Another Nomad Gone Darkside

[bikerbeagle]

Hi, everyone ...I lurk here quite a bit, but don't post much. Since some of your experiences were helpful in my research going to the dark side, I thought I'd post and let you all know another Nomad has crossed over.

I chose a Continental Vanco Contact2 (195/65R16) as my tire. I had it mounted yesterday, but haven't put many miles on yet.

Not sure if cross-posting to another board is allowed here, but you can find a longer version of my experience over on the kawasakimotorcycle.org forums:

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...-hizzouse.html

and the thread I used for selecting a tire (has a pretty good list of available and workable tires for the Nomad):

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...re-choice.html

Obviously, if you have questions or want information, feel free to ask here ...I'll check back and keep both here and there updated with information.

[Idaho]

I read your other thread and find it interesting. Keep us up to date on the handling and thanks for posting this thread.

[watchman]

What made you decide to go with the car tire on the Nomad? I can see doing it on the VN2000 only getting 6000 miles out of a rear tire but there are several high milage tires for the Nomad.

[macmac]

bikerbeagle, Maybe this'll float yer stick....

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.html

Under 'Tire Charts' it says this "VTX owners with Goodyear Car tire (rear) 3 oz "

I just bought these beads to try, but I bought 2 oz per tire. If I should go with a car tire in this apx sizing, I would need 1 more ounce.

Like you my money matters, and we all get lousey rear tire milage.

If you have only have the stones, you should be in for a surprise.

OEM stones are junk on the show room floor..

I am really interested in how this works out. Just call me chicken, but I might not be forever..

Looks good Bikerbeagle! I checked out your thread on the Kawasaki board.









Keep us posted.... most I have heard run even less psi... in the 20's..


Please post a link for us on the Kawasaki board for KawaNOW!

Nico, CPD

[dantama]

I didn't read the posts in your link, just looked at your pictures, so I don't know if this was brought up and answered by you yet, but.....

When the bike is on its side stand, the tire is rolled over onto the corner of the tread. I do a lot of mountain riding, and get to lean angles that scrape the floor boards. When the floor boards touch, there is a lot more lean than the side stand lean angle.

I'd be worried about traction, and if traction proved to be fine, I'd worry about wearing that sharp corner right off.

On a regular bike tire, there seems to be more rubber touching the ground in a high lean turn that what the car tire has. That's unscientific, just gut feel looking at your picture.

[Yellow Jacket]

Welcome to the Darkside bikerbeagle.

I had considered that tire but was a little concerned about the section width and clearance between the swingarm on the driveshaft side.

How much clearance do you have between the tire and the swingarm?

Thanks,

Bob

[Yellow Jacket]

I looked at your posting of tire sizes you had listed. I have a couple of points about the last two you listed:

Bridgestone Ecopia EP-02 - 195/80SR16 - $125 (not available yet)
Bridgestone Ecopia EP-02
Yokohama E102 - 195/80SR16 - $143 (discontinued?)
Yokohama E102

The 195/80SR16 will not fit without modifying the brace in the front right corner of the swing arm.

I have the Yokohama E102 -195/80SR16 mounted on my 06 Nomad. This tire rubbed against the brace which I had to remove to gain proper clearance. I don't recommend doing this.

Also, with the tall sidewall of this size tire, I experience wobble from side to side at speeds over 70 mph when running over uneven surfaces.

On the plus side, the speedometer error is totally gone.

I have put over 3000 miles on this tire so far and there is absolutey no sign of wear. It handles the curves and twisties with no problem or discomfort. I rode the Dragon twice earlier this month on this tire. My second pass I drug the floorboards a couple of times (not intentionally) with no feeling of losing traction or control.

The only issues I have with this size tire are as I stated, you must modify the swing arm brace and you will probably experience wobble at higher freeway speeds.

A 195/70R16 is probably the maximum that will fit without modification but I haven't been able to find a single tire in that size.

The 195/65R16 is probably the best bet for 2005 and up 1600 Nomads.

That will be the next tire I try. It may take me 3 or 4 years however to wear out the one I have on now.

Check out this thread for my original report on this tire:

http://kawanow.proboards77.com/index...ad=2696&page=1

[bikerbeagle]

Originally Posted by watchman

What made you decide to go with the car tire on the Nomad? I can see doing it on the VN2000 only getting 6000 miles out of a rear tire but there are several high milage tires for the Nomad.

I live in Kansas. Eleven thousand miles of road and asphalt ...11 curves. I have to drive over 300 miles in mostly a straight line just to *see* a curve. My last 2 tires (this last one and the one before that on my 900LT) were worn near bald on the center and practically untouched on the sides. Not much of a reason, really, but I just looked at the motorcycle tire and said, "what are you giving me that a reasonable car tire wouldn't?" ...and I realized I could live without those things due to my riding style and conditions.

[bikerbeagle]

Originally Posted by Dan Lund

I didn't read the posts in your link, just looked at your pictures, so I don't know if this was brought up and answered by you yet, but.....

When the bike is on its side stand, the tire is rolled over onto the corner of the tread. I do a lot of mountain riding, and get to lean angles that scrape the floor boards. When the floor boards touch, there is a lot more lean than the side stand lean angle.

I'd be worried about traction, and if traction proved to be fine, I'd worry about wearing that sharp corner right off.

I noticed that as well, but I'm not prepared to get worried about it quite yet. I think I may still have too much pressure yet. Looks like Nico is suggesting low-LOW 20s ...I'll play around with pressures and report back what I find.

[bikerbeagle]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

Welcome to the Darkside bikerbeagle.

I had considered that tire but was a little concerned about the section width and clearance between the swingarm on the driveshaft side.

How much clearance do you have between the tire and the swingarm?

Thanks,

Bob

I'm going to take measurements tonight and post them. I don't remember being concerned about the swingarm. The shaft casing is the closest the tire comes to touching any kind of metal whatsoever.

[bikerbeagle]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

I looked at your posting of tire sizes you had listed. I have a couple of points about the last two you listed:

The 195/80SR16 will not fit without modifying the brace in the front right corner of the swing arm.

I have the Yokohama E102 -195/80SR16 mounted on my 06 Nomad. This tire rubbed against the brace which I had to remove to gain proper clearance. I don't recommend doing this.

Also, with the tall sidewall of this size tire, I experience wobble from side to side at speeds over 70 mph when running over uneven surfaces.

A 195/70R16 is probably the maximum that will fit without modification but I haven't been able to find a single tire in that size.

The 195/65R16 is probably the best bet for 2005 and up 1600 Nomads.

Check out this thread for my original report on this tire:

Thanks, Bob. I did read your experiences with the 195/80 tire and, for that reason alone, removed them as options - but not from the list. I think a 195/70-16 is a vapor-tire ...I've never found any tire in that size.

I ended up with the Vanco Contact 2, 195/65R16, and it fits quite well. I haven't checked speedo error yet ...but the tire should be near exactly the same diameter as the stock 170/70 that was on it before.

Originally Posted by Dan Lund

I didn't read the posts in your link, just looked at your pictures, so I don't know if this was brought up and answered by you yet, but.....

When the bike is on its side stand, the tire is rolled over onto the corner of the tread. I do a lot of mountain riding, and get to lean angles that scrape the floor boards. When the floor boards touch, there is a lot more lean than the side stand lean angle.

I'd be worried about traction, and if traction proved to be fine, I'd worry about wearing that sharp corner right off.

On a regular bike tire, there seems to be more rubber touching the ground in a high lean turn that what the car tire has. That's unscientific, just gut feel looking at your picture.

Dan, from what I've seen, the sidewall flexes a lot, and the tread contact patch stays a lot flatter than you'd imagine. I know it doesn't look like that in the "sidestand" photo you refered to, but that bike is unladen and it'll look a lot different with a passenger and in motion. Sitting on the sidestand there are no cornering forces present to squash down the sidewall. Also I'd say his air pressure is a tad high.

[pablo]

I'm running 26 psi maximum in mine. It starts getting squirrelly in back if I put more in. The back end feels a little spongy compared to the bike tire, but the handling is good. I took mine up to 105 mph (indicated), and it started swaying back a forth a little. I backed off and it went away. It was very slight at 105, but there is definitly something going on at high speed that wasn't there with the Metzeler. This shouldn't be a problem with my normal riding, but I need to be aware of it if I get a wild hair.

[ponch]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...13673805&hl=en

Originally Posted by caddmannq

Dan, from what I've seen, the sidewall flexes a lot, and the tread contact patch stays a lot flatter than you'd imagine. I know it doesn't look like that in the "sidestand" photo you refered to, but that bike is unladen and it'll look a lot different with a passenger and in motion. Sitting on the sidestand there are no cornering forces present to squash down the sidewall. Also I'd say his air pressure is a tad high.