Stock Tires and Leaning

[afroman10]

Hello, I have a 2010 Ninja 250r with those so-called "sucky" stock IRC tires.

I've been recently trying to lean down to the knee, but I don't trust these tires too much. According to what I read on the internet, the tires are not such good for fast cornering, etc...

Does anyone have any experience with these tires. Has anyone successfully leaned on them?

I would also like a recommendation on the new tires for next season. I will not change them this year since they're brand new and I'm still learning on the bike.

[Dr. Ew]

I got it down to less than a 1/4 of chicken strips on the stocks. Some parts is scrubbed to the edge. Holds up pretty good i say. Just good throttle control, know when its ok based on road conditions, and a whole lot of other things to concider before getting a knee down. Be safe n have fun.

[Vampyre]

My friend Mat (caps on here) has leaned all the way to the edge of the stock tires. I believe a few others have as well. I am starting to get there. I noticed when I was first riding, when I would lean it felt a little unstable. Now I have learned that that was me, not the tires. What was making it unstable was my uncertainty while I was leaned over.

[SpeedDemon]

Joseph how do u over come this issue?? I have been having the same issue and i am thinking it is me not the tires. I havnt been able to get out onto the track yet tho did that make a big difference for you when being leaned over?

[afroman10]

I don't really want to lean to the edge of it, just so much I can scratch my knee pad.

[EsrTek]

As Joesph says, cap I believe showed pics of his chicken strips on the irc's which made the light go off in my head, that these tires may not be as bad as I thought and that's when I started practicing more.

Still not down to the chicken strips yet, but that's more my form on bike, as I usually don't ride aggressive enough to need to move around on seat, much less far enough to get knee out and down.

[Vampyre]

I haven't been on the track either. I was able to just gradually lean over more due to some of the roads I have been riding. Also riding with others has helped. My commute has a couple of sharp turns at reasonable speeds, so I just increment up a little each time. As I have grown more comfortable with the bike in general, I have gained more confidence, and I have also found that not being so stiff on the bike lessens the effect that any little niggles or squirmyness affects in my confidence in turns. Now I am not saying you can just go all out and lay the sucker over in a 90mph turn, but I was pretty nervous at first, and things have gotten a lot easier as the more miles have gotten under my belt.

[caps]

Originally Posted by EsrTek

As Joesph says, cap I believe showed pics of his chicken strips on the irc's which made the light go off in my head, that these tires may not be as bad as I thought and that's when I started practicing more.

Originally Posted by Vampyre

My friend Mat (caps on here) has leaned all the way to the edge of the stock tires. I believe a few others have as well.

Originally Posted by caps

here's mine;

[TnNinjaGirl]

You can drag knees with the stock tires. It isn't what id call confidence inspiring, though it is possible. I have several times. I'm stuck with 1/4" chicken strips on the darn things though. I also ground off my peg feelers.

[dk58]

My stock tires are worn across the whole surface, and I haven't had any moments where I would say I was honestly concerned about them breaking loose. Just keep within your comfort level and soon enough you will look at them and notice your chicken strips are gone.

[Live2ride]

I have scraped pegs on the stock irc's a few times before and I didn't feel as though they would simply slide out. I can't say yet how uneasy they feel because I haven't ridden on any other tires yet; that should change considering my tires need to be replaced soon. I can say that riding in wet conditions definitely made me feel less comfortable on the irc's but I'd consider that feeling to be there with any tire. From what I've heard; the general consensus is that the stock irc's aren't as grippy as most aftermarket tires.

[neldy]

The bike and tires are more than capable of getting that low. Plus when you are dragging your knee, your body position is completely different, you're 'hanging' off the bike whilst turning thus lowering your body to the ground allowing you to scrape your knee. Which means the effective lean of the bike isn't as much as you might think.

Pic example 1.



As you're new, I would highly advise against going out with the aim of trying to drag your knee... Walk before you run...

[Gorilla25]

i scraped my pegs and boots tonight...stock irc's ....first time on twisties too....i need more practice, but i think i did good for my first time

[adri99an]

Originally Posted by Gorilla25

i scraped my pegs and boots tonight...stock irc's ....first time on twisties too....i need more practice, but i think i did good for my first time

It starts with the pegs and boots- then the knee comes next- naturally of course...don't force it!

[alex.s]

cazper runs stock IRCs and smokes other bikes like it's nobodys business. i laugh when i see people say you can't do such and such with an IRC. it's not the tire, it's the rider.

[adri99an]

I've heard more bad stories about IRCs than good ones...maybe IRC doesn't stand for.......


I'm
Ready to
Crash

[caps]

Originally Posted by alex.s

i laugh when i see people say you can't do such and such with an IRC. it's not the tire, it's the rider.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that...

[00NissanNinja]

I would say the IRCs aren't as crappy as they are made out to be, but they aren't great either. I've scrapped my pegs and exhaust cover and stuff. They did fine but other tires give a little more confidence. Other bikes I rode with the bt-016s and such just felt ready to take a turn with ease. I don't get that feeling from the IRC. But all in all they aren't to bad but there are a lot of better tire choices.

[skullzyer]

I've lowsided on IRC's in a very sharp turn at not so high speed. Damage is minimal though.

[kaiserz]

Originally Posted by neldy

As you're new, I would highly advise against going out with the aim of trying to drag your knee... Walk before you run...

Or like they say, drag your pegs first before your knees

[neldy]

Originally Posted by kaiserz

Or like they say, drag your pegs first before your knees

Indeed. I guess I was trying to say that you shouldn't go out and try get your knee/pegs on the ground before you are comfortable to do so. Take it slow and it will come eventually.

I remember the first time I got the pegs on the ground, i'm glad there was no on coming traffic around the corner because I thought I was falling off. With the sound it made and the feeling thru my feet I stood it up and went into the other lane of traffic.

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by kaiserz

Or like they say, drag your pegs first before your knees

that's a bad saying, don't subscribe

[almost40]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

that's a bad saying, don't subscribe

+1

[EsrTek]

After doing the tail of the dragon on stock IRC's and keeping up w/ 3-4 better riders all w non stock rubber...I'd say they work pretty damn well.

They lost me around more technical turns, but that was probably more me thing than the actual tires.

Just get the IRC's nice and warm, either about 10-15 miles easy riding or what I do is hard accel/decel few times, to heat em up faster.

[krakatak]

Originally Posted by almost40

+1

+2

I came to the conclusion that I dragged pegs when I first started riding because I didn't have good body position for the speed I was going. It's relatively easy to drag your pegs (or knees) if you're all crossed up trying to get the bike as low as possible. I'm still fighting that habit...I don't get out on the track often enough (couple times a year) so I have to consciously move my head and torso off the centerline of the bike the first few laps. Now, having good body position and dragging knees is a different story altogether.

That's not to say that I wasn't excited as hell the first time I felt the puck scrape along the ground, no matter how much I was stretching my leg out to get there

[krakatak]

And to the original question. I haven't ridden my 250 really aggressively yet, but I didn't like the feel of the IRC's even around town. I was used to BT-016's on my 636, and the IRC's just didn't inspire any confidence. Had BT-003rs's on there within 2 weeks, and so far they feel like glue.

[Lou]

Scraped pegs and my boots today for the first time with my 10,000 mile IRCS (felt awesome lol). I agree with what krakatak said, about body position. Ive taken that perticular turn quicker before with better body position :\ (still felt good ) As for the IRCs, once you let them sit out here in the summer heat they stick real good and are kinda soft to the touch Dont have any experience on any other tires though...