Worn Sidewall

[Grumpy_Rocket]

Your roads must be different then the roads here (milwaukee wi). I will get atleast 6k miles out of the rear on my bike, and I go through peg feelers every few days (even with hanging off the bike )

 

[Lester532]

One thing I cant understand about the darkside is cost being a issue. I can understand wanting maximum traction in a straight line due to the torque, great wear if you never lean the bike and you were sick of wearing the center down to nothing with the sides 100% left, better traction in the rain, better load handling, etc. Considering a motorcycle is hardly pratical compared to a car (even more so anyplace it snows) and the fact you pay 10k to 16k +++ for the rocket which is really overpriced compared to the fact you can get many cars with 4 times the raw materials in them, I don't see the point of doing it from a cost perspective. IMHO

You are of coarse entitled to your humble opinion, and thank you for expressing it in a rational manner. But in my case cost was the reason I went to the darkside.
I fell in love with the Rocket 3 after a test ride, but I couldn't afford a new one. I found a used 2005 one Ebay spring of 2008 the price was right so I went for it. I took 3 vacation days to go to San Antonio, TX. I work for an airline so the flight was very cheap. By the time I rode the 1100 miles home the Metzler was just about gone.

When I got home I found out that American Airlines was cancelling their contract with us. Now I had a motorcycle payment, reduced hours, and a worn out Metzler. I rode very sparingly that summer putting on only another 2000 miles by mid September. Now I had cord showing on the back and 12500 miles on the badly worn and cupped front. So my choice was to park it until tax time or go darkside. $200 dollars difference is a lot when you don't have a lot.

The money situation is better now. I could take off the dark side a put on an Avon every year but why would I ? I would be on my third MT now spending about $900 for the 3 of them. The darkside cost me about $120 including shipping and installation that's a difference of $880 so far and it's only about half worn. And I prefer the ride of the CT.

 

[rainman]

You are of coarse entitled to your humble opinion, and thank you for expressing it in a rational manner. But in my case cost was the reason I went to the darkside.
I fell in live with the Rocket 3 after a test ride, but I couldn't afford a new one. I found a used 2005 one Ebay spring of 2008 the price was right so I went for it. I took 3 vacation days to go to San Antonio, TX. I work for an airline so the flight was very cheap. By the time I rode the 1100 miles home the Metzler was just about gone.

When I got home I found out that American Airlines was cancelling their contract with us. Now I had a motorcycle payment, reduced hours, and a worn out Metzler. I rode very sparingly that summer putting on only another 2000 miles by mid September. Now I had cord showing on the back and 12500 miles on the badly worn and cupped front. So my choice was to park it until tax time or go darkside. $200 dollars difference is a lot when you don't have a lot.

The money situation is better now. I could take off the dark side a put on an Avon every year but why would I ? I would be on my third MT now spending about $900 for the 3 of them. The darkside cost me about $120 including shipping and installation that's a difference of $880 so far and it's only about half worn. And I prefer the ride of the CT.

+1 but i dont work for a airline

 

[HansO]

Your roads must be different then the roads here (milwaukee wi). I will get atleast 6k miles out of the rear on my bike, and I go through peg feelers every few days (even with hanging off the bike )

peg feelers!! what are they, I got rid of them after snaping a peg!!!!!!

 

[HellFire]

I can report that my BFG G-Force 225/55 VR16 has yet to scuff anywhere but on the tread. I've also gotten so used to it that I cannot even feel if it still has that little bit of initial turning resistance I noticed at first. It's been fantastic and I'll put another one on when this wears out (in 30,000 miles or so )

 

[atomsplitter]

Just thought I'd chip my 2 pennies into this for towing darkside. I had only one problem on my trip when I hit the rear brake. The rear tire still locked up and I went sideways. Let go of that brake and it all sorted itself out again. Other than that the darkside was a more comfortable choice all way round for towing and touring. (I also went over the 'Dragon' on that trip).

 

[HansO]

This is a well worn tyre if you double click and look closely you can see where I have worn throught the thread rubber and it is starting to show the carcass rubber (different colour) believe it or not but this tyre was still griping quite good even in pouring rain coming back from Canberra ACT to home, in I mean nonstop rain

 

[HellFire]

This is a well worn tyre if you double click and look closely you can see where I have worn throught the thread rubber and it is starting to show the carcass rubber (different colour) believe it or not but this tyre was still griping quite good even in pouring rain coming back from Canberra ACT to home, in I mean nonstop rain

So how many miles do you have on that tire and how much will it cost to replace it?

What's a little premature wear on an area of a tire that doesn't leave you stranded and costs less per mile to operate and replace than a Met? I'm sure you will agree Hanso.

I know if I eventually war out the edge before the center (for a change), I'll still be happy as pie with my new choice in the darkside.

 

[HansO]

So how many miles do you have on that tire and how much will it cost to replace it?

What's a little premature wear on an area of a tire that doesn't leave you stranded and costs less per mile to operate and replace than a Met? I'm sure you will agree Hanso.

I know if I eventually war out the edge before the center (for a change), I'll still be happy as pie with my new choice in the darkside.

That's 16,000 hard klm's or 8,000 miles, some might say that ain't much but that is good for me, I'm not gentle on tyres, never have been. Of that 7,000 klm's of that was towing my 450kg (992 lb) camper trailer, mind you towing chews the tyre too and there is still a couple of thousand KLM in the middle but when I saw the carcass rubber starting to show on the shoulders I knew it was time to order a new one, it should be arriveing today

Sorry you asked cost well when you consider a crap metz will set you back au $450.00and while I got 6,000 klm from the original I was taking it easy getting the hang of the bike for the first couple of hundred klms and never trusted the metz from day one so never really pushed it hard coming out of corners.
The Toyo Proxes T1R 245/55/16 is probally one of the more expensive car tyres out there at $280 fitted the next tyre I have been asured is every bit as good (we will see) is costing $218 fitted made by Federal it is a 595 245/50/16, if I don't like it after my trip to Sydney next week end I rip it of and go back to the Toyo cos I love it, I am trying the Federal cos the proxes doesn't come in the 50 profile

 

[Joker]

Don't worry, your wear pattern is perfectly normal, carry on....