Looking for a Darkside recommendation

[MelbourneDan]

I know a few of you guys are running DS.

Recommendations please?

Thanks,
Dan

[TJ]

MICHELIN PRIMACY ALPINE PA 3 ZP

And you'll never go with anything else....

[darksidemxer]

Lol i thought i was being summoned!

[larue]

Hey Dan long time no see, I am running Michelin Primacy MXV4 205-60/16 on my tourer on Terry thunderbolt's recommendation which I highly respect, no complaints and I believe Jack flrider and Doug Tundra are running it too. great choice

[sixlow]

All I have experience with is the ATT, Austone Taxi Tire, but am very curious about this Michelin TJ suggested. The ATT does not require the nut cage mod, it is an inch taller which I like and also dislike because I love more leg room but had to crank the shocks up all the way because it will bottom out when 2 up. I tore my taillight harness apart and lost the metal cage it sits in under the fender. I do like how it handles and found 36psi is my sweetspot, 40 or more and the tire was snappy to get straight. I do avoid the downtown cobblestone streets of St. Aug. Because it is a handfull to keep straight sometimes. So TJ any mods needed ? Hope this helps ya Dan

[MelbourneDan]

Appreciate the quick feedback. Walked out of work today to a flat Cobra. Filled it, and heard a hissing sound = never a good thing. Put it up to 70lbs and it (sorta) stopped. 18 miles later got home and had 25 lbs left. It's now got about 10 lbs in it.

Looks like a small cut in the tire.

What's the story on the nut cage mod?

Thanks,
Dan

[Pappy!]

Here is my thread on the nut cage mod.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,65849.0.html

Would be nice if you have a Tourer or IS that you help with measurements on any hardware you find that will be different and add it to the thread.

We put a Yokohama Avid Envigor on Lesa's bike and she likes it. Many riders are using that tire as well.
tire has a nice looking tread pattern on it and very rounded edges which is something you definitely want.

[Thunderbolt]

Another nut cage mod link from Daniel Meyer.

http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

[MelbourneDan]

Thanks Pappy, the Yoko is considerably cheaper. What size are you running and should I assume it does require the nut mod?


Dan

[_Sheffjs_]

Love the  Michelin Primacy.  Doug, Jack Larue has and I had one on my (sold) interstate. 

[Bronxboy]

I love my Nexen 5000 205/65/16

[Grumpy]

I am still running the Austone Taxi tire, 25,000 miles and no complaints and virtually no wear.

[IamGCW]

Yokohama Avid Envigor on the Wing and love it.

Nexen 5000 Plus 205/65/16 on the Valk and love it.  But next time I'll go Yoko.

Both are double darkside.  (BT45 Wing, 404 Valk)

Gil

[Earl43P]

I went with the Yoko Avid Envigor in 195/55-16 on my IS in June, 36 psi. Took off a 205/60 that was too square-edged.
That lowered the seat height a bit, but boy does it like to accelerate. Quick.
I don't mind the increased rpm at speed. It's more of a hotrod after all.

The IS also has a rear Pilot Activ on the front, 130/90-17 I believe, @ 42 psi. Highly recommend that tire. I have it on the 93 Wing too. The Wing one has 17,000 miles on it since April and still looks like it has at least that many miles left.

The 93 daily driver has an ATT rear @ 45 psi, which I also really like. Not sure I'll ever put that tall of a tire on the IS though. To each his own. It does make me almost tippy-toed at stops because I have to keep the air shock pretty firm or it bottoms out on hard bumps, one up. Worse with the 140lb. passenger if the shock pressure is low. The dip at the end of of my driveway lets me know!

I'll be double-darkside for as long as I have both of these machines.
Wish I could've done it on the semi-retired 82! It does well with its ME880s, for its 800 miles per month.

I have said this before, I challenge anyone to ride my 93 Wing and be able to tell that is a car tire on the back. The IS' Yoko suffers from low speed road imperfections, but I am used to it.

[Pappy!]

Thanks Pappy, the Yoko is considerably cheaper. What size are you running and should I assume it does require the nut mod?

Dan

She is running the 205/55/R16
You can run either the 55 or 60. I did not do the nut cage mod for this tire however the cage was already gone.

[Flrider]

I am also  running Michelin Primacy MXV4 205-60/16.
After talking to Larue, Jerry and knowing that Terry (Thunderbolt) had good things to say about the Michellin, I decided to give the Darkside a try for the first time, first impressions right off the bat was 'QUIET AND SMOOTH".
Tier behaves well on road imperfections and also in the twisties, no issues at all riding up in the turns of NC.
I would say that not only look at the price of the tire but also at the way it handles on the the road.

Good luck on your search and keep us posted 

[MelbourneDan]

You guys are awesome, thanks for all for all of th input!


Dan