NOT for discussion on whether to or Not!
This thread is intended to compare notes, thoughts and Ideas for those of us who have made the swap...
Having tried this for the first time, I`ve found that mounting these tires can be a challenge...
It took quite a toll on my Serenity whilst I Wrestled with Seating the Bead on installation...
Once I got to Riding, I`m noticing a much different handing charactristics...
I feel that you had better have them Chain Adjusters EXACTLY True and EVEN, as the Bike now "Stays Straight"...
I have to pull, push or turn the handlebars to Steer, moreso than before...
That Rear tire follows the "Groove" on painted lines...
As on my road home, these painted lines are raised from erosion and having been painted through the years...
The tire holds the road good, and feels comfortable to me...
I read on a "darkside Forum" that Break in is required???
I`m at 145+ miles so far...
Who`s got more to add to these "words of Wisdom and Experience on Darkside Tires???
Gnarly, That`s PROBABLY the Truth of it!
Big, I`ll hafta go look at the namebrand, but you sure would chastize me for putting OVER 100# to seat it in it...
I`m running 34ColdPSI as my initial trial, though
Gnarly, That`s PROBABLY the Truth of it!
Big, I`ll hafta go look at the namebrand, but you sure would chastize me for putting OVER 100# to seat it in it...
I`m running 34ColdPSI as my initial trial, though
I believe you when you say that had to put 100+ to seat the tire. Depending on the tire make, model and the type of compound, seating the bead can be quite a chore.
In the meantime, I've decided that my mini experimentation with a MT on both my bikes are over. I'm an aggressive rider and I ride hard, which basically means my tire mileage is going to suck. I was already prepared for this. I mounted a brand new Avon Cobra on my yellow Valk before I left for my trip last month. I just got around cleaning the bike and noticed that I am down to the wear bars on the rear tire and the center has almost squared off. Less than 5k miles on this tire, unf**kingbelievable!!!!
I just placed an order for 2 new Yokohama Avid Envigor for both my bikes. Tires should be in on Wednesday. Tire has a nice rounded profile and from what I understand requires very minimal pressure to seat, around 45-50 PSI.
You can use car tires as motorcycle tires,
You can use a football helmet as a motorcycle helmet,
You can use oven gloves as motorcycle gloves,
You can use snow boots as motorcycle boots...
What with my MOSTLY "straight up" riding, I`m wearing out the center also, so NOW I have MUCH more tread on the ground, MOST of the time...
As asked/mentioned, the brand is kinda X-brand by TBC in TN, labeled Classic...
NORVIN, DO You use the darkside tire?
I`m not looking for critizism in this thread...
I`ve been riding motorcycles since the early 70s, fresh outta high school, Bikes have been my choice of transporting me through life, millions of miles and several states...
Not to mention the wives
NORVIN, DO You use the darkside tire?
I`m not looking for critizism in this thread...
I`ve been riding motorcycles since the early 70s, fresh outta high school, Bikes have been my choice of transporting me through life, millions of miles and several states...
Not to mention the wives
I`ve "read up" on it too...
Literally for years, talked about it with those who do it! This comparison thread is for those of us who are riding Darkside to give/get pointers...
I personally haven't tried it, BUT, I've had lots of close friends try it and give good input on it.
From what I have heard and read the tire selection is key. Using a directional type tire is key. And it needs a rounded profile.
Bro in law chose a tire because availability and price instead of waiting 2 days, he hated it, one direction it flowed nicely into the curves, the other direction was a lot more rider input. He ride for 1500 or so miles and gave up. This was on Valk Interstate.
Will I ever try it, maybe on next bike, from my research I have not found one that works on ST 1100, the 1300 it is very popular, Canyon swears it's a better ride! I have went darkside on the front of the ST (rear mc tire) and love it, should get nearly 30k out of it.
Dennis, I agree all negative comments without experience should be left out.
Installed, in anticipation of my upcoming trip to "Lil Sturgis" KY, I`ll have enough time and miles on this rear tire to KNOW whether or Not I like it...
1600 round trip, PLUS whatever me, Gnarly and Scared might put on the Odometer...
I done got 200
Installed, in anticipation of my upcoming trip to "Lil Sturgis" KY, I`ll have enough time and miles on this rear tire to KNOW whether or Not I like it...
1600 round trip, PLUS whatever me, Gnarly and Scared might put on the Odometer...
I done got 200
So far I love the car tire on mine! Dont anticipate going back the MT. I used 110 psi seating it and wasn't sure if it would pop on or explode. I read it's common to use alot of pressure on the 15 in. tires. Also I measured the ID on several to find the biggest one. Its a firestone affinity. Took about 10 miles to get used to cornering. I run 40 psi and feels perfect.
So I know very little about this but what's the pros and cons of using a passenger style tire over a motorcycle tire? I'm still a noobie with bikes and I'm interested in the concept. Do you use passenger tires on both front and rear or just the rear, from what I read it's a very debated subject with very strong opinions against it. I hope this question isn't taking away from the original thread.
Having xxxx miles on it, I can attest, the front tire is the one that is following them raised painted lines in/on my road that I mentioned earlier...
I feel a bit of difference in taking off now...
When I accelerate from a stop, and turn left or right, I feel the sidewall "give"...
I THINK the sidewall is the culprit, which gave me the pucker factor the first time it done it...
I`m a motorcyclist, I ride a motorcycle, I put many miles on the odometer each year, therefore, I`m looking to increase tire mileage...
The center ALWAYS wears, WELL BEFORE the sides do, so I went Darkside to see IF that`ll help this delimma ...
I have no complaints on handling now that I`m used to the difference in handling charactoristics...
I forgot to check mileage before I sat down here tonite, therefore the xxxx miles...
BUT it`s up near 2,000 already (I think)
I keep forgetting to check HOT tire pressure, Dang it!
Its consideration riding a Valk but when I got 15,000 mi. plus on a normal set of good tires on my Shadow, nah. As always mentioned the handling is different and how much different to the point of liking/disliking, that a personal choice. Another thing to consider is you still have drop the rear end to service the splines on schedule regardless.
The Valks have a different choice called Austone taxi tire that has a more rounded profile and taller thus reducing rpm by 200. Valks have issues with clearance in the fender well with different DS tires. One other thing that helps is getting tires that have a directional tread pattern.
When I first saw the post that @captain D was going to try one of these. I started reading up on them as well. Wondering if this may be for me as well since I do a lot of freeway riding. The only thing I read that gave me any doubts were the concerns for the sidewalls. Other than that. Every one that, most every one that ran them liked them. I did read about them following every little groove. The big thing was the car tire sidewalls are not made to deal with the side loads a motorcycle would put on them.
Other than that. There is a great video on youtube that shows a bike with a dark side driving down the road. Camera mounted under the bike. The tire makes a lot more contact with the road than I expected. With that, I will follow along here as well to get a little more educated.
Our son John, has already been through two DS tires...
He is convinced to stick with it...
Me? Not at all positive on that commitment, right yet...
I did do some study on it before I tried, but hadn't anyone say anything bad about it from any who HAS tried it...
What`s the saying? Time will tell,
D
You did read that I`m convinced the FRONT tire is the one following that eroded and raised painted line on my road, didn`t you?
That took some work, figuring that out
I did. But notices others thinking the rear because it started with it. I am not trying to say any thing negative, as I am interested in this too. Plus I have no actual knowledge on this. I haven't met any one personally that has one to ask about it. Most seem to think it was a good choice to do. I hope to need a new tire at the end of the year. The info from this thread will help me to decide. :grin2:
Hopefully this thread will continue with comments and evaluations so WE can learn...
Yeah, that front tire is less than 50% tread on it now, and I`ll order one soon...
Prolly Michelin Commander ll front tire, BUT? I MAY just find a rear 120/90-17 and go "Double darkside"
Hopefully this thread will continue with comments and evaluations so WE can learn...
Yeah, that front tire is less than 50% tread on it now, and I`ll order one soon...
Prolly Michelin Commander ll front tire, BUT? I MAY just find a rear 120/90-17 and go "Double darkside"
Bridgestone battalax bt45 is what mine is, almost positive....
I'll dub chk.
Edit...
I checked, mine is that tire different size though 110/90/18, but a friend has used 3 of these on front of his ST and averaged 32,000 on each, not bad huh. Mine has 9,000 still like new.
Gotta get Ann a battery for her "Yard Truck" (club car Carry All ll) They`re 100 Hondabuck$ each, but we`re getting them all replaced as we can...
BUT that puts a damper on my tire until I can get some $$$...
I`ve not looked yet for a rear 120/90-17 except to price that Front tire back a couple weeks ago...
You find a rear mc tire the same size or close to your FRONT tire size.
Run a tube or seal spokes, either will work. To seal spokes people use different sealants but marine grade stuff, sorry can't remember exactly which tho, to seal the rim spoke holes and smooth it over. Google search it, Aced it from here had done a nice write up on it.
When putting the rear m/c tire on the front, I have read that it doesn't matter which direction it is mounted but have read that it should be mounted reverse direction because when mounted on the front it needs to be turned this way for braking usage. My question,,,when mounted in reverse it reverses the tread direction, how does this reverse tread affect it's performance on wet pavement?
I think over inflation will cause the center to wear, more, as mentioned up a couple posts...
On a DS forum suggestion, I`m running 36 Cold, which is 40 warm...
I keep forgetting to check pressure when I get off the bike immediately, it has done cooled some...
I know winter will be cooler tire temps, but Summer time, these tires get HOT!
I read 114 is typical of them...
1 pound per 10 degrees I think I remember is the equation?
Nitrogen helps the temperature rise I`ve been told,
D
Yeah, I ain`t made that commitment just yet
But with 2300 miles on it, I`m OK with the feel and handling...
I don`t ride any different than before the swap...
I`ll know more once I "finish off" the front Pirelli that I "recycled off the Spares rack", it follows those nasties in the road...
I donot "feel the bike wanting to go straight" any longer, as I "thought" I did first time out...
i am not sure of the rubber density of the darkside but i do know that a harder rubber does handle differently
than a soft rubbered tire and the harder rubber will also last longer in my experiences over the last 40 or so years
i have shinko tires on my virago not exactly positive what i have on the shadow only had it about 2 1/2 years and still has the same tires from when i got it
i keep the virago up north and the shadow done south so i have a bike to ride whether i am home or whether i am home lol
@"Captain D", Do you have spoke wheels or "mags"? If spokes, did you seal the spokes or use a tube? If you used a tube did you use a C/T tube or a M/C tube?
My apologies for all the questions. My rear tire has only 2mm of usable tread left (manual says 2mm and replace it) with only 6211 miles on it. I checked the dunlop site and it states the new tread depth is 7mm (9/32). So, I am getting 1552 miles per mm of tread, which means only about 3,000 miles till the tire is worn out. That wont last long commuting to work everyday. So I am trying to get all my ducks in line and items purchased ahead of time.
Eric,,,Darkside bound!!!
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Honda Shadow Forums
1.6M posts
82.9K members
Since 2007
Welcome to Honda Shadow Forum. Come in and discuss any Honda Shadow models: VT1100, VT250, VT750 and the VT500.