Dunlop SCOOTLINE SX01 Tires

At one time there were a bad batch of Dunlop Scootline SX01 tires out on the market. My wife and I rode out on a set of them and the resulting tire failures Were not fun.

My rear tire failed on day one of a 2,500 mile 11 day trip:
http://tinyurl.com/94lr4v
Kim's failed on day 11 of a 2,500 mile now 12 day trip:
http://tinyurl.com/8hwk2h

Dunlop was great about resolving the issue and reimbursed us in full for the expenses incurred due to the tire failures. Dunlop was a stand-up company on this issue and I'd buy Dunlop tires in the future.

If you are riding on Dunlop Scootline SX01's I suggest you check (record) the date code and then check with Dunlop to find out if your tires are in the bad batch.

Recal notice: http://tinyurl.com/7mqz9e

I had a pair of Dunlop tires about two years ago- I barely got 4000 miles of them before the back tire started to show the core. I avoid them at all cost because of the low mileage that I get with them.

Katie in AR

Dale,

It's too bad that your tires were defective but very good news that Dunlop treated you very well by it. It isn't too often that happens anymore. I didn't even know those Dunlops were made for the SWing. I know that the Dunlop 305's are , which were OEM for my 2005 Majesty. My SWing came with OEM Hoops and I later installed the Pirelli Diablo's, which I have over 8,500 miles on now. They are due for replacing though.

What type of tires did you finally get after this? I'm kind of curious.

Replaced the bad tires with Bridgestone Hoops.

When we bought the tires in March of 2008 we were trying to get Bridgestones Hoops, but everywhere we tried including the dealer they were on back order. So we decided to go with the Dunlops.

The shops in Jackson, MS and Jackson, TN both had a rear tire in stock as a result of an odd set of circumstances. I'd like to point out that both shops were great to deal with and we even bought accessories at both shops to support the dealerships and express our gratitude for the amazing service they provided.

Honda Roadside assistance was another plus in both of these instances. You haven't lived until you've seen the SilverWing on the back of a Roll On / Roll Off Wrecker.

I had Dunlaps on my Helix. I replaced the front at about 8th since they were starting to get low. I know how important good tires are. Then I replaced the back tire and the next year it was bad, only 4th miles later. I was so dissappointed they did not wear better. I rode them to the next oil change and the core was showing in two areas. I changed and put Bridgestone on then. I'm hoping they will wear better.

I should point out that we were getting good wear out of the Dunlop tires, in fact my tire had almost 6,000 miles on it. As you can see in my avatar it still has plenty of tread left. Kim's rear tire had a bit less than 8,000 miles on it and was no where near replacement. We still have the Dunlop SCOOTLINE SX01's on the front of both bikes they seem to be holding up as well as the Bridgestones and IRCs that came (OEM) on our bikes.

Tire durability (like mpg) is so dependant on so many variables, (tire compound, road surface, inflation, speeds, road condition, riding style, gross vehicle weight, bike frontal area, shock/preload settings, individual preference, etc.) that it is right next to impossible to say one brand is better or worse than another. So far other than the bad batch of 170-13's we have been satisfied with the Dunlops. Our preference is the Bridgestones, but we'd buy Dunlops again, especially given the corporate response to our situation.

Here's the SilverWing on a wrecker photo. Enjoy -

Dale,

It's nice that they have these types of tow trucks now. I remember when younger they would just kind of tie the cycle to the back boom of tow trucks and leave it hanging in the air. How did you get it up there anyway? Did they use a winch and then just walk beside it?

Jeff,

Well first of all - this was the first SilverWing this operator had ever towed. That makes sense, it is after all a Honda, but of course vehicle density is another factor. I'm going with the Honda angle though.

That device at the front is a "T" shaped piece that the bike was strapped to just like tying the bike down for trailer transport. It has a U-shapped channel into which the front tire is placed. Then the RO-RO (Roll On - Roll Off) winch was used to pull the bike up and onto the transport bed. Once the operator had the bike in position the rear tire was tied down and the transport bed was leveled and placed in the transport position.

I thought I had pictures of it fully loaded and just before heading off to the shop, but this was the best of what I had. It was a lonely little bike up on that massive truck. Kim rode in the wrecker with the operator and he kept telling her that he couldn't feel the bike back there. I was riding behind and was so fearful that the bike would fall off and I'd ride through a debris field...

Honda Rider's Club of America was another one of the real bright spots of this event. They found and dispatched the wrecker service for us and kept calling us with updates on when the service was going to arrive at our location.

The roll back article reminds me of several years ago when I donated my 1990 Pacific Coast with approx. 110,000 miles on it to the Kidney Foundation. This was still a very good motorcycle, a little slop in the drive train but still ran just fine. I wanted to get down to 1 motorcycle at the time and had a GW also. I had bought the PC new and was really attached to it but it was time to move on and thought this would be a good thing to do with the old girl. Well a flat bed came after it and the driver was trying to figure out how to load it and I told him I would simply ride it up on the bed then we would strap it down. His intention was to lay it on its side and chain/lay it down. I informed him that this bike was not going to be treated that way and if they wanted it they had better figure out a way to haul it properly.
Well to make a long story short they came out the next day with a motorcycle trailer and loaded it properly. Was sad to see it leave and I hope it did some good for someone less fortunate than myself. That was one very good underrated motorcycle that served me well and will remain a favorite of mine. Take care all and "keep'm off the trailers...."
Dick

Dickie:
I would be interested in hearing your opinion about the PC 800 vs the Silverwing. I always like the PC 800. It seemed like a very practical bike to me. But they are getting pretty hard to find. How was the performance, ride comfort, handling, gas mileage? Was it as good as the Swing?

DCCSilverwing
I liked the PC a whole lot. It was stone reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one and my wife suggested one prior to purchasing this Swing. Upgraded to Progressive front springs and works rear shocks. I did have a fuel filter plug up on it one time and had to limp home but that was due to not changing it at 80-90,000 miles. It had more than enough power for the way we ride which is in the touring mode and the rear trunk was a great way to carry things.
I purchased this Swing late this past summer with less than 1500 miles on it so haven't had it long enough to give a fair evaluation but I have enjoyed it so far. I ride most of the time two up and we are not lightweights but the Swing seems to be handling it well so far at 4500+ miles. I haven't had it to the mountains yet which I am anxious to see how it does there with both of us. The main concern is how fast the shocks will sack out. I see that you can purchase aftermarket front springs but see nothing so far with the rear. I would recommend a low mileage PC to anyone. Thanks for asking and I hope this answers some of you questions. Take care...Dick
Forgot to mention that most people thought the PC looked like a scooter.

Thanks for the information. I saw one for the first time (at least that I can remember) a little over a year ago. I really like the way it looked, so I looked them up online. It was then that I discovered that the PC800 had been discontinued. It was also when I first read about the touring class of scooters. And it didn't take me very long to finally jump in and buy one.

Dickie:
How does the power of the PC 800 compare to the Silverwing?

The Scooterist:
I would have to guess about the same. I never lacked for power even in the mountains riding two up. I have a good friend that bought one while I had mine and he pulled a loaded cargo trailer to North Dakota and back to Virginia and was not lacking for power. He was riding two up also.
I will say it was easier for my wife to get on the PC than the silverwing as a passenger. The design of the rear passenger pegs is not very reassuring when putting all your weight on one peg to swing your leg over and she is to short to swing over the seat otherwise. She now gets on before I do from the front and slides back up to the rear. Getting off is no problem.
Dick