10K Darkside Update

I just hope that if they really need all that there bike has to give, that the car tire don't let them down....Yes, PiG9r I am a purest when it comes to my bikes. If I buy something for it other than stock ,it should improve my performance not hinder it.

not that I care to stir anything up over this,but i will say that the darkside works for me. I'll not be going back whilst riding the rocket.i'll just say that just about all who have switched over,say the same. don't know the exact number,but my guess would be 99.999999%? ........ yeah baby! darkside works! really,really,well! albeit the right combo for your application is a necessity for a good riding experience. a 245 is gonna be a lot more work than a 205. it comes down to your own personal preference,huh?

greg

Interesting point about the tire size goodfellow, now what is the narrowest tire you could put on that rim? And one could shave the V or U on the tread since most of the wear would still be in the middle to make it act more like a bike tire ? Just leave the contact patch the same size as the bike tire. Having gone through a few rears the more wear, the contact patch increases and changes handling in a peculiar way that would resemble in a small way how the darkside behaves.

Baggage1,

the 205 is the narrowest anyone needs to go to very,very closely duplicate the handling transition characteristics of the stock R3. my thoughts on this are biased in that I think the 205 is even better if one choses a sub 200 tread wear compound. traction is much better in straight line hookup,corner carving is greater due to harder 'bite' from tire profile. tire wear/durability is much higher than stock. high speed ( 130+ ), and wet weather stability, are phenomenal. all of these characteristics are personally known to me. i cannot say otherwise. when I tried a darkside setup the first time,it was a 205 on a valk. i really didn't feel much difference than the conventional tire that we all know of. when I switched to a darkside on the rocket, I went with a 225 for a while, and started to worry about drive line stress due to my penchant for spirited riding. thus my reason for the 205. after installing the 205, my memories of riding the darkside 205 on the valk came back to me.the 205 is a very pleasant configuration with the best handling characteristics for me. If you do this,be certain that you get a sub 200 tread wear compound with at least a 'v' speed rating so you'll have a nice tight bead that'll handle the rockets' torque.also be sure to get a symmetrical tread pattern for good water dispersion and nice rooster when caught riding in inclement weather . then come back here and tell everybody all about it .....


greg

Just picked up my Goodyear Eagle F1 . . not THATS a tire! Hopefully I'll have it on in the next week or so.

Count me as part of the 99%. My 225 Cooper Zeon 2XS works well. I'll go with a 205 model in about 35k miles (3 years), without the center line rib of the Zeon. It has it's draw backs but I'm adaptive.

As for performance, my darkside FBG takes off like a scalded rhino.

tires

Now, who is going to be the first to run a car tire on the front? I just installed a lopdun at bike week and working on the shirley davidson so I can't for a while.
rockenrobert
gotta see the world, it will only take a minute
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Damaged was going to keep his mouth shut until some one said a car tire will out perform a MC tire in the twisty s......Thats like saying a pair of calf length shorts pined to your underwear half way down your butt, helps you to run faster when the cops are chasing you.....I understand the money savings, millage and wanting to be different , but you cross the line when you say you can out run me with your car tire in the twisty s.
Damaged changeless all darksiders that think they can take him in the twisty s.

( [I said:

Note: naysayers disreguard this post. I've heard it all [/i]

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It was not my attempt to start another debate on the darkside movement, just a update on my results.
I am just totally sick of listening to people that don't have a fricking idea about what they are talking about rattle on about the hazards, dangers, and ill effects of a darkside tire. After 10K miles and endless warnings from self appointed experts, I have heard it all.
I'll just listen, laugh and maybe buy a canyon racer with the money I have saved not buying worthless metzler's, and maybee take you up on your challange. (changeless is somehow more fitting)

I know all about it.

Damaged,
hope you try the darkside soon. I have to admit that I thought the same you do not so long ago. I also shot my mouth off about how stupid a car tire must be on a motorcycle. I regret my comments back then and I eat my words every time i waste a sport bike on the lake. my only comment to you is: run on the dark side with the right set-up.then judge me as you see fit.

greg