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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | glighto11 - 2010-10-15 10:05 PM
Thank-you for the "proof" pic. After reading some of the post on "darkside" I was giving it some consideration. After download your "proof" pic and blowing it up 800% I was able to see the tire/road contact of your darkside. Now I am again convinced that car tires belong on cars where they are not forced to bear all the weight on the outside 5% of the tire belt. Maybe they "feel" just fine but your are literally riding on the edge of darkside. And I would also venture to say after seeing that pic that darkside puts you on the downside of liability. I really hope that anyone considering darkside will first take a moment to download and blow up that pic and see for themselves the edge they are staking they're lives on. To each, they're own. Just do your own research.
You should work for the FBI. There is no way I can tell what the contact patch in that picture is. Between the grainy blow up and the shadows. You must have awsome eyes! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | Well I did a route today I have done several times before. Total trip is around 185 miles and about 4 hours. It takes me down freeway then two lane and through some nice twisties then farm country then back to freeway.
I left the house with every intension of stopping and changing air pressure several times , it never happened. Once I got to riding, I did not want to stop. The temp was just below 60* and sunny. Almost no traffic and beautiful roads with fall colors coming in.
Enough about that, lets get to the tire test...
I left the tire at 35 psi for the entire day and this seems to be a very good setting for me. I really did want to be objective for this test as I have about $90 in the tire and mounting, if I didn't like it I could pull it back off and not be out a ton of money. I did take it a little easy today since it is a new tire, but no different than if it was a new MT. The freeway ride is better than the MT. The bike is smoother riding and does not seem to follow road lines. The E3 did not follow line either. When I got to the long sweeping turns, I did notice that the bike takes a little more effort to turn. Not a bunch by any means. It is like before with the MT, I could just think about the turn and the bike would do it. Now I have to steer the bike through the turn. Wether or not it was me or the tire breaking in, this seemed to decrease as the day went on. On the tighter turns where I had to steer the bike with the MT it is about the same with the CT. There is a short streach where the turns come fast and alternating left-right-left-right..., the CT did a great job and I never felt like I was not in control or that the back end was not going to hold.
I really believe that if I lived in a place where the roads were twisty and every ride ment draging floor boards, I would stay with a MT. However, in my case where the roads are much more mellow and I do alot of freeway and two lane 55 mph riding, The CT is a great alternative that I have no fear in the turns and really enjoy the smoother ride. Please remember these are just my observations and beliefs, yours may very.
Edited by handyhiker 2010-10-16 6:55 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | john frey - 2010-10-16 3:18 PM
WHAT real chains on that trailer?? YOUR CRAZY for doing that.
I spent a lot of yesterday on youtube watching the dark side on motorcycles and even went to there web site. I want to but then I scrap now and then in corners so would I have to not corner as hard. Wish I could ride one before doing a CT
I agree flatsix on the chains. I relooked and I gasped, you DO NOT want to chain your trailer to your bike, it will take you out if your trailer was to come unhitched for whatever reason. I hope no one will disagree with this, but you are putting you and your pillion in a seriously dangerous position using chains on a motorcycle trailer.
to John, if you are concerned either way about the CT, just do it. I'm not pro/con on the CT, have fun to all who rides one, but you just got to grow accustom to the feel which apparently is not a very large curve.
Edited by varyder 2010-10-16 6:50 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | Doesn't DOT require that you have chains on all trailers?
varyder - 2010-10-16 7:47 PM
john frey - 2010-10-16 3:18 PM
WHAT real chains on that trailer?? YOUR CRAZY for doing that.
I spent a lot of yesterday on youtube watching the dark side on motorcycles and even went to there web site. I want to but then I scrap now and then in corners so would I have to not corner as hard. Wish I could ride one before doing a CT
I agree flatsix on the chains. I relooked and I gasped, you DO NOT want to chain your trailer to your bike, it will take you out if your trailer was to come unhitched for whatever reason. I hope no one will disagree with this, but you are putting you and your pillion in a seriously dangerous position using chains on a motorcycle trailer. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | eeeek, you would have to bring the law in on this. If it were I and I wanted to fool the DOT, the chains would be on breakaways that would snap at about a quarter pound of pressure. But think on this EVERYONE - why are chains required on trailers? To keep them behind the vehicle that is pulling them should they come unhooked. Do you believe you have a good change of survival rolling the interstate at 70 mphs and you hit a bump that causes your trailer to come unhitched and begin to flop around?
Agrue, disagree, call me names, put me on your ignore list, whatever, but you are flirting beyond diaster...
handyhiker - 2010-10-16 7:49 PM
Doesn't DOT require that you have chains on all trailers?
varyder - 2010-10-16 7:47 PM
john frey - 2010-10-16 3:18 PM
WHAT real chains on that trailer?? YOUR CRAZY for doing that.
I spent a lot of yesterday on youtube watching the dark side on motorcycles and even went to there web site. I want to but then I scrap now and then in corners so would I have to not corner as hard. Wish I could ride one before doing a CT
I agree flatsix on the chains. I relooked and I gasped, you DO NOT want to chain your trailer to your bike, it will take you out if your trailer was to come unhitched for whatever reason. I hope no one will disagree with this, but you are putting you and your pillion in a seriously dangerous position using chains on a motorcycle trailer.
Edited by varyder 2010-10-16 6:58 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 412
Fargo, ND |
My understanding is chains are a DOT statute...not 1 chain...but 2 chains. I have also heard if your go thru an inspection and the examiner steps down on the chains they had better not break (as in plastic chains).
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | Not that I agree or disagree, just another side...
As a motorcycle rider, I really would not want to see a trailer coming at me with no bike in front of it. If you choose to pull one, than you should take resonsibillity for it at ALL times. I understand it may take you down, but at that point, better you than me. Like I said, this is just the other side of the argument.
varyder - 2010-10-16 7:47 PM
john frey - 2010-10-16 3:18 PM
WHAT real chains on that trailer?? YOUR CRAZY for doing that.
I spent a lot of yesterday on youtube watching the dark side on motorcycles and even went to there web site. I want to but then I scrap now and then in corners so would I have to not corner as hard. Wish I could ride one before doing a CT
I agree flatsix on the chains. I relooked and I gasped, you DO NOT want to chain your trailer to your bike, it will take you out if your trailer was to come unhitched for whatever reason. I hope no one will disagree with this, but you are putting you and your pillion in a seriously dangerous position using chains on a motorcycle trailer.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Flatsix - 2010-10-16 8:00 PM
My understanding is chains are a DOT statute...not 1 chain...but 2 chains. I have also heard if your go thru an inspection and the examiner steps down on the chains they had better not break (as in plastic chains).
interesting dilemma...
BTW I'm very well aware of the statue and law in the blanket requirement for trailers. No manufacturer of a motorcycle will endorse the use of a trailer, now I know why. I question also, whether any DOT inspector would enforce this on a motorcycle knowing the greater risk.
Edited by varyder 2010-10-16 7:23 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | The problem would be if they don't ride, would they understand?
varyder - 2010-10-16 8:20 PM
Flatsix - 2010-10-16 8:00 PM
My understanding is chains are a DOT statute...not 1 chain...but 2 chains. I have also heard if your go thru an inspection and the examiner steps down on the chains they had better not break (as in plastic chains).
interesting dilemma...
BTW I'm very well aware of the statue and law in the blanket requirement for trailers. No manufacturer of a motorcycle will endorse the use of a trailer, now I know why. I question also, whether any DOT inspector would enforce this on a motorcycle knowing the greater risk. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | handyhiker - 2010-10-16 8:20 PM
Not that I agree or disagree, just another side...
As a motorcycle rider, I really would not want to see a trailer coming at me with no bike in front of it. If you choose to pull one, than you should take resonsibillity for it at ALL times. I understand it may take you down, but at that point, better you than me. Like I said, this is just the other side of the argument.
varyder - 2010-10-16 7:47 PM
john frey - 2010-10-16 3:18 PM
WHAT real chains on that trailer?? YOUR CRAZY for doing that.
I spent a lot of yesterday on youtube watching the dark side on motorcycles and even went to there web site. I want to but then I scrap now and then in corners so would I have to not corner as hard. Wish I could ride one before doing a CT
I agree flatsix on the chains. I relooked and I gasped, you DO NOT want to chain your trailer to your bike, it will take you out if your trailer was to come unhitched for whatever reason. I hope no one will disagree with this, but you are putting you and your pillion in a seriously dangerous position using chains on a motorcycle trailer.
oh boy, more arguements, chances are in this situation you would have an out of control motorcycle and a flopping trailer coming at you, a bigger mass to avoid.
The bottom like is, yes, you better make sure you have positive lock on your hitch and recheck, and check again, then I could go along with chains dangling, in other words a ball type hitch would not be a wise choice, well, the common type found on cars. I think they make a different hitch for motocycles that is more secure.
Edited by varyder 2010-10-16 7:27 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | No arguements, just descussion topics. 
Edited by handyhiker 2010-10-16 7:32 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | Perhaps I'm confused about the purpose of safety chains.
I thought the point of the safety chains was to keep the trailer attached to the vehicle towing it, while keeping the tongue OFF the road at the same time.
It doesn't seem that the chains would be doing their job if they were long enough to allow the tongue to drag, or worse dig into a depression in an irregular road surface.
Am I missing something?
Edited by Tarpits99 2010-10-16 8:56 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Tarpits99 - 2010-10-16 8:56 PM
Perhaps I'm confused about the purpose of safety chains.
I thought the point of the safety chains was to keep the trailer attached to the vehicle towing it, while keeping the tongue OFF the road at the same time.
It doesn't seem that the chains would be doing their job if they were long enough to allow the tongue to drag, or worse dig into a depression in an irregular road surface.
Am I missing something?
Thats how I understand the function of safety chains.....they are to be of a length and configuration that will "cradle" the tongue of the trailer and keep it from hitting the ground.
I pull a trailer both behind my SUV and my motorcycle. Ive chosen that for myself and as such I use safety chains. If the trailer comes loose and takes me to the ground thats on me. Id rather have that happen then the trailer take out someone in the other lane.
Ive not had a trailer come loose on a bike.....but I have on an SUV....wasnt really that big of a deal.
In the realm of things would a 200lb trailer take down an almost 900lb bike with potentially 400lbs of riders (2 up or 1 really fat guy).......200 lbs vs 1300 lbs......who knows. My best guess is that it wouldnt be an "instant down" and likely wouldnt be as bad as you think under most conditions. If you and the trailer are both going the same direction there might be some jerking as the trailer sways around by the chains but I cant see it taking the bike down.
Im not real keen on damaging my bike or I would just tow a trailer around town with just the safety chains and see......Im just not THAT adventuresome. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I went out and did a few random pic of bikes with trailers, I didn't notice any car tires (trying to keep thread on topic) but the chains I saw were long and would not keep the tongue up off of the ground and would either allow the tongue to dig in, or move around erratically. Now, just maybe, most folks really don't know the purpose of the chains and the way to hook them up. Having never pulled a trailer yet on my bike I would have to survey the rig before doing so. I think the positive thing is I've never heard of a trailer coming loose from a motorcycle yet. My winger friend hit a pothole after avoiding an erractic driver, and the trailer nearly took he and his wife down when it went crazy for a few moments, but never came undone. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | Don't know about trailers on bikes, but I often pull a dump trailer with my pickup. I was told once by a DOT guy once that the chains are supposed to be crossed under the tongue, left-to right/right-to-left. Made sense to me and that is now my practice. Can't see how the tongue could pole-vault the trailer. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Just to keep on the thread subject...I don't have a car tire on the motorcycle and really don't have much to say about it. But on the trailer chains and trailers in general. I think someday I might do that. But would a trailer with brakes and the chains be better if it came unhooked. A friend, I believe his pop up camper trailer that he pulls with his Wing has brakes. I'm not an expert here, but somebody has to know of someone or experienced a trailer coming unhooked. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | despite all the hash I served up about this, I really hope no one knows what happens when a trailer comes undone from a motorcycle. For the most part, I personally believe that riders, even the sterotype bikers are a little more attentive by nature than most cagers on the road except the ones riding on a car tire.  (sorry, I was only trying to keep the thread on topic...honestly...  )
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | What kind of oil should I be using if I pull a trailer without chains? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...depends if you're riding on tar snakes... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
Big Sky | I run 41 lbs in my ct and it works well. Not as squirmy on the gravel with more air in it. Two years on it and still looks new. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Basehor, Ks. | Mr. Dunlop can kiss my furry little butt. I'm on the darkside now and loving it. This site has been invalueble in so many ways. Passed a huge gaggle of harley riders on my maiden voyage with the tire. None of them were wearing helmets. They call them "organ donors" in the emergency room. Ride Safe |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Buy one of those little aluminum belt spring clips and hook the chains from the trailer to it. If the tongue comes off, te aluminum clip will break away. You stay DOT compliant and don't need to worry about a trailer taking you out.
Good to see the same ole arguments being beat around |
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Today I went DARK
