On a motorcycle, any blowout in a corner is road rash, done deal.

As far as blowouts when traveling in a straight line... in 36 years of
riding, I've had three blowouts, 2 front, 1 rear.  I rode the front blowouts
out without incident (except for a slight dirtying of my underwear).  The
one rear blowout resulted in my bike becoming totally uncontrollable,
followed by it becoming totaled (I didn't look too good either).

Locking up an inflated tire is nothing like a blowout.

Just my personal experience, nothing scientific about it.

Cheers,

Jeff
-8 Vanagons & 4 motorcycles

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Ben McCafferty
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2003 7:28 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Where to put the better tires?

I think I'd have to go with Ward on this one.  In the MSF course (basic
motorcycle safety) they used to have the students lock the rear wheel and
ride it out, so they'd have had the experience once.  It's similar to a flat
tire in the rear--fishy rear end, etc. but rideable.  Lock the front wheel,
however, and it's almost certain you'll go down.  If, however, you blow that
rear tire while leaned over in a corner, well, hope your health insurance is
paid up....
tx,
bmc  :)
Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com

> From: Ward Smith <wsmith@SAN.RR.COM>
> Reply-To: Ward Smith <wsmith@SAN.RR.COM>
> Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 14:01:08 -0800
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Where to put the better tires?
>
> As a bike rider for the past 20 years, I would have to disagree.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Jeffrey Schwaia
> Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 1:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Where to put the better tires?
>
>
> Same holds true for motorcycles.  Rear blow-outs are far more dangerous
than
> front.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Ben T
> Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 1:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Where to put the better tires?
>
>
> harald,
>
> it is also easier to steer a flat tire in the front. try doing that in the
> rear. even vehicles equipped w/ rear wheel steering cannot steer them
> indepedent of the opposite front (articulated trucks an exception).
>
> benT