OCFJR aka IvinsS10 asked me to write about my experience using a car tire equipped motorcycle in a motorcycle training class. So I will X-post this from the LD Riders for those on the forum who don't get over there:
OK,
Per EV's request, I have used a Darkside FJR in two different motorcycle training courses. I was a very early adopter of the CT and FJR combo. I got the FJR in March 09, and after riding the Nevada 1099 and having to keep a close eye on the well used PR2 rear tire throughout the rally, knew I didn't want to do that again. So in June 09 I switched to a Bridgestone Potenza Grid 019. I was the third person to do this, the second person in the US. The only significant difference was it took additional steering input to turn. It took me two weeks to get used to, and after that it has been 100 percent normal. I compared it to driving a car without power assisted steering, where you can turn just fine, but just need to turn the steering wheel with more effort to make the turn.
So 11-14-09, I signed up to take Walt Fulton's Streetmasters course, held at the Horsethief Mile course at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, CA. We had a wonderful dinner together as a group the night before, and in the morning, had a brief classroom session at the hotel, during which the other instructors looked over the bikes. I was still in the classroom putting on my stich, when one of them came in and told Walt that one of the bikes had a CT. Walt said, "Sh@@, who is it". I said nothing, and then when I walked out to my FJR, Walt came by and saw it was me, but said nothing.
We rode over to the track, and my group did the parking lot practice first. Ironically, it was taught by John from the notable JBJ Cycles in Santa Ana, who has worked on numerous Darkside Goldwings. I did great in the drills, showing significant improvement over the last class I had taken.
Then, as we were getting ready to get on the track, Walt said to me, "What are you doing with a Car Tire on that". I said I had 4K miles on it safely, and said he could take it for a ride and try it himself. He refused the test ride. Obviously, he did not want to kick me out and refund my money, so he let me do the track, and I did just fine. In spite of my completely normal performance, that he saw with his own eyes, he remained unconvinced.
In an unrelated note, that is also where I met Paul Palika, who would be later killed by a rogue SUV in a rainstorm, and who has a stone in the Circle of Honor in Gerlach. RIP Paul.
The second course I took was the Ride Like a Pro class, in Feb 2010. There, after the class, I offered to let the great instructor, Mark Paz, take it for a spin, and after he blew one turn, then successfully completed the Iron Cross, which is the most difficult practice drill he taught. It only took him one turn to get used to it and adjust his steering inputs. He had no problem with me taking the class, and I was impressed that he was willing to give it a try before forming an opinion, something I wish others would do.
I now have 50K miles on Car Tires my FJR, and with all that, my plastics still looked the same as when I first put on the CT, until my recent Deer Strike, which added a few beauty marks, but that is not related to tire choice in any way.