Are there any Dark side options for a 900 Custom?

[Vulkin']

It is tire time and if there are any 15" tires that you can darkside on a VN 900 Custom I would at least consider it. Consider me a bold explorer but I ride around 500 miles each week and MC tires last no time at that rate. I know the arguments both for and against, and admittedly have not commited to the idea I just want to know if it is even a possibility on this bike.

[N3FOLN3FOL]

I suggest not to do it on your 900. I would guess that you take some twisties, interstate ramps, tight turns a little faster than normal. With that in mind, you would like the extra grip of a moto tire. I don't have stocks with Metzlers, but to keep you planted on the road when you need it most...go for Marathon Metzlers 880. You will not be disappointed.

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Vulkin'

It is tire time and if there are any 15" tires that you can darkside on a VN 900 Custom I would at least consider it. Consider me a bold explorer but I ride around 500 miles each week and MC tires last no time at that rate. I know the arguments both for and against, and admittedly have not commited to the idea I just want to know if it is even a possibility on this bike.

What's the dimensions of your stock tire?

(Keep in mind that if you put one on, the world will stop turning, right?!!!)

[joshua022]

What do you mean by dark side???

[kin52]

I would agree with the post below. I have a goodyear triple tread on my vn2000 and I try to stay off roads with too many curves. I try to make it out to ride the dragon every year and would not even consider riding a road with more curves than that on my bike. Attached is a photo of my bike on the dragon so you can see how unsafe it is.

Chuck

Originally Posted by N3FOLN3FOL

I suggest not to do it on your 900. I would guess that you take some twisties, interstate ramps, tight turns a little faster than normal. With that in mind, you would like the extra grip of a moto tire. I don't have stocks with Metzlers, but to keep you planted on the road when you need it most...go for Marathon Metzlers 880. You will not be disappointed.

[Ryguy]

Originally Posted by kin52

I would agree with the post below. I have a goodyear triple tread on my vn2000 and I try to stay off roads with too many curves. I try to make it out to ride the dragon every year and would not even consider riding a road with more curves than that on my bike. Attached is a photo of my bike on the dragon so you can see how unsafe it is.

Chuck

So Chuck, are you saying you do not like the car tire in the corners?

[Dougsboy]

Originally Posted by kin52

I would agree with the post below. I have a goodyear triple tread on my vn2000 and I try to stay off roads with too many curves. I try to make it out to ride the dragon every year and would not even consider riding a road with more curves than that on my bike. Attached is a photo of my bike on the dragon so you can see how unsafe it is.

Chuck

I see what you mean. That tire raises completely off the road on one side. Looks cool though.

[BikerBeagle]

Originally Posted by kin52

I would agree with the post below. I have a goodyear triple tread on my vn2000 and I try to stay off roads with too many curves. I try to make it out to ride the dragon every year and would not even consider riding a road with more curves than that on my bike. Attached is a photo of my bike on the dragon so you can see how unsafe it is.

Chuck

LOL ...sarcasm much?

I don't own a 900 - anymore, even then not as a dark sider - so basing this strictly off numbers, tire size, and no actual experience ...the stock rear on a 900 Custom is 180/70-15, according to Kawasaki.com. There are lot of choices out there in a 15" wheel (no run-flats that I could find, though) ...195/65-15, 185/65-15, and even some 175/65-15 (search TireRack.com by those sizes to get a list). Personally, I'd probably stick with the 185/65-15 or the 175/65-15 to maintain clearance from the belt while keeping roughly the same height so as not to increase the speedo error or engine rpms. You are going to have the same problem with rim width as I do/did, though ...(I'm assuming) the rim width on the 900 is 4.5" ...most 15" tires are rated for minimum 5".

Do your homework, try for a symmetrical tread pattern (although the judges are still out on whether this is needed or not) ...just don't go with something so radically asymmetrical - like those tires that are treaded half for wet and half for dry surfaces - and you should be ok. Run-flat is always a good option for the extra reinforcement of the sidewall, but again, considering the load rating on a car tire is much greater, you can probably get away without it (lots of people run normal tires, not run-flats).

Is any of this good advice that will keep you from crashing and burning in a ball of flame in the process? ...probably not. You just gotta play your own violin in life.

[kin52]

Actually I love the car tire on the straights and in the corners. My existing tire now has 23,000 miles on it and it will probably make it to 30,000 plus before I replace it. The car tire is great and I can drag floorboards thru the corners just like before. If the tire can handle the dragon and perform great as it did, it can handle anything.

Chuck

Originally Posted by Ryguy

So Chuck, are you saying you do not like the car tire in the corners?

[kin52]

Wow, at least someone got it! I thought I must have come off much too serious for anyone to think I was being sarcastic.

Chuck

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

LOL ...sarcasm much?

I don't own a 900 - anymore, even then not as a dark sider - so basing this strictly off numbers, tire size, and no actual experience ...the stock rear on a 900 Custom is 180/70-15, according to Kawasaki.com. There are lot of choices out there in a 15" wheel (no run-flats that I could find, though) ...195/65-15, 185/65-15, and even some 175/65-15 (search TireRack.com by those sizes to get a list). Personally, I'd probably stick with the 185/65-15 or the 175/65-15 to maintain clearance from the belt while keeping roughly the same height so as not to increase the speedo error or engine rpms. You are going to have the same problem with rim width as I do/did, though ...(I'm assuming) the rim width on the 900 is 4.5" ...most 15" tires are rated for minimum 5".

Do your homework, try for a symmetrical tread pattern (although the judges are still out on whether this is needed or not) ...just don't go with something so radically asymmetrical - like those tires that are treaded half for wet and half for dry surfaces - and you should be ok. Run-flat is always a good option for the extra reinforcement of the sidewall, but again, considering the load rating on a car tire is much greater, you can probably get away without it (lots of people run normal tires, not run-flats).

Is any of this good advice that will keep you from crashing and burning in a ball of flame in the process? ...probably not. You just gotta play your own violin in life.

[BikerBeagle]

Originally Posted by kin52

Wow, at least someone got it! I thought I must have come off much too serious for anyone to think I was being sarcastic.

Chuck

Your grasp of subtle sarcasm is fine tuned, for sure ...artistic, even. Greatest reply ever. I laughed out loud when I realized it ...

/applaud

[Vulkin']

Back from lunch.

Yeh, I know the globe will spin backwards should I be a heritic and go Dark but I'm seriously considering it. I am not sure what the rim width of the Custom back wheel is I will have to do some looking but I suspect 5". I know a metzler 880 200/70-15 will fit on w/ no alteratins necessary (I have heard of folks going as wide as 210 w/ no changes needed) and I can go as High as a 230 if I lose the belt guard, so therre is some space to play with back there. My concern really is if I can find a tire that will fit the more narrow ( I'm gussing here but as I said I think 5") rim. I am not a tire guru and new that someone on the forum has probably already run this problem down.

BikerBeagle

I will check to see if I can figure out the rim width of a Custom rear wheel. If it is 5" then some of the rubber you mentioned might be an idea.

Here is a thought though. If I can fit a 210 back there in a MC tire does that equate to a 210 width in a car tire or is there a differencial I will need to play with?

[Ryguy]

LOL I didn't pick up on his sarcasm. Wow must be tired today

[Vulkin']

I just checked w/ the local Kaw dealership and they haven't a clue as to how wide the rim itself is. I guess I will have to improvise a caliper method this weekend if none pops up w/ the info.

[kin52]

I used to tell people how things worked and how much I like the car tire but they just argue. So now I show them how I ride and tell them how many miles I have on the tire and let them make up their own minds.

Chuck

Originally Posted by Ryguy

LOL I didn't pick up on his sarcasm. Wow must be tired today

[Lobocop]

Originally Posted by kin52

I used to tell people how things worked and how much I like the car tire but they just argue. So now I show them how I ride and tell them how many miles I have on the tire and let them make up their own minds.

Chuck

Like you, I won't even discuss the issue of my car tire with anyone unless asked a direct question by someone. The NAY sayers can believe what ever they want ... makes no difference to me.

Most of those same people just want something to argue about and don't have any practical experience in running a car tire, refuse to do the research, believe the sky is falling or Nostradomus was the world profit pointing to the end of all life on a car tire.

[big worm]

soooo back to the original question..... anyone tried this on a 900 custom and if so WHAT WILL FIT?????

[MrClean]

I have been over to the Delphi Darkside forum. The Suzuki C90 has the same tire as we do and the guys over there with them are running 195/65-15s and that is what I'll be looking to do when the metz wears out. As for bead width I have been assured that many are running 205+ tires on 4.5 inch rims.

I found out about the Darkside right after buying it. Per the thousands of folks that run Darkside, you wouldn't want to do it on a Sportie where you do bank farther over and would run on the side of the tire, but on a cruiser you end up with a bigger contact patch than a motorcycle tire.

The reason for the sarcasm is there is no end to good intentioned folks that never have run a car tire on a motorcycle, never have heard of running a car tire on a motorcycle and yet will swear to you that it is impossible or completely dangerous. They also forget that motorcycles like the Boss Hog COMES with a car tire, or did until they had a wide MC tire finally made for it. But many folks go back to a car tire instead of paying 400 bucks for the specialty item.

If you are truly interested in learning more about it, go to Car tires on Motorcycles homepage and you can go to the Delphi Darkside Forum and do some reading. If you just want to argue the point don't shame me and go there looking for a fight. They're not interested in a bunch of naysayers, they're way past that with FACTS and EXPERIENCE.

[Guitarosaur]

Originally Posted by kin52

Wow, at least someone got it! I thought I must have come off much too serious for anyone to think I was being sarcastic.

Chuck

Hey Chuck-
I think the reason so few "got it" was that you used the wrong tool. My old high school English teacher taught us that "sarcasm presumes the audience is ignorant. SATIRE presumes the audience... well, ISN'T."

You did, in fact, use satire, better than I've seen it used since Frank Zappa.
Unfortunately, much of your audience well... WAS.

[Cluckemt]

Originally Posted by kin52

I would agree with the post below. I have a goodyear triple tread on my vn2000 and I try to stay off roads with too many curves. I try to make it out to ride the dragon every year and would not even consider riding a road with more curves than that on my bike. Attached is a photo of my bike on the dragon so you can see how unsafe it is.

Chuck

LOL

Love that color on the Rogue. I think yours is the only other one I've seen posted.