Darkside Review ride

Anyone following the Darkside Review??? thread will be aware that the plan was for the journo writing the article for Australian Road Rider Cruiser + Trike Magazine would meet some darksiders, have a ride and take on board views and comments to inform his writing. This happened this morning.

Four of us met at the beautiful sea side town of Batemans Bay, 150km east of Canberra - 3 running darkside and me running the Avon - and, as an aside, 4 different exhausts: Preds with blower (Ruzzell), Jars (Rock Hard), Staintune (Hanso) and TORS (me). What a fantastic sound we made as we rode out of town together for the 'test' ride - and that was just Hanso's yakking.

Have to say that my starting position before this morning was that I'm yet to be convinced D/S is a viable option on a bike and nothing happened today that would cause me to categorically rule it out, but I also can't say I'm any more likely to switch either. There is no doubt the bikes with CTs were handling the hilly, twisty stuff we rode on just as well as the 2 bikes with MTs (mine and the Harley the journo was riding). I did have the impression though that the CTs needed a bit more effort, especially to deal with the camber of the road if not to get around the corners. Seems that once they're over, there's little difference: the 'battle' being to get them over in the first place.

Jouno did ride Hanso's bike for some of it but clearly he's not a novice and is a very exerienced rider, including D/S, so he took to it easily. In fact, Hanso looked far more uncomfortable riding the Harley but only because he was worried someone would recognise him .

We spent quite a lot of time talking and the Journo was happy to take away some material that Ruzzell gave him and other info that Hanso has/is/will provide him. He confirmed that the article wouldn't be making any recommendations either way but would (obviously) include his own opinion. I'm pretty sure it will provide an interesting perspective and I suspect, without putting words in his mouth or pre-empting anything, he is likely to say that there are many plusses with CTs but that it remains an odd choice for a bike. Doubt he'll bag them but is unlikely to endorse them. Please don't shoot the messenger.

For what it's worth, I think I tend to agree. If/when cost becomes a absolute essential critrion then I'd probably be prepared to go D/S with a degree of confidence. Until then I'm likely to see the cost of a good MT as being a necessary evil. In any case, with a new Cobra that I couldn't be happier with (except the price of course) I have hopefully several thousand km to decide and more 'evidence' to sift through.

I said I'd be able to compare ther Cobra to the Metz as I've ridden the Clyde several times on a Metz. Short answer is the Cobra leaves it for dead. It definitely seems flatter and wider than a Metz and therefore puts more rubber on the road. I have scrapped pegs and even my boots are worn away on the edges after this ride, which I didn't have the confidence to do with the Metz (very often). Trip down was a bit wet so I can't really compare but it did feel as sure footed as an 800lb bike can on a wet, steep, scary road like that.

Hanso spent more time one on one with the journo so might be able to tell you more.

One last thing. This actually was the first ride I've been on with other Rockets (true - I'm usually waiting for Harley and Vulcan to catch up) and it was an absolute blast; second best fun you can have sitting down. I'm totally envious of you guys over there with your RAA and hope I can get away later next month for the Tassie Salvo with the guys I rode with this morning.

Later.

ps the article is likely to be run in about 3 months ie not the next edition of the mag but the one after.

Great writeup, now give the exhaust note comparison?

Excellent! If nothing else, perhaps the tire makers will get the idea to make a tire more suited for what we ride and how we ride. A "crossover" kind of thing ... isn't that the latest thing anyway, something that does both? A car tire with rounded sides is exactly what this bike is screaming for.

**** it looks nice there, no snow.

If you could post a way to get a copy of that rag issue we would appreciate it.

"yaking" eh!!! "just you wait mister higgins" cheeky bugger
just so you know Ruzzle runs Kumho 245/50/16, Rockhard a Toyo 225/50/16 and I run a Toyo t1r 245/55/16, the journo was a freak that guy could really ride he was on my tail all the way up but at times I was nearly pissing myself as I could hear the under carrage of the hardly being obliterated as he pushed it hard, I take my hat of to him as I have never had someone stay on my arse like he did and on a hardly at that, after we parted company with CanberraR3 and went back down the mountain to the coast the plan was to just cruise down........ that worked for the first couple of corners Stuart (the journo) in front followed by myself, Ruzzle and Rockhard but the mountain got the better of us well lets just say Pegs were scraped hard with tyres getting a punnishing and were rather tacky when we got down, that was 4 hours ago and I still can't get rid of the grin let alone get to sleep as I have to work tonite. yeah you missed a good ride back down but am glad to get to meet you and you will have to get your act together for Tassie

HellFire said:

Excellent! If nothing else, perhaps the tire makers will get the idea to make a tire more suited for what we ride and how we ride. A "crossover" kind of thing ... isn't that the latest thing anyway, something that does both? A car tire with rounded sides is exactly what this bike is screaming for.

**** it looks nice there, no snow.

If you could post a way to get a copy of that rag issue we would appreciate it.

Click to expand...

Pm me your address and I get a copy to ya, not sure if we can put the articale on here due to copyrite but I will ask "the Bear"

Binnsy said:

Great writeup, now give the exhaust note comparison?

Click to expand...

Should have thought ahead and done a sound clip I suppose. Maybe next time.

I think the Staintunes had the deepest note. Not muffled but certainly less offensive (?) than a really loud system. Hanso said he's getting headers for it next so will be interesting to see what difference that makes.
My TORS with Staintune crossover collector probably loudest but raspy by comparison.
Jars were somewhere in between the Staintune and TORS.
Preds really howled once the blower got wound up.

I liked the Staintunes best but they all sounded good - and fantastic when they all started up together. Sort of a rumbling symphony that turned a lot of heads through town and across the bridge. And that was just 4 of us!

TORS look the best. I know the std exhaust has always been a bit of a joke but that's just the way the bike should look - "looks only a mother could love". Plus I really do think a tripple should have three pipes.
Staintunes are similar but have that odd centre pipe poking out that I suppose some will like and others not, and the colour isn't a perfect match to the heat shields.
Jars could look great if the quality was better, especially if you like symmetry. From a distance they're very cool.
Preds just look lethal, especially with the blower sitting there, if that's the look you're after.

All IMO.

hanso said:

"yaking" eh!!! "just you wait mister higgins" cheeky bugger
just so you know Ruzzle runs Kumho 245/50/16, Rockhard a Toyo 225/50/16 and I run a Toyo t1r 245/55/16, the journo was a freak that guy could really ride he was on my tail all the way up but at times I was nearly pissing myself as I could hear the under carrage of the hardly being obliterated as he pushed it hard, I take my hat of to him as I have never had someone stay on my arse like he did and on a hardly at that, after we parted company with CanberraR3 and went back down the mountain to the coast the plan was to just cruise down........ that worked for the first couple of corners Stuart (the journo) in front followed by myself, Ruzzle and Rockhard but the mountain got the better of us well lets just say Pegs were scraped hard with tyres getting a punnishing and were rather tacky when we got down, that was 4 hours ago and I still can't get rid of the grin let alone get to sleep as I have to work tonite. yeah you missed a good ride back down but am glad to get to meet you and you will have to get your act together for Tassie

Click to expand...

I knew you lot wouldn't be able to control yourself. Stuart was unbelievable - was obvious actually the way he hopped on your bike as if he'd been riding darkside for years. I'd have loved to have gone down the mountain again but just didn't fancy the return on my own. I'm still grinning too though. That run up was amazing. Steep as it is, I'm sure we were hitting close to $1.60 on some of it (but no way I was going to look). Both my Avons are worn right to the lip now. I've never had a ride like it.

Really hope to make Tassie. Probably 50:50 at this stage (single parent, youngish kids). But we will catch up soon regardless.

Sounds like an excellent ride you blokes had... It's great riding with other rockets. Three of us did darwin,adelaide,g.o.r,the snowies then back up the east coast last xmas,all the way at territory speeds. I took my rocket down to tassie in early 2009, even two-up with luggage i had a blast. I always enjoy riding down there. I reckon if it was'nt soo f#ckin cold in winter half the riders in australia be living down there, its motorcycle heaven. Thanks for giving the brands and sizes of the c/t your running, passed them onto my mate donny who's talking about giving them a try.

Looking forward to the article. Keep in mind, short time and miles on darkside does not give the full impression. Your focus on the effort to start the lean is normal and indicative of a darkside newbie. After a while you don't even notice it. In fact, it feels weird when I ride a non darkside bike now. Too unstable.

I'm sure you're right. I was just looking and what I wrote is what I saw. The journo has been researching darkside for a while and, as both Hanso and I have said, is an unbelievable rider. He didn't look like a newbie at all when he rode Hanso's bike and I'm sure isn't going to base this long researched article on whether he enjoyed the short ride he had; that's not what he's about.