R3 rear shocks - last question.. maybe..

[mully95]

You don't need a motorcycle tire. No, not even a car tire. What you need is a truck tire.

Bridgestone Corporation 59/80R63 VES radial - 13' 2.5" tall, 4' 10" wide, and weighing 5.1 tons - as the world's largest tire. Designed for 380-400-ton haul trucks, the tire has a load rating of 101 tons.

It's not nice to make fun of people........ lol

 

[mully95]

nah not big enought
Sorry I got on my soapbox Mully.

you won't know yourself new tyres new shocks!

just out of curiosity what brand and size DS are you currently runing I went to great lenght to find a CT that was fairly rounded on its shoulders and of a soft compound as I was not worried about get massive miles, I just wanted one that would stick like S**t to a blanket and while there is slight extra counter steer I was amazed at similar it felt to another rocket when I rode it except at low (crawl) speed and as I have already mentioned elsewhere I will give a Bridgey a go (when I wear this DS out) but it had better impress me or I will be straight back on to a DS and then look out Nah Sayers

Probably the worse tire I could have chosen.. Riken Raptor. Heck it wasn't but $102!

I think next time I will go Avon on the front and Bridgey on the back. I see a few that are happy with the combo. However I like for my tires to match.... it's the ****** rocket that's in me I guess. I have already told Metz that they to step it up with there tire quality but that didn't do any good I bet.

 

[warp9.9]

Yeah I know that..... I've tried the darkside so it's time to go back to the motorcycle tire. What has happened is I have forgotten what it's like to ride with a motorcycle tire. Once I wear this mc tire out I will make up my mind what I need to stick with. What I did was when I first installed the darkside tire I hated it! I believe it was about 2 days after I installed the DS tire I ordered a new Metz (the same tire that is fixing to on). It was hard for me to turn the bike at slow speeds and I felt like I was fighting the motorcycle everytime I rode it. It still feels like that but has gotten better because the edges of the DS tire have become rounded. "IF" I ever put a DS tire back on I will grind the edges down before it goes on the motorcycle so I will bypass all the pulling and pushing of the bike like it was when the DS tire was new.
Another thing is for some reason the DS tire looses air pressure very quickly. In 3 or 4 days I have to add 10psi before I can take the bike on a ride. THAT has became a pain in the ass! I know I'm lazy but I don't believe I should have to add air to a tire quit that often. I always check the front as well and it never looses air.
My DynaBeads came today.... front tire will be here tomorrow..... Saturday I'm going riding with rainman, stb, joseywales..... so I won't be able to do much until the following week. Oh,, and my new shocks will be here Sat as well.

Mully the metz won't last as long as others if you decide to stay with a MC tire after the metz I suggest the exedra max it will pull the most mileage and has good grip. I rate it #1 then the Avon cobra then the metzler. I ran the mets at the drag strip and its hooks up well. I live in flat land country so it would not be fair for me to coment on its grip in the twisties. I do not drag pegs oor anything except my ass when its lazy. I still have the original hero blobs on my floor boards. But I am speaking of mileage and a lot of it at high speeds. I have even had the metz to zero on the speedo the second time around and it ran smooth.

 

[1olbull]

Yeah I know that..... I've tried the darkside so it's time to go back to the motorcycle tire. What has happened is I have forgotten what it's like to ride with a motorcycle tire. Once I wear this mc tire out I will make up my mind what I need to stick with. What I did was when I first installed the darkside tire I hated it! I believe it was about 2 days after I installed the DS tire I ordered a new Metz (the same tire that is fixing to on). It was hard for me to turn the bike at slow speeds and I felt like I was fighting the motorcycle everytime I rode it. It still feels like that but has gotten better because the edges of the DS tire have become rounded. "IF" I ever put a DS tire back on I will grind the edges down before it goes on the motorcycle so I will bypass all the pulling and pushing of the bike like it was when the DS tire was new.
Another thing is for some reason the DS tire looses air pressure very quickly. In 3 or 4 days I have to add 10psi before I can take the bike on a ride. THAT has became a pain in the ass! I know I'm lazy but I don't believe I should have to add air to a tire quit that often. I always check the front as well and it never looses air.
My DynaBeads came today.... front tire will be here tomorrow..... Saturday I'm going riding with rainman, stb, joseywales..... so I won't be able to do much until the following week. Oh,, and my new shocks will be here Sat as well.

Mully,
I hear what you say. I have tried the CT and did not like it. HOWEVER, many really like them and some have found CTs that are more rounded than others. You might check into the Darkside world for more on this. You do ride on that edge and that's why the DSers run lower air pressure in order to force the sidewalls to flex more to compensate.

Also I have read about differences in wheel bead design on cars versus motors and on their respective tire designs. Perhaps this has something to do with your air leaks.

ONLY MY OPINION - If one rides within the limits of a CT it seems to work for many without problem and that's cool by me. In my racing experience, motors handle best when things DO NOT flex. Frames, swing arms, forks . . . Lowering the air pressure on a tire never designed to lean in order to cause the sidewall of the tire flex and keep more rubber on the road simply cannot improve overall handling and cornering. If/When approaching performance limits, that flexing will be disconcerting and counter productive. This whole tire design/rubber composition thing is a huge science and one I surely am NO master of; but, I do find it fascinating.
Best Regards,
1olbull

 

[mully95]

Got the 444 Progressive shocks installed today. If you are thinking about getting these shocks or getting aftermarket shocks go ahead and do yourself a favor!

My bike rides like cadillac compared to what it used to. Takes the bumps like a champ now! I'm so happy I did this!

Pros
Rides a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike doesn't shoot you out of the saddle )
Handles a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike just feels clamped in the corners )
Lowered the bike just a shade even though these was supposed to be stock ride height. ( I like it better this way )
The shocks weigh MUCH less than the old ones.
They're black instead of chrome

Cons
I wished they had sent black washers for the studs. ( I will black them out later )

 

[TheMadScientist]

Got the 444 Progressive shocks installed today. If you are thinking about getting a these shocks or getting aftermarket shocks go ahead and do yourself a favor!

My bike rides like cadillac compared to what it used to. Takes the bumps like a champ now! I'm so happy I did this!

Pros
Rides a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike doesn't shoot you out of the saddle )
Handles a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike just feels clamped in the corners )
Lowered the bike just a shade even though these was supposed to be stock ride height. ( I like it better this way )
The shocks weigh MUCH less than the old ones.
They're black instead of chrome

Cons
I wished they had sent black washers for the studs. ( I will black them out later )

They look real sharp. I want to upgrade my shocks. How much do you weigh, if you don't mind me asking? I am around 270 and am curious if these would work for me. With my wife on back, that is another 125 lbs.

 

[mully95]

They look real sharp. I want to upgrade my shocks. How much do you weigh, if you don't mind me asking? I am around 270 and am curious if these would work for me. With my wife on back, that is another 125 lbs.

I weigh around 170. With me sitting on the bike the rear end sags roughly 1/2" or shade more. This isn't a perfect number because I didn't do any measuring. I will eventually .And right now the shocks are set at the lightest setting. They have the same shock in standard and heavy duty. I have the standard and still have plenty to crank down on just in case I have a rider, extra baggage, or both.

I bet you need a upgrade (aftermarket) shock more that I do because you are dealing with more weight that I am.

 

[Watcher]

Hey we are fluffy not fat 270 I'm 290 not fat fluffy dont forget it and yes I think aftermarket shocks are better for us fluffy guys but have not got any yet waiting to hear how this thread went

 

[HansO]

Got the 444 Progressive shocks installed today. If you are thinking about getting these shocks or getting aftermarket shocks go ahead and do yourself a favor!

My bike rides like cadillac compared to what it used to. Takes the bumps like a champ now! I'm so happy I did this!

Pros
Rides a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike doesn't shoot you out of the saddle )
Handles a whole lot better ( The rear of the bike just feels clamped in the corners )
Lowered the bike just a shade even though these was supposed to be stock ride height. ( I like it better this way )
The shocks weigh MUCH less than the old ones.
They're black instead of chrome

Cons
I wished they had sent black washers for the studs. ( I will black them out later )

Now you just have do something about the undercoat on the rest of the bike but Shocks look OK in Black to compliment the chrome .......

 

[mully95]

Now you just have do something about the undercoat on the rest of the bike but Shocks look OK in Black to compliment the chrome .......

You can't tell by the pictures that I have red paint under the mud guard and fender for protection of my undercoating.