Darkside Poll

[F6BANGER]

Looking a pics, I have noticed a bunch of Valkyries with car tires. Post what you have. I will start, Double Darkside for me.

[Jess from VA]

FYI

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,10326.0.html

[F6BANGER]

FYI

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,10326.0.html

I saw that but it was more than 2 years old. Im sure more have gone to the darkside since then.

[fordmano]

Been there twice, and came back for now, will go back when this MC specific rear tire wears out.

[Whooray]

Put this Goodyear TTT 205-60-16 on June 25 2009. It has over 21000 miles on it. I have been real happy with the ride and the mileage.   Raymond

[NC_Rob]

Cooper Zeon 205/55/16. Avon up front.

[Oss]

went dark with a Toyo Proxes T1R

came back to cobra and now Battleaxe 200 on the read so which box would I click?



May get an Altimax on my spare wheel one of these days or maybe not

Edit

Now on 2nd Bridgestone Excedra 200 series MC tire

Still may put a car tire on again before leaving for Inzane 2015, or not

[..]

Put this Goodyear TTT 205-60-16 on June 25 2009. It has over 21000 miles on it. I have been real happy with the ride and the mileage.   Raymond

When last did you remove the wheel for spline maintenance?

[..]

Cooper Zeon 205/55/16. Avon up front.

What tire pressure Rob? Cause it looks like the center is wearing faster than the sides.

I ran a Cooper and put 42 psi in, boy did the center wear out quickly 

[NC_Rob]

What tire pressure Rob? Cause it looks like the center is wearing faster than the sides.

I ran a Cooper and put 42 psi in, boy did the center wear out quickly

Running 36 in this one. Ran 40 in the one before it and the center went too fast. I hardly ever run the slab. 99% 2 lane curvy country back roads. Think I should drop a couple more pounds?

[fudgie]

Hankook K-106 To tired to find a pic. 

[DenverDave]

Falken Ziex 912    205/65-16, Have about 300 miles on this tire, playing with tire pressure, started at 37psi now at 35psi

[F6BANGER]

Can it be possible? More darksiders than normal people (M/C tires)? Of the people that did the poll, over 70% are running cartires.

[Willow]

Unfortunately, forum polls are only as accurate as indicated by the number of people who voluntarily respond.

Although the percentage is undoubtedly high, I can't imagine the number of darksiders has become the majority.

[Jess from VA]

If one were to look up my poll from two years ago (above), the paths and responses and discussions in both threads are very similar.   

[Fudd]

Looks like plenty of peeps have published their car tire pixes.  Here's two for the front.

Kenda 150/70/17 as it appeared in August of last year.


Now same tire today, 16,000 miles later.  It has about the same amount of rubber left as does my buddy's E-3 he mounted last week.

The next one I get will be a Kenda 130/90/17.  It will be the same height as the OEM tire.  The 150/70/17 is just two damn short.  It not only gives me a 10 mph error at 80, it also causes my pegs to drag at a lesser bank angle.

[Tropic traveler]

Had one {Mich HydroEdge}, did not like it. Went to Avon, happy now! 

Must admit, the Austone intrigues me quite a bit mainly for the added height for highway RPM reduction.

Looked badass, handled like doo-doo.


Muuuuuch better now! 

[f6gal]

Unfortunately, forum polls are only as accurate as indicated by the number of people who voluntarily respond.

Although the percentage is undoubtedly high, I can't imagine the number of darksiders has become the majority.

I didn't respond because the choices make no sense.
There's no choice for MT on front and back, which is what most ppl are running.
1 person is actually riding a rear tire on the front only?

Had the choices been something like the following, more ppl probably would have voted:
> MT front and back
> Darkside back; MT front
> Darkside front; MT back
> Double Darkside

[bigguy]

Blog, First Impressions.

Blog, Last post on the dark side.

[abcdleines]

I have a rear on the front reversed because I ride a trike. Never thought about a car tire on the front. Maybe next time.

[f6gal]

I have a rear on the front reversed because I ride a trike. Never thought about a car tire on the front. Maybe next time.

But to be riding a rear tire on the front ONLY, you have to be running front tires on the back.  ???

[Big Rig]

Hijacked....

OK sorry, but I need to know...

I am about 1500 miles from replacing my rear tire. I am thinking about going to the dark side, so I need to get some feedback from the folks that are running them. I have seen Dags videos so what I need to know is how is the handling different at the handle bars? What should I expect in cornering, tire ruts and unevane surfaces?

[NC_Rob]

Hijacked....

OK sorry, but I need to know...

I am about 1500 miles from replacing my rear tire. I am thinking about going to the dark side, so I need to get some feedback from the folks that are running them. I have seen Dags videos so what I need to know is how is the handling different at the handle bars? What should I expect in cornering, tire ruts and unevane surfaces?

I have done about 60,000 miles running car tires. I really don't remember what it was like with a MC tire. The best advice I can give you is to try it. To me it's the only way to go but, it ain't for everybody.

[Serk]

Hijacked....

OK sorry, but I need to know...

I am about 1500 miles from replacing my rear tire. I am thinking about going to the dark side, so I need to get some feedback from the folks that are running them. I have seen Dags videos so what I need to know is how is the handling different at the handle bars? What should I expect in cornering, tire ruts and unevane surfaces?

More steering input is needed from the handlebars. You need to more forcefully countersteer... The bike WANTS to straighten up and go straight, so you have to force it over into the turns with more authority, and hold it longer than you do on a MC specific tire.

After a few thousand miles on the DS tire, I don't even notice this effect any longer, but that was what I remember when I first put it on, that I had to be more forceful with the steering inputs.

[Willow]

Hijacked....

OK sorry, but I need to know...

I am about 1500 miles from replacing my rear tire. I am thinking about going to the dark side, so I need to get some feedback from the folks that are running them. I have seen Dags videos so what I need to know is how is the handling different at the handle bars? What should I expect in cornering, tire ruts and unevane surfaces?

Although my friend, Serk, usually knows of what he speaks, it depends entirely on which tire and what air pressure.  The range goes all the way from one can hardly tell a difference to one must fight every directional adjustment.

[fudgie]

Mine goes into corners easily.

Uneven surfaces, eh, you will know what to do. Off road can be tricky. The positives out way the negatives, at least to me.

[Serk]

True Willow... I should have put in the standard "In my experience with my conversion to the Dark Side" disclaimer...

But yeah, as he said, the variables are all over the place, just relaying what the bike felt like to me after switching to a DS tire...

[Moonshot_1]

Serk said it pretty well. His statement "so you have to force it over into the turns with more authority" is kind of overstated but still a pretty good description of the handling difference.

As Willow eluded to, there are a number of variables when it comes to the handling differences between MC tires and Car Tires. And even between Car tires themselves.

Looking into and being part of such discussions over the years I am comfortable saying this.

It is very likely you will experience a significant difference in handling.
The difference will not be worse or even better. Just different.

There is a learning curve and it will take some time to adjust.

As the tire gets some wear on it and it breaks in, the ride gets better. Was a little over 500 miles for me.

Uneven, rutted, and high crowned roads takes a little extra effort handling the bike. If it's really bad it's a rodeo. But once you become adjusted to the handling quirks it's good.

Tight turns and slow tight turns will seem rather difficult but soon as you are used to the handling it won't be difficult at all. I have no issues doing tight U turns but I do practice them too.

 Rear end Maintenance every 10-12k.  It's easy to get 30k+ on a tire. I'm at 28k on mine and going to keep it through this year as well. But get it off and grease the splines up.

Personal recommendation.
If you are riding less than 5000 miles a season, you might not want to do a car tire. If you are riding more than 5k and more than 10k a riding season, you ought to look into it.

[F6BANGER]

Unfortunately, forum polls are only as accurate as indicated by the number of people who voluntarily respond.

Although the percentage is undoubtedly high, I can't imagine the number of darksiders has become the majority.

I didn't respond because the choices make no sense.
There's no choice for MT on front and back, which is what most ppl are running.
1 person is actually riding a rear tire on the front only?

Had the choices been something like the following, more ppl probably would have voted:
> MT front and back
> Darkside back; MT front
> Darkside front; MT back
> Double Darkside

Sorry Connie, I didnt realize people rode unicycle Valkyries!!!

[f6gal]

Unfortunately, forum polls are only as accurate as indicated by the number of people who voluntarily respond.

Although the percentage is undoubtedly high, I can't imagine the number of darksiders has become the majority.

I didn't respond because the choices make no sense.
There's no choice for MT on front and back, which is what most ppl are running.
1 person is actually riding a rear tire on the front only?

Had the choices been something like the following, more ppl probably would have voted:
> MT front and back
> Darkside back; MT front
> Darkside front; MT back
> Double Darkside

Sorry Connie, I didnt realize people rode unicycle Valkyries!!!

The choice previously only said MT on the rear, could have been CT or MT on front.
"The rear tire on front only" choice still doesn't make sense.  Rear tire could be MT or CT, but then you're going to put in on the front?  But doesn't ask MT or CT.... Sorry, a bit confusing.  

[HayHauler]

I like the Falken 512 so much, I just went online and ordered 2 more.  Gonna wrap them and store them.  Will probably need one of them after this summer's riding. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Rio Wil]

I have been quite happy with my Pirelli P4 in a 205-65-16. It has 50K miles now at the 1 1/2 year point and is good for perhaps another 10K. I will need to replace the front tire in a couple of months (another 5K miles) so will probably do a new rear also.  Like4ly will be another P4 but I am open to alternatives choices in a 65 profile. I did run a rear tire on front (Bridgestone 150-70-17) on a trip to Alaska several months ago.  Mounted it with the normal rotation and lasted 27K miles, just wanted mote thread on the roiad for Alaskas gravel roads. No concerns about it coming apart at the lap joint, have never seen a problem with this lap joint ever on any MC tire.

[Gundog]

Just went to DS four weeks ago.  So far I like.  My better half likes the ride better so I guess the decision has been made. 

[steve 3054]

I have gone darkside with a Potanza, 205-60...I believe...been about 300 miles and I can say I can not tell the differrence.  On the Valkyrie I will not go back.  I will say when I pulled away when brand new I thought I had made a mistake!  Now the bike falls over in the turns and takes no more pressure that w/ a MT.  Just my 2 cents   36 psi

[Momz]

Kelly Springfield Fierce 205/60/16

[PhredValk]

Double darkside, Falken Ziex 305/65-16 on the rear,,

Dunlop D404 bias rear up front (no pic) rolling forward. I'm more worried about water displacement in the rain than lap separation.
Fred.

[steve 3054]

I'm thinkin you need to wash that thing!!!     

[Jabba]

I have a Falken 329 on my standard at 32-36 PSI and an Altimax on the IS at 40.  I like the Falken better.

I can tell the difference, but it was going BACK to a bike with a MC tire on it that I noticed.  I didn't notice at ALL going TO the CT. 

When I replace one... it'll be with a Falken 512 most likely.

It's a little different.  like Fudgie says... not BETTER, but not worse (for me) either.  But the benefits outweigh the negatives (for me). 

Jabba

[BIG--T]

Only 31.6% running MC tires? Wow I better rethink this thing!   

[MP]

What tire pressure Rob? Cause it looks like the center is wearing faster than the sides.

I ran a Cooper and put 42 psi in, boy did the center wear out quickly

Running 36 in this one. Ran 40 in the one before it and the center went too fast. I hardly ever run the slab. 99% 2 lane curvy country back roads. Think I should drop a couple more pounds?

I run 28#, and get good wear.

MP