How about paddle tires?
http://youtu.be/NItJ2BcrTgk
Printable View
How about paddle tires?
http://youtu.be/NItJ2BcrTgk
Just picked up a brand new take off wheel from a company doing trike conversions to F6B's , I plan on doing Sturgis this year so I will give the darkside a shot since its going to be all straight line riding should work out great .
Then I have the other wheel to switch back for doing the back roads local .
Not sure what CT you will select but once you encounter the Dark Side and your are comfortable with straight line riding you'll easily transition to the twisties in your back yard. Have almost 19K miles on my General G-Max which was installed a year ago. The tire handles curves as good or better than any MT. Already have another G-Max mounted on my spare rim. The current Max has several thousand miles of wear remaining. I just may see 22/24k miles of service which I'm more than satisfied with.
Keep us updated on your tire selection:039:
Wow! Originally penning the" F6B Dark Side Riders Thread" on 7-14-13 there appears to be a vast interest in the subject. As I write this post there has been over 7000 views of the thread. With all the pro's and con's of Dark Side Riding there has not been a single report of a "crash and burn" incident as the result of CT use on a F6B:clap2:
I'm aware that several members of our community have transitioned to the DS and have had excellent results. If anyone has had a less than desirable experience and returned to a MT you thoughts and input would be appreciated.
For those currently running a CT a up to date report on your accumulated mileage would be appreciated:icon_biggrin:
Regards and Safe Riding
Bob
DS with the Alpine....no need to return to a MT..... I will be in Franklin, NC for the rally...... if someone wants to try a bike out before you make the jump...you are welcome to ride mine!!!
Choosing the correct tire will be the next task , I will take a look at the General G-Max has a nice ring to it ... LOL Thanks for the heads up .
I do like the option of a run flat tire for these heavy bikes . For a seasoned rider can't see and problems , its just a wide tire just like on a drag bike ... LOL
The major advantages with the Car Tire are mainly, more rubber on the road, even at full lean! In a panic stop, there is 4 to 5 times the contact patch since it is much wider. !0 times better grip in the rain, They last twice as long as a M/C tire, they have more side wall which allows a bit of side wall flex so it is a smoother ride especially for a passenger, The run flat will stand tall enough so that the bike won't fall over even it the tire is completely flat. (So you understand that statement; If you use a standard car tire and have a flat, with it's softer sidewall, it is very likely that the bike will sit so low in the back that it will not lean over far enough on the side stand. it will try to fall over towards riders right.) Not to mention they are cheaper! I am a fan of the Michelin and I have riden from Savannah Ga to California and back on one.
Has anyone tried an aircraft tire yet? Now that would be sweet!
Attachment 6843
Hmmm,
Dad had some on the front of one of his Tractor's back in Iowa,,,
A company sold the 'used' ones, complete with 'tractor' style rims, to Farmers,,,
Impervious to puncture by cornstalks, extreme load carrying capacity, and they would wear like iron. :yes:
Well I am a newbee to the darkside but have put on rite at 6k on a car tire.Wasnt happy with it to start.But as everyone has said there is some trial and error to getting it to the rite pressure,suspention stting before it is rite.
To explain.I am running a bridgstone blizzak run flat.{May be the only one} and traction has not been what I felt it should be.Played with the pressure some,but not a lot of help. Roll the throttle and smoke the tire.Was fun though. Last weekend kranked up the suspention setting for a 2 up N Ga mountain ride. That was the trick. Im thinking it mite bring the front wheel up now if I wanted.
I had 14000 on my bike and I knew I was going to Sturgis at the end of July. I'm planning to put 5000 miles on my trip. I looked and read a lot of threads about CT. So this is why I chose to run a CT......A much better ride and more miles per tire. I chose a Run Flat because I can run lower air pressure...In turn a better ride..If you chose to go to the DS RF tire you can play with your air pressure to your liking...I'm running about 30-32lbs. This my also depend on your weight...But 30-32 great for me:icon_biggrin: I'm running Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT on the rear:icon_biggrin:
I was just on the tire rack looking at RF tires 195/55r16 there are a lot of choices I do like the Bridgestone Potenza or the Michelin Alpin Pa3 , I do like the Yokohama Avid .
Any issues mounting up the run flat tire , I have access to several tire machines and will mount my tire up .
How about balancing up the tire any issues .
Thanks
Max
Many choices out there, however for the past 2 years the Michelin Alpin Pa3 has become the number one choice for veteran GoldWing darksiders. The roundness of the profile makes it easier to handle and feels more like a motorcycle tire then any other car tire. The feedback from riders has been .... after just a couple hundred miles you can't tell the difference. Some are getting 25,000 - 30,000 miles.
I do my own "static wheel/tire balancing" and never had any issues. Most CT will use between 1/4-3/4 oz. weight to put them
"on the button". Make sure you line up the balance paint/ink dots on the rim/tire. The G-Max required 36/38 lbs. pressure to seat the bead. As you will be doing your own mounting with a "tire machine" you shouldn't have any issues getting a RFCT on your rim:icon_wink:
The tire you select should have a symmetrical directional thread/tread pattern with ample sipes giving the tire the ability too adequately channel water.
Keep us all posted on your progress!
Safe Riding
Bob
Got the tire in the other day , had my buddy at his shop mount it up , he said the wheel had a TPMS on the wheel ... Do the F6B's have that system or just the full wings .
My wheel was a new take off not sure a 2014 but would say so .
Attachment 6988
I had a car tire on my M109r before I traded it in on the F6B.
Mine was a LITTLE bit wider though.
It was a 275 35 18 mounted on a 10" rim.
Talk about grip!! Couldn't break it loose even if I tried.
It still cornered like it was nothing and had outlived the original MT three fold.
Once this rear wears out I will be looking for a CT for it's replacement.
I couldn't wait for the total end of my stone. 11300 miles and one plug due to a 3" nail and I couldn't stand it any longer. I have gone darkside on the F6B! It is wonderful. the lower center of gravity adds to the overall ease of transition from side to side and I couldn't be more happy!
I was first darkside w/a GYTT on the Valkyrie and didn't know that it had a TOO SQUARE FOOTPRINT. there wasn't anything to compare it too. A good friend Jimmy Hay on the VRCC found the Falken 512 and convinced me to go w/the Falken. I could not find a 512 as I think they are in short supply, but I found a directional 912. I put it on my Valkyrie an was never happier. It is even better on the F6B! The Valkyrie has a higher center of gravity compared to the F6B so if there ever was any heaving over the edge it is completely undetectible on the F6B. I have a Falken 195-55-16 V-Rated 912 and I am thrilled at 36# pressure. I used to run 38# and my go back to that setting, but the first ride was really wonderfull at 36#. We shall see.Attachment 7075
Blotar:icon_biggrin:
I found it rather funny when you described the GYTT as too square a footprint. I had one on my Yamaha Stratoliner S and that is exactly what the tire felt like! A square/heavy handling feeling:icon_lol:
I'm rather curious as to why you chose a tire without a symmetrical thread pattern. The Falken 512 thread/tread is both symmetrical and directional, where as, the 912 is but directional.
Please keep us posted/updated as to any thread/tread wear anomalies you may encounter with the 912.
I have 20K + miles on the 912 with the Valkyrie. I coulldn't ask for a better tire. I cannot tell that the tire is 'directional'. That's why I chose it for the F6B. The fact that it is V rated is just a plus for those triple digit moments that occur from time to time.
Blotar
I found it rather funny when you described the GYTT as too square a footprint. I had one on my Yamaha Stratoliner S and that is exactly what the tire felt like! A square/heavy handling feeling"
Same way I felt about the Bridgestone Pontenza....
I have gone to the darkside ... pretty nice I must say bike handles better , I have the air pressure at 35 but may go up to 42 just see what it feels like with a little more crown to the tire .
The new wheel has a up graded aluminum stem ? is that new for 2014 ... and I ask my buddy who owns and runs a cycle shop and said yes the wheel does have a pressure sensor in that wheel ... very odd .
Handles great !Attachment 7086Attachment 7085
I felt required to put a metal 90 deg stem in my new tire. I sort of hated to cut out a perfectly good valve stem. Oh well, I was laughing all day today, realizing that I had gone Dark Side again and am loving it! We are going to the Pacific North Wet in three weeks and I can't wait to get out of Texas.
Botar
I was kind of thinking that my self ... My buddy left the sensor on the wheel , looks like the aluminum valve is a better choice than the rubber .
Wonder if they make a app to read the sensor .... LOL
A mere 19 months ago tomorrow I started this Thread about and for F6B Dark Side Riders. With 12005 views as of this post it appears to be one of the most visited Threads on our Forum. The input from all sides on the subject has been openly shared, pros/cons, good and bad and every feeling and emotion in between has been discussed. No one has "crashed and burned" (to my knowledge) and some have tried the DS and returned to a MT. No one has been shot for for doing so. Knowledge regarding tire brands, sweet spot tire pressures and overall tire performance has been shared which displays a great amount of respect for all member regardless of what side of the fence you opt to be on. Subjects of this nature can become very messy and create havoc for the Administrator and Moderators but we have demonstrated diligence when differing in our thoughts and opinions. That is a testament to all folks who share a passion for cycling regardless of what you ride, how you equip it and where you reside. I toast all of you for your classiness.
Safe Riding to each you:039:
Got my Darkside sticker in da mail today, kinda expected some number w/it ?
Test to move
How times flies! Today it has been a mere three years since I penned this thread. With over 25K+ views it appears to have had the attention of many. Since that initial post, I'm currently on my second General G-Max after receiving 30.3K miles service form the first. Additionally I'm on my second Bridgestone BattlAx, the first achieving 23K miles wear! Double Dark Siding has provided safe, dependable and long wear service from both front and rear tires.
Want to mention that the "sweet spot" for the tires have been 40psi front and 42/43psi rear. Those pressures provided predictable performance and ultimately produced some scalloping of both tires at the end of their service life.
I've had numerous courteous private e-mails from interested folks over these three years and those same folks have made the transition to the DS. Hope they take the time to share their CT experience with the posting of their tire brand and "sweet spot" tire pressure.
Thanking all those who have contributed to this topic/thread:icon_wink:
Regards and Safe Riding to all:039:
bob109
True... I had a D.S. sitting on the ground when the new bike came home. Can't see going back!!!
hello. just did my first loop in Colorado with Yokohama envigor 195 on my gl1800. i have been one of these guys that has been wondering for so long I finally pulled the trigger. my only concern might be transitioning back onto one of my other bikes each time....I rode at 42 psi on i70 up the hill and wasn't very impressed in the turns. it made the bike ride much smoother on the highway but does require a little more input in the turns also found it a bit squiggly thru front end input I am running a superbrace and progressive suspension with brand new tapered bearings..I then lowered the tire pressure to 37psi down the canyon I found the bike much more controllable and smoother transitions thru the corners.. I raced for years and still own a rocket...I had the kids in the canyon on there r1s laughing this a.m as I followed them down on a wing with a car tire....overall a very decent experience and I will be putting one on the f6 when the mc tire is fried. my only question is there a ct that has a rounder side profile than the envigor? from all my reading on the gl sites it seems that the envigor was supposed to be the "roundest". thoughts from any of you guys? anyone else riding on an envigor? air pressure ? thanks. where can I get a darkside badge or emblem?....lol.
" where can I get a darkside badge or emblem?....lol "
I will look into that and see what I can do !!!! I should have done this long ago...Hey BOB!!!!!!!
Steve:
Never had a badge or plate indicating I was a Dark Sider! There are probably a few sites which have them available. Not sure as I've personally never did a search. Some folks, although Dark Siders, like to remain anonymous! They like to avoid the "bashing" by the nay- sayers/critics. If someone would come up with a sticker/badge specifically for "F6B Dark Sider" it my get wider interest:icon_wink:
Regards
Bob
In all reality the "rounder thread/tread profile has little to due with handling/cornering. In the case of 1 ply sidewall non-run flats, the tire sidewall actually collapses/squats when cornering and never "rolls" like a cycle tire! There's several good videos out there which will show exactly what I'm referring to. If you check your tire thread/tread very closely even with the low mileage you have, you'll discover there isn't any sign of wear except for the actual thread/tread face. I'm attaching a pic of a General G-Max 195/55-R16 (one ply sidewall) non-run flat with over 30K miles wear. There is no sign of wear to any portion of the side edge of the tire face. Started out with 32 psi and eventually settled at 42/43 PSI. I ride solo and weigh in at 256 LBS:shock:
Attachment 4256
I believe you EnVigor is a non-runflat. That said you may want to do a close inspection of the side wall and look for the number of ply and type of sidewall construction. The lower the sidewall ply, the higher the air pressure required to eliminate "squirm". Sweet spot pressure is subjective given rider weight, two up riding etc. etc. Use whatever pressure that provides the best tire response and you'll be "golden"! Don't be afraid to adjust up or down in you quest for the best TP'
Safe Riding
bob109
let em bash I welcome the conversation. I have a 330 on the rear of one of my vmaxes it acts like a board when up on edge the other side is 3 inches in the air. haha thanks bob for your input I will keep playing with air pressures I was solo today but generally 2 up 42 psi was a little heavy for me...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Goldwi...-/160967966246
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-Goldwi...-/160967966246
Thanks!!!!!! You saved me some work !!!! And yes I have the one above and another...
Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT 195/55R16 and love it. I have about 25000 miles on my rear tire and have at least 10-15000 left. I will buy another one when and it ever wears out :yikes: I run it at 32-33 lbs