I owned a 98 Valk for 12 years and was just about to go over 100k when I sold it. It was my first try at the Darkside. I ran a Goodyear TT and when I think back to it it did not handle all that great compared to the Darkside tire I have had on my Wings.
I rode about 100 miles between rain storms yesterday and today on the Yokohama and it compares favorably to all the CTs I have tried. It was very good in the rain yesterday! I will be leaving Ocala Fl sometime later this month to ride to upstate NY. I'm glad I got a new tire on and I also replaced the front tire with the OEM Bridgestone.
I ran a TT for quite a while on my Valk too and agree with you about the handling.
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
And... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.''
-- Barry Goldwater, Acceptance Speech at the Republican Convention; 1964