Darkside Debunked by YouTube Motorcycle Messiah

tribal

Moto Hobo Gypsy Vagabond
Joined
Apr 15, 2006
Messages
889
Location
North America - presently touring the USA
Ride
2005 Rocket III & 2015 Rocket III Roadster
It's official, Ryan has spoken to the masses and declared the Darkside deadly and put his own life in jeopardy to prove that it is an evil thing to do.


Finally, a definitive end-all experiment backed by seemingly knowledgeable scientific facts to single handedly end the debate and declare the Darkside outright dangerous.

Heed is warning gentlefolk - a Car tire can "Spontaneously Uninstall" itself from motorcycle rims.
Why? Because he says so and has a partial mathematical formula to support the theory (albeit without any supporting data of it ever occurring).

He closes with a message to Darksiders to "Let it go".
Case closed, verdict rendered and then Yoda beseeches you to follow Master Ryan and return to the light.

My reply is that he needs to "let go" of peoples wankers with this tomfoolery.

(((Actually, the fewer Darksiders the better. If it became too popular here MC tire manufacturers would hire
more lobbyists to get laws passed banning the practice like in other countries. SSHHHH!!)))

But on with the rant:

Q. What is his financial incentive for producing such an elaborate anti-DS 'experiment' video on youTube and would a bias towards the view of the majority (and MC business institutions) result in increased viewership and revenue?

A. It's a rhetorical question - just look under the video to see his merchandise for sale, let alone the YT Sub $$.

-Dictionary Definition of Bias: "Research bias, also called experimenter bias, is a process where the scientists performing the research influence the results, in order to portray a certain outcome.
Some bias in research arises from experimental error and failure to take into account all of the possible variables.

Other bias arises when researchers select subjects that are more likely to generate the desired results, a reversal of the normal processes governing science.

Bias is the one factor that makes qualitative research much more dependent upon experience and judgment than quantitative research.

Quantitative Research Bias:
Denial of any Bias

Qualitative Research Bias:
Acceptance and Acknowledgment of Bias.

For example, when using social research subjects, it is far easier to become attached to a certain viewpoint, jeopardizing impartiality."

It is clear he had a preconceived viewpoint and set up his so-called experiment to match said beliefs and thus exhibiting a qualitative research bias.

Some observations supporting this are:

1. That bike was not a good test vehicle choice.
2. Tire seems over-sized and wider than OEM. Why start there with a worst-case scenario?
3. Was the tire even balanced?
4. No way to tell the timeline but he may not have even broken the tire in.
5. Tire appears over-inflated.
Did he even attempt to make any adjustments to air pressure or shocks? Not in the video...
6. Again, it's hard to know the timeline but it doesn't look like he spent ample time (1,000 miles?) to adjust to the new tires nuances.
7. He sprinkles in a lot of scientific facts but shouldn't a scientific experiment include more than one test case?

Smoke and Mirrors Def: "An explanation or description that is not true or not complete and is used to hide the truth about a situation".
8. He focuses 90% of the Hollywood style shooting, editing and
zingers on the less than 5% differences most riders will experience.

9. Bait & Switch tactics: He takes on a passive-aggressive behaviour
luring unwitting viewers into thinking it is an unbiased experiment.

10. He counts on the trust of his standard followers that what he says is gospel. Sadly, from the thousands of comments it received he succeeded. He is praised for risking his life in the pursuit of truth and touted as a mechanical genius for using a kickstand to break the bead of a tire.

11. He completely ignores the fact that CT's are steel belted. If you select the proper tire, not only will it not pop off the rim, you almost can't get them off. It's easier to cut them off with an electrical cut-off tool.

It is physically impossible for a non-defective DOT certified tire to mysteriously jump off an outer lip but I do not have a fuzzy-math formula or theoretical diagram showing no amount of stress, strain or sheering from riding will cause it to fly off - even if it were flat.

Tip the scale(s) Def: "To upset the balance of a situation, such that one side or element is favored or gains advantage."
He leads the viewer directly to the documented "weak points" of the DS and exaggerates his limited experience to why it handles like "$hite".

He then uses the "I say Darkside is $hite therefore it is $hite" to put his thumb on the negative side of his Pros & Cons scale.

In conclusion, there is nothing new in this video and he is simply regurgitating the age old mistruths wrapping them in a glitzy cinematography of a pseudo-scientific experiment (of one).

I'm dumbfounded as to why anti-DS'ers will resort to name calling, shaming, lying and other bullying
tactics for something that has no impact on them - especially those with little to no actual experience.


darkside5.gif
 
Last edited:
Interesting. I am one willing to take my life in my hands (as I usually do except when in the caring hands of significant other) and try darksiding. I have yet to see any substantive evidence of failure from the sub-culture of hard core darkside touring motorcyclists that indicates this is a foolish and irresponsible endeavor. I can see where a performance rider who has little to no chicken scratch on their tires may push the tire past mechanical limits and needs a MC specific tire. I am not one of those. I do like the Avon Cobra Chromes I have on now, but with about 10k in planned road trips plus my regular commuting and weekend rides I am looking at the benefit of the dark side. Besides, I am a level and steady type rider so I don’t forsee myself getting close to any threshold. At the end of the day, a rider has to be comfortable on their rig and if darcksiding causes any doubt, don’t do it...one less distraction to your peaceful ride.

Watching him hand mount the tire on a too-narrow rim was hilarious. If he had a wider rim like our bikes I expect his experience would have been different. He also should have heated the tire before mounting, makes it soo much easier. I do enjoy his videos though.

one last thing, this article in Rider magazine concludes with the potential for liability issues and insurance claim denial on the basis of using a car tire. Is there any cases where that was true? The legal precedent here seems to be lacking but I am no legal analyst:

Tales From the Dark Side: Putting Car Tires on Motorcycles | Rider Magazine
 
Last edited:
I'm no Darksider but just read an online article to the contrary. The bottom line is that dark sider love their tires and view the contrary studies to be irrelevant. If I CT works for you; go for it.
 
I have investigated hundreds of motorcycle accidents, serious and fatal injury.
Not one involved a motorcycle with a car tire.
I believe car tire riders are after longevity and cost savings and not usually prone to hooning. If you understand the limitations and it works for you, no problema.
I can also guarantee that if you are in a high dollar accident, regard less of fault, your insurance company will likely try to mitigate their damage expisure by showing you partially at fault if you're using non original equipment affecting safety.
 
I have investigated hundreds of motorcycle accidents, serious and fatal injury.
Not one involved a motorcycle with a car tire.
I believe car tire riders are after longevity and cost savings and not usually prone to hooning. If you understand the limitations and it works for you, no problema.
I can also guarantee that if you are in a high dollar accident, regard less of fault, your insurance company will likely try to mitigate their damage expisure by showing you partially at fault if you're using non original equipment affecting safety.

so that would fly in the face of every custom motorcycle project...am I missing something? Or is it just “what can be argued” and “what can you or the lawyer get away with?”
 
Good summation, Steve.

And those last two words of yours will turn out to be the gutz of it if the insurers do take you on. Sounds like expensive lawyers would be involved.
 
Most accessories that change the weight, profile or centre of gravity of a motorcycle has a speed limit attached to them, way under what the motorcycle can achieve, even with said accessories attached.
I’m Australia, fitting tyres that do not meet the specifications by the manufacturer can lead to insurance companies not paying out in an accident. Even if your vehicle was parked. Same back in my old homeland too.
I’d love to try a DS, just to be able to put some power down for a change. But, I ain’t gonna risk it!
 
I'm no Darksider but just read an online article to the contrary. The bottom line is that dark sider love their tires and view the contrary studies to be irrelevant. If I CT works for you; go for it.
Its kind of like the gender confused. You can't fix them but you can numb it down a bit with a 2x4 .


2vcrs5.jpg
 
Back
Top