[mikeyrx]

Been running a Federal Formoza on my 98 GL 1500 SE for 3 years now. About 18K miles I think. I dont ride too fast so cant comment on 80+ mph, but I have found basically the same things. The "transition", as I call it, in turns is a little unnerving at first, but when you discover that the bike is still solidly planted, you wont notice it any more. I really like the performance in the rain. It feels more secure, and the braking is definitely better. I think I have 3 oz o Dynabeads in mine, and I run at 36 lbs of air: like I said I dont ride fast. I'd do it again, and if I ever move up to an 1800, I'd go with a larger size, run flat tire.
Mikeyrx

 

[newday777]

As sidecar nut: BEST rear tire I've run on our GL1500 rig in 11 years! Tried Dunlop E3, Metzeler 880, Avon Venom. All gave lousy rear tire mileage. Run 42 psi cold. Ride is much better. Rig handles very well [run Avon Venom on front].
Wife always rides 2-up with me[has arthritic knees, which bother her when riding in hack with legs straight out]. My 2 cents.....papasmurf

Tom
You put on the Austone didn't you?

 

[ding dong]

Side note: When I pulled the Austone I sent it back to Universal tire for inspection. They said that the tests showed no defects. So it wasn't a defective tire.They did refund my purchase price.

I'm glad to see that there are many who are admitting now that this problem exists and it isn't limited to just a few. All the facts need to be out there so others can make an informed decision. I could have lived with the tracking and slight wandering but when I took it up to 80 and 85 mph and the bike acted like it wanted to "lift off" and the excessive buffeting in the wind that wasn't acceptable to me. Also my only problem was with straight line riding. It had nothing to do with cornering or maneuvering. I saw no difference in riding the curves or cornering.

Thanks Stereosteve0 for bringing this up again. I hope you resolve your issues.

 

[wilf]

My feelings are that the high speed wobble may be caused by the flatness of the tread. If I decide to run a CT on my 1500 I think I will shave a radius onto the sides of the tire. Being a CT i'm sure the fellow who angle shaves my tires could do it if I first mount it on a auto rim for shaving
Wilf

 

[rgbeard]

I don't get this. If you are braking that hard, given that it's a linked braking system aren't you at risk of also losing traction on the front?

That would be reasonably difficult.

During heavy braking, as weight is transferred to the front, the rear tire begins to lose weight. The contact patch on the front is growing in size, while the rear is shrinking. Thus, it's really easy to lock a rear tire in heavy braking, and not so easy to lock a front wheel.

 

[nico]

That would be reasonably difficult.

During heavy braking, as weight is transferred to the front, the rear tire begins to lose weight. The contact patch on the front is growing in size, while the rear is shrinking. Thus, it's really easy to lock a rear tire in heavy braking, and not so easy to lock a front wheel.

Ok, thanks, I guess that makes sense.

It's true that I've never seen a motogp rider lose the front at the moment their rear tire is lifting off the ground during hard braking.

 

[StereoSteveo]

Update

As per pwhoever's recommendation I added 5oz of Dynabeads. Smooth as silk!

I'm liking this tire a lot now and have gotten very comfortable with it. All things considered I say DarkSide is the way I'll be going from now on!! The tire is so quiet and smooth riding and should last for a long long time. Plus it has TONS of grip!

 

[jobe05]

I put an Austone on a month ago and am still making minor adjustments to the bikes tire pressures and fork pressures to know what I need to do in order to achieve a nice handling ride under different conditions. I was getting a small wobble for lack of a better term at high speeds, coming from the front tire at high speeds. I took the wheel weights off, added 2 oz of dyna beads, put the tire at 41 PSI and the forks at 4 psi and she rides great 1 or 2 up, with the exception of 2 up in the curves. I get that "Buckling Sidewall" feeling from the Austone even though Im running 48 PSI. Might try 50 PSI next time I go 2 up.

 

[StereoSteveo]

Yeah Jobe, just fyi, as per forum member 96aspencade's setting, I went back to 51 psi on my tire. He says he runs all his tires max psi. Seems to be working fine for me as well.

 

[jfairman]

rotational direction

is everyone mounting their CT with mfr recommended rotational direction?

i thought I'd read something once suggesting otherwise.

 

[96aspencade]

Possibly you are thinking about the Double Dark Side - front tire (Rear M/C tire)being mounted reverse to directional arrow due to the tire construction ????
I did this with my 1st front tire and now the 2nd mounted forward direction, to see if there is a difference, so far nothing noted. :waving:

is everyone mounting their CT with mfr recommended rotational direction?

i thought I'd read something once suggesting otherwise.

 

[vtxcandyred]

Possibly you are thinking about the Double Dark Side - front tire (Rear M/C tire)being mounted reverse to directional arrow due to the tire construction ????
I did this with my 1st front tire and now the 2nd mounted forward direction, to see if there is a difference, so far nothing noted. :waving:

I too have a rear bike tire mounted on the front in the correct direction. Have felt no bad feelings with this. I have been darkside for years on my VTX. If I still rode it it still would be. I gave it to my son and he switched it back. He's not looking at putting as many miles on it as I did and do my wing. I have the Battleaxe on the front and the Dunlop run flat on the back.