Laufenn G FIT tire, My first DarkSide, Ride Update

[Jess from VA]

A Question for all of you dark siders.... is slow speed/ parking lot handling easier or more stable on the CT than on an Avon  or E3 for instance???

Yes and no.  The reason MSF classes are all inside a box at slow speed is because that is the hardest motorcycle riding to learn.  It takes practice, and experience.

With experience, a rider can do all the same maneuvers on a car tire as on a bike tire.  But a rookie CT rider may likely find slow speed straight line riding easier (big fat tire patch is obviously more stable than a round tire), but slow speed parking lot hard turns, Ueys, and left-right jockying harder as CTs take a bit more work on the handlebars and body english than bike tires.

I have always compared riding on the two tires to driving a power steering car (bike tires) and a manual steering car (car tires).  At speed both are similar, but anyone who's driven a manual steering car through slow speed maneuvers knows there's a lot of steering wheel work involved.  It's not the same as one-finger driving with power steering.  The analogy is not perfect, but it is instructive.

Car tires are not for everyone.  It took me a couple months of weekend riding to fully acclimate.  It's not hard or strenuous or fatiguing, it's just different.  A few more pounds of pressure on the handlebars to hold in the turns against the sidewalls wanting to stand the bike up straight.  More counter steering. Hitting a half manhole cover or pothole will wobble the bike (so will doing it on a bike tire, though the CT wobble is probably harder). 

There are many benefits of a CT over a bike tire;  longevity, durability and traction in all conditions are the main ones.

[Willow]

A Question for all of you dark siders.... is slow speed/ parking lot handling easier or more stable on the CT than on an Avon  or E3 for instance???

The previous answers are correct but add to that that it depends upon which tire one chooses.  "Car tire" are not all the same.  There are many different types and they each behave differently depending upon their own particular characteristics.

[photochaser]

I imagine it depends on the CT chosen, but how does switching to a CT affect ride for the passenger? I'm trying to spare my delicate wife the pain of harsh bumps.

[98valk]

I imagine it depends on the CT chosen, but how does switching to a CT affect ride for the passenger? I'm trying to spare my delicate wife the pain of harsh bumps.

less plys in the sidewall, so tire is not as stiff, flexs more easily over bumps.

[Hook#3287]

I was getting ready to do a weekend ride with a few buddies and I did a check up on the bike.  Rear tire is not going to make it.

Luckily I have options and cleared a different bike for the trip.

Decided to give this Laufenn a go.   Tried Walmart, couple of local tire distribution centers, Town Fair Tire, etc, and no luck.

Checked TireRack.com.

Getting the tire delivered tomorrow for $82.36

Nice.

[Harryc]

I was getting ready to do a weekend ride with a few buddies and I did a check up on the bike.  Rear tire is not going to make it.

Luckily I have options and cleared a different bike for the trip.

Decided to give this Laufenn a go.   Tried Walmart, couple of local tire distribution centers, Town Fair Tire, etc, and no luck.

Checked TireRack.com.

Getting the tire delivered tomorrow for $82.36

Nice.

Let me know how you like it. I need a rear tire soon too.

[Hook#3287]

I will.  Probably not going to get it on the bike till next week sometime.  I'm optimistic based on what 98Valk, Oleman & Bone are reporting.

[Firefighter]

Wont matter on smooth flat surface, but if there is unevenness, pot holes, rocks, edge of driveway, etc., then the bike will try to lean one way or another. Have to be careful and be ready for it. Inexperienced rider would be on the ground!

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Once you gain confidence riding the dark side,the only danger becomes tire ruts.If your rear tire goes into these ruts,its going to sway some.I run my dark side at 60 psi,for better handling.

[Bone]

7k on the Laufenn no complaints even rode it during the eclipse.

[Jess from VA]

Once you gain confidence riding the dark side,the only danger becomes tire ruts.If your rear tire goes into these ruts,its going to sway some.I run my dark side at 60 psi,for better handling.

Pardon me, but what car tire do you have that 60 psi is not wildly over the MAX PSI printed on the sidewall of the tire?

I think my Goodyears have a MAX PSI printed on the sidewall of 44, and I run 40.

[Hook#3287]

Wont matter on smooth flat surface, but if there is unevenness, pot holes, rocks, edge of driveway, etc., then the bike will try to lean one way or another. Have to be careful and be ready for it. Inexperienced rider would be on the ground!

  This will be my 4th C/T.  I like the looks of this one, it seems to have more of a curved tread/ sidewall  transition.

[Hook#3287]

Once you gain confidence riding the dark side,the only danger becomes tire ruts.If your rear tire goes into these ruts,its going to sway some.I run my dark side at 60 psi,for better handling.

Pardon me, but what car tire do you have that 60 psi is not wildly over the MAX PSI printed on the sidewall of the tire?

I think my Goodyears have a MAX PSI printed on the sidewall of 44, and I run 40.

That does seem a little high, must ride like a stone wheel.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Once you gain confidence riding the dark side,the only danger becomes tire ruts.If your rear tire goes into these ruts,its going to sway some.I run my dark side at 60 psi,for better handling.

I hope that was a typo. 60 psi seems wildly dangerous to me. But, you are called death wish .  I run at 34.

[0leman]

I agree, 60 lbs. seem a bit hit.  I have run my 3 CT at around 30 lbs. 

Only have some 6K on new tire.  No problems with the tire, leans over as much as I want it to, wear seems normal for CT.   Can't tell how many miles it will last yet. 

Lots of smoke in area now, not good on lungs, so not riding much this last month. 

[..]

Once you gain confidence riding the dark side,the only danger becomes tire ruts.If your rear tire goes into these ruts,its going to sway some.I run my dark side at 60 psi,for better handling.

How many miles so far at 60psi?
The center of the tier will wear very quickly at that psi.

[specialdose]

      Jess, running 40psi in my GYTT per your advise. 15K on it. Only notable wear is the shoulders have rounded which is a good thing. At this rate I should get over 30-35K. The Laufenn is an interesting
looking tire. I like that it is a 65. Should drop 5th gear couple hundred RPM's. That would be a plus.

[Jess from VA]

      Jess, running 40psi in my GYTT per your advise. 15K on it. Only notable wear is the shoulders have rounded which is a good thing. At this rate I should get over 30-35K. The Laufenn is an interesting
looking tire. I like that it is a 65. Should drop 5th gear couple hundred RPM's. That would be a plus.

Larry, both my bike have relatively new GYTTs on them (6-7K) (which is really what you might call a good break in period). There may be better (handling) CTs available, but I am very happy with what I have and what I know, and great longevity (and nary a hiccup, leak, or flat), and less weight than bike tires to balance.  My first one went 37K, and probably could have gone to 39-40K.  But it was time for rear end svs, so it got replaced.  I still run 40 in both.  I don't get any serious center wear, but the center of mine do wear a very little bit more than the rest over it's life.  No big deal.  I like handling with 40 in that tire.

I would not run a CT that got only 20-5K, or less.   

[Harryc]

I'm in...just ordered the Laufenn G FIT tire, 205/65-16 H.

[Ken Tarver]

Jess, I put 44k (with tread still available) on a GYTT.
Great wearing tire; went Yokohama Envigor next time on the valks, 205/60-16
Wing has a Kumho PA 31, 195/60-16

Ken

[Six-Cylinder Hooligan]

Jess, I put 44k (with tread still available) on a GYTT.
Great wearing tire; went Yokohama Envigor next time on the valks, 205/60-16
Wing has a Kumho PA 31, 195/60-16

Ken

Ken,

How do you like the Kumho on your Wing?? I'm considering the same for my Valk I/S.

Regards,
-Art

[Ken Tarver]

Art,
I like it much on the wing. Rounded shoulders transition easy left and right. The 195/60-16 is close in diameter to the stock size MT for the wing. It will be smaller dia compared to stock size for valk. Will increase your rpm's. But so does 205/55-16 that many use. I looked at Tire Rack, did not see the Kumho Ecsta PA31 in size 205/60-16.
205/60-16 is closer to stock dia for the valk. I'm well pleased with the Yokohama, good rounded shoulders there too. Comes in H & V speed.
I don't know, you may be wanting a smaller dia for a particular reason.
Bottom line, I'm pleased with both brands. 

Ken

[Six-Cylinder Hooligan]

Ken,

Thank you very much for your reply! Not really wanting to raise RPMs (I always seem to be looking for that non-existent 6th gear!) but was looking more towards ease of transition in curves. 195 is closer to the stock 180 width. Wider seems like it'd turn in slower. I had considered the Austone but am leery of the Q speed rating.

I'll be ordering the Kuhmo next week & report back how I like it... This will be my first foray into the Darkside.

Cheers!
-Art

[98valk]

4k miles now. tire is broken in.  37psi cold is too soft. had a bad wallowing event with bike yesterday.  checked tread depth today less wear by 1/32 in center.
upped pressure to 40psi cold. Test ride soon.

[Harryc]

On the Laufenn G FIT, I know the orange dot goes by the valve stem, but does it matter which way (direction) you mount it? I don't see direction arrows on the sidewall. It's going on the bike tomorrow.

Edit: Disregard. It's an asymmetrical tire...direction of rotation does not matter.

[98valk]

On the Laufenn G FIT, I know the orange dot goes by the valve stem, but does it matter which way (direction) you mount it? I don't see direction arrows on the sidewall. It's going on the bike tomorrow.

Edit: Disregard. It's an asymmetrical tire...direction of rotation does not matter.

Valve Stem dot side, I installed at fill side of valve stem. does it have one open red dot and a solid yellow dot?  solid yellow is the one for the valve stem. The open red dot is for uniformity match-mounting which requires a mark/notch on the wheel from the factory, which our wheels do not have. this is a new thing for radial force variation balancing.
Just found this out when having new tires installed on my truck.
https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101/advanced-information/match-mounting

[Harryc]

Valve Stem dot side, I installed at fill side of valve stem. does it have one open red dot and a solid yellow dot?  solid yellow is the one for the valve stem. The open red dot is for uniformity match-mounting which requires a mark/notch on the wheel from the factory, which our wheels do not have. this is a new thing for radial force variation balancing.

It has a solid red dot and an open yellow dot, so I was assuming the solid red dot goes at the valve stem.

[98valk]

Valve Stem dot side, I installed at fill side of valve stem. does it have one open red dot and a solid yellow dot?  solid yellow is the one for the valve stem. The open red dot is for uniformity match-mounting which requires a mark/notch on the wheel from the factory, which our wheels do not have. this is a new thing for radial force variation balancing.

It has a solid red dot and an open yellow dot, so I was assuming the solid red dot goes at the valve stem.

I just looked at mine, same thing. I installed to the solid dot. The truck tires were reverse colors. from what I have read valve stem is the solid dot.

[Harryc]

I just looked at mine, same thing. I installed to the solid dot. The truck tires were reverse colors. from what I have read valve stem is the solid dot.

Thanks for the confirmation, I appreciate it.

[98valk]

running 42psi now. rides better than when it was new at 37psi. when new 42psi was too much, bump steer was crazy.

[Ken Tarver]

Heavy spot on wheel may not be at valve stem...put wheel on balancer without tire mounted

Ken

[98valk]

Valve Stem dot side, I installed at fill side of valve stem. does it have one open red dot and a solid yellow dot?  solid yellow is the one for the valve stem. The open red dot is for uniformity match-mounting which requires a mark/notch on the wheel from the factory, which our wheels do not have. this is a new thing for radial force variation balancing.

It has a solid red dot and an open yellow dot, so I was assuming the solid red dot goes at the valve stem.

more reading it looks like "yellow" is for the valve stem. so I have mine lined up incorrectly according to  some sites. the more I read the more inconsistent info I find.  the yellow and red markers are about six inches apart on my tire.
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/lines-new-tires-580572/

[..]

On Shinko I use the red dot with Dyanabeads and no wobble or any other weird feelings.

[Jess from VA]

I am surprised at the number using beads (or ben-wa balls) in their tires.

I get good tires, mounted and balanced on computer driven equipment, and they all work fine, and I rarely have had any uneven wear.  My miles per tire (I mostly use the same ones, over and over) are very consistent, maybe up to a 1k mi variance.

I get the idea of balance throughout the tire's life, as opposed to only when new.  But do you really think you get more total miles or a better ride?  My tires never get bumpy or bouncy or noticeably out of balance during their lifetimes.

[Harryc]

I just balanced the Laufenn G Fit and it only took .5 oz of weights...nice.  I lined the red dot up with the valve stem. I don't use balance beads, just stick on weights. I've had a lot of success with them. I got 10K out of my last Avon Cobra rear using these weights...the front still looks great. I could have gotten more but I don't ride lower then the wear bars on a tire. I rode 44psi in the rear Avon. Per the advice from @Vaquero (aka 98valk & CA), I am going with 37psi cold on the Laufenn tire to start.

[98valk]

I just balanced the Laufenn G Fit and it only took .5 oz of weights...nice.  I lined the red dot up with the valve stem. I don't use balance beads, just stick on weights. I've had a lot of success with them. I got 10K out of my last Avon Cobra rear using these weights...the front still looks great. I could have gotten more but I don't ride lower then the wear bars on a tire. I rode 44psi in the rear Avon. Per the advice from @Vaquero (aka 98valk & CA), I am going with 37psi cold on the Laufenn tire to start.

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am surprised at the number using beads (or ben-wa balls) in their tires.

I get good tires, mounted and balanced on computer driven equipment, and they all work fine, and I rarely have had any uneven wear.  My miles per tire (I mostly use the same ones, over and over) are very consistent, maybe up to a 1k mi variance.

I get the idea of balance throughout the tire's life, as opposed to only when new.  But do you really think you get more total miles or a better ride?  My tires never get bumpy or bouncy or noticeably out of balance during their lifetimes.

I use beads mostly because I like the way the wheel looks cleaner without the weights. If I could still get the lead weights that clamp on to the spoke section, I would probably still use those. But, the only thing I was able to find in the last few years was the steel ones that tape on. They collect the dirt and brake dust around them. But the worked just fine.

[98valk]

I am surprised at the number using beads (or ben-wa balls) in their tires.

I get good tires, mounted and balanced on computer driven equipment, and they all work fine, and I rarely have had any uneven wear.  My miles per tire (I mostly use the same ones, over and over) are very consistent, maybe up to a 1k mi variance.

I get the idea of balance throughout the tire's life, as opposed to only when new.  But do you really think you get more total miles or a better ride?  My tires never get bumpy or bouncy or noticeably out of balance during their lifetimes.

I use beads mostly because I like the way the wheel looks cleaner without the weights. If I could still get the lead weights that clamp on to the spoke section, I would probably still use those. But, the only thing I was able to find in the last few years was the steel ones that tape on. They collect the dirt and brake dust around them. But the worked just fine.

wow $$$$
https://www.alltiresupply.com/collections/motorcycle-weights/products/aa-motorcycle-center-rib-weights-symmetrical-10mm

I use Quad Boss sealer and wheel balancer.

[Harryc]

Installed the Laufenn G Fit last night along with a complete final drive service, and then I took a 120 mile ride through the mountains today. It handles well, but this is my first darkside experience and there are (3) things that jumped out at me. First, the bike stands up straight on the highway. It's almost like I can take my hands off the handlebars and it just goes straight. Wow...I like this effect. Second is bump steer. I looked into many threads describing what bump steer feels like but could find no solid answer. If it is the shaking of the handlebars when hitting a good sized bump with the rear tire, that happened once today. Finally, I like the reduced rpm in 5th gear with this tire...awesome. It's been a good experience so far.

[98valk]

Installed the Laufenn G Fit last night along with a complete final drive service, and then I took a 120 mile ride through the mountains today. It handles well, but this is my first darkside experience and there are (3) things that jumped out at me. First, the bike stands up straight on the highway. It's almost like I can take my hands off the handlebars and it just goes straight. Wow...I like this effect. Second is bump steer. I looked into many threads describing what bump steer feels like but could find no solid answer. If it is the shaking of the handlebars when hitting a good sized bump with the rear tire, that happened once today. Finally, I like the reduced rpm in 5th gear with this tire...awesome. It's been a good experience so far.

bump steer is when the rear tire or could be front hits road bumps/pot holes etc., that unexpectedly cause the bike to take a different path of travel. This happens with MC tires also. The rear car tire is more pronounce in doing it when the air pressure is not right for the m/c total weight. This is my first CT and I started with 42 lots of bump steer, so I went lower settled on 37. after it broke in now needs 42 to ride the best for me.