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Alright so I've been thinking, and talking on going Darkside for a while now. My MC tire finally wore enough (~9,000 miles), so today it was off to WanderingBear's to get my rim off the bike. Getting the tire off wasn't too bad, and after loading up the rim in the back of Mrs. Bear's truck, we were off to get it mounted.
I went with a Yokohama Avid Touring 205/70/15, which has more of a rounded sidewall then some of the other darkside tires. My best friend's dad happens to own a great tire dealership just up the road in Winter Haven, it took the shop about an hour to get the tire on the rim, 120 lbs. of pressure to get the bead to seat. I of course forgot the dynabeads I bought at home this morning, and then forgot the beads that Bear gave to me at his house, so off to Frostproof to put the beads in we went!
When we got back to Bear's place and de-cored the tire, of course the bead slipped off one side, so after a quick call back to the tire shop, we pumped the tire back up and on the second try got the bead to seat with 80 psi.
Then after about an hour on our backs getting everything wiggled in there and back together (we didn't deflate the tire so the bead wouldn't pop off again), and it was time for a test ride.
Initial Impressions;
WOW!!!! Why didn't I do this sooner! At speed, I would have to say there is no comparison, the CT is much smoother and tracks much better. Cornering I did notice that the bike was slightly harder to get to go into a turn, but much easier to come out. Nothing drastic, but definitely noticeable. I did have one "oh chit" moment on the ride home, on highway 98 (speed limit is 65, I was pusing 80 running with traffic). There's a new traffic light installed for the entrance of a new school, and the f-150 in front of me as well as the car next to him decided to slam on their brakes for a yellow light. I lightly got on the front brake and stomped the rear while getting ready to head off the road as I thought I might not stop in time. I was also getting ready for my rear tire to lock up, but it never happened. I actually ended up stopped about 30 feet from the back of the pickup. Much much shorter than I could've stopped with my MC tire.
All in all, I would say big thumbs up from me for the Darkside!
And oh yea, after the tire was on and a short test ride done, Karen, Bear's wonderful wife busted out some home-made chocolate chip cookies (Bear's favorite and a rare treat for guests I'm told!).
I would be remiss if I didn't wish a very sincere thank you to Jerry and Karen, for their hospitality today and all the help with the bike. Y'all are both one of a kind, and my life is richer for knowing you!
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I went with a Yokohama Avid Touring 205/70/15, which has more of a rounded sidewall then some of the other darkside tires. My best friend's dad happens to own a great tire dealership just up the road in Winter Haven, it took the shop about an hour to get the tire on the rim, 120 lbs. of pressure to get the bead to seat. I of course forgot the dynabeads I bought at home this morning, and then forgot the beads that Bear gave to me at his house, so off to Frostproof to put the beads in we went!
When we got back to Bear's place and de-cored the tire, of course the bead slipped off one side, so after a quick call back to the tire shop, we pumped the tire back up and on the second try got the bead to seat with 80 psi.
Then after about an hour on our backs getting everything wiggled in there and back together (we didn't deflate the tire so the bead wouldn't pop off again), and it was time for a test ride.
Initial Impressions;
WOW!!!! Why didn't I do this sooner! At speed, I would have to say there is no comparison, the CT is much smoother and tracks much better. Cornering I did notice that the bike was slightly harder to get to go into a turn, but much easier to come out. Nothing drastic, but definitely noticeable. I did have one "oh chit" moment on the ride home, on highway 98 (speed limit is 65, I was pusing 80 running with traffic). There's a new traffic light installed for the entrance of a new school, and the f-150 in front of me as well as the car next to him decided to slam on their brakes for a yellow light. I lightly got on the front brake and stomped the rear while getting ready to head off the road as I thought I might not stop in time. I was also getting ready for my rear tire to lock up, but it never happened. I actually ended up stopped about 30 feet from the back of the pickup. Much much shorter than I could've stopped with my MC tire.
All in all, I would say big thumbs up from me for the Darkside!
And oh yea, after the tire was on and a short test ride done, Karen, Bear's wonderful wife busted out some home-made chocolate chip cookies (Bear's favorite and a rare treat for guests I'm told!).
I would be remiss if I didn't wish a very sincere thank you to Jerry and Karen, for their hospitality today and all the help with the bike. Y'all are both one of a kind, and my life is richer for knowing you!
....Man that's totally not how you do it!!...Lucky the sidewall didn't burst like some others have...Also if during deflation the tire came off the bead, they didn't have it seated to begin with...No way a tire will come off the bead by just letting the air out...:nope: Consider it a blessing in disguise that you went back to Jerry's to put the beads in...That tire wasn't seated when you left the tire shop....
