new darkside tire?

[Spillman]

Where did you read that? Surely most riders prefer MTs (which doesn't mean we necessarily think they're perfect or even particularly good) and even some darksiders would "prefer" to use an MT. The problem seems to be lack of choice, cost, poor mileage (and if you do some performance mods, it's even worse - without trying), therefore even more cost, and the desire for more traction.

I don't know for sure, and darksiders will correct me, but I doubt there would be too many riders who'd use a car tire under any circs IF there was an MT available that met their needs.

Why would you consider a CT for an R3 if you wouldn't put one on the 9?

I have a 260/40r16 and a 160/60r16 for the front

Did you really put a 16" wheel on the back of that - I recall the C109 runs a 240/55x16 but the M runs an 18.

Yes the m109r runs 18's, that was a typo.

And for the most popular tire that was for those on the dark side. It seems from reading posts on a couple of forums the 225/55 was the most often mentioned size for darksiders.

Technically MOST riders prefer the stock tire since percentage wise there are very few running ct's.

You right again.

****, I hate it when your right.

 

[Spillman]

Why would you consider a CT for an R3 if you wouldn't put one on the 9?

I have been riding a total of 9 months . I bought the 9 the last week of march 2010. I got it with 0 miles and put 35k miles on it since then. Before getting the 9 I had a Honda 750f 25 years ago and hadn't ridden since.

I never said I wouldn't put a ct on my bike, I'm just now getting back into bikes. I had never heard of ct's on bike till I got on this forum looking at the roadster.

I didn't like the idea of changing tires every other month on my 9 when I can buy a 60k or 80k and up tire for my car. I felt like the man was sticking it to me. Didn't make sense.

Anyway, I'm happy to be here with a bunch of guys that partake of knowledge from everyone on the forum. Like this one, thats what makes the M109 forum great. They have saved my azz while 650 miles from home. I knew what to do to fix my bike just from having read "How To's" on the forum. Glad to be here and have all of you guys as friends and will hopefully ride with yall some day.

 

[CanberraR3]

Thanks Spillman. You will have noticed that there are some avid darksiders and some avid non-darksiders on this forum - and many many more who just want to know what the options are. We all share your views about the ridiculous frequency we need to change MTs on these things, and the 9 would be exactly the same, and yes, the man is sticking it too us and it sucks.

You will get great advice here on anything and everything - sometimes blunt but invariably useful. You will love the Rocket.

 

[tdragger]

And to answer your speedo question. Yes, the Rocket's speedo is a little generous. On average I would say about 7%.

The ECU modifcation programs, TuneBoy and TuneECU, allow you to adjust the speedo to read what it should.

 

[Spillman]

Thanks Spillman. You will have noticed that there are some avid darksiders and some avid non-darksiders on this forum - and many many more who just want to know what the options are. We all share your views about the ridiculous frequency we need to change MTs on these things, and the 9 would be exactly the same, and yes, the man is sticking it too us and it sucks.

You will get great advice here on anything and everything - sometimes blunt but invariably useful. You will love the Rocket.

And to answer your speedo question. Yes, the Rocket's speedo is a little generous. On average I would say about 7%.

The ECU modifcation programs, TuneBoy and TuneECU, allow you to adjust the speedo to read what it should.

Thanks fellers,

I feel an Allstate commercial coming on.

 

[xhdskip]

Spillman,
If I remember correctly, you said you were about 5'6" tall.
That's the height of my wife.
I'm a little over 6' myself and the 225x55 works great for me.
But on my bike she (the wife) has to tip toe.
On her bike I put a 225x 50 and she can flat foot her Rocket easily.
You wouldn't think just a .5 difference would make that much difference,
but in her case it sure did.
They'll both be at Maggie Valley and you can try the different sizes out then if you want to,
see which, if either, you prefer.

 

[Spillman]

Spillman,
If I remember correctly, you said you were about 5'6" tall.
That's the height of my wife.
I'm a little over 6' myself and the 225x55 works great for me.
But on my bike she (the wife) has to tip toe.
On her bike I put a 225x 50 and she can flat foot her Rocket easily.
You wouldn't think just a .5 difference would make that much difference,
but in her case it sure did.
They'll both be at Maggie Valley and you can try the different sizes out then if you want to,
see which, if either, you prefer.

thanks xhdskip,

Wow, tip toe to flat foot. Thats great. I see pics of guys sitting on their bikes flat foot and just wish I could come close to doing at least half that. Picking the right tire will go a long way to maximizing rider comfort. Thanks for that info. You wouldn't think such a small change could make such a big difference.

And Maggie Valley is gonna be on my list of 'places to go and things to do and people to talk to' list for next year.


Thanks for the offer.

 

[BehereNow]

prev quote:
"Technically MOST riders prefer the stock tire since percentage wise there are very few running ct's."

Technically most riders do not like to ride their Rockets, since percentage wise there are very few riding over 6000 miles a year.
If I don't do 10k I feel deprived. And I live in snow country (Appalachia).
Yeah, I love the Dark Side, makes me feel safe.
I saw a 5 year old Rocket (owned, not sitting on the showroom floor) with 6000 miles. WTF?

~ ~ ~
If the Rocket is not being ridden, the rider does not push it through the curves, not need to replace the tire every month, or even every year. I would like to see statistics on the riders doing 10k per year, repeatedly, and using a MCT.
I just don't think there are very many of them.
Anyone out there riding that much, and using MCT, and what kind of milage are you getting?
I topped out at 3500, on steel belts, with the first one. 3000 and bald on the second one, now with Dark Side.

 

[TOMCAT]

I've put 40,500 miles (65,000klms) on my Rocket in the 2 years i've owned it.Always run Metzler Marathons. Get an average 6.200 miles ( 10,000 klms) per tyre.

 

[CanberraR3]

I've put just under 10,000km on mine in just over 7 months. I ride pretty much every day in any weather - although our winter rarely sees snow or temps below -5C so that's not too hard. Commuting and trips away. I push pretty hard sometimes but don't feel the need to do it all the time. It is a Rocket after all and I don't feel it or I have to prove a thing.

I'm happy enough with the Metz but am trying an Avon Cobra next (week) to see if better mileage..

Not sure who conducted your "research", BehereNow, but from what I can see everyone on this site loves to ride their Rockets and we'd all ride more if weather and other commitments allowed. If you want to make yourself feel better about putting a car tire on your bike you should try to do it without inventing statistics or insulting (the intelligence of) everyone else and certainly without contradicting yourself.

You think putting on miles and a car tire and pushing through curves makes you different and somehow proves you're better than everyone else but frankly nothing in your post impresses me one bit.