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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 49
Madison/Huntsville, AL | I was trying to lay low and act cool till I subtly figured it out, but I can't. What's 'the dark side'? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | Using a car tire - 
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/ |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| you get about 25 thousand miles out of a car tire and they sell for around $120 bucks as a posed to the MC tire for $240 bucks |
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Cruiser
Posts: 209
| tmoore I had to ask too......actually still thinking about going over next tire change. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 209
| tmoore I had to ask too......actually still thinking about going over next tire change. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 49
Madison/Huntsville, AL | Doh! Now I remember, I had pretty well figured that a couple of years ago, but it never fully sank in. Thanks.
Well I bet nobody ever asked this before, what are the pros and cons? Obviously mileage is a plus. Do they tolerate hard leans and is overall traction compromised? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 233
flagstaff, AZ | tmoore - 2013-11-16 8:04 AM
Doh! Now I remember, I had pretty well figured that a couple of years ago, but it never fully sank in. Thanks.
Well I bet nobody ever asked this before, what are the pros and cons? Obviously mileage is a plus. Do they tolerate hard leans and is overall traction compromised?
Lets combine your question with " what type of oil is best?". Yes I am a smartass. Just do a little search and I'm sureyou will find lots of info and opinions. Good luck on your "quest for knowledge"  |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | tmoore - 2013-11-16 9:04 AM Doh! Now I remember, I had pretty well figured that a couple of years ago, but it never fully sank in. Thanks. Well I bet nobody ever asked this before, what are the pros and cons? Obviously mileage is a plus. Do they tolerate hard leans and is overall traction compromised? If you do some site searches here you will find a few days worth of reading regarding the pros and cons and if you do some google searching you'll probably find a few months of research reading. The way I personally look at it is that there has been millions upon millions of miles put on all kinds of models of motorcycles with a car tire. And there has been no real reported problems. And the "con" camp mainly sits there and proclaim that darksiders are nuts and are going to die a horrible flaming death but yet they provide zero proof to back-up their statements.
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | Car tires are designed for cars. Bike tires are designed for bikes. You may be smarter than those tire designers but I know my limits so I use bike tires on bikes. Some day a dark sider will let me in on the secret of why a car tire is better for a bike. So far the only plus I see for a dark side tire is costs per mile. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | and DARKSIDERS probably change their own oil - with stuff other than manufacturer's recommendation ....
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Your vodka martini needs to be refreshed; you curmudgeonly old Canuck you.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Oldman47 - 2013-11-16 4:35 PM
Car tires are designed for cars. Bike tires are designed for bikes. You may be smarter than those tire designers but I know my limits so I use bike tires on bikes. Some day a dark sider will let me in on the secret of why a car tire is better for a bike. So far the only plus I see for a dark side tire is costs per mile.
Well documented what a car tire can do; on the rear of a bike. You must open your eyes and read it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Oregon. | I have to admit, I have thought about it myself. |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | Darksiders have also been known to run around the house with scissors in their hands.
Edited by iluvink 2013-11-17 9:16 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | ... and other THINGS in their hands. No point in PAYING for it .... <grin>
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | Don,
You are one sick puppy. I love it! LOL |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | ......and all this time I thought the Darkside was what happened when you hit the horn at night; while riding an English bike. with Lucas electronics |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Rollin left his house on a CT went from green bay down to the Golf and then to Alaska all on a CT. You can bet he saw ever road condition handling problem there is. He is still on the CT
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=899747 |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | kevinx - 2013-11-18 1:57 PM ......and all this time I thought the Darkside was what happened when you hit the horn at night; while riding an English bike. with Lucas electronics It is, but that is another subject. I really enjoyed rewiring my Triumph Trophy, not.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 14
East Troy, WI United States | I had the darkside on my 2000 valkyrie. I loved it. Road better. Lasted longer. I sold the bike with CT on it. I will go to the darkside on my new Vision AN.
Everyone will have a different opinion about this. And yes I am one of those guys that will never take my bike to the stealership unless it is the last resort. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 207
| Darkside on my Valk IS and Standard, darkside on my VTX 1800r and Vision. Well over 100,000 darkside miles one and two up on four different bikes and no flames yet. The VV handles just as well darkside or motorcycle tire. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
Marietta, GA | Maybe this will work???? http://tinyurl.com/ojlyxzh 
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | A car tire on a motorcycle is exactly the same as a motorcycle tire on a motorcycle , only different. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
| varyder - 2013-11-19 10:14 AM A car tire on a motorcycle is exactly the same as a motorcycle tire on a motorcycle , only different. Is the Car Tire air pressure is vary sensative to get it to handle like a MT. 37 in my Potenza. also better rear wheel braking, no lock up's. I don't have ABS. |
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Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | Over 50,000 miles on two different bikes, 2000 Valkyrie Tourer and 2008 Vision with no issues, and no it's not because of money! |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Don07tncav - 2013-11-19 3:47 AM
Darkside on my Valk IS and Standard, darkside on my VTX 1800r and Vision. Well over 100,000 darkside miles one and two up on four different bikes and no flames yet. The VV handles just as well darkside or motorcycle tire.
I have a CT on my bike, and it doesn't handle as well. A MT can turn much easier and just a little faster, but since I live in an area that has almost no twisties, then using a CT makes sense for me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 207
| I run the CT at 34psi and it handles quite well on twisties. Took the advanced motorcycle course on the VTX and out maneuvered all the Harleys and other cruzers that were there.
Is there a difference? Sure, but to me not enough to go back to a motorcycle tire. On the type of two up long distance riding I do, the CT works out best. I can plug leaks without having to worry, like how it handles under all weather conditions, enjoy twisties on it, the wife is a happy camper with CT because of the smoother ride and the cost of riding is a bit lower. I commute over 100 miles a day on either the VTX or the VV. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | sgiacci - 2013-11-20 7:40 PM
Don07tncav - 2013-11-19 3:47 AM
Darkside on my Valk IS and Standard, darkside on my VTX 1800r and Vision. Well over 100,000 darkside miles one and two up on four different bikes and no flames yet. The VV handles just as well darkside or motorcycle tire.
I have a CT on my bike, and it doesn't handle as well. A MT can turn much easier and just a little faster, but since I live in an area that has almost no twisties, then using a CT makes sense for me.
Most people run the 195 on the rear of a Vision, and IMHO it pretty much sucks for low speed handling, and it takes getting use to in high speeds. I have several customers that run 175 tires, and the CT is invisible to me. Handles, rides, and slow maneuvers as well as the stock tire |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I can see where a 175 would be closer to the handling of an MT. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| kevinx - 2013-11-21 10:40 AM
sgiacci - 2013-11-20 7:40 PM
Don07tncav - 2013-11-19 3:47 AM
Darkside on my Valk IS and Standard, darkside on my VTX 1800r and Vision. Well over 100,000 darkside miles one and two up on four different bikes and no flames yet. The VV handles just as well darkside or motorcycle tire.
I have a CT on my bike, and it doesn't handle as well. A MT can turn much easier and just a little faster, but since I live in an area that has almost no twisties, then using a CT makes sense for me.
Most people run the 195 on the rear of a Vision, and IMHO it pretty much sucks for low speed handling, and it takes getting use to in high speeds. I have several customers that run 175 tires, and the CT is invisible to me. Handles, rides, and slow maneuvers as well as the stock tire
I have a 195 on it, and it handles like a fat tire bike. I also agree that low speed handling is a real bitch, and on hard broken surfaces it likes to toss you around like a toy. But my loose gravel driveway is a very different story, at low speed it is solid as a rock. At speed I don't see any difference over a MT. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Don07tncav - 2013-11-20 7:57 PM
I run the CT at 34psi and it handles quite well on twisties. Took the advanced motorcycle course on the VTX and out maneuvered all the Harleys and other cruzers that were there.
Is there a difference? Sure, but to me not enough to go back to a motorcycle tire. On the type of two up long distance riding I do, the CT works out best. I can plug leaks without having to worry, like how it handles under all weather conditions, enjoy twisties on it, the wife is a happy camper with CT because of the smoother ride and the cost of riding is a bit lower. I commute over 100 miles a day on either the VTX or the VV.
Don't confuse my statement that handling is related to its ability to take a turn. If anything a CT provides great traction in any hard corner, as well as great rain performance. It just doesn't do it as easily or as quickly.
I wouldn't compare your performance at an MSF course to other riders as an example of how good the tire is, but really at your ability to manage your bike better than they were. There is no way I would get a high performance sport bike and put a CT on the back with the expectation of being competitive.
With that said, a CT does what I need it to do; smooth straight line running, good rain performance, and long life.
Edited by sgiacci 2013-11-21 12:28 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 207
| I didn't confuse your statement Steven G. Just throwing my two cents out there too. Some folks like the darkside, some don't. Like you, the CT does what I need too. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | kevinx - 2013-11-18 1:57 PM
......and all this time I thought the Darkside was what happened when you hit the horn at night; while riding an English bike. with Lucas electronics
Made me laugh! 
Darksiding in the motorcycle world means putting a car tire on a motorcycle. Darksiding in the LBC world (Little British Cars) means putting a good ol' American V8 in a little british car. Carroll Shelby had some luck doing that with the AC ACE (Shelby Cobra). These days, it's fairly popular to put V8s in MGBs, which I'm in the process of doing.
Still have to do something about those Lucas electronics.................
Ronnie |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | I started to plan the Key West, FL to Prudhoe Bay, AK trip in July of 2011.
One concern for that trip was having a tire that would last more than 11,000 miles and be able to do interstate, two-lane mountain roads and almost 800 miles of gravel road. It would also need to have good wet weather traction and be repairable.
The answer was using a 195/55R16 Dunlop Winter Sport run flat snow tire. I completed that trip in 2012 and also did a two day 1000 mile trip around Lake Michigan with my wife and also rode to Spirit Lake, IA.
That tire worked so well that I installed another new Winter Sport in 2013 and rode to Mount Evans, Death Valley, Independence Pass and Pikes Peak in June and then in July did a 4600 mile trip with my wife to Nova Scotia, including a ride around the Cabot Trial and then in September I did a one day 1000+ mile ride around Wisconsin.
Next year - The weakness on the Alaska trip was the front tire so for 2014 I'm going "Double-Darkside". On the rear will be another Dunlop Winter Sport and on the front will be a dual-sport rear tire. I'm planning a short trip that will have some extremes. I can't wait!! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | We'll look forward to hearing about your next adventure Steve!
I've been running a Dunlop Wintersport DSST 3D ROF in the 175/60/16 size. Because I have a hitch doc trailer hitch installed, this is the car tire size of choice for clearance. As Kevin said, it's also the tire size most closely replicating the characteristics of a stock MC tire with the bonus of run flat technology + 82H load rating.
Unfortunately, Dunlop discontinued this size in the US online markets earlier this year and they've been available only in Europe. But fear not, I just received 2 of them last week from a Mini Cooper dealership in New Jersey.
I also know another Vision rider that called a Mini Cooper dealership on the west coast, close to his home, who said he can have this tire in 4-5 business days.
Those of us who've run the 175 Dunlop Wintersport Runflat know what a great ride this tire provides on the Vision and I wanted to pass along that it can still be found through Mini Cooper dealers. |
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ok, I give...