Darkside update

[MrBreeze]

Finally got to try out CT on ride to Austin on NY's eve. Went thru Navasota little after mid-day Saturday & passed a black I/S in town (that you?) then took scenic rte 390 across to 290 & the bike handled flawlessly thru the twisties! I've read you have to push the bike harder in the turns with CT, not so with the Toyo ENVigor! Was riding 2 up with prolly 25-30lb bag on back rack & before with MC tire I would catch myself diving early goin into turns sometimes, not so with CT, felt much more stable goin in & was rolling on throttle much sooner thru the turn, only problem I see is gonna be the wear on the hi-way pegs cause they sure were dragging. Anyway had awesome ride over to Austin, bought in the NY with Willie at Austin City Limits (eeewww whats that smell? ) then fought the 20+ mph cross wind home today, headed for hot tub to relieve neck pain. HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!

[Westsider]

Thats good to hear, that tire has a nice rounded profile from the pics Ive seen..Will see if discount tire has one  to inspect in person   ..Happy new year  too.


That envigor is a yokohama isnt it??

[MrBreeze]

Thats good to hear, that tire has a nice rounded profile from the pics Ive seen..Will see if discount tire has one  to inspect in person   ..Happy new year  too.


That envigor is a yokohama isnt it??

Yep, edges of tires are rounded, riding I cant tell the diff between it & MC tire.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVID+ENVigor+%28H%26V%29&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=06VR6ENV&tab=Sizes

[cutter]

That's the one I have had for the last 2 yrs and love it too.

[Maddog vrcc#508]

Was this the size you purchased 205/60R16, and did you mount the tire yourself or have it done? One more question, did you do any fender mods? I have one more, which way did you mount the tread?

Thanks in advance

Mike

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Hey Maddog , whe I put my 1st time C/T on my 98 Valk three years ago  , I went ahead and did the nut cage mod just to be safe , no rubbing later  ...  the size I'm running is a 205-55-16 Michelin Pilot that I bought for $ 135 at Sam's Whse. and I have been very pleased , because of the tread design is not very aggressive so I don't feel the wiggle in the ass-end when I ride over some rain grooves or road imperfections etc. and I've got 23,000 + miles and it still looks brand new  ..... the next time I mount a new C/T , I'll proably go with the 65 series to help out with the gas mileage  ....  other than that in my opinion , I'll NEVER go back to using a M/C tire again just my .002 cents ... Thanks the Geezer

[cutter]

running a 205/60/16 and it is directional. Had a local shop mount it. I did do the nut mod.
Ordered the tire from The tire rack online. Had it in 2 days.

[Maddog vrcc#508]

I've reading about the Dark-side for years but I can't get my mind around how the bike handles with the the 2 different tires types. I am ready to do something different.  I bought a new Metzeler rear tire in July and the thing has a good size flat spot already, 6000 mikes.  I would love to hear about the handling
characteristics of the bike with the CT. Any input is welcome.

Thanks 

[MrBreeze]

I've reading about the Dark-side for years but I can't get my mind around how the bike handles with the the 2 different tires types. I am ready to do something different.  I bought a new Metzeler rear tire in July and the thing has a good size flat spot already, 6000 mikes.  I would love to hear about the handling
characteristics of the bike with the CT. Any input is welcome.

Thanks 

I've gone thru 2 Metzlers also in the last cpl years & same story, flat spots, noisy & toast at 6k miles. I'm totally blown away with the handling & smooth ride from the ENVigor. Also the way I looked at it before trying it was, it's a $100 to try, give it 5k miles or whatever & if u don't like it no big loss.

[RainMaker]

I've reading about the Dark-side for years but I can't get my mind around how the bike handles with the the 2 different tires types. I am ready to do something different.  I bought a new Metzeler rear tire in July and the thing has a good size flat spot already, 6000 mikes.  I would love to hear about the handling
characteristics of the bike with the CT. Any input is welcome.

Thanks 

There are lots of opinions on this and if you do a search on darkside, you'll find the multiple strings with the subject discussed ad nauseam.    IMHO, it handles well - it's just different.  Ride 20+ miles and you'll never notice the difference in handling, with the known exception of highly crowned roads needing more input and ruts, where the tire wants to go with the rut direction more than where you want to go.  Other than that, good riding.  Since you are wearing down the center with a flat spot, it's a good chance you do a lot of super slab riding and there, the wide flat tire is far superior.

You will need to try it and see if you like it.  If you don't, get a motorcycle tire mounted and sell the car tire to someone in the classifieds.  Doesn't cost much to try and if you like it, great.  If you don't, change it.

RainMaker

[Maddog vrcc#508]

Thanks for the input, that's exactly what i will do. I'm already looking around for the Yokohama tire.  Like I read on the board, the shape of the tire seems right, and I had tires with a similar tread design on my van and I was informed by a Les Schawb tire guy that the tread design helps to evacuate water from the tire.  Thanks for the input, I'll post a follow up when I am up and running.

Mike McDonald