After a lot of research, I went to the Darkside on My Goldwing. For my style of riding and this bike, I'm pleased as punch so far. I got tired of a new rear tire every year at a $225-$250 a pop. I got my Austone tire for $150. Guys running them claim to easily get over 30K miles. As an added bonus, it dropped my rpms by about 300, running @ 70mph. I'm just curious if anyone else has done this and if you were happy with your results.
I lean over too far (sometimes) to feel comfortable with a car tire. If I had a touring bike or cruiser, I would definitely consider it.
If you never ever take a turn maybe it would be okay, but otherwise I think it's a really bad idea.
stuart in mn wrote: If you never ever take a turn maybe it would be okay, but otherwise I think it's a really bad idea.
You know, there's no way a car tire would be appropriate on my bike (2007 KLR 650), but it's pretty silly to make this claim when hundreds of people are out there running a car tire and doing okay. I'm not going to recommend it but I'm not going to say it's a "really bad idea" when other people's experience seems to disprove it.
@minimac: I don't think very many of us ride Goldwings, so that might be why you're not getting much input.. Let us know how it works out though! Maybe it's a cheap way to rescue an old 'wing with a bald rear tire.
dculberson wrote:stuart in mn wrote: If you never ever take a turn maybe it would be okay, but otherwise I think it's a really bad idea.You know, there's no way a car tire would be appropriate on my bike (2007 KLR 650), but it's pretty silly to make this claim when hundreds of people are out there running a car tire and doing okay. I'm not going to recommend it but I'm not going to say it's a "really bad idea" when other people's experience seems to disprove it. @minimac: I don't think very many of us ride Goldwings, so that might be why you're not getting much input.. Let us know how it works out though! Maybe it's a cheap way to rescue an old 'wing with a bald rear tire.
No, it is not silly to make that claim. A motorcycle tire is a very highly engineered and important part of the bike. A car tire is not designed for the same loading as a bike tire. This is not a good place to cheap out on.
Just because there are lots of people doing something with no issues doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do. I can think of lots of examples of stupid stuff people do (like running no front brakes) yet people live to tell others it is OK.
You're probably right..
Once I get the hack I want I'll run car tires. Someday...
dculberson wrote: You're probably right..
He's definitely right. Check out the sidewall on a car tire vs the sidewall on a motorcycle tire.
Rusnak_322 wrote: No, it is not silly to make that claim. A motorcycle tire is a very highly engineered and important part of the bike. A car tire is not designed for the same loading as a bike tire. This is not a good place to cheap out on. Just because there are lots of people doing something with no issues doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do. I can think of lots of examples of stupid stuff people do (like running no front brakes) yet people live to tell others it is OK.
^ this is what I meant.
car tires are acceptable on this - http://janesville.craigslist.org/mcy/3153713899.html
Got a lot of faith resting on that fork tube.
Before making blanket statements about crashing and burning, do some research. My Austone tire is not "square". Although it is cheaper, it wasn't done to "cheap out". The load rating is much higher than the stock MC tire. Note that it's on a Goldwing. A car tire may not be suitable for a sport bike, but for a heavy turnpike tourer, it (so far) is awesome. There is much better grip in the rain, and a much bigger contact area. Being a 6ply tire, there is very little, if any, sidewall flex. The ride is improved, as is the handling, which I think is due to being a radial. If there weren't people that occasionally went against"conventional wisdom" , we'd still think the world was flat! " Hey Ya'll- watch this!"
I think if I ever end up with a big cruiser, I'd go the darkside route as well for long trips.
on a sportbike? never, they are designed to use all of the tire. A wing, roadking, etc, why not? I rarely see those scrape pegs
"No, it is not silly to make that claim. A motorcycle tire is a very highly engineered and important part of the bike. A car tire is not designed for the same loading as a bike tire. This is not a good place to cheap out on."
I have noticed that tires (and brakes) is where most people "cheap out," on bikes and cars. Tires are the only things keeping you on the road. Not to change the thread, but I have noticed this on performance cars as well. I frequently see performance cars, especially muscle cars (which don't turn and stop especially well to begin with), running tires with names like "Revenger" (true story). When I go to local cruise nights, I see 400+ HP cars running tires that probably don't stop and turn as well as OEM minivan tires, but they look good and they are cheap.
Flashback to bikes: Tires are the most important piece of equipment on a bike, followed closely by brakes. I would pay what it takes to have good and proper tires on my bike. If I have to replace them every 7,000 to 10,000 miles, so be it. If I cannot afford to do that, I will ride less. I would rather cut my riding time in half than to ride onn inappropriate tires.
Dunlop, Michelin and Pirelli.all makes both car and bike tires. As far as I know, they don't make a car/bike tire.
And you can not say that it is not cheaping out. Your post says that you don t want to pay extra for the motorcycle specific tire.
My wife and I both seem to go through a rear every season and a front every other. We shopped around and got a Dunlop Q2 for $140 last year and paid $160 this year. That is a full on street / track day tire in 190 size that lasts 4500 miles. I can't believe you can not get a goldwing tire for less then I can get a superbike tire.
here is a 180/60-16 for $132 with free shipping - tire
Shinko SE890 Journey Touring Radial Rear Tire at motorcycle-superstore.com
Rusnak_322 wrote: And you can not say that it is not cheaping out. Your post says that you don t want to pay extra for the motorcycle specific tire. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No, I said I got tired of replacing it every year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- here is a 180/60-16 for $132 with free shipping - tire Shinko SE890 Journey Touring Radial Rear Tire at motorcycle-superstore.com That won't fit...and I think a Shinko is cheaping out. You can get it @J.C. Whitney, that paragon of quality. Why would you run a track day tire on the street? $140 every 4500 miles seems foolish to me, but I ride about 15K a year. ====================================================================================================
Flame away...I, and many others, are doing it and loving it. As I also said, I wouldn't do this on a sport bike. I remember when dragsters and gassers always ran motorcycle tires up front.
Car tire technology has grown by leaps and bounds over even the last five years. The same cannot be said for motorcycle tires. I have been a motorcyclist(not a biker) for over 45 years and have never had a back tire I could run over 12K safely. I have 5k on this tire and it is showing no visible wear. And, I have been known to scrape a peg or two on the GW.
Your bike, your choice. Go for it.
No way in hell I'd run a square tire on a bike, though.
FWIW, a friend is running darkside on a Triumph Rocket III and loves it.
Hit YouTube and check out the rear tire videos people have put up. You would think they are running on the sidewall through every turn, but it doesn't happen that way.
http://youtu.be/xaIj1XrmvLM
DILLIGAF
Knowingly using the wrong tire could result in being royally screwed legally when an accident occurs. At fault parties otherwise responsible for injuries could escape liability by raising the defenses of contributory negligence or assumption of risk. Honda would have a good misuse or failure to follow instructions defense if any product liability issues arose. And if a darksider were at fault in an accident, it wouldn't be hard to convince the fact finder that using the wrong tires was negligent (and possibly wanton and willful which could open the door to punitive damages). This ain't legal advice, just my rambling opinion. Judge and jury probably won't be interested in mileage or running cost. They'll just hear "intentionally fit the wrong tire."
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