Going to the Dark Side

[madmike2]

Erk, Yer gunna DYE!!! :dribble:

Eye am soo-prised yew hain't kilt yerseff awe-reddy 'cuz yew bin ridin' thet murdersickle uh yorn in them rayne storms. Yewer jist a lucky sum#(&%$ 'cuz yewer still typin' ansers tuh korshens. Yewer sum kinda trubblemekker hain't yuh! :huh:

Whut's nixt? Er yew gunna tryen git elebenty-seben thousand miles frum wun reer tyr?

 

[palerider]

I can only hope you take the advice of the many, How much can you save on tires as to what you will give up in rideability of your bike? Not to mention the safty or lack of in this. Best of luck, Pete

With all due respect Pete, having actually done this, I'm not seeing safety issues here. As for "rideability", you may note in my posts that I don't have any issues with how it rides. However, I base that on my riding style, my experience, my bike and the road conditions I ride in. YMMV.

I knew before I did this that I would have to listen to dozens upon dozens of people with no actual experience riding on a CT telling me I'm going to die a flaming death, I'm unsafe, etc, etc. I did it to evaluate the CT for myself, first hand. I'm sharing it with the forum so others have a single data point that directly relates to the FJR. That's ONE data point, mine. If another person tries it, then they can add a second data point. Maybe, just maybe, there will build up enough data that others can more easily decide if they want to try this or if they shouldn't try this. Regardless, we all benefit from a little experimentation and sharing of info.

I'm surprised by the degree of negativism that's come out in this thread. I don't think of this crowd as containing so many anxious individuals. My bad, I guess, because my stereotypical image of bikers, Harley riders aside, is of a more-daring temperament, one that encourages experimentation and innovation. What would we be riding if we were unwilling to embrace ideas that broke the molds of traditional thinking? (Actually, we would be riding Harleys).

I just don't get all this doom-saying.

 

[user 213]

Erk, Yer gunna DYE!!! :dribble:
Eye am soo-prised yew hain't kilt yerseff awe-reddy 'cuz yew bin ridin' thet murdersickle uh yorn in them rayne storms. Yewer jist a lucky sum#(&%$ 'cuz yewer still typin' ansers tuh korshens. Yewer sum kinda trubblemekker hain't yuh! :huh:

Whut's nixt? Er yew gunna tryen git elebenty-seben thousand miles frum wun reer tyr?

MM2 - You can't fool me with your trucker redneck speak. You fess up now. You've never changed the front tire on your FJR have you? It's in the air so much it doesn't wear out!

 

[madmike2]

Erk, yewer still prolly gunna dye! :dribble:

Eye heared et yew wuz ridin' wuth sum extry gas. Don't be tellin' me et yew gots a spare gassy tank!?!? Don'tcha noe them thangs kud 'splode iffin yew wuz to fall offa yer murdersickle. Thet en theys allays sum chance they kud be leekin' ontuh yer hott engyne.

Yewer jist a rollin' dis-aster, hain't yuh! Eye guess you ort not tuh tell yer IN-surance man whut yewer doin'. He prolly thinks yewer gunna dye, too.

 

[user 213]

Eye guess you ort not tuh tell yer IN-surance man whut yewer doin'. He prolly thinks yewer gunna dye, too.

First off, She's a babe. And as long as I keep paying my premiums, she doesn't care what tire I put on the bike or how much fuel I carry. Can you believe it, they don't even care how many miles I ride!

 

[madmike2]

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[Flylooper]

I just don't get it. Why the heck worry about tire costs at the potential cost of life or limb? And the discussions about keeping it sane when riding and not stressing the envelope of the car tire is hooey! I'll grant you - you may be a very conservative rider out there - but what happens if you're in a turn and need to swerve to miss some gravel or a deer and yah lean the bike over and the rear slides out and down yah go? And what about the change in handling of the bike as it doesn't 'roll-over' with the profile of a round m/c tire anymore but needs to deal with the square corner of the car tire and the bike handling is unsettled during these transisions? It just seems like a lot of time and energy for some minor benefit and a potential risky downside.
Scott

It's not really about the cost for the tires (I just scored 4 front and 4 rear Avon 45/46s for under $500), it's the PITA looking for a tire half way through a long trip. If there's about 1,000 miles left on the rear and it's Thursday, you start hunting because of the upcoming weekend and most shops are closed on Monday. I'm following this with interest and an open mind. Ian, Iowa

I had a flat outside of Ashville, NC last year on my ride east. I had exactly that problem. You're dead on. After I scored a tire, I won't tell you what it cost me walking into a stealer for a replacement tire, mounting and balancing.

 

[jwhite518]

Eye guess you ort not tuh tell yer IN-surance man whut yewer doin'. He prolly thinks yewer gunna dye, too.

First off, She's a babe. And as long as I keep paying my premiums, she doesn't care what tire I put on the bike or how much fuel I carry. Can you believe it, they don't even care how many miles I ride!

(The insurance agent, not the tire.)

 

[user 213]

First off, She's a babe. And as long as I keep paying my premiums, she doesn't care what tire I put on the bike or how much fuel I carry. Can you believe it, they don't even care how many miles I ride!

(The insurance agent, not the tire.)

YInsuranceAgentMV

Howzat?

 

[bandit]

I can only hope you take the advice of the many, How much can you save on tires as to what you will give up in rideability of your bike? Not to mention the safty or lack of in this. Best of luck, Pete

I can only guess that you dont follow long distance riding much, They have been doing this for years without any real issues other then those we experience with our motorcycle tires, So your safety theory is out the window.

 

[kawabeemer]

OCfjr, keep posting your car tire testing. The only way we advance is by testing in the limits of our current reality. I, for one, would like to see what you find. I might just give the CT on an FJR a test just to drive the 'experts' I work with in a Kawasaki/Yamaha/Aprilla/Polaris/Kemko dealership nuts.

 

[RadioHowie]

OC,

Jes r'member....if yer ain't goin' thru the Pearly Gates BACKWARDS AND ON FIRE, ye ain't livin'!

I jest loves me some more of them "yer gonna die" posts. We need some more expert advice from 6 post nOObs!

And howinhell did you get a picture of Missus Howie????? Ya Bastiche!

 

[Wolfhound]

Just looking at ther pic with the tire on the bike you can tell how foolish it would be to ride. REALLY screws with bike handling/geometry when only using the very square edge of the tire when cornering. Just look at it on the sidestand to tell how crappy this idea is . . . .NOW if you just go in a straight line & never lean it woild possibly get by like the cruisers . . . But on a real bike ? Kinda foolish but you lesrn best by crashing I guess or ride slow & strsight). JMO, and seems sane on my world but hey , that's in my world ! And sanity has never really caught on . . . Would your insursnce even cover you with an unsafe setup using acar tire ? I'd check.

 

[palerider]

Just looking at ther pic with the tire on the bike you can tell how foolish it would be to ride. REALLY screws with bike handling/geometry when only using the very square edge of the tire when cornering. Just look at it on the sidestand to tell how crappy this idea is . . . .NOW if you just go in a straight line & never lean it woild possibly get by like the cruisers . . . But on a real bike ? Kinda foolish but you lesrn best by crashing I guess or ride slow & strsight). JMO, and seems sane on my world but hey , that's in my world ! And sanity has never really caught on . . . Would your insursnce even cover you with an unsafe setup using acar tire ? I'd check.

We're doomed, I tell you, doomed.

 

[RadioHowie]

. . . Would your insursnce even cover you with an unsafe setup using acar tire ? I'd check.

Really curious....do you have any quantative evidence this is unsafe, based on years of experience riding motorcycles with car tires mounted on the rear?? Or is it just more unsupported-by-fact opinion?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>...Each time, when I replaced my rear tires I hated throwing them out when there was so much left on each side of the crown of the tire. It seemed like I was throwing money away.I remember posting in the Concours Owners Group forum when I first started riding, this question: "Why the heck are motorcycle tires so damned expensive and why do I only get 11-12,000 miles on a rear tire?" And I got the usual replies, some of them seen in this thread. More engineering, softer compounds, etc., etc., etc. So I kind of dummied up and conceded to "the experts."

Last year, I met a "Cogger" who had mounted a CT on his Connie. He had to do a lot more than alter a caliper strut for accomplish that mod. But after he had done it I spoke with him at a COG rally and he swore by it. I think he paid something like 75 bucks for a rear tire, he had 10,000 miles on it and it still looked brand freaking new!

This, I thought, is where my future is.

I just don't get it. Why the heck worry about tire costs at the potential cost of life or limb? And the discussions about keeping it sane when riding and not stressing the envelope of the car tire is hooey! I'll grant you - you may be a very conservative rider out there - but what happens if you're in a turn and need to swerve to miss some gravel or a deer and yah lean the bike over and the rear slides out and down yah go? And what about the change in handling of the bike as it doesn't 'roll-over' with the profile of a round m/c tire anymore but needs to deal with the square corner of the car tire and the bike handling is unsettled during these transisions? It just seems like a lot of time and energy for some minor benefit and a potential risky downside.

I, too, had a Concours (2 of 'em) -- and on one I put-on a 'ton' of miles and spent close to $5K (accumulated) in tires doing that. So..., I went looking for longer mileage tires.

Once, in preparation for a trip to Steamboat (where they used to race in the streets), I thought I'd try a G/W rear touring tire instead of the sport-touring tires I'd been going thru at alarming rates.

Well, the next day -- at the beginning of the trip -- I came to the first curve (a 90 degree right-hander) and said: "O-S@#T!!"; "Am I going to have to ride this whole trip with that crummy feeling/handling tire?"

I think it comes down to what trade-offs the rider is willing to accept with regards to handling?

The FJR is an enjoyable handler -- I, for one, would be reluctant to diminish any of that.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

. . . Would your insursnce even cover you with an unsafe setup using acar tire ? I'd check.

Really curious....do you have any quantative evidence this is unsafe, based on years of experience riding motorcycles with car tires mounted on the rear?? Or is it just more unsupported-by-fact opinion?

Not 'quantitative evidence' -- but, maybe? germane: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...st&p=524822

 

[zenwhipper]

This entire discussion is morphing into the Doomsday crowd (oh my gawd, you're going to die!) vs the Wright Bros crowd (way to go for pushing the envelope, what you are doing will benefit all of mankind!). Unfortunantly, both these are not really accurate. But in terms of the excercise or experiment of a CT (AKA car tire... wow its so common now we have an acronym for it!) on a bike is a bit misguided. In general I think we all understand the safety issues here with buggering up tires, brakes, suspension, CofG, power application, weigth distribution etc etc. Why de-engineer a key component of your motorcycle for such a small benefit? And, again, the risk to your safety is in my mind not worth it. Sorry, I feel that way. To me its a bit like never using or disconnecting your rear brake so you never have to worry about the cost of replacing the pads! Lastly, I think some are offended you would put such a monstrosity on such a beautiful, supremely engineered piece of machinery - a la an FJR! I tend to feel that way. In seeing the original post and the pics, I had a few interesting reactions from a chuckle, to this guy has too much time on his hands, to out right yelling at the wife, hey honey come look at this thing!

Now on the positive side... yes, I grant you, sometimes, there are no good reasons for a certain effort, or project or experiment other than to engage in the process, soley for the sake of the process without worrying about the outcome. Perhaps, this could be said of your CT experiment and us in the nay-sayer camp should just move on huh?

Scott

 

[palerider]

This entire discussion is morphing into the Doomsday crowd (oh my gawd, you're going to die!) vs the Wright Bros crowd (way to go for pushing the envelope, what you are doing will benefit all of mankind!).

[\quote]

Nobody ever said "what you are doing will benefit all of mankind!" or anything even close to that. All anybody's said is that the experiment will provide information worth having.

But in terms of the excercise or experiment of a CT (AKA car tire... wow its so common now we have an acronym for it!) on a bike is a bit misguided. In general I think we all understand the safety issues here with buggering up tires, brakes, suspension, CofG, power application, weigth distribution etc etc. Why de-engineer a key component of your motorcycle for such a small benefit?

[\quote]

Any "safety issues" would be the result of outriding the tire's capabilities, and those same issues come into play whichever tires you mount. Understand the tire's limits and ride within them, and it's all a wash. Nearly any farkle changes the bike's performance envelope. How much that change is worth is subjective.

And, again, the risk to your safety is in my mind not worth it.

[\quote]

So don't do it. But why discourage someone else from doing it?

I think some are offended you would put such a monstrosity on such a beautiful, supremely engineered piece of machinery - a la an FJR! I tend to feel that way. In seeing the original post and the pics, I had a few interesting reactions from a chuckle, to this guy has too much time on his hands, to out right yelling at the wife, hey honey come look at this thing!

[\quote]

Now we're on the same page. "Gawd, I think that's ugly," is a fair response.

Now on the positive side... yes, I grant you, sometimes, there are no good reasons for a certain effort, or project or experiment other than to engage in the process, soley for the sake of the process without worrying about the outcome. Perhaps, this could be said of your CT experiment and us in the nay-sayer camp should just move on huh?

[\quote]

Yes, and you'll get better mileage if you make that move on a CT.

:yahoo:

 

[Duezzer]

This has to be one of the best threads I have ever had the chance to read and watch grow

My 2 bits

I like the look of that honking oversized peice of rubber on the back

Looks down right mean I do say and what a conversation starter

I can just hear it now - "What in the &*#$ is that?

What?

On the back of your bike

That's my 52l givi top case - ( pull away giggling )

Take your time

Do your testing as safe as possible

Enjoy the rush ( you can't deny your a wee bit of a rush junky )

Send out all the info you can

Ride ON and have a Fairly Nice Day