Darkside on a 1500 nomad - Do you like this choice

[blackdogbrian]

Hi folks,

It's time for some new rubber on the bike, and I'm looking to go dark (side).
After skulking around on the site here, I see two main reccomended/popular choices for a 1500 are
195-60-16 and
195-65-16

So here are some questions for those experianced with the CT's
1 - are there other sizes I should be considering?
2 - Snow tire? I know a fellow on a wing who used a snow tire. it seems logical, it's a bit softer of a rubber compound (and actually a few bucks less money). Any reason you would reccomend avoiding it - or are there benefits to something like (Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical )?
3- if I use a CT on the rear, what do I replace the front tire with? I've heard of folks using a rear MC tire on the front (running in reverse). Is that an option for darksiders - is anyone here doing it..... or are you all generally using a MC front tire in the front?
4- If I do this I likely will have to mount it myself (none of the local shops have the balls to). So, while I have both tires off, what other things would you recommend I do (are they fairly basic jobs?) new brake pads, grease this and that, etc....

Thanks!
Brian

[coacha]

Mac will chime in on this one for sure about servicing the swing arm while you are at it. If you don't, he may show up at your house and slap you silly :)

[ringadingh]

I used the Vredestein Comtrac because it comes in a 175 width, and is a taller tire which corrected the speedo error to about 2mph.
Im not sure about using a snow tire but don't see why it wouldn't work.
Use any front tire you want, there is no reason to change from stock.
I mounted mine myself, its not that difficult, and yes service the swingarm and driveshaft/Ujoint assemby since you will not have to be back there again for a while.

[mikeyger]

I run dunlope SP5000 195-60-16 ct on the rear and a rear dunlope mt 404 on the front I done a lot of reasearch on several forums including the darkside forum and find that some run the rear mt tire on the front with the arrows in the reverse direction and some say they do not. It is kind if like an oil thread. Mine rides great at all speeds .Like ringding i mounted mine using tire irons and added dyna beads.If you need brakes yes now is the time to do them. mike

[blackdogbrian]

thanks for the feedback so far guys
as for the rear tire on the front - it was my inderstanding the motivation was to get more life out of it (a rear tire in the front should have a longer life then a normal front tire).
but that's just what i've read....

[MAS Tequila]

I'm running a D404 150/80/16 rear turned backwards on the front.

It had deeper tread than a front tire and is not showing signs of wear.

It does in my case make a little more noise.

With a CT it is called a double darkside.

MT

[macmac]

Yeah you will want to read in the maint section below the garage section about swing arm service. Your half way there and it is critical.

You should buy a new drive shaft boot too. I bet yours is dry rotting as I type.

All splines get greased in CV Joint grease molly lube. The long bolt, 3 swingarm spacers and the tube they go in get greased with a stiff chassi grease, and I would suggest a Marine grade.

You will need a new rear axel cotter pin, probably 2 head pipe gaskets, and 2 swing arm seals. Don't use the old seals over, if the backing is worn to steel, as it is likey they will be since the engineers use these as thrust washers.

By rights there should be apx 0.002" free play for the swing arm to move sideways. I am willing to bet money you have 0.120 or more free play. Ma Kawwi really screwed the pooch on that set up, and so far no one has come up with a decent real fix.

The first time i did this service it took me 6 hours. Most of that is cleaning off dried out molly lube and gritty mung... Do not forget the wheel hub splines either, and if that one is dried and and the wheel hub is blue it means that hub got some hot mista'.

Inspect and handle the drive shaft U joint with care. Don't let it flop and slap around at all. See that it moives real easy in all planes of travel and doesn't bind anywhere. If it does get a new U joint. I think you can get these with zerks, but I am not sure the zerk can stay mounted on the joint.

If you do get one with a zerk, before it is installed pump grease thru it blocking off one plane, (the opposing ends with yoyr thumbe and first finger till grease comes out the other plane.

The block that plane off so grease will come out the other. Anything less will air lock one plane or the other and no grease will go to the caps.
Then with the joint installed in the shaft grease it once more.

[altoni]

Does anyone know if a 205-60-16 will fit a 1500 ? I cant seem to find any 195-60-15 tires. I would prefer to turn less rev's per mile.

[recumbentbob]

I run this tire a 195-60-16 on an 08 1600 Nomad.

I love the tire and it's wearing really good.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by altoni

Does anyone know if a 205-60-16 will fit a 1500 ? I cant seem to find any 195-60-15 tires. I would prefer to turn less rev's per mile.

The 1500's have a 3.5" rim, and a 205 is getting kind of wide for that rim in my opinion. The 1600's have a 4.5" rim.

[blackdogbrian]

thanks for the feedback folks, and mac for the info on the swing arm service.
I have to admit.... when you got to the part about 6hrs.... it kinda made me want to back off the project....

that's the wrong answer - I'm sure that means I need it more then ever..... but did make me start to wonder....

[macmac]

Blackdog, You do know how to wipe and mop up crudy grease right? The detail of that type cleaning taks around 6 hours just for cleaning up dead grease, so new grease isn't contaminated. Cleaning splines clean to grease them again properly, and get a tire swapped off and on the rim by hand taks me 6 hours.

altoni No the widest possible tire for a 1500 is 195, unless you start cutting metal, and in that case it would be rather a lot.

[blackdogbrian]

thanks for the continued feed back Mac (and everyone else).
I think I'll be ordering the tire this week!

[altoni]

I found a 185-75-16 I think that would fit. Does anyone know for sure?

[MAS Tequila]

Originally Posted by altoni

I found a 185-75-16 I think that would fit. Does anyone know for sure?

It will fit a 1600 but on a 1500 you have to do a good bit of grinding on the swingarm.

I had that size Vanco on mine for a while.

MT