Dark Side

[larue]

i'm seriously contemplating moving to the dark side ASAP and join the rest of you, calling on Terry to send me the brand name and size and where it was purchased, price etc..of the one he just mounted couple months back, and on anyone with any info about any modification and things to look for associated with mounting the tire...your help is appreciated ,thank you

[Thunderbolt]

Larue the picture and information is on this post from March or so.  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,53150.0.html  It's on the second page from the last I think if you look back a few pages.  Michelin Primacy XV4 I think it was.
There are a couple of things that you might need to do.  The most common is that the bolt on the right side if I remember correctly is usually real close when you put the car tire on.  It will rub if too close when you load the bike as in two up.  What actually rubs is the nut cage where the bolt screws in from the outside.  Most people solve that by removing the nut cage which contains a square nut and I installed a carriage bolt from the inside to replace the bolt and nut.  The carriage bolt has a low profile and hugs the inside of the fender.  The other thing is called the washer mod where you place a couple of washer to move the fender over enough to center the tire. 
Since you normally ride 1 up you might not need either, but it is much easier to remove the nut cage while you have the tire and wheel removed.  Here is a link to Daniel Meyer's write up.  http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

[billyboy]

Larue glad you are coming over to the Dark Side. I went with the Falken Zeix 512. Started off with
40lbs a little to stiff on the turns as it wanted to come up up too quick went down to 32lbs.
and can't tell  the difference form a M/C tire. $89.00 to the door I think i got it from  Tire
Discount Store (something like that). I got the 205/65/16, did the not cage mod (easy) and
not a problem at all. There are alot of options out there. Alot of guys use the taxi tire.
 Not all shops will install a car tire on a M/C rim so make sure first. Hope this helps.  
        

[gwise]

I bought my Michelin Primacy (Terrys advice) at Sears on sale $132. Still haven't installed it, waiting to wear out M/C tire first.
   Gregg

[_Sheffjs_]

This is a subject that I have been thinking about lately and the one thing that keeps coming to my mind is how much better the motorcycle can stop using a C/T Because of the with. I had an interesting scenario with one of those short yellow lights and have to stop fast (with two up) rather than go through the light. I am convinced this Squirrelly stop Would not have happened with the car tire. Here is my question to the Darksiders, Have you asked your insurance companies if your motorcycle is still fully covered running a C/T. If anyone has asked what is their response?

[Thunderbolt]

Larue here are some pictures of the washer or spacer mod.  What you are doing is adding a spacer where indicated so that when you re tighten the bolt it levers the rear part of the fender out more.
http://www.s2s-accessories.com/photo/fndrmod/

[Thunderbolt]

and they didn't have a problem with the car tire.  That doesn't mean that your insurance company won't.  I think that it is one of those questions that you just don't ask if you don't want their canned flaming death answer.  But yes on the larger contact patch both accelerating and stopping it helps.  The main thing that you have to get used to is if there are ruts or depressions in the road especially at traffic lights you want to be in the depression and not almost in it.  The Bridgestone that I took off the Interstate was much more prone to the above problem than the Michelin that I installed.  I don't have anything against Falkens or Austones or anything else.  I was in Brooksville and stopped at the tire store and told them that I wanted their most rounded edged car tire and he brought out the Michelin.  Gregg got his at Sears for about $20 cheaper than I did.  As far as installing them, I have a Harbor Freight tire changer and did my own although it is not easy.  If you have an independent shop near you get them to do it for you and pay them $20 or whatever they charge.  If they ask what it is for just tell them it is for your trike.   Oh and another reason I changed on the Valkyrie and the Rocket III was cost.  About  $100 less per rear tire at least for the Rocket and I had already bought two rears at $250 each.  I have the 205-60/16 Bridgestone HP550 that I took off the Interstate still in the shop if anyone wants it for free, just come pick it up.  It was on the bike 4 years and you can hardly tell it is worn, just long in the tooth was the reason for changing.

[SANDMAN5]

In 07 we totalled our 03 Valk. Had a GYTT on the rear. No
comments whatsoever from Progressive Ins.

[_Sheffjs_]

Larue, let us know what you think once you have broke on through to the other side.

[Skinhead]

This is a subject that I have been thinking about lately and the one thing that keeps coming to my mind is how much better the motorcycle can stop using a C/T Because of the with. I had an interesting scenario with one of those short yellow lights and have to stop fast (with two up) rather than go through the light. I am convinced this Squirrelly stop Would not have happened with the car tire. Here is my question to the Darksiders, Have you asked your insurance companies if your motorcycle is still fully covered running a C/T. If anyone has asked what is their response?

I asked my agent (allstate) and (foremost), both said they don't care.  I think that whole "your not covered thing" was another one of Obama's lies.

[_Sheffjs_]

I will find some time this week and call mine.  I wonder if all this ct business will get someone to make a mt that more resembles the ct. 

[larue]

Thanks to all of you for your feedback and words of wisdom, special thanks and hat down to Terry for the extra detail provided through the links, pics and drawings....you guys rock.
I book marked everything and now the hunt for the tire begins

[larue]

And Terry whats the difference btwn the michelin and the 225-60/16 on your rocket III, could the last go on the vlak also??? it looks much wider tho....i was just curious but i m all for the longevity, handling and comfort of the tire,  your thougthts?

[Thunderbolt]

The width of the 205 is pretty much the max width for the Valkyrie.  The Rocket has a wider area between the swingarm halves.  It comes from the factory with a 240-50/16.  When you get your car tire on you will see that the right side is pretty close to the swingarm in the front.  As I said in the other thread the Michelin has more room at that point than the Bridgestone did, it only had like a credit card width.  The Michelin might have 2 or three.  Just the form of the tire is different.

[Mallett]

Larue, I'm still loving my Riken Raptor 205/55-16....I've put 2300 mile on it in the last two weeks...I bought this tire on Mr. Whiskey's recommendation...

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Hey Larue the Austone Taxi Tire is only Available through Universaltire.com,it is a 175/R16.The Austone is shinnier than the 205 mentioned by others and you would not have to do the Nut Cage Mod or the Washer-Spacing Mod. It handles a lot like a MC tire and there is no Flat Spot like the wider tires have. It is Two inches Taller than the Original Bike tire, Giving the bike a One inch Ride height Difference that can be adjusted with the Shock Height, Resulting in lower RPM's at Cruising Speed.

[James III]

Larue, as you may remember, I just changed to the Austone Taxi tire. About 1800 miles on it so far. Far from any expert advice, so far I really like it, have found no "bugs" with the tire, ridden in the rain several times, been through our versions of the twistys, I feel the grip in the seat of the pants feel. I started at 37 psi and dropped it down to 34.5 psi, and check it each outting for now. My shocks are still on 4 and will move them down a notch to 3 this week. Did do the double bearing mod and used one of Grumpys spacers. No other mods were needed ie. nut cage or fender mods etc.. Complete rear end service while I was there. The Taxi tire isn't the cheapest of the selection of possible CT's, I think I have $170.00 or so in the tire. Universal tire is the vender, as mentioned in other posts. Good luck, I think you'll like the meatier tire over the std. motorcycle tire.
Putting a new E3 on the front this week; short of going to double darkside, sure would like to have the bite that I'm feeling in the darkside rear.

Jim