Hi Friends,

I ride 2007 ViStar 1100 Classic.  Last year I had some mechanical problem (shaft), but it's taken care of.  I run on standard Dunlop tires - which at this time have 3000 miles on them.  The tires look like new (no wear, cracks.  I am a careful, and not too fast rider.  No burning, no skidding...  
I am planning to go on a trip from New York City to Santa Barbara and back - in April.  It will be a slow trip, probably a month.  But the milage is extensive - 6000 miles.
 

Question: how much milage can I safely put on the set of standard Dunlop tires on a cruiser like ours?  I believe, I should change the tires somewhere on this trip.  Should I?

I am sure there are many of you who did the long trips, and put a lot of miles on the rubber.  

Any advice on this topic?  Should I travel wit the tires? to make sure I will have them available when I decide to change them?

I would appreciate an honest advice.

Cheers.

How old are the tires you have now? Personally I would put new tires on for the trip and not worry about them. I never got more than 8k out of Dunlops. I ran Metzler and Michenlin tire and got 15k + out of them.

Thanks.  That's a very useful information.  
My tires are from turn of 2019/2020 with about 3K on them.  They look like new, but of course they must have some wear.  I haven't measured exactly the grooves, but they look deep.
I may have the Michelin tires waiting for me in California, so I wouldn't throw away tires which are still very good, but on a last stretch.

I'd ride out on the Dunlops, come back on new tires....  That way you squeeze all the miles you can out of the Dunlops, I usually got 7k max out of D404's.

This is exactly my sentiment.  I can have tires waiting for me in California, or later on the trip back.
Is it easy to find the tire shop to have the tires changed on our V-stars with the shaft?

Any 'COMPETENT' bike service shop can handle it! It is all in the WikiKB - https://sites.google.com/site/vstar1100kb/home

I do all my own work including tire mounting, balancing (Dyna-beads) and installing. It's my hide on my ride, I like to know the job was done right.

Rear install is best done by blocking the frame up so the rear wheel is off the ground, then pulling the 'Eyebrow' bolts (4) the pillion seat and sissy bar if installed, unplug the harness (1plug) and remove the rear fender, from there it is easy peasy.

BTW if a shop does an install make sure they lube the final drive.... with Moly lube.... 1. Coat the hub splines, 2. the shaft splines to the middle drive,  3. inside the snout, fastened to the hub with 4 acorn bolts.  And, since you are doing that, buy a drive shaft seal (for where the shaft enters the hub.)  and carry it, so it can be replaced too.

I used 'Honda Moly 60' but it is no longer available so I found 'Honda Moly 77' instead, there maybe others out there, I think Donn (99Orton) used something else (but also a Molybdenum disulfide.) I'd buy a tube and carry it with the seal so the service tech has no excuses.

Thanks for the details.  I will buy the seal, and Moly.  I live in NYC.  Judging by my 'to-date' experiences with the mechanics, better be prepared, and watch their hands.

Thanks for the tips.