Going to the Dark Side

[rbentnail]

Go to the Darkside FAQ thread. Look down the list of people doing it. #90 lists the front tire used. I think odot used that one too.

 

[thinkingofone]

thxs

 

[Oldjeep]

Riken Raptor is what I run on my bike. Great all around tire and excellent in the rain.

 

[rbentnail]

Riken Raptor is what I run on my bike. Great all around tire and excellent in the rain.

Of the 3 I tried- General G-Max AS-03, Michelin Exalto and Riken Raptor- I think the Raptor was the best all-round of the 3. I base that on my interstate, US Hwy, twisty and improved National Forest unpaved roads. The AS-03 was and the Raptor is awe inspiring in the wet. Amazing grip!!

I've got a used one if anyone wants it, pay for shipping. I'll measure the tread if you want.

 

[Yar]

New to the FJR world but not to the Darkside: Love the thread here. After the 1st 25 pages I skipped to the end and started reading backwards 10 pages at a time. Currently @ 140 something. Have read the FAQ thread. Thanks to all for hanging in there and pioneering this in the FJR community. So glad no one succumbed to the nay sayers.

Awaiting the MC tire to wear out then will probably install the Raptor but this caught my attention: https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/Solus+TA71/205-50R17
Thoughts?

Plan on installing a Bridgestone Pneu Battlax BT46 Blackwall Size 130/70-17 on the front. I have reversed rotation of back tires before but read somewhere that some think this is no longer necessary?

Again Awesome job here everyone!

 

[Oldjeep]

New to the FJR world but not to the Darkside: Love the thread here. After the 1st 25 pages I skipped to the end and started reading backwards 10 pages at a time. Currently @ 140 something. Have read the FAQ thread. Thanks to all for hanging in there and pioneering this in the FJR community. So glad no one succumbed to the nay sayers.

Awaiting the MC tire to wear out then will probably install the Raptor but this caught my attention: https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/Solus+TA71/205-50R17
Thoughts?

Plan on installing a Bridgestone Pneu Battlax BT46 Blackwall Size 130/70-17 on the front. I have reversed rotation of back tires before but read somewhere that some think this is no longer necessary?

Again Awesome job here everyone!

My only thought on that tire is that I personally would not run a tire with an asymmetrical tread. Seems like it would turn left and right differently.

 

[Yar]

That was my thought to until I read in this thread that it has been a non issue.

 

[Oldjeep]

That was my thought to until I read in this thread that it has been a non issue.

I just don't buy that the tire tread blocks being square on one side and round on the other doesn't cause goofy handling.

 

[Bugnatr]

I just don't buy that the tire tread blocks being square on one side and round on the other doesn't cause goofy handling.

I used several ct's on my gold wing that had asymmetrical tread and made no difference in handling. As with all ct's it's usually just the uneven road surface slow speed handling that makes you remember it's a ct back there.

 

[Yar]

Phase 1 of FJR Darkside Adventure started. Just waiting on more input of #4405 above!

 

[SkooterG]

I have a Riken Raptor on one of my FJRs with 10k or so miles on it. Love it. I recently installed a General G-Max RS on another of my FJRs and have about 8k miles on it. It is a bit more pricey than the Riken, but has a better tread life rating. So far, so good with the G-Max. I haven't ridden them back to back but so far no I haven't been able to tell any major differences between them.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...ewall=Blackwall&partnum=05WR7GMRSXL&tab=Sizes

It's funny, I still get weird looks and people making comments about it not working. I just say, 'Well, I've ridden over 150k miles with various car tires and it's working pretty darn good for me.'

 

[two_wheeled]

New darksider here. Figured I should contribute to this thread instead of Facebook. If you already saw this there, please ignore the extra post.
Last week I mounted this tire. BFG G-FORCE COMP2 A/S+ 205/50ZR17
I thought I should reply with some impressions in case it helps someone else. Over the weekend I took a twisty ride up north, 120 miles each way.
• I'm really feeling the extra weight of this tire. It's HEAVY! My Pilot Road 2 was 13 pounds. This one is 23+ pounds! I wonder if it’s going to be too much for my old rear shock.
• Acceleration is noticeably slower on the highway. Rear braking requires more effort also.
• At 40 psi it was awkward to maneuver. There was a noticeable "hard edge" I had to roll over before it would lean into a turn or to pass. At 38 psi that "edge" is less apparent.
• Lots of bar effort is required to maneuver on twisty roads. Lots.
• I had to ride a mile over dirt road. This same dirt road was very slippery with a MT. Not slippery at all with the CT. Almost felt like a big dirt bike on the dirt road.

I’m not completely sold on this yet, because of the weight, but I’m going to experiment with lower pressures and see how it goes.

Well, it's been almost 2 years and I think I might have to switch back to a motorcycle tire. As much as I want to love it, it's just not as fun to ride anymore. I only put 3800 miles on the BFG--because when it came time to grab the keys, I found myself favoring different bikes instead of this one. I normally ride much more than that. I'm not an aggressive rider. I'm just not enjoying the CT like I thought I would.
I was very hesitant to post this but since I wrote my initial post I thought it only fair to post again. I love the idea of a CT. It has crazy traction, especially on gravel turns where any other tire might start to slip. But for me, the FJR just wasn't the right bike for it. I had grand dreams of falling in love with it and riding across the country with it but that just didn't happen. I might try this again on a different bike in the future.

 

[SkooterG]

Well, it's been almost 2 years and I think I might have to switch back to a motorcycle tire. As much as I want to love it, it's just not as fun to ride anymore. I only put 3800 miles on the BFG--because when it came time to grab the keys, I found myself favoring different bikes instead of this one. I normally ride much more than that. I'm not an aggressive rider. I'm just not enjoying the CT like I thought I would.
I was very hesitant to post this but since I wrote my initial post I thought it only fair to post again. I love the idea of a CT. It has crazy traction, especially on gravel turns where any other tire might start to slip. But for me, the FJR just wasn't the right bike for it. I had grand dreams of falling in love with it and riding across the country with it but that just didn't happen. I might try this again on a different bike in the future.

No shame. It's not for everybody. Where are you in the Phoenix area?

 

[two_wheeled]

No shame. It's not for everybody. Where are you in the Phoenix area?

North Phoenix, not far from the old PV mall if that makes sense.

 

[SkooterG]

North Phoenix, not far from the old PV mall if that makes sense.

No way! Same as me. I'm at 40th St and Greenway.

 

[Yar]

New to the FJR world but not to the Darkside: Love the thread here. After the 1st 25 pages I skipped to the end and started reading backwards 10 pages at a time. Currently @ 140 something. Have read the FAQ thread. Thanks to all for hanging in there and pioneering this in the FJR community. So glad no one succumbed to the nay sayers.

Awaiting the MC tire to wear out then will probably install the Raptor but this caught my attention: https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/Solus+TA71/205-50R17
Thoughts?

Plan on installing a Bridgestone Pneu Battlax BT46 Blackwall Size 130/70-17 on the front. I have reversed rotation of back tires before but read somewhere that some think this is no longer necessary?

Again Awesome job here everyone!

Really thought hard about going with the Raptor. It just looks sexy to me but thought a tire not tried yet might be beneficial to this thread. Had a chance to try one out but that fell through.

Installed https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/Solus+TA71/205-50R17 on the rear. Installed Bridgestone Pneu Battlax BT46 Blackwall Size 130/70-17 on the front. Mechanics only questioned putting a rear tire up front. He complemented me on getting the correct sizes which I pass on to the ones that have contributed to this thread.

Ride is comfortable, smooth, and a non-issue. Will update after riding in wet conditions. Loving it!

 

[Oldjeep]

I know people have said it doesn't matter - but I just can't get over the idea of putting an asymmetrical tread pattern on a motorcycle.

 

[juniorfjr]

I have a question for the collective. I have a Gmax that I took off of my 05 that's been sitting in the garage for 8 years now. I am going to go back to a CT for some long trips this summer. Would you use a new 10 year old tire or just start over.

 

[RossKean]

I have a question for the collective. I have a Gmax that I took off of my 05 that's been sitting in the garage for 8 years now. I am going to go back to a CT for some long trips this summer. Would you use a new 10 year old tire or just start over.

10 years is well beyond recommended shelf-life for a tire. The degree of deterioration is largely dependent upon storage conditions but in a non temperature regulated environment with exposure to light, air and chemicals I would think conditions would be less than ideal. Even if the tire appears to be physically sound with respect to cracks or oxidation, I would expect the rubber compound will have hardened resulting in less traction. Not to mention the possibility of a catastrophic failure.
Is it likely? - No
Is it worth the risk? Also no (at least for me)

 

[Bugnatr]

I have a question for the collective. I have a Gmax that I took off of my 05 that's been sitting in the garage for 8 years now. I am going to go back to a CT for some long trips this summer. Would you use a new 10 year old tire or just start over.

If I had your money Fred I'd buy a new tire. However being the cheap *** ....err frugal guy I am I'd run the old one.

Clear as mud, eh?

10 years is a loooooong time.