Darkside - Front tire

[Limoles]

I'm unsure where you glean all your info from but I'll tell you, you are dead wrong when stating the BT-45 is a wider tire because it is a rear tire. That depends on rim cross width i.e the Stock Stone doesn't have as pronounced cross-sectioned radius as does the BT-45 when mounter to the same rim, which makes the tire carve corners more crisper than the OEM Stone. I've personally performed physical measurement of both tires on the same OEM F6B rim. That's no guessing, assumptions or bull $hit. The Ax is 1/4" narrower than the Stone on the same rim. You simply can't compare tire size on assumptions. You'll even have variables on tire width unmounted and mounted and that will vary on tire manufacturer to tire manufacturer and rim widths.

I'm always amazed that folks fail to gather actual data on the items they have in their hand. All it takes is two straight edges and a ruler to capture correct tire width data. Hell. I even carry a thread depth gauge along with my air gauge. Maybe I'm annal, but facts are facts and bull $hit is bull $hit. I don't want to appear to be condescending but IMHO there's nothing that compares to personal experiences. If you have never tried it don't knock it! If you do try it and don't like it you can always return to you old ways and no one will "crucify" you

With 10K accumulated miles on my first Ax I can state from first hand experience that it outperforms the stock Stone in ride and cornering! That's my observation! So pleased with it performance I have a new one on hand waiting to be mounted when the existing one is shot!

Like the original Stone, the Ax, when worn out, will be subjected to a tire autopsy i.e crossed sectioned so I have actual data to compare with pics between the two tire casings. I'll gladly post and share the results with all

Beside POLITICS and RELIGIONS , people found THE SCIENCE , which discoveries might convince those who are interested in following it . For me , understanding technology and engineering is more valuable , than getting into the "dark side" discussions , which its velocity could throw me to THE DARK AGES .

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00786279/document

[Scotrod]

Remember - "Never approach a Darksider with any ~Earthly~ Engineering or Scientific data,,, Their data was compiled on the Executor during a trip to a galaxy called 'Seatofmypantius'!!"

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/20...ex-d6tquni.jpg

OOps!!! Gotta go!!!

[Steve 0080]

Limoles... most/all the data out there is on 350# motorcycles that can stop on a dime and give you change, bend over to what, we have helmet sliders now...we ride a 900# Heavy Cruiser ..... this has been done for years and no one has caught on fire yet !!!

Don't knock what you have never tried...short of that...move along, nothing to see here.....

[smokinjoe187]

Limoles... most/all the data out there is on 350# motorcycles that can stop on a dime and give you change, bend over to what, we have helmet sliders now...we ride a 900# Heavy Cruiser ..... this has been done for years and no one has caught on fire yet !!!

Don't knock what you have never tried...short of that...move along, nothing to see here.....

+1 this is not the tire you are looking for....

[mike neal]

If I had only one upgrade that I could make on the F6B.....it would have to be to replace the stock tire with the BT 45. The improvement in handling, stability and just seat of pants feel is worth every penny. The added bonus of more miles between tire changes is just that an added bonus. Like others have said PSI is critical. I run 39 PSI with nitrogen in mine and always run with the arrow for correct rotation to sipe water. My brother owns the full wing and he also has thousands of hard miles on the BT 45. We ride throughout middle and east Tennessee, KY, NC and southern Indiana and very few miles are on the slab. Hard fast twisties are how we roll. Recently did the Dragons Tail in the rain and the BT 45 was amazing. Pictures of rooster tails and steam rolling off the front tire and brakes is pretty cool.

Also have the Yokohama on the rear so the Double Darkside patch goes on my vest. Finally gave up on the bogus paint issue and have the panels at the paint shop now for a custom two tone black and mango tango orange look. Will post some pics when we get it back together.

As many who follow this topic have previously stated.....until the chosen few extoll the virtues of "how it works" we will be stuck with the age old argument of why it will never work. Boy am I glad that the guy who sailed this way from Europe did not listen to Earth is flat folks.

Take care my friends. I would never try to convince anyone to use a rear tire on the front or a CT on the rear of their motorcycle. I am simply stating what works for me and "how it works".

If you spot a black and orange beast with orange rims....wave - I always do.
Michael Neal

[coffee_weasle]

just curious Mike,

what version yokohama did you go with?

(i hear darkside calling me)

[Drive Jehu]

"Like others have said PSI is critical. I run 39 PSI with nitrogen in mine and always run with the arrow for correct rotation to sipe water."

Mike Neal, I appreciate hearing about your experience, that helped. Glad to see you have it mounted for correct rotation as some don't and backwards mounting never appealed to me. BTW would like to see your Dragon run in the rain pix sometime! Thanks. Jehu

[bob109]

If I had only one upgrade that I could make on the F6B.....it would have to be to replace the stock tire with the BT 45. The improvement in handling, stability and just seat of pants feel is worth every penny. The added bonus of more miles between tire changes is just that an added bonus. Like others have said PSI is critical. I run 39 PSI with nitrogen in mine and always run with the arrow for correct rotation to sipe water. My brother owns the full wing and he also has thousands of hard miles on the BT 45. We ride throughout middle and east Tennessee, KY, NC and southern Indiana and very few miles are on the slab. Hard fast twisties are how we roll. Recently did the Dragons Tail in the rain and the BT 45 was amazing. Pictures of rooster tails and steam rolling off the front tire and brakes is pretty cool.

Also have the Yokohama on the rear so the Double Darkside patch goes on my vest. Finally gave up on the bogus paint issue and have the panels at the paint shop now for a custom two tone black and mango tango orange look. Will post some pics when we get it back together.

As many who follow this topic have previously stated.....until the chosen few extoll the virtues of "how it works" we will be stuck with the age old argument of why it will never work. Boy am I glad that the guy who sailed this way from Europe did not listen to Earth is flat folks.



Take care my friends. I would never try to convince anyone to use a rear tire on the front or a CT on the rear of their motorcycle. I am simply stating what works for me and "how it works".

If you spot a black and orange beast with orange rims....wave - I always do.
Michael Neal

Kudos to you Mike for a excellently penned post. Like you, I believe the BT-45's performance well surpasses that of the OEM Stone in all aspects of handling. Corner carving is both pleasurable and sure footed. Keep us up to date on your continued experiences with this tire and enjoy safe riding

bob109

[mike neal]

Just a note to add.... the Yokohama CT that I currently run on the F6B is 185-55 16R. This specific tire has a stiff sidewall and I project 30k plus hard miles before needing a new skin. The rollout is a bit less than the stock MC tire so the added advantage is a you are a little quicker off the line and it gives me more opportunity to utilize 4th gear. The difference is not huge but it is a welcome advantage for my style of riding. The downside is that you loose a little bit at extreme top end but that is not where I do all my riding. I think I gained about 125 rpm at 70mph and that is just a seat of the pants observation. Maybe somebody else has better RPM data for a tire that is slightly less tall than the OEM MC tire. I always run nitrogen and like 40psi in the rear. I also have the suspension dialed up for more of a stiffer rebound on the rear shock.
Oh I forgot to add that this is not my first rodeo with the CT on the back. Logged over 60k miles on two different wings. I did have the Hankook on this F6B but replaced it with the Yokohama after 18k miles (picked up a construction spike in a work zone). I definitely like the sidewall stiffness of the Yokohama but as always it is rider preference.
Ride safe my friends.
Mike Nedal

[Drive Jehu]

The BT 45 was mounted today and my inital impressions are that this was a good move. In my quick 75 mile run today I did not see twisties, just a variety of speeds from Interstate on down. This is a smooth running tire!

Can't believe I ever debated which direction to mount it, there are some in depth post out there that made me think about actually running it backwards (scientific data no less ). In the end mike neal suggested he was pleased mounting his the correct direction to swipe water. That rang true and I followed suit.

Currently running 41 lbs, 2 oz of Dyna beads with the lead sinker removed. Before mounting the BT 45, during decell I had a slight 40 something mph wobble, it was most noticable with both hands off the bars. It's gone. As soon as I can get in some Spring runs up and down the Blueridge Parkway I'll report back.

Next for consideration is nitrogen for both. Thanks all for your input, I'm pleased with my decision and appreciate your help.