Darkside questions

[Mike M in ohio]

Okay, so I'm finally going to try the grand experiment that has long tempted me. I'm going to jump to the Darkside with my pending rear tire change. (on a 2003 Valk that's been updated with HD bags, Batwing fairing, stereo, and the majority of extras)
I have a couple of questions:
     First. My local auto mechanic, (also a rider...of Harleys) has offered to do the tire mounting for me. I told him that I want the rear splines and pinion cup lubed. So, which grease should I have him use? Moly, Bel-Ray, or other. Also, are there any seals, O-rings etc that I should pick up at the dealer beforehand. (Kindly be specific of what to ask for, as I'm a bit of a mechanical idiot other than the basics of oil changes, cable lube and tire pressure)
     Secondly, I'm leaning toward the Yokohama Avid Envigor 205/60/R16. I like the looks and shape of this tire. But I wonder if the nut cage removal is enough alteration to allow its fitment. If anyone has run this tire, kindly give me your opinions. And, if there are better choices, throw those ideas at me and give me reasons why your choice of brand might be better suited than the Yoko Envigor.
    Thanks for any and all help. I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge available here. And I hope to utilize it wisely.                                     Mike in New York

[Bighead]

Yes three O rings on the final drive need to be replaced. Well as far as lube you will get a ton of opinions. I have been useing Bel-Ray waterproof with no problems to date.

[Firefighter]

I use the same Yokohama tire, I did the nut cage modification and that is all. May need to adjust your shock up to higher setting if riding two up. My 2000 IS needed nothing more.

[DarkSideR]

Good tire choice. A couple of things to consider when going D/S. Size. You have options now. 205/60 is closest to stock. How ever a 205/65 will drop your RPM'S by 300 at Interstate speeds.

As far as the nut mod.. I'f you have stock shocks, and weigh a 180 pounds, no mod. If you have shorter shocks and weigh 260 pounds, do the mod. Get the gist?

Welcome to the DarkSide. Remember you now must bring cookies to every motorcycle event to entice others to the DarkSide. I know, it's dirty but just the way it is.

DarkSider  

[mustang071965]

i am running the yakahoma tire now on my I/S. it performs very well. have had several other CTs over the last 6 years. yes you will need to do the nut cage Mod. and might need to do 1 more Mod. i found out with my 1st CT that with 2 up and shock on 4 setting that it would allow the right fender square nut to hit the side of the tire. took me some time to figure out that it was hitting the nut, and not the side of the swing arm. to fix this i took and ground down the nut to 1/2 its size in thickness. after that no longer a problem. the left side nut sits futher away then the right so no mod needed there.