Going Dark

Rainmaker · 08-12-2009

Thanks to a 3/8" carriage bolt, I found myself in the market for a new tire for the Rogue. I've gone back and forth, and read more opinions than one could ever fully digest. Had all but decided on the Avon Cobra when I stopped into the local Goodyear dealer late this afternoon. When I asked what he thought about motorcycle wheels, he told me he was happy to leave those to m/c shops since he didn't sell m/c tires. After a brief discussion regarding darkside, he seemed intrigued to the point of getting catalogs out. A bit more research and discussion and my 205/60-16 Triple Tread should be here first of the week. As long as I take him the wheel, NOT the bike, he sounds pretty jazzed about the experiment.
Now, if I can just land that black overdrive rear pulley......

mwmalotte · 08-12-2009

Let us know how you like it... I've been toying with the idea myself. Will need a new rear tire next spring

SteelMonkey · 08-12-2009

If your riding style is anything like mine...and you like to keep cash in your pocket....your gonna love it

Belrix · 08-12-2009

Why an overdrive pulley for a V2K? Seems out of place on a bike with more than enough engine.

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

It's the addiction to the WEEEEEEE factor

JBrian · 08-13-2009

Whats this darkside junk anyways? is it dating a black woman?

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

It's about more grip for less chips......search darkside, either here or google....lots of info

The Vulcaniser · 08-13-2009

dark side is good!!

insolentminx · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBrian

Whats this darkside junk anyways? is it dating a black woman?

once you go black, there aint no turning back...

evidently some people think it's a good idea to run a car tyre on a motorcycle rear wheel.

i guess it works if you mostly run on straight roads.

i tend to bite my tongue and avoid commenting, but it's always interesting to read the threads to gain a little more insight into the thought process.

MrClean · 08-13-2009

Steve, don't underestimate the POWER of the Darkside. My Altimax handles just like my Metzler with better wet grip and it has 15000 miles on it and has at least 5000 more miles in it.

That's why folks go to the Darkside.

windsurfdog · 08-13-2009

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Welcome to the darkside, young Rainmaker

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

You will soon feel the power of the Force

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

May the force be with you and your wallet

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I am not your father

phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by insolentminx

once you go black, there aint no turning back...

evidently some people think it's a good idea to run a car tyre on a motorcycle rear wheel.

i guess it works if you mostly run on straight roads.

i tend to bite my tongue and avoid commenting, but it's always interesting to read the threads to gain a little more insight into the thought process.

yup...works awesome on straight roads.....and wet roads.....and if you like scraping up your footboards on the twistys it works great there too

I've even heard that it works better than a motorcycle tire in the snow, but I have no firsthand experience with that.......yet

sablesurfer · 08-13-2009

Whatever, I hit floorboards almost daily with the MC tire I got now.

Rainmaker · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belrix

Why an overdrive pulley for a V2K? Seems out of place on a bike with more than enough engine.

...to actually make 1st something more than a "granny-low" and to take some revs off up top. By the way...MORE than enough??????? You've not caught the Rogue-bug, have you? Enough? No such thing!!!

Rainmaker · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by insolentminx

i tend to bite my tongue and avoid commenting, but it's always interesting to read the threads to gain a little more insight into the thought process.

It's a $150 experiment. Those that have "converted" claim little difference in handling for most riding. Face it, this monster doesn't lean like a ZX-14 (or my old ZRX1200, for that matter). At board-scraping angles there still appears to be more rubber on the road. We'll see. It is late summer in the midwest, I have 2-3 months to really decide, then the weather here will stink.
As for biting your tongue, let it fly, mate! You think me a fool? Rock on! We can disagree and still throw back a pint and walk away friends. For the time being we still have some freedom left on this side of the pond and I intend to stick my thumb in every eye that deserves it!

Rainmaker · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrClean

Steve, don't underestimate the POWER of the Darkside. My Altimax handles just like my Metzler with better wet grip and it has 15000 miles on it and has at least 5000 more miles in it.

That's why folks go to the Darkside.

Did you happen to run your Iron Butt on your Altimax? What'd you take for a route (being in central IA, I'm not THAT far from you).

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sablesurfer

Whatever, I hit floorboards almost daily with the MC tire I got now.

I'm sure you do....and at 4 or 5 times the price of doing it on a car tire! My point being, the ct works just as well as a mt for those willing to try it, and adjust to the different handling characteristics.

Tombo · 08-13-2009

I've been debating this myself. Doesn't help my wallet any that I burned off the new tire at a couple of poker runs. But anyway, what size tire would you guys recommend for the meanie? So I can get an idea of what the cost would be.

Stock tire size (in case you're wondering) is 170/60R17
Right now I have a 190/50R17 on it.

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainmaker

It's a $150 experiment. Those that have "converted" claim little difference in handling for most riding. At board-scraping angles there still appears to be more rubber on the road.

Check youtube for some video's of a darkside tire in action...plenty of rubber on the road

SteelMonkey · 08-13-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tombo

I've been debating this myself. Doesn't help my wallet any that I burned off the new tire at a couple of poker runs. But anyway, what size tire would you guys recommend for the meanie? So I can get an idea of what the cost would be.

Stock tire size (in case you're wondering) is 170/60R17
Right now I have a 190/50R17 on it.

Check the following site....should have the info your looking for, and if not just post in and someone will let you know what works

http://darkside.nwff.info/database.php

08-12-2009	#1 (permalink)
Rainmaker Still On The Kickstand Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 38	Going Dark Thanks to a 3/8" carriage bolt, I found myself in the market for a new tire for the Rogue. I've gone back and forth, and read more opinions than one could ever fully digest. Had all but decided on the Avon Cobra when I stopped into the local Goodyear dealer late this afternoon. When I asked what he thought about motorcycle wheels, he told me he was happy to leave those to m/c shops since he didn't sell m/c tires. After a brief discussion regarding darkside, he seemed intrigued to the point of getting catalogs out. A bit more research and discussion and my 205/60-16 Triple Tread should be here first of the week. As long as I take him the wheel, NOT the bike, he sounds pretty jazzed about the experiment. Now, if I can just land that black overdrive rear pulley...... __________________ '06 1500 Classic '05 V2K

08-12-2009	#2 (permalink)
mwmalotte ************* BTK Expert Join Date: May 2007 Location: Leavenworth, Kansas Posts: 12,764	Let us know how you like it... I've been toying with the idea myself. Will need a new rear tire next spring __________________ Mike '07 Vulcan 900LT "This is the legacy of the Donkey. In this room, we're family."

08-12-2009	#3 (permalink)
SteelMonkey Reborn, and loving it!! BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 469	If your riding style is anything like mine...and you like to keep cash in your pocket....your gonna love it __________________ 2007 VN2000 Classic LT VROC #27562

08-12-2009	#4 (permalink)
Belrix '08 VN900 Classic BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 1,332	Why an overdrive pulley for a V2K? Seems out of place on a bike with more than enough engine. __________________ "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single tank of gas." -Confuses

08-13-2009	#5 (permalink)
SteelMonkey Reborn, and loving it!! BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 469	It's the addiction to the WEEEEEEE factor __________________ 2007 VN2000 Classic LT VROC #27562

08-13-2009	#6 (permalink)
JBrian Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 201	Whats this darkside junk anyways? is it dating a black woman?

08-13-2009	#7 (permalink)
SteelMonkey Reborn, and loving it!! BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 469	It's about more grip for less chips......search darkside, either here or google....lots of info __________________ 2007 VN2000 Classic LT VROC #27562 Last edited by SteelMonkey : 08-13-2009 at 11:28 PM.

08-13-2009	#8 (permalink)
The Vulcaniser I have been Vulcanised! Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia Posts: 1,082	dark side is good!! __________________ Growing old is mandatory, growing up isn't Ulysses Club - Grow Old Disgracefully 2007 Vulcan 1600 Classic Blue & Silver.

08-13-2009	#10 (permalink)
MrClean Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somewhere near Parkville, Mo. Posts: 2,572	Steve, don't underestimate the POWER of the Darkside. My Altimax handles just like my Metzler with better wet grip and it has 15000 miles on it and has at least 5000 more miles in it. That's why folks go to the Darkside. __________________ F5 It's Refreshing! From Somewhere near Parkville, Mo. William Crane aka MrClean IBA #34301

08-13-2009	#11 (permalink)
windsurfdog Hoof Hearted? BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 550	phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Welcome to the darkside, young Rainmaker phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You will soon feel the power of the Force phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh May the force be with you and your wallet phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am not your father phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh __________________ '07 900 darkside Custom I love the smell of Plexus in the morning...

08-13-2009	#13 (permalink)
sablesurfer Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Middle of country Posts: 1,241	Whatever, I hit floorboards almost daily with the MC tire I got now.

08-13-2009	#18 (permalink)
Tombo Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 44	I've been debating this myself. Doesn't help my wallet any that I burned off the new tire at a couple of poker runs. But anyway, what size tire would you guys recommend for the meanie? So I can get an idea of what the cost would be. Stock tire size (in case you're wondering) is 170/60R17 Right now I have a 190/50R17 on it. __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They’ll drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

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