Not a joke-need input

Capone998 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 04:42 AM

A good friend of mine who has built and been riding bikes for almost 15 years is trying to save a few bucks. He bought a used bike with good tread tires, but they are rock hard and offer poor grip due to old age(several years old). So, he is soaking them in brake fluid to "reinvigorate" the tires as he puts it. He says he'll wipe/clean them off real good then start out riding slow on them to break them back it. IS HE SMOKING CRACK? Or is there any sort of logic to his stupid idea? (oops-I meant to post this in the general forum.)

Ducman851 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:04 AM

Get him to name you as a beneficiary on his Life Insurance

viper1 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducman851

Get him to name you as a beneficiary on his Life Insurance

+1.....Must be a whole lot of brake fluid he has!!! Better yet, tell him to use Armorall!

demontech · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 02:08 PM

now your an accomplice, better stop him

ericf1 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 03:26 PM

yes, he is smoking crack.

apfelbaum · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 05:06 PM

I know on cars and karts which I used to race, xylene was a popular restorer for old tires. Don't know about brake fluid. However, once soaked, the tires wore faster, didn't have as much grip and were only usefull for 10 to 15 laps (okay for learning the track). Personally, I wouldn't try any of this on a bike. The results were not always the same (depending on the brand/compound of tire), and tire life in general was significantly shorter, and outside of practice, highly illegal in racing.

If he is intent on doing this, use a professional product made for this purpose, make sure it is done properly, too much coverage and not enough in others will create slippery hard spots and grippy soft spots (can you say instant highside). Plus the tire will have to be wrapped completely with no air allowed inside of the treatment area. Once done the tire will degrade even faster once exposed to air. Xylene is extremely toxic too(wear a respirator if you go this route).

Personally, I wouldn't even do this. He may have better luck just riding the thing and building heat back into the tire. It's one thing to do on four tires it's a whole new gamble on two. Not worth the risk, unless of course you are the beneficiary on his life insurance.

TrickLidz · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:51 PM

what size tires does he need? I'll send him a set of trackday (Michelin) take offs with decent thread. All he needs to do is pay shipping!!

h_mangrove · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capone998

A good friend of mine who has built and been riding bikes for almost 15 years is trying to save a few bucks. He bought a used bike with good tread tires, but they are rock hard and offer poor grip due to old age(several years old). So, he is soaking them in brake fluid to "reinvigorate" the tires as he puts it. He says he'll wipe/clean them off real good then start out riding slow on them to break them back it. IS HE SMOKING CRACK? Or is there any sort of logic to his stupid idea? (oops-I meant to post this in the general forum.)

Hopefully he has been building and riding flattrackers in the hills of arkansas for the last 15 years. This is a flatrack bike you are talking about, right?

If not, yes.......crack is definitely involved.

BC999S · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 11:25 PM

No, no, no...he should be using LIGHTER fluid.

Red Enough · #10 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 02:48 AM

Your friend should be encouraged in his devil-may-care ways.

(Wouldn't THAT much brake fluid be more expensive than tyres?)

Capone998 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h_mangrove

Hopefully he has been building and riding flattrackers in the hills of arkansas for the last 15 years. This is a flatrack bike you are talking about, right?

If not, yes.......crack is definitely involved.

Unfortunately not. It's a 2003( I think) SV650

nitsuj · #12 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 03:45 PM

If the dude can't afford tires, he can't afford to ride. I'm all for enjoying the hobby on a shoestring budget, but some things, you HAVE to spend money on.

DucMarauder · #13 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capone998

A good friend of mine who has built and been riding bikes for almost 15 years is trying to save a few bucks. He bought a used bike with good tread tires, but they are rock hard and offer poor grip due to old age(several years old). So, he is soaking them in brake fluid to "reinvigorate" the tires as he puts it. He says he'll wipe/clean them off real good then start out riding slow on them to break them back it. IS HE SMOKING CRACK? Or is there any sort of logic to his stupid idea? (oops-I meant to post this in the general forum.)

If he leaves them in the sun for a few days before mounting them, he should be good to go. This will give them a chance to outgas any left over brake fluid. If the carcases survive the mounting process, he'll be good to go for for at least a month or so. Then all bets are off.

N.Ga.Ridgerunner · #14 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 01:21 AM

They actually make a product to do this for racers on a budget who "Cook" their qualifying tires..It's called "FV Tire Treatment" (those FV guys are always on a budget with a $16,000.00 motor)..The really "Low Budget" fellas used to use "Safety Clean" and both work well..for a while..I don't know if the active ingredient is Xzylene or not but the degradation is rapid and unperdictable ...With all the cheap tires and E-bay I can't see were the savings is???...How much Brake Fluid $$$$$would that take??..and Yes I agree..next comes the "High Side" worthy of Baryshnikov ...

ironbuttduc · #15 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 05:40 AM

Just my opinion, but is your life really worth $350?