|
05-22-2017, 07:21 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 302
|
Time for Darkside (F/R)
I don't want a lecture on the subject. I've had DS before, so please don't waste your breath.
I am ready to replace the rear tire on my '12 Nomad for the 4th time in 2 years. I have 32000 miles in the same time frame. Here is my request: I am looking for tire sizes. I have seen two sizes talked about for the Nomad; 205/60r16 and 195/60r16. What size is recommended and why? I would like to even drop the rear of the bike a bit, so I was considering 205/55r16 as it is about .25" shorter than the stock 170/70/16. I know how the tire handles, so I am confident that I will be fine there, but I don't want to lose any lean angle as I drag the floorboards and exhaust frequently. Alright - I have made a bunch of random statements. What size would you recommend? If I remember the DS from my last bike, I lifted a bit when turning, essentially gaining a bit of clearance. Am I crazy or does that happen? Thanks for any help!
__________________
|| Former President | Denver Vulcan Riders Association | Chapter 1-30 ||
||2012 Kawasaki Nomad|| ||VBA #03091|| Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
05-22-2017, 07:23 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 302
|
Oh - what tire do you recommend for the front DS? I have heard awful things about the wet traction for the Michelin Commander II, so I am not interested in that. Size and brand recommendations please.
__________________
|| Former President | Denver Vulcan Riders Association | Chapter 1-30 ||
||2012 Kawasaki Nomad|| ||VBA #03091|| |
|
05-22-2017, 10:34 PM | #3 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 119
|
Quote:
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk |
|
|
05-22-2017, 11:19 PM | #4 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 302
|
Quote:
I ride in the rain way too much to be concerned about the wet weather traction. I've been happy with the Dunlop traction, just not the wear. Though the front lasted about 15k miles. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________
|| Former President | Denver Vulcan Riders Association | Chapter 1-30 ||
||2012 Kawasaki Nomad|| ||VBA #03091|| |
|
|
05-23-2017, 01:28 AM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: New Castle, In.
Posts: 365
|
Installed a Yokohama Avid Envigor Tuesday in a 205/60/16. Will be following this because will need a front tire in a couple months and am considering double darkside myself.
__________________
2005 800 Classic 2012 Voyager ABS Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
05-23-2017, 04:32 AM | #6 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Stockton, Ca.
Posts: 568
|
Soo what D/S tire you planning to install on the front?
__________________
Too much fun Is never enough. You make a living by what you get, You make a life by what you give. The measure of a man can be summed up by how he treats people who are the least significant to him. |
|
05-23-2017, 11:57 AM | #7 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ontario canada
Posts: 94
|
wet traction
Quote:
__________________
2015 vulcan vaquero ABS SE mettalic carbon grey 12in. windshield grasshopper driver backrest oem aux lights ram mount for gps freedom performance true duals tank bra saddle bag chaps kuryakin longhorn cruise pedals black isso grips chucksters risers k&n air filter ivanized VBA#03256 |
|
|
05-23-2017, 12:29 PM | #8 |
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 119
|
That's same pressures i run, tho front would ride better with less. My gripe was longevity, so I'm not dropping pressure. I've simply noticed some front slip on few hiway wet lane changes I've never had before, and have spun the rear a few times, once goosing it out of a deck, last week gunning it on a hiway onramp. Never an issue with Dunlops, but these Commanders have already doubled the miles.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk |
|
05-23-2017, 12:33 PM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 119
|
Also, I primarily brake wth the front, coast to stops instead of downshifting. Saves clutch and rear tire (and gas). Seems this is equalizing wear so my michelin front & rear will be ready for replacing toghether. Just g as me I play riding daily.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk |
|
05-23-2017, 12:38 PM | #10 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ontario canada
Posts: 94
|
how bad was the slip on wet pavement? now Im wondering if I should have gone with the metsler 888 instead? I had them on my vstar and never slipped at all. I think im going to air down the front to 38 psi and see how that feels. 42 psi does feel a bit hard.
__________________
2015 vulcan vaquero ABS SE mettalic carbon grey 12in. windshield grasshopper driver backrest oem aux lights ram mount for gps freedom performance true duals tank bra saddle bag chaps kuryakin longhorn cruise pedals black isso grips chucksters risers k&n air filter ivanized VBA#03256 |
|
05-23-2017, 03:07 PM | #11 |
Top Contributor
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Wilkesboro, NC
Posts: 6,289
|
You know that, when you double darkside, you put a rear MOTORCYCLE tire on the front, right? Not trying to be an a**, just making sure you know. I'd hate to see a bike with a car tire on the front.
__________________
Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860 |
|
05-23-2017, 06:27 PM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Aurora CO
Posts: 302
|
okay, based on the tire size calculator; a 205/55r16 is .49" smaller than the factory 170/70r16. I don't know how I jacked that math up the first time...
The 195/60r16 is .19" smaller than factory. Has anyone used a 205/55r16? The 60 series seems to be more common, but I don't want to raise the rear of the bike any. I adjusted my air shocks quite a bit, and gained some clearance. Thank means I believe I can afford the 1/2" lost by the tire. Is there any reason that the 55 series won't work?
__________________
|| Former President | Denver Vulcan Riders Association | Chapter 1-30 ||
||2012 Kawasaki Nomad|| ||VBA #03091|| |
|
05-24-2017, 05:12 AM | #13 | |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Stockton, Ca.
Posts: 568
|
Quote:
I learn something every day. There was a skoot for sale on Craigslist that had a sidecar. In the pictures you could see a car tire on the front. I think it was a Nomad. Anyways, when I spoke to the owner about what he was running, I found this tire was to wide for my Vaquero in the front. The Yokohama I have on the rear is wearing like iron, over 16,000 miles and I can't detect any wear. It improved the ride and my fuel milage went up a tad. I am running 51 psi, as that is what the tire is rated for, and it is a softer ride than the OEM M/C tire. And it is rated for 1356 pounds capacity. I was thinking if the rear tire improved my ride, what would it do for the front?
__________________
Too much fun Is never enough. You make a living by what you get, You make a life by what you give. The measure of a man can be summed up by how he treats people who are the least significant to him. |
|
|
05-24-2017, 07:49 AM | #14 | |
Top Contributor
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Wilkesboro, NC
Posts: 6,289
|
Quote:
Dark side = car tire on the rear of the bike. Double dark side = car tire on the rear of the bike and a REAR motorcycle tire on the front of the bike BUT TURNED TO FACE THE OTHER DIRECTION. (Bike tires are directional. Have the shop mount the rear tire (now on the front) so that it's backwards of the direction it's normally meant to be.) All this is for 2 wheels only. If you've added a hack (side car), you can run anything you want since the bike won't lean. If you have a Harley, it doesn't matter what tires you have. You'll break down before the 1st curve anyway. (Just kidding, my HD friends!)
__________________
Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860 |
|
|
05-24-2017, 12:10 PM | #15 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: New Castle, In.
Posts: 365
|
Yes, I know that. Not confident in Commander rear tire due the 2 I had on the rear both cupped about 14k miles with plenty of tread life left. Was thinking Shinko since my front tire has about 15k miles on it, but the rear tire was done at less than 1/2 that.
__________________
2005 800 Classic 2012 Voyager ABS
Last edited by rick6375; 05-24-2017 at 12:15 PM.
|
|