicken strips. I got this one from McDonalds and don't support it on the street. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 11th, 2012, 10:23 AM	#25
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	do i get points for wearing into the sidewall? __________________________________________________

September 11th, 2012, 11:12 AM	#26
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Mine before suspension adjustments. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 11th, 2012, 11:30 AM	#27
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	haha cold tear much? __________________________________________________

September 11th, 2012, 11:48 AM	#29
ninjamunky85 Que Buenos Son!!! Name: Ryan Location: Grovetucky, OH Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia Shiver 750, Husaberg FE 450, Ninja 300 (sold), xr100 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '14	Figure 8 __________________________________________________ Don't do something because it's easy,.. Do it because it's not! If you aren't going forward, then you're falling behind. "Drive it like you stole it"!!!

September 12th, 2012, 10:32 AM	#33
bdavison Wartown, USA Name: Bryan Location: Warner Robins, GA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2007 Ninja 650R, and assorted other bikes Posts: A lot.	You can get rid of chicken strips by riding circles to the sidewalls in a parking lot at 20mph. Just like you can ride like a banshee on public roads and still have 1" strips. Having or not having chicken strips really doesn't mean anything.

September 12th, 2012, 10:39 AM	#34
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Was used in April of this year, on warmers and it's been overheated a few times. It's done from my point of view. I guess I could heal alot of that up with some street miles but dunno if it will make it back on the bike. I used this pic because it was the only tire I have with large strips on it. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 12th, 2012, 10:54 AM	#35
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	@Kevin2109, @csmith12 http://feelthetrack.com/?page_id=90 __________________________________________________

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