Valkorado
Member
Posts: 10492
VRCC DS 0242
Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.
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« on: June 07, 2018, 07:35:57 AM » |
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Have gone back and forth with double Darkside most recently on Ruby, a 2001 IS that I purchased with a Battlax BT-45 130-90/17 reverse mounted on front. It handled OK, if not a bit noisy, and I have put a few thousand miles on the tire. Manufacture date 4/16, lots of beefy tread left. Dual rubber compound that I'm thinking may be the culprit...
Was in the garage drooling over the girls when I noticed something. Grabbed my flashlight and got down on my hands and knees and sure enough, there are multiple cracks developing in the tire right where the dual compounds are supposed to seamlessly mesh together. Almost looks like the g-force from pushing into the twisties is ripping the tire apart at that seam. The cracks are almost hidden, just below and alongside the center tread and eating their way into the tire itself. Accident waiting to happen.
I have also ridden a Michelin Pilot Activ rear on front, and had a wonky vibration from that tire that I also attribute to dual compound rubber and resulting uneven wear. Have ridden other BT-45s in the past that handled OK, but from my experience nothing is as sticky as a Cobra in front.
Sooo, back to m/c tire on front. Was looking at several including Metz and even Shinko but ordered another Cobra. Not an inexpensive tire, Avon is mighty proud of them. Wish I could say I expect 10k from it, but I've never got that on the local chip seal around here.
Was briefly pushing triple digits last weekend with the lady on back. SCARY!
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« Last Edit: June 07, 2018, 07:40:53 AM by Valkorado »
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good, there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood? - John Prine 97 Tourer "Silver Bullet" 01 Interstate "Ruby"  |
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wtatham
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« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2018, 12:24:04 PM » |
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I love the Avon Cobra. I found one on ebay for 139 then the guy cancelled the sale. So i started searching and the cheapest on ebay was 179. Then i found one on Walmart.com couldnt believe got it for 152 free shipping and recieved it in 3 days.
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Led
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« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2018, 01:03:27 PM » |
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Yea.....I have a "darkside" on the back, but I will stick with an official cycle tire on the front wheel.......  Don't want to get TOO crazy, when I am only on two wheels, to begin with! |
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Valkorado
Member
Posts: 10492
VRCC DS 0242
Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.
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« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2018, 01:08:57 PM » |
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I love the Avon Cobra. I found one on ebay for 139 then the guy cancelled the sale. So i started searching and the cheapest on ebay was 179. Then i found one on Walmart.com couldnt believe got it for 152 free shipping and recieved it in 3 days.
Wally World, I'll be danged. That would have saved me a Jackson. And yeah Led, I think I'll remain single Darkside from now on! |
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good, there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood? - John Prine 97 Tourer "Silver Bullet" 01 Interstate "Ruby" |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2018, 01:56:02 PM » |
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I tried an Avon bias rear on front. 130 Roadrider. Even with extra rear tread depth, it didn't last past 7K, and it was (very) slippery for 200+ miles, and it just did not have the carcass strength for a heavy valk front tire.
I think the only bias rear on front that works decently is some Dunlop 150 rear. Some got great miles like 20K. (404/405?)
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« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2018, 02:32:07 PM » |
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We must remember that riding style has a BIG impact on tire life.
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Valkyrie0002
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« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2018, 08:11:52 AM » |
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I've been doing a lot of reading on going Darkside. First saw mention of this several years ago and was intrigued. I will be going Double Dark next time I need new tires. I don't see any disadvantage but many advantages.
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Been riding since about 1985. 1st bike was a CB900F then 88 CBR1000 , 1990 VFR750F and 94 CBR1000F. I bought my 2000 Std. Valkyrie new in 01. Was an MSF Rider Coach for 12 years. New owner of a 2014 Valk, Red, Non ABS.
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Harryc
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« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2018, 12:14:14 PM » |
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Yea.....I have a "darkside" on the back, but I will stick with an official cycle tire on the front wheel....... Don't want to get TOO crazy, when I am only on two wheels, to begin with! Ditto, Avon Cobra (front tire) up front is my choice. Also double darkside does not imply a car tire up front. It usually means a MC rear tire run reversed direction of rotation up front. I'd be scared to run a car tire up front. Wow...y'all are pushing the limits. Lol |
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« Last Edit: June 19, 2018, 12:19:49 PM by Harryc »
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mustang071965
Member
Posts: 165
those that dare, Succeed.
monticello Ar
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« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2018, 04:04:26 PM » |
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CT on back (12 years ) cobra frt best combo. I average 25000 miles on frt and 40 to 50 rear. 100,000 miles now on IS and only on 2nd CT.
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98valk
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« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2018, 04:15:00 PM » |
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my last rear on front a Conti-go 130/90-17 developed cracks inside the tread area after 800 miles. ran it to the wear bars for 26k miles. never a problem. the cracks never change size.
D404 on front now.
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
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Valkorado
Member
Posts: 10492
VRCC DS 0242
Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.
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« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2018, 04:49:07 PM » |
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my last rear on front a Conti-go 130/90-17 developed cracks inside the tread area after 800 miles. ran it to the wear bars for 26k miles. never a problem. the cracks never change size.
D404 on front now. Better you than me.  The cracks on my dds front tire were below the tread, going into the tire itself. Couldn't get it off fast enough! |
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good, there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood? - John Prine 97 Tourer "Silver Bullet" 01 Interstate "Ruby" |
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98valk
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« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2018, 05:06:36 PM » |
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my last rear on front a Conti-go 130/90-17 developed cracks inside the tread area after 800 miles. ran it to the wear bars for 26k miles. never a problem. the cracks never change size.
D404 on front now. Better you than me. The cracks on my dds front tire were below the tread, going into the tire itself. Couldn't get it off fast enough! "Almost all tires will begin to exhibit small cracks in the sidewall after a short period of time. Is it time to worry? The outer layer of rubber on the sidewall is simply a sealing layer to keep the elements away from the inner (structural) part of the tire—in other words, those unsightly cracks are purely cosmetic." http://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=136u can fine many sites that state the same and u can find many sites that state stop riding and change the tires. much much scare tactics out there today to sell tires. now they are saying a tire is only good for 4-5yrs and should be replaced even if only 20k miles on them. replace your helmet every 3 yrs, change your oil 3k miles. scare tactics that work on peoples emotions and who don't have the knowledge on the subject, just like politics today. just my opinions and what I did. used to change tires for 4 yrs while in school, and read a lot of technical manuals available before the emotional driven internet to sell product even against science. if it was a fresh dated tire u had, then it might have been normal or a defect. only problem installed on a valkyrie manufacturer won't talk to u unless u know what m/c that tire actually is for and u tell them that to find out if the cracking is normal or not. are u using a calibrated digital tire gage? if not u might have overinflated it causing damage to the tire. enjoy, my rant is over.  |
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
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Gabriel
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« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2018, 06:59:26 PM » |
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Rear tires on the front of my Wing and Valkyrie. One going forward and one going backwards.
Can't tell the difference, everything is A-OK
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DK
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« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2018, 05:16:10 AM » |
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I, along with many other trikers, run Michelin Pilot Active rear tires reverse mounted. Everyone seems very pleased with the result.
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Machinery has a mysterious soul and a mind of its own.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2018, 07:53:44 AM » |
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I, along with many other trikers, run Michelin Pilot Active rear tires reverse mounted. Everyone seems very pleased with the result.
Some of us run them on 2 wheelers also. I like them. |
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