Roscoe
Chaplain
Ok in August I needed a new rear and front tyre, due to financial issues I decided to find out what all the hoohaa is about this so called "darkside" riding. I have read heaps about it over the years as I also have a v star 1100 and some people darkside them. So done my homework and decided I liked the look of the Federal 595 for my Rocket test.
I was planning on going "walkabout" in Septemeber school holidays but like I said I had financial issues and stayed home. so the outcome is, it took about 1000klms to actually scrub the tyre in so to speak, I noticed the transition as it became very smooth and I didn't have to manhandle the bike anymore.
The first week was raining so wet weather darksiding gets a score of 11 out of 10. Actually I felt the new front Avon was going to let me down but the federal kept it upright.
After scrubbing in period I thought lets go hell for leather and try a few mountain rides...... wow 9 out of 10 for scraping floorboards and and control-ability. Personally I don't think the front Avon is a very good match contrast to popular belief.
Now 2000klms later I only notice anything when travelling under 60klms/hr anything on or over 60 feels like I have a bike tyre on there! I will say I am impressed! I only have or feel issues with the tyre when I travel on roads that have ruts from heavy vehicles or like I said at slow speeds especially when I am crossing a speed hum a ledged driveway or a sloped gutter, it feels quite unstable on these issues but rarely have to worry about it anyway so a score of 5 out of ten for slow speed maneuvers.
Would I go dark again? I think yes I probablt would as I am putting a towbar on the bike and I doubt a tyre shop would be impressed having to work with a towbar in the way. Personally I don't think it feels any different than the old Dunlop K81's we used to use in the 80's as a cheap budget replacement, I think it was actually all but a square tyre and was popular with sidecar owners!
Overall score for riding a Rocket darkside, I have tried various different pressures from 25 to 40 Psi and have settled on the recomended 35 to 38Psi. I would say 9 out of 10. I like it for this bike anyway. I doubt I would darkside any other bike.
I was planning on going "walkabout" in Septemeber school holidays but like I said I had financial issues and stayed home. so the outcome is, it took about 1000klms to actually scrub the tyre in so to speak, I noticed the transition as it became very smooth and I didn't have to manhandle the bike anymore.
The first week was raining so wet weather darksiding gets a score of 11 out of 10. Actually I felt the new front Avon was going to let me down but the federal kept it upright.
After scrubbing in period I thought lets go hell for leather and try a few mountain rides...... wow 9 out of 10 for scraping floorboards and and control-ability. Personally I don't think the front Avon is a very good match contrast to popular belief.
Now 2000klms later I only notice anything when travelling under 60klms/hr anything on or over 60 feels like I have a bike tyre on there! I will say I am impressed! I only have or feel issues with the tyre when I travel on roads that have ruts from heavy vehicles or like I said at slow speeds especially when I am crossing a speed hum a ledged driveway or a sloped gutter, it feels quite unstable on these issues but rarely have to worry about it anyway so a score of 5 out of ten for slow speed maneuvers.
Would I go dark again? I think yes I probablt would as I am putting a towbar on the bike and I doubt a tyre shop would be impressed having to work with a towbar in the way. Personally I don't think it feels any different than the old Dunlop K81's we used to use in the 80's as a cheap budget replacement, I think it was actually all but a square tyre and was popular with sidecar owners!
Overall score for riding a Rocket darkside, I have tried various different pressures from 25 to 40 Psi and have settled on the recomended 35 to 38Psi. I would say 9 out of 10. I like it for this bike anyway. I doubt I would darkside any other bike.
The club I ride with are mostly Harley's and Jap cruisers so I have no need to thrash the bike through the mountains. Actually I played tail end charlie on last ride and actually enjoyed it back there might do it more often!
