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Darksides

When my tires on my two wheeled vehicles (nc700x, trek 5200) square off like that... it means it's time to replace them.
I try to keep an open mind, but...
what benefit is there in tires that come squared off from the factory?
 
Not all is as it seems!!.
Do some searches on You Tube etc and you will see that CT's work for some people.It's not for everybody for some they work very well.I got 20,000+ miles on mine and it handled FOR MY KIND OF RIDING great,worked awsome offroad.


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seems like it might be a smoother, more stable, ride. ... especially if you NEVER lean into turns. Seems like it would ride more like a TRIKE than a motorcycle.

This thread made me research and read about tires, which is a good thing.
I have a set of Michelin PR2s (not 3s) on right now, and I'm enjoying those. I hope to get 20K out of them both. After that, it seems like the Michelin "Commander" is next on my list. They still corner well, but their focus seems to be longevity. For me, that's more important.... at least until I slide out in a wet corner somewhere!
 
I scraped pegs on my Vstrom with the CT as easy ad I did with MC tires,like I said it's not for everybody but you'd be surprised at how many FJR guys run a CT and haul *** thru the twisty's !!.

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Last edited:
StratTuner said:
seems like it might be a smoother, more stable, ride. ... especially if you NEVER lean into turns. Seems like it would ride more like a TRIKE than a motorcycle.

This thread made me research and read about tires, which is a good thing.
I have a set of Michelin PR2s (not 3s) on right now, and I'm enjoying those. I hope to get 20K out of them both. After that, it seems like the Michelin "Commander" is next on my list. They still corner well, but their focus seems to be longevity. For me, that's more important.... at least until I slide out in a wet corner somewhere!
Click to expand...

I've looked at the Commander extensively. Too bad that tire does not come in our size. It may fit stretched, but does not come in our exact size spected by HMC

That tire would be amazing for the touring rider, like me, who does not ride aggressively, but goes on highways and superslabs for hours at high speed. They are extremely popular with the cruiser crowd. In fact my local Harley dealer says 80% of bikes that come in for tires go out the door with that specific tire!
 
Can I say CT are probably heavier than bike tyres? Additional tyre weight has 4x the effect of stationary weights and affects handling.
 
OriginalRocket said:
I've looked at the Commander extensively. Too bad that tire does not come in our size. It may fit stretched, but does not come in our exact size spected by HMC

That tire would be amazing for the touring rider, like me, who does not ride aggressively, but goes on highways and superslabs for hours at high speed. They are extremely popular with the cruiser crowd. In fact my local Harley dealer says 80% of bikes that come in for tires go out the door with that specific tire!
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear that they don't come in the correct size. I would never "fudge" and put on anything but the correct size. It's too important.

'Guess I'll stick with the Michelin "Pilot Road 2" set until it's time to replace them.... PR3's...next time, I'm sure.
Thanks for telling me the "commanders" don't come in our size.
 
OriginalRocket said:
I've looked at the Commander extensively. Too bad that tire does not come in our size. It may fit stretched, but does not come in our exact size spected by HMC

That tire would be amazing for the touring rider, like me, who does not ride aggressively, but goes on highways and superslabs for hours at high speed. They are extremely popular with the cruiser crowd. In fact my local Harley dealer says 80% of bikes that come in for tires go out the door with that specific tire!
Click to expand...
The Commander was what I was wanting also, until I saw it didn't come in the right size. I guess I'll see how many miles the PR3 will give me. 20,000 would be nice!
 
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To be honest I've never heard of this before! Interesting to see the differing opinions. Personally, I've been riding small displacement bikes my entire life 100-250cc. The nc is the first middleweight I've owned. I like the stock tires, but it sounds like they don't last all that long. I guess I've been spoiled by cheapo tires that fit my 250s:)
 
There are cheapo tires for the NC also and some like the Shinko 705 are proving to be very good 75-25 tires !!.


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Yokohama makes a
195/40R17 S. Drive tire
195/45R17 " " "

I am not sure if that would fit the rim and between the frame/swing arm
 
I am using a CT on a bike currently, and you never get on the sidewall, even with very aggressive riding.

It is surprising how much lean you get and still are riding on the flat part of the tire.

The ride is more comfortable.

Wet riding is far better with a CT, it provides more confidence while riding, dont get me wrong the NC already inspires confidence.

But i am talking while riding through 2" + standing water, snow, gravel road.

For a 160 size MC tire i am using a 165 CT on my other bike.

You might use a 175, but, Not avail. yet in a 17" tire, but going to a 195 might be a stretch
 
I went to the Darkside on my GL1200, but the tire sucked on concrete.( 1200's aren't a good candidate for Darksides)
Soon after I put a Commander Pro on it.
If they make a CT that fits the NC, and after some positive reviews, I may Darkside my NC.
Like Beemer say's. Pioneers sometimes take the first arrow.
Thinking out of the box is a good thing in my world!
 
There just isn't much space between the tire and the swigarm on the X.On my Vstrom there was almost 2" on each side so a 205/55 fit right in,but did rub the chain gaurd a little.


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I've never run darkside, so don't have personal experience but have read the hundreds of pages of discussion on this topic over at the FJRforum. There's about 60 or 70 known rider that have gone darkside. My NC700 won't see a car tire because the wife is the primary rider and it won't see enough miles to justify a car tire and she wouldn't be okay with the increased effort to initiate turns.

Car tire installation on a FJR Executive summary:
Most popular tire is the Exalto.
A replacement brake caliper arm (a simple stainless steel bar with a couple holes) needs to be made to avoid rubbing on the tire sidewall.
Most shops won't mount the car tire for you unless you tell them it's for your sidecar.
It takes a little more effort to initiate a turn, but you quickly get used to it.
No problem playing "Joe Racer" with a car tire. Traction is great up to and including the bike's physical limits (hard parts dragging).

If anyone wants to read more, you'll have to actually join that forum because the topic is in the "Never ending, pointless or recurring" section that guests can't access.
 
I mount me own tires and the car tire mounted much easier than a MC tire.insurance and warrenties could be a problem !!.


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Like Nortwestrider, I also mount my own tires. Why? Because I know it is right this way. You could not even believe how many motorcycles as a dealership, I received units that had the tires improperly mounted. Yes, direct from the manufacture and wrong. Direction of rotation, Weight balance dot with stem, might seem easy, but the manufactures all do this wrong!
 
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