New Darksider

[nightflight1]

Finally went to the DARKSIDE this week and so far I am inpressed. I have a Continental Vanco 2 195/65R/16 mounted on my '05 Nomad 1600. Great fit, good drive shaft clearance, speedo error is less but not corrected. 35 PSI is the present pressure but am seriously considering going lower for next ride. Thanx everyone for your opinions and help in making my choice of tires.

[poppy]

good to hear you are liking it. My bike is currently on the jack, wheel removed, waiting on a Vredestein 195/75/16. I went with a size mentioned on the darkside forum, close to the metzler upgrade size. I did not want to modify the swingarm and thought this might be a perfect fit. Keep us updated on your progress.

[nightflight1]

I searched the net for that Vredestein size and could find nothing in the U.S. I understand that size will correct the 10% speedo error. My tire did not correct it, but did get it a little closer. I think I will take the tire pressure down to 30 on the next ride.

[macmac]

Ride thru a puddle and check tread patterns to set psi. Aim for a total tread, not heavy in the center and not heavy on the edges.

[nightflight1]

Thanx Mac, I'll go spray the drive and check it out sometime this week. Should get the sweet spot a little quicker than trial and error.

[waterman]

Night Flight,

I just bought the same tire. Should have it on next week along with a new front.

[recumbentbob]

I run the Continental Vanco 2 195/65R/16 on my 08 Nomad.

My sweet spot is 28 psi love that tire. I ran 30 psi some and 28 psi some; think I have settled on 28 psi.

[macmac]

I run the Dunlop Sp 5000 and set to 36 pso last year which works just fine for me. The deal is you are not going to find that sweet spot till you ride out some 500+ miles .

I did this because i was sick of buying rear tires every 8,000 miles, and at that it was pushing things. Now if you ask me, my riding style is easy and laid back, so not hot shot riding, no one to impress, and i am to old to run down that hill anyway, more so since I can still walk

I have 7,000+ and 7/32nds of 10/32nds, so unless I hit a nail I won't be getting any new rear this year either....

I could care a less about speedo error. But then I can do 10% in my head if i need to know.

Accutally I cheat, and with nail polish make little tiny cheater marks on my nails! LOL Just don't tell!

[nightflight1]

I am going to get a permanent marker and use my GPS & mark my glass with speeds up to 90. I don't drag pegs anymore and am a road rider only, mostly with a riding group once a week. The leader is off 10% too but cannot buy the fact the bike his off that much. So....... not much chance of this group speeding. LOL

[Cajunrider]

Welcome to the DS Wayne.

[lonewolf]

Welcome to the DARKSIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigdave]

Welcome to the Darkside

[trosco]

Are you guys sure about the size being a Vredestein 195/75/16? That tire is huge compared to the stock 170/70/16. I thought the attraction of the Vred's was that they offered a 175/75/16 in a design with the reinforced bead that we like for motorcycle wheels.

The 195/75/16 side wall is 148mm tall where our stockers were 119mm. 30mm is a big jump! I have a 160/80/16 on the back of my Nomad right now. That side wall is 128mm. Per my GPS my speedo error with the 170/70 OEM tire was indicated 76MPH was actual 70MPH. Now with the 128mm sidewall tire a indicated 72MPH is actual 70MPH . If my math on tire circumference is right you want a sidewall in the 130 to 135mm range to get a correct speedo if your speedo is off about the same as mine was.

My biggest concern wouldn't be the speedo though. Even the 205/55/16, 205/60/16 and 205/65/16 tires that folks are putting on our Nomads have side wall heights below135mm. Will it fit or is it to tall for the swing arm???

Not bashing the darkside approach guys. I was going there myself but then local shop going out of business sold me the Dunlop E-3 160/80/16 for $90 and well... it was just to good to pass up. Rear will probably be a CT when this E-3 wears out.

[waterman]

Trosco, the 195/65 is about the same diameter as the 160/80 so it should fit. The tire that I have heard issues with is the 205/65. Some members have had to modify their swingarm for that.

[nightflight1]

My Vanco 2 Conti is 195/65R/16 and the tire clears drive shaft and swing arm okay. I have about 1/4" clearance on the drive shaft. Installer had no trouble getting the tire back up in the rear end with the tire deflated. The 205 is real close to the drive shaft from what everyone says. Runs smooth, is guiet, and stops better at panic red light stops. LOL Gotta be careful the guy behind you doesn't slide into you since you will stop quicker than his OEM tire will.