Big Al's Final Word on Car Tires.

[big turkey]

My new name is going to be Luke Skywalker, and will welcome most of you back to the

good side of the Force.

And then you will recieve a new name.

Smart One, Smart Two ,Smart Three,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

There is a pattern developing.

May the Lord Bless and Keep you and Give you Peace.

Big Al

[big turkey]

I am going down to the Gulf for some free oil to run in the Crank Case.

Our President was there Yesterday and as usual is doing nothing(What he is best at) and simply

said BP will foot the Bill.

No help now.

No help in the Future,.

What a leader.

Al

[Gunslinger]

Keep it at 25 PSI the tire that is.

If you don't you are in for one helluva shock as you trasition from side to side.

It ain't a reassuring feeling.

I have told a lot of these guys why not run less air in the cartire instead, to make it more

compliant to turning side to side.

Big Al

Again Al, I appreciate your attempts to stir Sh&t, but you are obviously not in tune with the dark side.

I used to think you were just a PITA, but now I know you enjoy stirring the pot and starting arguments. I can certainly appreciate that, but do us all a favor and stick to topics you understand and have experience with. Running too little pressure in a tire (any tire) is a recipe for disaster that can, will, and has gotten people hurt. If you want to piss off the darksiders, go ahead, but do NOT give BS misleading and potentially dangerous info to someone with the hope to 'prove' a point by encouraging the man ride in a potentially unsafe condition. Drop the rhetoric and  man up please?

Do not misunderstand me Al, I have great respect for you and your experience. I also believe that there are many here who are qualified to give information on riding the DS, I do not believe you are one of those. I have enjoyed bantering around with the pro's & con's of the DS choice with you. It is not for every one I think we will all admit, but I HAVE to draw the line and throw the BS flag when you encourage a situation that is potentially dangerous.

If you feel the need to put yourself at risk, I respect that. Just as I wish you would respect my choice to do things you feel could cause harm to me. The difference here (as I see it) is that I am not encouraging anyone else to follow in my foot steps; yet you are encouraging someone to not only try something that could be unsafe, it is something that you have ADAMANTLY proclaimed is so unsafe you are unwilling to attempt it.

I doubt that in the short term 25 psi will cause a blow out, and I can extrapolate from previous experience that the Michelin will most likely tolerate this abuse far longer than a Dunlop or Avon would... But it still creates a potentially harmful situation that could be dangerous eventually.

Stir the pot and start the arguments, fine, but when you do try not to risk the safety of others, OK?

[big turkey]

Yes Gunslinger I am a real PITA and you would not think so if you rode with me though.

Car Tires and any motorcycle seems like a strange pairing to say the least.

As far as safety, how could you even talk safety runnig a non- intended article on a

machine that if anything happens the manufactureer says it will cause a crash or death.

A lot of motorcycle shops won't even mount them, insurance cited by most.

So if you or others espouse safety , why the heck would you want others to follow down

the same raod as you and run a nonintended article on a perfectly fine motorcycle.

Car tires are like Ape Hanger Handlebars, not safer , but an attempt to set yourself apart from

the crowd and masses, just  cheaper and cooler looking.

A note to all , this banter is not personal , just a little thing that knaws at me when I see something that is obviously a little weird.

But I still think that there is a cartire out there somewhere that will act more like a motorcycle tire and fill the bill better.

I am always tinkering to find a better solution.

This is the last time I will talk about this .

Don't want to make any enemies.

Seeing as how I am a little feller and never go armed.



Big Al Peace Brother.

[big turkey]

Strangely though Jabba the front tire is rarely cited by someone who has two motorcycle tires

and has a mishap.

Point made.

It ain't a good idea.

AL

[Jabba]

OK... I have been down on a couple occasions with two MC tires.  The front tire was the culprit in ONE of those... and a stOOpid biyatch changing lanes INTO me was the other.

There's one.

I'll start a new thread.  No animous here Al... simply a non scientific poll.

I'll change my mind about stuff when confronted with solid evidence, or even good anecdotal evidence.

Jabba 

[Cruzen]

Heres some evidence.  Local HD rider crashed with CT on rear.  Progressive insurance appraiser caught that it was not a motorcycle tire.  Now they will not pay any of the bills for the bike or the hospital.  I found out when a friend who works for Progressive called and asked me what I had on my Valk.  While he could not speak for other insurers he noted that a caution was being sent out to other insurance companies to look for car tires on large size bikes.  You can contact your insurance company to find out before you are left holding all the bills.

By the way, he also said they do not pay on accidents where a car has undersize tires such as some of the low riders or hopper cars.

[big turkey]

No don't be sorry this has to be a hot topic for me.

I don't want to see people hurt needlessly.

Insurance,

Heres some evidence.  Local HD rider crashed with CT on rear.  Progressive insurance appraiser caught that it was not a motorcycle tire.  Now they will not pay any of the bills for the bike or the hospital.  I found out when a friend who works for Progressive called and asked me what I had on my Valk.  While he could not speak for other insurers he noted that a caution was being sent out to other insurance companies to look for car tires on large size bikes.  You can contact your insurance company to find out before you are left holding all the bills.

By the way, he also said they do not pay on accidents where a car has undersize tires such as some of the low riders or hopper cars.

A post by another member not me.

thanks for this info it will be a God Send for some of my best friends.

Big Al
 

 
A post that was bound to happen.

insureers are now privy.

We are at the hands of the Insurance Companies God Help us now.

Al

[big turkey]

Thanks Cruzen,


I made this point a few weeks ago and now this news.

I feel vindicated on this quest of mine to save my brothers lives.

Cain Slew Abel.

He asked God "Am I my Brother's Keeper'

Ride to Live Live to Ride.

AL

[fudgie]

What about trikes? If a trike crashes then what happens since they have 'CT' on them?  ???

[sugerbear]

ANY excuse to get out of paying out.

[Cruzen]

What about trikes? If a trike crashes then what happens since they have 'CT' on them?  ???

A trike is not subjected to the same dynamics as a two wheel vehicle.  In some cases they even have an automotive type differential.  They are not rolling over on the side wall like a two wheeled bike.

Putting CT tires on a bike is like chambering the wrong size cartridge in a gun.  It might work for a while but what when it doesn't??  I don't argue with people who do either.  It's their choice.  I just tend to stay away from them.

[MP]

I would appreciate it if you would copy an insurance denial letter, and post it here please.  I have heard this before, but have NEVER seen anyone back it up.  If it is true, I sure as heck want to know about it, and if not, that should be known too.

If no post of the denial letter is forthcoming, I will assume it is another case of, "I heard that CT's were denied, but no proof offered".

Thank you.

MP

[fudgie]

Well Boss Hosses get insured and I assumed wrecked. 

[MP]

That is my point.  I know of others running CT's, and NO PROBLEM with insurance.  That is why I would like to see a copy of a denial letter from an insurance company, other wise I call bunk!

MP

[Cruzen]

As I said in my post, I neither know who or the date of the denial.  I received the call from a friend who works for the company involved and he was concerned that I might be running such a tire.  He asked me if such was normal.  He's not even allowed to look up my particulars unless a claim on my bike come across his desk.

If you wish to see a denial letter you'll have to find out who crashed a CT equiped Harley insured by Progressive insurance here in Arizona and get in touch with that individual.  Based on the time it takes to get such issues resolved it could be anytime in the last two years.

I would not want to be the one in a hospital bed holding that particular piece of life changing paper if in fact that is even how they deliver that message.  Hopefully you won't be getting the proof you wish to see while you're in that position.

[therapist]

I think I am having some kind of weird flashback from several years ago.  These car tire dire warnings and "stories" about insurance problems were posted ad nauseam.  Some are just late to the party.  This is NOT a new issue...don't know if the archives are still alive but some people need to spend a couple days (it will take that long) to read the history of postings on this subject.  The reason it is no longer a hot topic?  BECAUSE HUNDRED'S OF US WENT DARKSIDE AND ARE STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

Please...let it go.  No one needs saving...honest.

[therapist]

Wow...talk about hi-jacking a post...

Congrats on the new ride Tropical Traveler!!!

Joe

You are so right...sorry for contributing to the hi-jack.  Cool bike and it sounds like you got a good deal.  Do keep the pressure in the mid to upper 30's depending on your weight and passenger/load.

[Willow]

...  This is the last time I will talk about this .

Don't want to make any enemies.

Thank, you, Al.  You have no idea how much I appreciate your willingness to end this trend.

To put it in simple terms, I'm fed up beyond my limit of your injecting car tire rants into threads on any and every subject.

I'm going to help you in your newfound determination to let this go.  Should I come across where you've accidentally slipped off the wagon and posted again regarding car tires I will simply remove the post.  No need to thank me.  That's what friends are for.

I will stop helping you in this manner after you've purchased a car tire, put it on your own Valkyrie, and ridden it for at least five hundred miles.  Until then, let's you and I help keep each other out of the uninformed car tire rants.   

Unarmed comes in many flavors.        

[fudgie]

Oh you said CT on large sized bikes then said search for HD with a CT on it. Ah come on we know HD's are not large sized bikes!    My HD bud says a CT wont fit on a HD. Well at least all his HD's. I was tempted to call State Farm but figured it would send them a red flag.

[fstsix]

Safety, i thought the reason guys like me and Big Al would want a Car Tire is because the MC tire factory rating is only 380 lb's GW now @ 6'2 and 272 and my wife @ 120 = 392 not counting when she brings her 30 lb Coach purse and name it in the bags LOL!!!  Pretty sure CT would have a larger load rating.....My point ? why if we are so concerned about Safety, why not let all on the board that we are at risk on the MC tire from overload LOL !!! i would like to see this investigated    PIcture @ 80 + MPH guy that took picture did with one hand and 64 years young with CT next to me.

[Valker]

About 50% of bike riders on the street do not even have a license to operate a motorcycle, yet I have never seen proof that an insurance company has failed to pay a claim by one of their customers who did not have a bike license.
I have a family member who was hit by a car driver. He had a car tire on his bike. The other guys insurance paid without hesitation....
Not trying to stir ANYthing here, just adding the part about licenses.

[Dag]

I have promised myself not to participate in discussions about CT more.
Three years ago I was very firm on this forum, and claimed that I would rather ride with motorcycle tires on the car than CT on the motorcycle. After all the comments I received (not all were nice) I decided to prove how bad it really was. I mounted a CT on the bike, and was convinced that I should be able to document how bad suited the CT was on a motorcycle. I mounted a camera under the bike to show how little contact it had to the road. When I test drove the CT, I was initially a little disappointed when I noticed very little difference. But with the camera I should be able to prove ... But no, it was not like I imagined.
The result was that I rode more than 10,000 miles on the CT last year. I have now mounted the MC tire and then I noticed more difference. The bike is more easy handling with motorcycle tire. In my assessment the CT is completely safe to run, but the handling is slightly reduced. Especially in low speed and sharp turns such as roundabouts and where the road surface is worn. Then the bike are  pulling to one side.
CONCLUSION: I was wrong (Dont tell my wife) 

VALKYRIE DARKSIDE VIDEO	powered by Aeva

[Serk]

Dag - Now that's ironic! I never knew you made those videos to try to prove why darkside was bad... It was your videos that finally convinced me to go to the darkside! (Thanks for making 'em, btw, no matter why you made 'em...)

Now that we've got THAT settled... I sure hope no one is  enough to use CAR oil in their MOTORCYCLE!   

[fstsix]

LOL!! good vid Dag, I still have been searching for someone to shave the shoulders off the CT this would be the fix for the low speed parking lot issue, My neighbor has been through 9 Motorcycle tires @ 50.000 miles. just met him (i just moved here last year) we took a cruise and he said the same, Cheap A$$ MC tires are not holding up.....now if ya tried to keep up with this ole boy you would know why, he was 100 plus at least 2 times Sunday, i know i was in front of him LOL.

[eric in md]

   big al can you hear me?? your still my buddy would love to share some more wind with ya brother,,, mean it 

[stormrider]

Well, I was running a MT, Dunlop Elite 3, when I slid out in 07. Road was wet, not too fast for conditions, don't know for sure if debris was the culprit. I do know that after going Darkside, I feel more confident in the curves. I do, however slow down when wet. No issues what so ever with CT. Actually, the Dunlop is weight rated for 992 lbs. My Bridgestone Potenza g 019 Grid is weight rated at 1356 lbs. I'll take the extra 364 lbs of insurance.

[big turkey]

Thanks Willow since you know it all Don't look for me at any of your events and not on here any more.

take your little weird world and shove it.

If I see you I will be cordial but you are no longer on my list of anyone I would ever ride with.

Have a good life and Peace Be with you .

i think I will sell the Silly Arse Valk to a Harley Gang so they can hang it up over a Big Fire and watch it

Explode.



By Everyone again. I knew this wouldn't last long.

STill have many friends to ride with,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .in a real world situation.

And if they won't ride with me that's fine , I have a way of making new ones.



Thanks to Willow for helping me see the light.

[Serk]

[Big Rig]

BIGGER SPOON....

Do you wear a helmet when you ride??? DOT approved???

How bout with the flaming death tires???

Sorry...I am just getting some chuckles on everyones thoughts...BIG AL...I hope you are sticking around....

Everyone is differnt, and we all make choices in our lives...this is just another choice...

Ain't FREEDOM GREAT? 

[Spirited-6]

Sorry...I am just getting some chuckles on everyones thoughts...BIG AL...I hope you are sticking around

Plus me on this. I kinda enjoy S*%@ every once in a while. 

[Kaiser]

Big Al,

Sure seemed like you were having a blast with everybody at Cheaha.  Seems kinda childish to me that you would turn your back on all of us just because we don't agree with you.

And to blame Willow for it...well, he's just doing his job.  He's got to read all of this BS day-in and day-out.  Even if he agreed with you 100%, he would probably still be tired of reading about it every day.

I say let everybody have their own opinion and you do what works for you.  I truly hope that you stick around here.  And I'd be willing to bet that if you do, it's only a matter of time before someone else disagrees with you.  But when they do, just tell YOURSELF IN YOUR HEAD they are wrong and move on.  Life is too short to get caught up on stupid arguments over tires.  What matters are the people in life.  And there are a lot of people in this community that would rather have you here and disagree about tire choice than see you go.

Just my .02.

[Willow]

Thanks Willow since you know it all Don't look for me at any of your events and not on here any more.

take your little weird world and shove it.

If I see you I will be cordial but you are no longer on my list of anyone I would ever ride with.

Have a good life and Peace Be with you .

i think I will sell the Silly Arse Valk to a Harley Gang so they can hang it up over a Big Fire and watch it

Explode.

By Everyone again. I knew this wouldn't last long.

STill have many friends to ride with,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .in a real world situation.

And if they won't ride with me that's fine , I have a way of making new ones.



Thanks to Willow for helping me see the light.

Wow!  You really are a sensitive little fella, aren't you?    

Point by point:

I don't know everything.  Neither do you.  I have a job to do.  My job, as I see it, is to assist in making this message board the most beneficial experience it can be to as many Valkyrie riders as is possible.  Sometimes that interferes with someone's concept that it's his own personal megaphone.

"Weird little world" coming from Al Cates?  I am without an adequate response.     Consider that a personal accomplishment.

I sincerely appreciate the cordiality.  I'll not ask you to ride with me.  Nothing has changed for me.

I wish you only the best in life, Al.  May the peace of Christ be yours.

I hope you get a really good price for your Valkyrie.  Buying and selling is something at which you have some practice.

It is good when what we know proves itself to be true.  It's less rewarding, though, when we were the only ones controlling the decisions fulfilling the predictions.

You have many friends, Al.  I have some of the same friends.  You have some friends who are not my friends.  I have some friends who don't even know who you are.  Life is like that, isn't it?

You're welcome.

As a final comment, Al, I didn't ask you to leave and, honestly, I don't think you're going.  Stay around.  Read some.  Post a little.  Be part of the community.  There's an old adage about mouths and ears and how the relative numbers indicate how much we should listen and how much we should talk.  It loses something in the translation to the monitor and keyboard because we have ten fingers and two eyes, but it's my belief that the ratio of reading to posting should be even higher that two to one.

Thank you, Al, for your positive contribution to the VRCC community.      

 

[Jabba]

I concur too. 

If I contributed to your feelings of needing to move on... OOPS.

I have thick skin.

I'd also lend you the shirt off my back.  My shirts are probably big enough too.

If I run into you somewhere... no hard feelings.  If you do stop frequenting the board ans sell your Valk... Adios.

Jabba

[Cruzen]

Oh you said CT on large sized bikes then said search for HD with a CT on it. Ah come on we know HD's are not large sized bikes!    My HD bud says a CT wont fit on a HD. Well at least all his HD's. I was tempted to call State Farm but figured it would send them a red flag.

HD riders were the first to use car tires back in the 60's.  They used tires from the Volkswagon on the rear and some claim that they used tires from the Ford model T in the front.  You can check out several of the web sites devoted to HD history to learn more about this.  Some of the bobber builders still use those tires.

[X Ring]

Obviously big Al is not a man of his word.  He started another thread railing against car tires less than 10 minutes after his last post in this one.  I don't know him except through the board and he strikes me as someone stuck at home, bored and stirring things to amuse himself.  The best thing for everyone to do is ignore him.  I wonder if our mods have a bozo button.  I know the mods have one on the Delphi Valkyrie Riders Forum.  The bozo button still allows the member to post but only he and the mods can see. 

Marty

[Disco]

Dang it!  And I was just about to ask what you would think about me installing a Continental Vanco.  After all, it's not a car tire.  It's a delivery van tire!  

On a more serious note, Al, lighten up a little.  We all know where you stand on tires.  Give it a rest.  Please stick around, but leave the tire thing alone.  It has become tiresome.  Or, if you just can't quit trying to proselytize, please 1) at least keep them in threads about tires, and 2) do us a favor and don't hijack non-tire threads.

Thanks

[Detn8er]

Obviously big Al is not a man of his word.  He started another thread railing against car tires less than 10 minutes after his last post in this one.  I don't know him except through the board and he strikes me as someone stuck at home, bored and stirring things to amuse himself.  The best thing for everyone to do is ignore him.  I wonder if our mods have a bozo button.  I know the mods have one on the Delphi Valkyrie Riders Forum.  The bozo button still allows the member to post but only he and the mods can see. 

Marty

Marty you strike me as someone who has posted about something of which you have zero knowledge. Nothing about what you typed is anything near describing Big Al AKA Al Cate.


I know him. I have ridden with him. The man is in fact a nut....But he is a good nut. Is he a Bozo? No. Actually Al is quite the intellect and can and will converse with you on many subjects way beyond what you can. If you ever bother to meet him ask him about Nuclear weapons or grease or metal or grass or weeds.......I'll bet Al will amaze you with his knowledge of all subjects.

Now to try and put this in perspective I and you have no idea what Al is going through just now.....I do know Al is having health issues and that puts us all in a different frame of mind.
I agree Al could and should give the car tire rants a rest as much as I and many others wish all who choose to would do it and just that.. I'm personally sick to death of hearing about how proud darksiders are of there choice... crap fire get over it.

[stude31]

Al,

You are a man with many words.  Some things I agree with other things I don't.  You have posted after mine and you even gave me words of encouragement when I got married in february http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,13095.msg109470.html#msg109470  (maybe that will refresh your memory).  Look here's the deal...  Scanner and I don't agree and I think he is a pot stirrer and now some other members are labeling you that with the car tire topic.  But, as you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior let me remind you that not everyone is going to jump to your side of the room and that's okay.  The best we can do is let God's light shine through the transformation in our life and to live it out.  I look up to you Big Al your a neat guy.  I have never met you and hope to one of these days.  But, when you open a jar of worms with "Big Al's final word on car tires" you opened yourself up to Willow holding you accountable.  

I am blessed to live so close to so many great VRCC members and I tell you if any one of you guys needed anything I would do my best to help.  I can say that about Willow as well.  He is genuine and cares for all of us.  I don't need to say anything more about him he is a man with much wisdom as well as many more of you on here.  I am just a young guy learning from all of you.  

Big Al, I ask of you to evaluate your intent on this thread and I challenge you to see what good came out of this if we take this to a personal attack.   Look, I ride a car tire and on my other valk it is a motorcycle tire.  I was rear ended two years ago and the adjuster came out made a comment about "what kind of motorcycle tire is that?" and I told him... "Well sir... it isn't a motorcycle tire it is a car tire"  We talked about that for a good 10 minutes and he did his paper work and took my estimate that I had from the local Honda Dealership and two days later he hand delivered a check to have the bike fixed and he brought a friend of his with him to see my CT on the bike.  And for the record you don't "roll" onto the sidewalls.  

Stick around Al...  I think you didn't get the response that you wanted and maybe you felt afflicted but remember Christ was tested and he chose the "higher road" the one Less traveled.  We should do the same....  wait    I need to hear that again... "We need to take the higher road the one less traveled but more rewarding in the end".

Take care Al.  

Oh, I too had to "live it out" with my wife.  We got married and she was agnostic, she challenged my walk with Christ and after giving up with drowning her with Christ.  I "lived it out", my wife seen how I love her and honor her and it drew her spirit out and it is humbling to me to tell all of you that this Sunday she is going to be baptized.  

We are here to build relationships not destroy them, we are here to encourage one another not discourage.  So WHAT!!  Someone wants to put a car tire on the back...  It doesn't matter what tire you run if someone runs a stop sign and nails you...  Let's build relationships and encourage. Try and see someone else's perspective and we may not agree but we can respect each other's opinions...

okay...stepping down from podium..    

[doubletee]

Sheesh! I step away for a minute an all heck breaks loose.     

I have witnessed a very simple solution to not only this instance, but for any others, too. If you think someone's beating a dead horse, ignore their posts!

I participate on another board on an entirely different subject matter. The stance on that board is, DFTT - Don't Feed the Trolls. If someone keeps harping on the same thing time after time, and that person is ignored, even when they attempt to hijack a thread, eventually they get tired of trying and either move on or move on to a different subject. Try it. It works!