When he dropped it off at my house, Basem warned me that our Gold Wing might have a leaky rear tire. So I paid close attention when I went out for a freeway blast from the San Fernando Valley down to Torrance, California, a 30 mile ride. I checked the air pressure in both front and rear tires before departing, and found it to be just right – 36 psi front and rear.
About 20 miles in to my ride, I noticed that the ‘Wing was feeling mushy, not responding crisply to inputs. Fearing the worst, I exited the freeway and took a look. Everything looked fine, so I decided to risk more riding, but when I arrived in Torrance, I checked the air pressure again – it was now 36 psi front, 26 psi rear. I had lost 10 psi over 30 miles.
I decided to reinflate the tire to 36 psi, and see if I could hear the leak. The tire took air, and didn’t seem to leak. I waited a few minutes, checked the pressure again… still 36 psi. I saddled up, and cautiously rode back the way I came – 30 miles north on the LA freeway system.
When I took the bike directly to the Honda dealer for its oil change, I asked them to inspect the rear tire for leaks while they were at it. The service manager informed me that 4,000 miles is not only time for an oil change, but also for a “4,000 mile tune and service.” Okay, then -- $135 plus $19.96 for four quarts of 10W40, plus $16.65 for an oil filter and $1.50 for oil disposal. I left the bike at the dealer, and walked home to await the verdict.
A few minutes later, the service manager called to inform me that we had picked up a nail in the rear tire, and that it must be replaced. The dealership will not plug or patch tires, so the only option through the service department is an OE replacement (a Dunlop D 250)-- $263.26, plus $72.00 labor, plus $1.75 tire disposal fee.
Within a few hours, and $535.00, I was back on the road. The service manager’s final word of caution to me as I prepared to ride away was to ride very carefully for the first 50 miles, as the new tire might be slick from residual release agent.
Paranoid as anything, I rode off to put a quick 75 miles on the bike. I didn’t notice any slickness, but I will continue to ride carefully in any event.
Up next: a two-up, two-day ride along the California Coast.
MILEAGE LOG
- Total odometer miles: 4,576
MAINTENANCE FEES
- Tire installation labor: $72.00
- (1) Dunlop D250 tire (with $1.75 CA tire disposal fee): $265.01
- 4,000 mile tune & service: $135.00
- 10W40 engine oil ($4.99 x 4): $19.96
- Oil filter: $16.65
- Oil Disposal fee: $1.50 ---
- Total labor: $207.00
- Total parts: $301.62
- Sublet amount: $1.50
- Sales tax: $24.88
- Total: $535.00
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