Beag's in da Darkside hizzouse!

[HemetRider]

Originally Posted by Guitar7272

YouTube - Car Tire on a Goldwing.. rightside up!

Someone posted that a couple of days ago in another thread and after watching it, I will never consider a car tire for my motorcycle. Just not worth the cost savings IMHO.

Here is a different video that is swaying me into trying a car tire:

YouTube - Riding the Dark Side

YouTube - Darkside figure 8's in a parking lot

Anyone know of a video that follows a motorcycle tire so we could compare the amount of contact?

[MrClean]

Rich is intelligent, and that's why he's looked at the Car tire issue, as have I and many satisfied cruisers, with an open mind. Thankfully we have a website and all you naysayers can just stay over here and profess ignorance. Nothing wrong with that. In fact I think it's a cornerstone of the internet. We'll just slide the 'IT CAN'T WORK' folks in with all them 9/11 and Face On Mars Conspiracy folks. There are too many people using car tires for it to NOT work. Many of whom agree the handling of their bike has improved along with durability and reliability.

Which is why I generally don't discuss the Darkside on open forums but will gladly steer those that are interested towards a couple forums when they ask. I don't need to hear anyone profess knowledge that they simply don't have.

Clean
Darkside Padiwan

[Guitar7272]

Originally Posted by HemetRider

Here is a different video that is swaying me into trying a car tire:

YouTube - Riding the Dark Side

YouTube - Darkside figure 8's in a parking lot

Anyone know of a video that follows a motorcycle tire so we could compare the amount of contact?

I saw them too and they look the same as the other one. Theres nothing out there thats going to convince me a car tire on a motorcycle is a good idea. They wear out faster because they're made of a softer, grippier rubber consisting of up to 9 compounds give or take. Car tires are like 1-3. Grip is good in my book.

I couldn't find a video but I did see this image while I was researching the subject:

[Guitar7272]

Originally Posted by MrClean

Rich is intelligent, and that's why he's looked at the Car tire issue, as have I and many satisfied cruisers, with an open mind. Thankfully we have a website and all you naysayers can just stay over here and profess ignorance. Nothing wrong with that. In fact I think it's a cornerstone of the internet. We'll just slide the 'IT CAN'T WORK' folks in with all them 9/11 and Face On Mars Conspiracy folks. There are too many people using car tires for it to NOT work. Many of whom agree the handling of their bike has improved along with durability and reliability.

Which is why I generally don't discuss the Darkside on open forums but will gladly steer those that are interested towards a couple forums when they ask. I don't need to hear anyone profess knowledge that they simply don't have.

Clean
Darkside Padiwan

I think it can work, there's plenty of people riding on them to prove that fact - how good it works is the question. If you could point me to scientific studies that show the ride characteristics of car tires on motorcycles I would be more than willing to take another look at the subject. Some subjective statements from a bunch of people who spent money to put them on their bikes is not what I would call conclusive proof.

And I dont appreciate being lumped in with 9/11 conspiracy theorists because I dont agree with your unsubstantiated claims that car tires make a motorcycle handle better - that is just as$inine.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Guitar7272

Some subjective statements from a bunch of people who spent money to put them on their bikes is not what I would call conclusive proof.

Just look at the hundreds of people who have gone back to MC tires.

Oh wait.... I've only heard of one

[HIGHWAY]

( Quote )
Keep in mind that while you are seeing a big change in footprint from upright to leaned, even at full lean, there is still as much or possibly more contact than a rounded MC tire would have.[/quote]

Ditto to that
i went to the dark side about a thousand miles ago and at this point in time will say i wont be going back, the ride comfort itself is a huge plus, if i put a MC tire back on my wife says she wont ride, she has suffered a neck injury and just would not ride with me much.

Hell im goin put 4 MC tires on my ford escort just to see how lousy it handles and rides ha ha

[MachoDC]

Originally Posted by NCDave

I wish someone made one for my 1500

+1

I'd do it for sure!

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by MrClean

Rich is intelligent, and that's why he's looked at the Car tire issue, as have I and many satisfied cruisers, with an open mind. Thankfully we have a website and all you naysayers can just stay over here and profess ignorance. Nothing wrong with that. In fact I think it's a cornerstone of the internet. We'll just slide the 'IT CAN'T WORK' folks in with all them 9/11 and Face On Mars Conspiracy folks. There are too many people using car tires for it to NOT work. Many of whom agree the handling of their bike has improved along with durability and reliability.

Which is why I generally don't discuss the Darkside on open forums but will gladly steer those that are interested towards a couple forums when they ask. I don't need to hear anyone profess knowledge that they simply don't have.

Clean
Darkside Padiwan

I did not say it wouldn't work, my concern is for safety.

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Just look at the hundreds of people who have gone back to MC tires.

Oh wait.... I've only heard of one

because they are too cheap to buy the proper gear for their bike? remember the old saying "use the proper tool for the job?

[kin52]

Cost has a little to do with it but for me it is an availability issue as well. I travel alot on my bike for work and a 200 /60 16 bike tire is just not something everyone has lying around. If I need a tire in most towns a bike tire means a two week delay at best before I can get back on the road. The second thing is I only get 4,000 to 5,000 miles out of a bike tire. That means I'm changing tires 3 to 4 times a season at $200.00 plus dollars a pop which is quite a chunk of change. plus all the associated hassles that going along with getting your tire changed.

Chuck

Originally Posted by zedx11

because they are too cheap to buy the proper gear for their bike? remember the old saying "use the proper tool for the job?

[kin52]

The proper tool line would be closer to the truth if we were talking about sport bikes. The max lean angle on my VN2000 is no where near what is on an R6 or other sport bike. To all the naysayers that say the bike tire is the only way to go, I say keep buying them, the economy can use all the extra spending it can get.

Chuck

[kin52]

The only thing I see different with your tire choice compared to what most people do is the tread pattern. Most of us have tried to stay with a tire that has no central groove which could cause twitchy behavior on rain grooved highways. And the tall narrowish tread blocks like your tire will feel a little more squirrelly as they tend to flex more under lateral loads. Something to consider in the future.

Chuck

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

I really had no problems leaning into and making turns, maybe *slight* resistance requiring *slightly* more countersteering, and the bike wanted to stand right back up afterwards which felt a little strange. Overall, it feels ...well, a little squirrely ...like I have a tire on the back with half of its rated psi ...which is what I have. I'm going to play around with the pressure and see what makes a positive difference. I had it up to 60mph for a short distance and didn't feel any real problems, but I'll hold that opinion until I really get some road time.

Well, that's the report for now. I've attached some pics for your visual entertainment ...

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by kin52

Cost has a little to do with it but for me it is an availability issue as well. I travel alot on my bike for work and a 200 /60 16 bike tire is just not something everyone has lying around. If I need a tire in most towns a bike tire means a two week delay at best before I can get back on the road. The second thing is I only get 4,000 to 5,000 miles out of a bike tire. That means I'm changing tires 3 to 4 times a season at $200.00 plus dollars a pop which is quite a chunk of change. plus all the associated hassles that going along with getting your tire changed.

Chuck

I have gotten between 15 to 20K (been a while since I rode it but I'm thinking it was around 17K) miles on a sport touring tire on a ZX11. I know that there has to be a high mileage tire out there that will fit your bike. no, I don't know what it would be. I'll try to ask the parts guy at work Tuesday.

I do understand if you are traveling that much and some problems with getting tires.

so if you ride that much why didn't you get in the mileage race?

[kin52]

I have had other bikes where I got 10,000 to 12,000 miles out of the rear tires as well. The fact remains the VN2000 does not get that many miles out of a tire. I could get a different bike but the big vulcan will be a tough act to follow(I have been looking at the Concoures14 though). The biggest problem is traveling into Canada, a 200/60 16 metz or bridgestone will run about $300.00 US and that doesn't include mounting. Oh and it will take two to three weeks to get the tire depending on where you are in Canada. If you get a flat a day or two before heading home from there you are SOL.

Chuck

Originally Posted by zedx11

I have gotten between 15 to 20K (been a while since I rode it but I'm thinking it was around 17K) miles on a sport touring tire on a ZX11. I know that there has to be a high mileage tire out there that will fit your bike. no, I don't know what it would be. I'll try to ask the parts guy at work Tuesday.

I do understand if you are traveling that much and some problems with getting tires.

so if you ride that much why didn't you get in the mileage race?

[kin52]

As to the mileage race I didn't know anything about it.

Chuck

[kin52]

I love when people ask me why I run a car tire. I say, the lousy truck tire rubbed in the fender!

Chuck

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by kin52

As to the mileage race I didn't know anything about it.

Chuck

you ride that much you should still get in.

take a picture of your odometer with the word rotor on a piece of paper and post it to the 2008 odometer race sticky at the top of the cruiser section.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by zedx11

I have gotten between 15 to 20K (been a while since I rode it but I'm thinking it was around 17K) miles on a sport touring tire on a ZX11. I know that there has to be a high mileage tire out there that will fit your bike. no, I don't know what it would be.

Dunlop E3 and Metz 880 have a reputation as being the longest lasting... but on an 800 pound cruiser with 300-500 pounds of passenger, even the 900+ pound rated tires are maxed out at 15k on average.
A few guys get better, and some wear them out in 7k... all depends on road conditions.

But compared to a tire that'll run 30-40k, and is practically impossible to lock up the rear brake... it's just an absolute best option for a high-mileage touring bike. I wouldn't consider it if I were only putting 200 miles a month on my bike like a lot of guys do, but I average 1,000 or so, and that's now mostly 2-up. Stock tires were gone in under 8k riding solo. The E3 went nearly 14k mostly 2-up.


You saw the pictures that I posted of the "hole" and delaminated tread on my E3? I'm not convinced that MC tires are constructed of superior materials or in a superior way to CT's. Haven't heard of a single tread failure on a CT in the 2 years that I've been watching the forums.

[BikerBeagle]

Originally Posted by zedx11

the only reason to do it is being cheap. think there is a reason you have problems finding someone to mount it?

Maybe because they know they won't sell another tire to that customer for the next 3 or 4 years? We've mapped the humane genome but still can't create a cure for the common cold? Why is that? ...maybe because it's more profitable to treat the symptoms rather than provide the cure? Same thing ...

Funny, ho ho, that the *only* place I could find to mount mine DOESN'T SELL TIRES. Coinkidink? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by Guitar7272

If you could point me to scientific studies that show the ride characteristics of car tires on motorcycles I would be more than willing to take another look at the subject. Some subjective statements from a bunch of people who spent money to put them on their bikes is not what I would call conclusive proof.

It's theoretically conclusive if all of those 'subjective statements from a bunch of people who spent money to put them on' were pretty much the same across the board. I've read my fair share of dark side 'evaluations' and, I agree, it is hard to trust the integrity and bias of those reports ...

But, there are probably no scientific studies for using a ...let's say, a wrench ...as a hammer either. Ever use a wrench as a hammer?

Originally Posted by zedx11

because they are too cheap to buy the proper gear for their bike? remember the old saying "use the proper tool for the job?

"Use the proper tool for the job" was very likely first uttered by someone selling the proper tool for the job.