Jabba
Member
Posts: 3563
VRCCDS0197
Greenwood Indiana
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« on: May 04, 2009, 05:38:56 AM » |
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Well, I have been firmly in the anti-darkside camp for many years. There is NO way a caretire can be a good as a MC tire when it comes to handling.
After not getting to ride some this spring because my ME 880 rear was wore-ass out. Plus the fact that I am a tight wad, and just couldn't get off the $300 for a new one.
I finally broke down and went Darkside. After the 5 hour babysitting and Valk wrenching session of Saturday I got to ride about 25 miles or so running a few errands while my son napped, and my wife was there. (My wife is almost crippled awaiting a total hip replacement next month, that's why I try to not saddle her with keeping a reign on Captain Destructo.)
I was expecting a lot more drastic difference. Everyone says that slow speed handling is noticeably different. I am running a Falken ZE329 205/60R/16. I noticed absolutely no difference at any speed. MAYBE I feel the little bumps a little more. MAYBE I can feel the tire treads when cornering sort of hard on a REALLY smooth road.
Other than that, I can tell absolutely no difference. Either at speed or going slow.
So far... thumbs up.
Who do I see to get my DS#?
Jabba
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alph
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« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2009, 05:54:40 AM » |
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I’ve been told that putting a car tire on a cycle gives it a wishy washy feel when turning. Any truth to that?
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Promote world peace, ban all religion. Ride Safe, Ride Often!!   |
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Jabba
Member
Posts: 3563
VRCCDS0197
Greenwood Indiana
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« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2009, 06:04:42 AM » |
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Some people say so at slow speeds. Some people have gone back to MC tires after having car tires... But it's not true for mine. I have noticed totally no difference in the feel of it. Most everyone claims that it feels different, but not necessarily bad. Mine... feels like it always has. Which surprised me.
Jabba
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2009, 08:11:33 AM » |
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Some people say so at slow speeds. Some people have gone back to MC tires after having car tires... But it's not true for mine. I have noticed totally no difference in the feel of it. Most everyone claims that it feels different, but not necessarily bad. Mine... feels like it always has. Which surprised me.
Jabba
A lot of the wishy washy you call it depends on the tire you use.... The Dunlop Car tire is good at squiggling around. There are a couple of others but i can't remember the brand right now. I run a Good Year Assurance Triple Tread, and once in a while it will give me a quiver in a bad assed crack in the pavement. Really no more than my old MC tire did... I've been on and off of CT's for quite awhile. Usually the way I'd get off was to have a flat, or wear one out and be on the road. NO one would mount a CT, so I had to go to a Scooter tire. Wear it out an go back to CT. The above has happened to me about 4 or 5 times over the past 9 years............. But, that was when I was puttin the miles on in a year with the Green/Creme MGM......... |
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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sugerbear
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« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2009, 01:29:28 PM » |
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i've had a falkien, and now a michelin on the back. both tires have a large "block" on the outside of the tread.
some tires have the outside of the tread cut into small "blocks" i believe the smaller blocks let the tire wiggle more
but thats just me.
sorry don't know the correct terms for different parts of a tire.
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SANDMAN5
Member
Posts: 2176
Mileage 65875
East TN
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« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2009, 01:45:10 PM » |
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Glad you tried it. Too many won't even try a ct, but still insist it won't work. It took me all of 15 miles to decide I loved it and I've never considered going back to a round tire. Unless , as above, I was out on the road and didn't have a choice......but then I seem to never be "out on the road"!! But that'll change someday. I'm running a Goodyear Triple Tread and it works great for me. Next tire will probably be a Michelin Hydroedge 205-65. Lower my rpm's and give me little more smiles per gallon. Tell Doc Moose you're ready for a Darkside # and he'll tell the proper authorities!! |
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"Evolution" is a dying religion being kept alive with tax dollars.  |
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Jabba
Member
Posts: 3563
VRCCDS0197
Greenwood Indiana
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« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2009, 02:33:03 PM » |
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I have not seen Doc at all come to think of it, since the new board format.
What gives?
Jabba
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FryeVRCCDS0067
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« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2009, 09:03:22 PM » |
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I have not seen Doc at all come to think of it, since the new board format.
What gives?
Jabba
Doc has been making some posts. I think it's just the nature of the new board that there are many posts you don't see. With the old board you could see at a glance all who had posted on any topic. With the new one you only see who has posted after you click on the topic. |
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"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.'' -- Barry Goldwater, Acceptance Speech at the Republican Convention; 1964  |
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Jabba
Member
Posts: 3563
VRCCDS0197
Greenwood Indiana
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« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2009, 03:20:06 AM » |
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Probably true. I only read a few of the threads.
Jabba
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Sharkey
Member
Posts: 567
GOT CURVES??
VRCCDS0184
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« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2009, 03:41:34 AM » |
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Well, I have been firmly in the anti-darkside camp for many years. There is NO way a caretire can be a good as a MC tire when it comes to handling.
After not getting to ride some this spring because my ME 880 rear was wore-ass out. Plus the fact that I am a tight wad, and just couldn't get off the $300 for a new one.
I finally broke down and went Darkside. After the 5 hour babysitting and Valk wrenching session of Saturday I got to ride about 25 miles or so running a few errands while my son napped, and my wife was there. (My wife is almost crippled awaiting a total hip replacement next month, that's why I try to not saddle her with keeping a reign on Captain Destructo.)
I was expecting a lot more drastic difference. Everyone says that slow speed handling is noticeably different. I am running a Falken ZE329 205/60R/16. I noticed absolutely no difference at any speed. MAYBE I feel the little bumps a little more. MAYBE I can feel the tire treads when cornering sort of hard on a REALLY smooth road.
Other than that, I can tell absolutely no difference. Either at speed or going slow.
So far... thumbs up.
Who do I see to get my DS#?
Jabba
Jabba you # is in here http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,3509.msg24122.html#msg24122 |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2009, 04:06:30 AM » |
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Well, 25 miles is not that many to make an evaluation. I have only got a hundred or so.
I also just went with a Goodyear TT (205 60 16) for the first time. I told the tech 36-7psi to start, but I only ended up with 30, and that was pretty bad (sloppy wallowing). 40psi was a huge improvement, and I'll never run less.
At 40psi I like the tire fine, but it is not unnoticable from the pure neutral character of a bike tire. I don't have any issues with the tread picking up ruts or grooves. But what I do notice is that in a long sweeping curve at decent speed, you must add a few pounds of pressure to the bars to keep it in the lean; the car tire would like to stand the bike up. And when you come out of the lean/turn, the car tire sort of spring loads the return to level. This is not difficult or fatiguing, but different from a purely neutral bike tire. It will just take a while riding it to get used to it and develop muscle memory.
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Jess Tolbirt
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« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2009, 04:14:38 AM » |
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turning aroung in rocky roads with the road sloped a bit will get your attention,, i have to hold my bike up over center while walking around a turnaround when the road dead ends on me...just a little different than a mc tire but not bad once you get used to it...
if you are going slow and hit a rock about 2 inches in diameter on one side of the tire you will definatly feel the bike try to throw you,,,,
i have been on a car tire for about 5 years now,,,,,
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Jabba
Member
Posts: 3563
VRCCDS0197
Greenwood Indiana
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« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2009, 04:22:02 AM » |
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I totally admit that my 25 mile evaluation is not a REAL one. I was just REALLY surprised that I didn;t really notice the difference. I thought it was going to be a dramatic, noticeable, slap in the face sort of difference, that was not there for me. I rode some gravel, some smooth, some 4 lane, some parking lots, several u-turns. Maybe I'll get to go for a ride one of these days...  Jabba |
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BOOMR
Member
Posts: 70
VRCC #870
Toronto, On
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« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2009, 07:08:01 AM » |
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After 5000 miles on my Yoko AS430 (205/60/16) which replaced my last BattlAx 200-60 after about 9400 miles, I am still amazed how much I love this tire and wonder why it took me so long to go darkside.
The tire handles great, no downside ever noticed in any condition....only positive improvements.
Biggest improvements... 1. Rear braking 100% bettter, stopping distance measurably reduced under hard load. The rear end
doesn't brake loose anymore. Just stops strait and true with no worries about hammering the rear brake.
2. In the rain, I mean torrencial monssoon type rain the C/T is absolutely increadible. When I drove back
dinner in Knoxville to the Holiday Inn in JC at InZane last year at night, in a torrencial downpour on the
I81, the Valk felt like it was on a bone dry road, and I mean at 85mph. No squirming, sliding, slipping....
high speed lane changes were so uneventful, felt like I was on a bone dry road.
There is no dought, at least to me, that my C/T is better and SAFER to a MC tire in every way. And after 5000 mile it still looks brand new.
Can't thank Warlock and Punisher enough for there help and work last summer.
Just my .02....
BOOMR....VRCCDS #0167
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I'd like to help you, But I Just Can't Fix Stupid
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