Ok...it's time

[dkdixie]

Clayton, looks like the guys have answered most of your questions except the soft air gun pellets.
My recently installed EL400 using the pellets is my first experience with them. You'll probably find 3 sizes at WalMart or another source; .12 gram, .20 gram and .25 gram. I went with the lightest .12 gram just because it would be the most volume. Dynabeads calls for 3oz in 195 series, I went with 3.5oz.

I also had the Dunlop SP5000. Good tire but I was using 34-36lbs of air pressure. Wore out the center too fast and only got 16K out of it. I would suggest you try, as suggested, around 40lbs for couple hundred miles to get the tire seated well and then drop 2lbs until you find "your" sweet spot.
I'm currently running 28lbs on my new EL400-02 and can't really tell the difference between that and low 30's. You'll like the Dunlop, but IMO the EL400 is a much better tire.

Good luck and welcome to the Darkside

[clayton]

Hey DK
Thanks, I was really wanting the EL400 but due to finances and the fact that I had money on my Sear card :) I went through them. They had told me that the EL400 was a discontinued tire at least with Sears.
I will definately play around with the air pressures and some of the ideas I have seen in this post.
Thanks

PS...where can I get a Dark Side sticker...lol

[dkdixie]

Originally Posted by Clayton

Hey DK
Thanks, I was really wanting the EL400 but due to finances and the fact that I had money on my Sear card :) I went through them. They had told me that the EL400 was a discontinued tire at least with Sears.
I will definately play around with the air pressures and some of the ideas I have seen in this post.
Thanks

PS...where can I get a Dark Side sticker...lol

The "new" Bridgestone Turanza is EL400-02

Darkside sticker:

Lou Falzarno
10699 Deborah Dr.
Parma, OH 44130

Cost is 5.00 and payment can be sent via PayPal to: VS1600@sbcglobal.net

Colors; Gold, Silver and Black
Two sizes available: 2.25 x 1 and 8 x 1.5
IMO, larger size is too big to go on back fender if that's where you plan to put it.

Clayton, after you get some miles on ct, be sure to post your results on Darkside database at http://darkside.nwff.info/

[gazza]

This looks really interesting. Reading this is tempting me to join the Dark Side!

[mobandy78]

Originally Posted by gazza

This looks really interesting. Reading this is tempting me to join the Dark Side!

Do it! You won't be disappointed. The Bridgestone Turanza is a great tire! I couldn't even tell a difference between it and the m/t. I've already dragged my floorboards twice on exit ramps.

[Jared]

I'm also using the Air soft pellets on my second Dunlop SP5000. I had 32,000 miles on my last Dunlop when I sold the bike. It was getting close to replacement time.

With the pellets, it feels great! Instead of asking motorcycle deal ships if they mount it, trying a smaller car tire shop. They're not going to need to balance it, just mount it and put the pellets in for you. Any tire shop should be able to do it.

[clayton]

Well as of this past Saturday I am officially a Darksider...
Since it has been raining I have had little time to ride however I did get out a few times.
Here is my 2 cents worth...
1: Much smoother ride.
2: Bumbs do not impact my low back nearly a much as a MC tire.
3: She definitely trails as I expected.
4: Easier to hold up level.
5: Cornering is interesting.
After mounted and Dyna Beaded I pumped her up to 40 pounds and went for a short spin.
Cornering is weird but not something I cannot get over but the odd thing I noticed when going into a curve was not so much that it wants to stand you back up but more so the fact that it feels as if the rear tire is chasing the front. Kinda like it is wanting to slide into the curve.
Thinking that maybe 40 pounds was too much for my riding style I dropped her to 38 pounds.
Now she seems a bit squishy under normal riding but seems to react much faster to turning and curving.
Also dropping it to 38 I can feel more of the road and it seems a bit more smoother.
Once the roads dry up some I am going to grab some white shoe polish and draw some lines across the tire to see where I need to go with air pressure so maintain even wear.
So a question to the Experts in the Darkside.
I know this is vague but, what should I really expect in light of riding on a car tire more so what should I actually "feel".
I am so used to riding on MC tires that I suppose by Nature I am looking for something that might not even be there?
Thanks again