Austone Taxi Tire - First impressions

[RainMaker]

The Austone Taxi tire I put on my Interstate does feel a lot more like a motorcycle tire than the other car tires I've had on it.  I have it at 38lbs right now and it almost feels like power steering as there is not as much force to put the bike into a turn. 

I had to increase my preload settings on the shocks from a 1 to a 3 to keep the tire from rubbing on the fender during dips.  Also, the tire is "taller" so the Valk leans a lot more (or so it seems) on the kickstand than before.  A little more effort to bring it upright off the kickstand as well.  Not bad, just different.

My RPMs at 70mph indicated were down between 200 and 300 (our tachs aren't that well numbered to determine what it really is, so that's my guess) so I expect slightly better mileage.

Taking the trip to Dublin tomorrow so should get about 250 miles in and give a more complete report on handling afterwards.

RainMaker

[RainMaker]

After 287 miles, the Austone is a winner.  Much better on curves, doesn't follow crevices/cracks in the road, smooth on 90-95 indicated rides of some distance and OK in gravel.  Mileage was about 35mpg during normal speed, 30mpg on the 90mph runs.  So I'm sold.

[98valk]

easy fix for side stand.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,93955.0.html

[RainMaker]

I put a 1" board under the sidestand and the bike is back to the lean it had before the Austone.  So now, just have to figure a way to put a 1" riser on the bottom of the sidestand.  Or use the centerstand more than before.

That is my only complaint so far.