Tires

[bosticjb]

What is the best tire for my Valkrie  and comments ?

[baldo]

RUN !!!!!!!!

[old2soon]

What is the best tire for my Valkrie  and comments ?

Search on the tech board and the general board. Git a humongous bowl of popcorn and yer beverage of choice. Don't like popcorn? Git a buncha peanuts!  RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

Try something like this and report back:



Seriously, though, select the "search" tab near the top of this page.

[sandy]

I've used Avon Cobra's for years and they ride/handle great.

[hubcapsc]

What is the best tire for my Valkrie  and comments ?

There's no best oil or tires  ...

I like Avons and Metzlers on my 1500 Valkyrie, but there's
other tires people like. Smokin' Joe likes car tires... There's
a real popular taxi tire people like to run on Valkyries...

-Mike

[MarkT]

Depends on what you're looking for.  And which end of the bike.  There are definite answers if you nail down your requirements.  But then even given that, there's variances due to experiences and opiniions.  Any answers here will draw arguments as a result.  I know what I like given specific requirements but won't answer here.

[Bighead]

Yep  as others have stated there are many options. Personally I like Avons but I have never run a car tire but am thinking of giving it a shot next change.
I don't like Dunlop E 3 but do have a Dunlop AMERICAN Elite on the rear of my standard now that I like. Made for a HD street glide.

[msb]

Personally I like Avons but I have never run a car tire but am thinking of giving it a shot next change.

Ditto...Avons the best by far in 15+ years of running 4 different brands of MC tires only, in terms of handling, quietness, and length & evenness of wear. Have never been inclined to try a car tire, but seeing all those ATT's in Morgantown this past June has me thinkin'......

[cookiedough]

I got shinko SE890 journey on rear now being the cheapest out there and so far, so good had Avon Cobra prior not much higher in price now though but doubt the avon cobra will last any longer than my shinko I have on now both about 10K miles is all.     Dunlop Elite III and Metzeler ME880 are too pricey for me and do not last any longer than shinko or avons, just my opinion though which is worth nothing.

I have to now decide what front tire to get my avon cobra front is looking pretty worn down.  I might try shinko SE890 to match rear being radial or the even cheaper shinko bias ply they make as well for our Valk. 

Some say bias ply is the way to go, but not so sold on that idea over radials yet, yet another can of worms opened up. 

[Oss]

+1 on avons but my all time favorite is the Bridgestone exedra in 200 series motorcycle tire, followed by the Battleaxe which may be discontinued now

Unlike any car tire it handles ruts in the road like a MC tire because it is a MC tire  Great grip and absorbs bumps well but wont get more than 12000 miles

That said tho I have a taxi tire sittin on a shelf waiting its turn in the never ending quest for the perfect tire

[MarkT]

OK I lied, gonna add my 2 bits.

I don't care much how "stylish" the tire looks. Don't care a lot how much it costs. Care about grip, handling, longevity, resistance to punctures and rpm's.  I'm on a sand/clay road which is really slippery if I have to return home in the rain, so a good tread pattern matters.  Have experienced the horrible handling of the GYTT so I don't want any tire that delivers anything like that.  I mount my tires so install issues ("no I won't mount your car tire") don't matter.  Balance with Ride-On having found that works very well.  Have installed and worn out sometimes several copies of every MC tire that fits our bikes.  Have tried six different car tires, and three different "darkside" front tires.  I tow trailers, one a very heavy boxy camper, the other a lighter streamlined cargo trailer, using a trailer brake controller and a swivel hitch on a Hitchdoc rig.

On Jade, the Austone Taxi tire with a Battlax back tire giving me "double darkside" works very well for me.  The ATT at 43# handles very much like a bike tire while delivering double the tire mileage at a bit lower cost, increased traction and lower rpm's at speed (3500 at indicated 85) meaning much better gas mileage if you ride fast.  I get a great soft ride even at fairly high pressure but that may be from the superb Progressive 444's. Lots of ground clearance with that tall tire, and my fwd controls making the bike feel very "planted" with feet high and the pegs making noise.  No adverse affects I can detect, having dealt with bump steer, wallowing and rut-following with other tires in the past.  Is affected by ruts slightly but not like the others, having a pretty rounded profile but also it's not way wide at 175mm. Doesn't look as cool as some others but don't care much; the handling and height makes it so much better to me.

The Batlax delivers almost twice the usual range in the front, while having good tread I need for my mud road. No handling issues and the 130mm narrow width delivers lighter steering.

On Deerslayer, I still have installed the Vredestein 205 snow tire.  Works OK, has great tread for my mud road, and I don't ride it on the open road anymore so it's OK around here. Also fwd controls on Deerslayer; regularly drag pegs; have a bit less clearance with the 205/60.  Have a Michelin I took off Jade, might put it on if I wear out the Vredestein which is doubtful given the miles it gets now and how long the Vredestein will last. Front tire is the same Battlax as Jade.

On George, it's a trophy show bike.  Has standard bike tires - Mettzler 200 in back, 150 in front.  Just a boulevard bike, looks matter on this one.  Doesn't get a lot of miles.  I have a Cobra 200 on hand if I wear the back one out.

Marty, a '98 Tourer, has standard bike tires.  Cobra 200 in back, Cobra 150 in front.  Haven't done anything with it since I bought it from Marty's estate.  Will be doing repairs and maintenance to sell it in the spring.

[Valkorado]

Have an ATT on both bikes with Progresive 444s.  Very happy with the combo, for all the reasons Mark mentioned.  The chip seal around these parts calls for the extra tread.  This tire likes a higher pressure than most, I run it at 42 solo 44 two up.

[baldo]

OK I lied, gonna add my 2 bits.

I don't care much how "stylish" the tire looks. Don't care a lot how much it costs. Care about grip, handling, longevity, resistance to punctures and rpm's.  I'm on a sand/clay road which is really slippery if I have to return home in the rain, so a good tread pattern matters.  Have experienced the horrible handling of the GYTT so I don't want any tire that delivers anything like that.  I mount my tires so install issues ("no I won't mount your car tire") don't matter.  Balance with Ride-On having found that works very well.  Have installed and worn out sometimes several copies of every MC tire that fits our bikes.  Have tried six different car tires, and three different "darkside" front tires.  I tow trailers, one a very heavy boxy camper, the other a lighter streamlined cargo trailer, using a trailer brake controller and a swivel hitch on a Hitchdoc rig.

On Jade, the Austone Taxi tire with a Battlax back tire giving me "double darkside" works very well for me.  The ATT at 43# handles very much like a bike tire while delivering double the tire mileage at a bit lower cost, increased traction and lower rpm's at speed (3500 at indicated 85) meaning much better gas mileage if you ride fast.  I get a great soft ride even at fairly high pressure but that may be from the superb Progressive 444's. Lots of ground clearance with that tall tire, and my fwd controls making the bike feel very "planted" with feet high and the pegs making noise.  No adverse affects I can detect, having dealt with bump steer, wallowing and rut-following with other tires in the past.  Is affected by ruts slightly but not like the others, having a pretty rounded profile but also it's not way wide at 175mm. Doesn't look as cool as some others but don't care much; the handling and height makes it so much better to me.

The Batlax delivers almost twice the usual range in the front, while having good tread I need for my mud road. No handling issues and the 130mm narrow width delivers lighter steering.

On Deerslayer, I still have installed the Vredestein 205 snow tire.  Works OK, has great tread for my mud road, and I don't ride it on the open road anymore so it's OK around here. Also fwd controls on Deerslayer; regularly drag pegs; have a bit less clearance with the 205/60.  Have a Michelin I took off Jade, might put it on if I wear out the Vredestein which is doubtful given the miles it gets now and how long the Vredestein will last. Front tire is the same Battlax as Jade.

On George, it's a trophy show bike.  Has standard bike tires - Mettzler 200 in back, 150 in front.  Just a boulevard bike, looks matter on this one.  Doesn't get a lot of miles.  I have a Cobra 200 on hand if I wear the back one out.

Marty, a '98 Tourer, has standard bike tires.  Cobra 200 in back, Cobra 150 in front.  Haven't done anything with it since I bought it from Marty's estate.  Will be doing repairs and maintenance to sell it in the spring.

Mark,

I've always wondered about having a CT on the front, having it heard mentioned here and there. Would you post a pic of the ATT mounted up front?

Thanks,

Bob

[The emperor has no clothes]

Bob, by "double Darkside" he means a car tire on back (in his case the AT&T) and a MC tire that is designed for the rear up front (usually reversed direction). I've been running a Michelin Pilot Activ rear up front for a while now. I like it well. The advantages are longer life due to a little more tread depth.

[baldo]

Bob, by "double Darkside" he means a car tire on back (in his case the AT&T) and a MC tire that is designed for the rear up front (usually reversed direction). I've been running a Michelin Pilot Activ rear up front for a while now. I like it well. The advantages are longer life due to a little more tread depth.

Oh, didn't realize. I thought it sounded odd.....

Mark, I'd still like to see a picture if you wouldn't mind....

Thanks

[MarkT]

Bob, by "double Darkside" he means a car tire on back (in his case the AT&T) and a MC tire that is designed for the rear up front (usually reversed direction). I've been running a Michelin Pilot Activ rear up front for a while now. I like it well. The advantages are longer life due to a little more tread depth.

Oh, didn't realize. I thought it sounded odd.....

Mark, I'd still like to see a picture if you wouldn't mind....

Thanks

I can't get to the pics right now, my site is down as I explained in another thread.  Apparently they have permissions locked up for other pages besides the root when using the temp link at http://horsea.verio.com/