Took the Plunge - As of Thursday, I'm part of the Darksider Group

[tjohnson]

So finally after a lot of thought, I've determined that I want to try the dark side. Have heard wonderful, and scary things pending on once's opinion of the subject. The tipping point was when I was passed a few weeks ago by a Valk Tourer supporting a car tire on the rear, and he appeared to have no issues running some local twisties.

So walked right into Tire Rack and purchase a Yokohama Avid ENVigor, no questions asked. I purchased Dyna Beads online, and called a local motorcycle shop to see if they would consider mounting the car tire on a motorcycle rim. Surprisingly they had no issues doing this. The lady told me that they have done this a bunch, and that I may not like it, so consider carefully. However it was when she told me about mounting car tires on wings, and she couldn't recall any negative comments that sealed that deal with her. So in the morning, my kid will be taking to her a flatened center Marathon 880 tire, and brining a newly mounted tire.

I'm excited to see how it handles with this tire. Doing 80 on local superslabs, I think this exchange will make me feel safer, especially when the spousal unit is on with me.

[Serk]

[The emperor has no clothes]

I doubt I'll ever go back. But, keep in mind tire pressure has a lot of impact on how it rides. Don't be afraid to try a few different psi's. (I'm currently at 35)

[da prez]

 Experienced riders adjust in about 15 minutes or 15 miles. Which ever comes first. I went darkside years ago. I have ran the dragon and many other twisties.  There is more good than bad in my opinion. The ones that usually question it are the ones that spend $300.00 or more on a tire every 7000 miles.

                                                      da prez

[Moonshot_1]

I ran a C/T on my tourer for over 60k miles. Loved it. Got an interstate, changed mechanics and my current shop will not mount a C/T so am running a M/T now.

If you are doing a lot of riding, the C/T is the way to go. I did a lot of riding on the tourer.
I'm not doing so much riding now with the I/S so a M/T is just fine.

Was getting about 33k on the Goodyear TT.

As was said earlier, an experienced rider gets it in about 15 miles or minutes.
If you are a weekend rider this will be a little harder to catch on to.
If you are an everyday rider, this will be easy peasy.

You will experience some interesting handling dynamics. Nothing major.
For instance you will notice that the bike will want to come upright in a sweeping turn and you will have to keep it in the lean more than the bike tire. This will become 2nd nature in just a few turns and no longer be an issue.

Give the new tire some time and experience and you should love it too.

[..]

DO NOT NEGLECT servicing the rear end of the bike just because the C/T lasts longer.

[Gryphon]

First time you get caught in the rain will make a convert out of you.  Nothing sticks to wet pavement like a CT.  People behind you may complain about the rooster tail, but you will barely notice the wet.

[old2soon]

          Couple year ago-2013?-da prez and I were going to meet Solo1 in his home town in Indiana from near Crystal Lake Il. We hit rain or it hit us on US30 in Indiana. Passed a V-twinky and just kept goin. Caught a red light and he caught us and asked us Not Only bout our Valkyries but didn't have quite enough time to splain D/S to him!  As we pulled away when the light went green I heard him accelerate and in my mirrors saw his go a bit sideways and da prez and I just gassed em and went up thru the gears. Yeah-i'm a convert and I am INDEED fine with it. You'd play three different kinds of hades gittin me back on a M/C specific tire on MY Valkyrie. I didn't even have 15 miles on my first D/S when I choose some twistys to scuff the new tire in on! Have NEVER regretted the decision to not only Go D/S but to REMAIN D/S. RIDE SAFE.

[tjohnson]

Thanks all. I have been riding 20+ years, and the last 4+ on the 99 Interstate. I can't say I ride enough, but I put many miles on it every year. So 20-30 minutes or miles I will have a good feel for such. I will play with the pressure and see which handles best for my riding area. I suspect that I will like the D/S, and don't anticipate returning whilest I own the phat girl.

It was last weekend that I decided that I needed a C/T. As I approached an intersection, some traffic moved, others didn't. That's when me and my boy both realized an ambulance was coming through, lights flashing, sirens blaring, and while we both laid hard on brakes, the rear end fish tailed a little. That was it, I wanted more tread on the ground. We both stopped in time, however not sure the ambulance driver thought we would, as we slid past the other traffic.

-Tim

[..]

Thanks all. I have been riding 20+ years, and the last 4+ on the 99 Interstate. I can't say I ride enough, but I put many miles on it every year. So 20-30 minutes or miles I will have a good feel for such. I will play with the pressure and see which handles best for my riding area. I suspect that I will like the D/S, and don't anticipate returning whilest I own the phat girl.

It was last weekend that I decided that I needed a C/T. As I approached an intersection, some traffic moved, others didn't. That's when me and my boy both realized an ambulance was coming through, lights flashing, sirens blaring, and while we both laid hard on brakes, the rear end fish tailed a little. That was it, I wanted more tread on the ground. We both stopped in time, however not sure the ambulance driver thought we would, as we slid past the other traffic.

-Tim

Don't forget. If you need reminding.

The front brake is your friend

[Crackerborn]

After spending a full day in the rain coming back from CO this summer, double darkside, no more motorcycle specific tires on the rear of my girls. I had Avons on the IS that had plenty of tread for that trip but decided a week before I left to switch the tires out. Yokohama rear and Michelin Pilot Activ front, hence double darkside. No loss of traction on the super slab or the back country roads for my Large Ladies even in frog stranglers. I worry more that some texter won't see me even with aircraft landing lights on the light bar. 

[Moonshot_1]

Thanks all. I have been riding 20+ years, and the last 4+ on the 99 Interstate. I can't say I ride enough, but I put many miles on it every year. So 20-30 minutes or miles I will have a good feel for such. I will play with the pressure and see which handles best for my riding area. I suspect that I will like the D/S, and don't anticipate returning whilest I own the phat girl.

It was last weekend that I decided that I needed a C/T. As I approached an intersection, some traffic moved, others didn't. That's when me and my boy both realized an ambulance was coming through, lights flashing, sirens blaring, and while we both laid hard on brakes, the rear end fish tailed a little. That was it, I wanted more tread on the ground. We both stopped in time, however not sure the ambulance driver thought we would, as we slid past the other traffic.

-Tim

I'm sure some will disagree with the following, but this is from my experience.

First off, I'm going to echo Britman's comment on the "Front brake is your friend"

I use it almost exclusively when braking for anything. That way when I really really need to stop it is the first brake I go to for the maximum stopping power. Practice using it, practice using it, practice using it. If no one is around at an intersection with rumble strips I'll hit the last one at 60+ to practice my higher speed stopping. Maximum stopping with maximum control.

Second, relying on a C/T for better stopping. Don't. It will help stopping in a straighter track and help with control, but they will lock up just as easy as a M/T. At least it did for me and I was running a GY Triple tred. Same weight on the contact patch. You just spread out the lbs/sq. inch on the car tire contact patch and condense it  on the M/T contact patch. The force needed to lock up a back tire is pretty much the same.

The key to braking is in the front.

[sixlow]

With the Yoko i feel the sweet spot is 40 psi, I guess you read enough to know you will need to do the nut cage mod for that one.
 I run 36 in the ATT. I have had  friends come to visit and go for a  ride and they don't realize either C/T until I point them out.