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Author Topic: Darkside vs 200/60 MC tire  (Read 1251 times)
Relax
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Posts: 322


Power & elegance...just like the Valk

Oslo, Norway


« on: October 17, 2017, 07:09:38 AM »

I've been riding darkside for more than 10 years...80 000 happy miles
I've done Goodyear, Pirelli , Vredestein  ..the  last Vredestein Sportrac 3 was the most smooth of them.
Unfortunately, they are no more availble...so I chose Sportrac 5...
First impression..it was okay  Smiley

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/64391/vredestein-sportrac-5


This tire has 4 deep "tracks" alongside the tire, a big difference to Sportrac 3.
A few times I have felt the tire kinda slip in the curve and I am wondering if one of the "tracks" is the reason. It slips, but catch grip again, so actually no big problem, but my wife feels uncomfortable about it.

I have trouble finding another car tire without such track alongside th tire and "rounded edges"...sooooo...I am thinkig about putting a MC tire back on.....and this time 200/60-16.
When I find a car tire I like again, maybe I choose that when the MC tire is out .

We're entering winter here so it won't happen much until April / May next year.

So, for the one with 200/60 MC tire experience, any noticeable difference from 180/70 ?
Any other comments  are welcome too! Cool





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John Schmidt
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Posts: 15211


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2017, 07:46:01 AM »

I used nothing but Metz 200's until I got my first c/t. Frankly, there's no comparison....it's still a m/c tire that will high side you if you lock it up. You do have a larger contact patch with the 200 over the stock 180, but it's still a round tire compared to a c/t. My last/current c/t is a 195 which at first glance you'd think has a smaller contact patch than the 200, but not so since the tread surface is flat compared to the 200. My 195 has nice curved shoulders but the space between them gives great contact.
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98valk
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Posts: 13468


South Jersey


« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2017, 08:08:12 AM »

see the equal rounded sides/corners of the tire I'm using

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90637.0.html

and see the Champiro which has equal rounded sides/corners

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90404.0.html
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
Relax
Member
*****
Posts: 322


Power & elegance...just like the Valk

Oslo, Norway


« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2017, 12:06:58 PM »

see the equal rounded sides/corners of the tire I'm using

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90637.0.html

and see the Champiro which has equal rounded sides/corners

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90404.0.html


They have the "tracks" alongside the tire.....as I don't like,,
The Sportrac 3 was more crossover pattern.. Smiley

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Relax
Member
*****
Posts: 322


Power & elegance...just like the Valk

Oslo, Norway


« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2017, 12:08:01 PM »

I used nothing but Metz 200's until I got my first c/t. Frankly, there's no comparison....it's still a m/c tire that will high side you if you lock it up. You do have a larger contact patch with the 200 over the stock 180, but it's still a round tire compared to a c/t. My last/current c/t is a 195 which at first glance you'd think has a smaller contact patch than the 200, but not so since the tread surface is flat compared to the 200. My 195 has nice curved shoulders but the space between them gives great contact.

What tire do you ride?
 Smiley
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John Schmidt
Member
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Posts: 15211


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2017, 12:42:28 PM »

I used nothing but Metz 200's until I got my first c/t. Frankly, there's no comparison....it's still a m/c tire that will high side you if you lock it up. You do have a larger contact patch with the 200 over the stock 180, but it's still a round tire compared to a c/t. My last/current c/t is a 195 which at first glance you'd think has a smaller contact patch than the 200, but not so since the tread surface is flat compared to the 200. My 195 has nice curved shoulders but the space between them gives great contact.

What tire do you ride?
 Smiley
Kumho Ecsta 195/60-16
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RDKLL
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VRCC #1231 VRCCDS #271

Mesa, AZ


« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2017, 04:45:47 PM »

I too ran a 200 tyre before the car tire...Avon 200 and Proxes R1R car tire
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98valk
Member
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Posts: 13468


South Jersey


« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2017, 05:59:23 PM »

see the equal rounded sides/corners of the tire I'm using

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90637.0.html

and see the Champiro which has equal rounded sides/corners

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90404.0.html


They have the "tracks" alongside the tire.....as I don't like,,
The Sportrac 3 was more crossover pattern.. Smiley




after re-reading your post, the "tracks" would not be the problem. Air Pressure and/or shock setting would be the problem.  Its called a "Weaving/wallowing effect" which is most likely the issue.
or maybe not I wasn't there, some reading for your conditions. I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.

https://www.sportrider.com/suspension-tuning-guide-handling#page-8

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2011/04/10/motorcycle-wobble-weave-high-side/
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
Harryc
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Posts: 765


Sebastian, Fl


« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2017, 03:35:33 PM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?
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98valk
Member
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Posts: 13468


South Jersey


« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2017, 03:43:45 PM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?

42psi, which I org started with but bump steer was terrible. seams to ride better then when it was new.
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
Harryc
Member
*****
Posts: 765


Sebastian, Fl


« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2017, 05:22:34 AM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?

42psi, which I org started with but bump steer was terrible. seams to ride better then when it was new.

Thanks. What was the 'bad episode' by the way? I do get some light bump steer around sweepers and I am running 38psi on the Laufenn. I might try upping that a bit to see what happens. I have maybe 700 miles on the tire.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2017, 05:26:52 AM by Harryc » Logged

The emperor has no clothes
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Posts: 29945


« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2017, 05:25:37 AM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?

42psi, which I org started with but bump steer was terrible. seams to ride better then when it was new.

Thanks. What was the 'bad episode' by the way? I do get some bump steer around sweepers and I am running 38psi on the Laufenns. I might try upping that a bit to see what happens.
Harry, it's been my experience upping the pressure will increase the bump steer. Try 36.
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Harryc
Member
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Posts: 765


Sebastian, Fl


« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2017, 09:24:21 AM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?

42psi, which I org started with but bump steer was terrible. seams to ride better then when it was new.

Thanks. What was the 'bad episode' by the way? I do get some bump steer around sweepers and I am running 38psi on the Laufenns. I might try upping that a bit to see what happens.
Harry, it's been my experience upping the pressure will increase the bump steer. Try 36.

Thanks Brother, will do.
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98valk
Member
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Posts: 13468


South Jersey


« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2017, 10:21:52 AM »

I recently had a bad episode. first car tire and it had broken in at 3500 miles. higher psi fixed the problem.


What PSI are you running now?

leaned over on ramp onto main hwy. was accelerating and then the road had slight drainage dips. the bike just started going side to side (wallowing) and wouldn't stop until speed dropped. Had felt the unsettling of the bike a few times early. So I upped the PSI to 42. much better now. Going to up the springs one notch, for I still notice the slight wallowing on the highway today at 80mph, when I started to rock the bike side to side. doesn't do it at lower speeds. from different sites shocks and/or PSI are the cause.

42psi, which I org started with but bump steer was terrible. seams to ride better then when it was new.

Thanks. What was the 'bad episode' by the way? I do get some light bump steer around sweepers and I am running 38psi on the Laufenn. I might try upping that a bit to see what happens. I have maybe 700 miles on the tire.
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C  10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp

"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
Harryc
Member
*****
Posts: 765


Sebastian, Fl


« Reply #14 on: October 27, 2017, 05:53:07 PM »

I dropped the psi on the Laufenns to 36 and the bump steer has all but disappeared. I'll be running there for awhile ... thanks Meathead.
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The emperor has no clothes
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Posts: 29945


« Reply #15 on: October 27, 2017, 06:08:42 PM »

I dropped the psi on the Laufenns to 36 and the bump steer has all but disappeared. I'll be running there for awhile ... thanks Meathead.
cooldude glad it's working for you  cooldude
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Oss
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The lower Hudson Valley

Ossining NY Chapter Rep VRCCDS0141


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« Reply #16 on: October 27, 2017, 06:14:06 PM »

Relax

I have ridden on the 200 series Bridgestone Battleaxe which I liked and the 200 series Bridgestone Exedra which I also liked a whole lot

In pouring rain is was smooth
I had no trouble riding at too high speeds with T-bird and BigAl in pouring rain

Just a tad below the traction of the ToyoT1R I ran for a year

Anything is better than an E3 in the rain IMHO

But if you get a nail in the tire I suppose I would be happier if it were a car tire as I know it would hold the plug, the Exedra would not hold the 2nd and 3rd plugs   tickedoff  and I was lucky to keep things shiny side up
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If you don't know where your going any road will take you there
George Harrison

When you come to the fork in the road, take it
Yogi Berra   (Don't send it to me C.O.D.)
Relax
Member
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Posts: 322


Power & elegance...just like the Valk

Oslo, Norway


« Reply #17 on: October 27, 2017, 11:47:27 PM »

Relax

I have ridden on the 200 series Bridgestone Battleaxe which I liked and the 200 series Bridgestone Exedra which I also liked a whole lot

In pouring rain is was smooth
I had no trouble riding at too high speeds with T-bird and BigAl in pouring rain

Just a tad below the traction of the ToyoT1R I ran for a year

Anything is better than an E3 in the rain IMHO

But if you get a nail in the tire I suppose I would be happier if it were a car tire as I know it would hold the plug, the Exedra would not hold the 2nd and 3rd plugs   tickedoff  and I was lucky to keep things shiny side up

the ToyoT1R looks cool  cooldude
Are the shoulders round enough to make them smooth going into curves?
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RDKLL
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VRCC #1231 VRCCDS #271

Mesa, AZ


« Reply #18 on: October 28, 2017, 05:23:54 AM »

I have the Toyo R1R and love it. It has a wear rating of only 140 so it will "deform" when turning hard.  The edges are rounding pretty well. The new ones are a wear rating of 240, still a lot softer than most car tires. I understand the wear rating is not absolute but is a way to compare tires.
My R1R is a 205-55-16. Here is a pic of that tire.
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Relax
Member
*****
Posts: 322


Power & elegance...just like the Valk

Oslo, Norway


« Reply #19 on: October 28, 2017, 07:16:01 AM »

I have the Toyo R1R and love it. It has a wear rating of only 140 so it will "deform" when turning hard.  The edges are rounding pretty well. The new ones are a wear rating of 240, still a lot softer than most car tires. I understand the wear rating is not absolute but is a way to compare tires.
My R1R is a 205-55-16. Here is a pic of that tire.


 cooldude

Looking  good!
No deep tracks alongside the tire as my Sportrac 5 has!
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