Any one else gone to the dark side?

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Any one else out there gone to the dark side? I just finished a 75 mile test ride on my FJR with the new car tire on the rear. So far it is working very well and no issues to speak of.
I think I should have done this a long time ago. Next week I leave for a 2500 mile trip to give it a better test. Ride safe…………Jeff

[Kenny]

Looks like a nice ride on a straight away, extremely dangerous in the corners.

[Rob Estoker Lifetime # 90020041]

Jeff..... Tire looks awesome. Been thinking about making the change myself. Couple of questions though...... Did you mount it yourself or have it mounted? How hard was it? How did you balance it? Look forward to some more posts from you after you get some miles on it......

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Hi Rob, I have a friend with a tire change machine. It took both of us to get it on. It is a bit more work to get it on but not a big deal. To balance it we used a standard computer balance machine. Also here is a link that may interest you. I will let you know how it worked on a longer ride once I return. Ride Safe……..Jeff
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Hi All,
I just came back from Canada. We rode around the Great lakes. Very nice ride but wet! It rained buckets at one point every day. I now have over 2500 miles on the rear car tire on my FJR. The tire works much better than I excepted! With all the rain it was a good test. The tire never lost grip at anytime. At one point we went 3.5 miles up a mountain on a wet clay and gravel road. The front tire did some sliding but the rear never lost grip. Even at high speed, wet or dry, there was always a good patch of tire on the road. I never once felt unsafe! Running a car tire is my personal choice for my touring. I will still run sport bike tires on my Busa for sport riding and track days. I know this is not for everyone, but so far I like riding on the dark side! Ride Safe…………Jeff

[Russ Washburn]

Man, that looks bitchin' and it looks like a really bad idea unless you're going to put a side car on it. There's no foot print for leaning in the turns. Be carefull on that thing bro.

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Hi All,
I’m back from New Mexico and now have over 5000 miles on the car tire. The front tire is starting to show ware, but the rear tire looks like new! The bike still handles great and I do not plan to change the rear tire till 30,000 miles or more. Let me know if any of you try going to the dark side. I will be happy to help answer any question you may have.
Ride Safe……………Jeff

[Fred Musick]

Dark Side? Yep, I just have to try it. My Vulcan 900 Custom has OEM 180/70x15. It is time to replace it, so I will try a 195/65x15 General Altimax HP. Your reports of success and those of two of my friends have convinced me to try it.

[Madmax32/Life member]

I thought you were talking about the bike, dark side, total black bike, on my bike a 240mm rear tire made for bikes looks just as big and much much better than a car tire on a bike, handling will be bad on turns, you cannot turn anymore as you would a bike, and as someone said straight ahead is okay but there are few straight lines in this day and age. Be very careful out there especially if you have to swerve to avoid something, cornering as one would do on a motorcycle!!!

[Glen]

I put a 205/55/16 General Altimax on my Valk, right after took a 2400mile round trip to Utah, thru the mountains, twisties, canyons, about 30-40 miles of bad road in the mountains, all torn apart, gravel, clay, very uneven, than it started raining, never really even noticed, bike went thru all, no problem. I've put 4,000 miles on the tire, no sign of wear. I love it, handles better, rides smoother, better, no problem on curves, does any curve, twistie with ease. Over-all I think it's a much better tire than a motorcycle tire. The only thing I don't really like is the 55 tire, makes the bike turn over about 150 more rpms at 65mph, as it is a little lesser diameter than the motorcycle tire, will go with the 60 tire next time, will have to do a little mod so it don't rub, but it's the samd diameter as a motorcycle and will bring the rpms back down to what is normal and start getting better gas mileage again. I also like the fact it's much cheaper and hopefully will last a lot longer.

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Hi All,
Happy to hear some of you are enjoying the benefits of the dark side! For the distance riding I do it works out very well. I really like that I do not have to worry about how the flat center of a bike tire will hold up when it starts to rain and I’m 2000 miles from home. I can tell it is there at low speed and many other riders still tell me I’m crazy to run that tire. Out on the open rode it is the best fit for me. As long as I own my FJR there will never be a bike tire on the back again. Ride Safe…………..Jeff

[Chuck Dempsey]

Jeff, glad to hear the DS is working for ya. I went to the DS this past July was a year ago, and am on my 2nd one. Now I'm not saying it's for everyone but it is for me. I had 25,000 on my first one and picked up a siding screw on the way home from work. Jacked it up, aired it up, stuck a plug in and was good to go! I wouldn't have been comfortable doing this with a MC tire.
We were going on a trip to Pigeon Forge two weeks later and my wife said she didn't want to go up on a plugged tire?? (shouldn't have even said anything about the plug and she'd been none the wiser...lol.) But, went ahead and swapped it out for a new one. As I said it had 25,000 on it and still had plenty of tread life left!!
I ride year round, rain or shine. I have never had a problem with handling what so ever. Even in the rain the DS sticks like glue. I've ran the "Dragon" since going DS, scraping the floorboards and it's never even attempted to slip.
I did a lot of research before going to the DS. Weighing all the pro's and con's. I have several friend that have been running one for years. I finally decided that the ONLY way to decide if it was for me was to TRY it. If I didn't like it, I was only out 50.00. and could switch back.....that never happened.
The ride was smoother, much smoother. I didn't even say anything to my wife when I went DS. The first time she rode afterwards after about ten minutes she asked, "What did you do to the bike? It rides a lot smoother than it has in the past." That spoke volumes to me in a way I had never even considered. The brakng was better, and believe it or not my mpg's increased! Whiched surprised me? I figured with a larger contact patch=more resistance= poorer milage.
But I guess with the DS tire being a little taller, it turns less revolutions = better milage??
Bottom line.....I'm very happy with it!!.....I can honestly say that any bike that I own if possible, will have a DS.

BTW....Here are a couple DS forums just in case you have any questions...
http://forums.delphiforums.com/DarkSiding/?

http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/index.htm

I'm runnin the Falken Ziex 195/65/15

Ride safe and often...Chuck

[Jeff Filz / Life Member]

Hi Chuck,
I agree with everything you said! I have had only good experiences with the dark side.
If I had a bike tire on the FJR at this time of year in Wisconsin it would always be on my mind. The wet leaves and frost that can be on the road are very slippery. The car tire has much better grip, as you know. I feel much safer on the dark side! Thank you for the links.
Ride Safe…….Jeff