Yeah, another CT thread...

[coacha]

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

"enough to put most right-minded people back on bike-specific rubber"

LOL!! I think most people would say that right-minded people don't ride motorcycles.

+1 Right-minded people think anyone that rides a motorcycle is an "organ donor" waiting to happen.

[Pitchinguy]

The one common argument by tire mfg's, mag writers, etc seems to be the rim seat is different which might allow for failure. I've never heard of a CT failing on a motorcycle rim. Does anyone actually know of or heard of this actually happening?

[Monkeyman]

Well, there was this one guy who said his brother had a friend who knew someone back in college who's brother in law had a sister who's best friend said he had a problem. I forget his name.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by Pitchinguy

The one common argument by tire mfg's, mag writers, etc seems to be the rim seat is different which might allow for failure. I've never heard of a CT failing on a motorcycle rim. Does anyone actually know of or heard of this actually happening?

I would doubt that its ever happened. Have you ever tried taking one on or off?

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by Pitchinguy

The one common argument by tire mfg's, mag writers, etc seems to be the rim seat is different which might allow for failure. I've never heard of a CT failing on a motorcycle rim. Does anyone actually know of or heard of this actually happening?

The CT's actually seat better on the M/C rim than on the car rim. I wouldn't want to put a motorcycle tire on a car, that might not be safe. The "Old Timers" that were around when I was young ran CT's on their motorcycles before I was born. So where are the decades of "EXAMPLES" of people crashing their motorcycle due to the added traction/performance of a CT? The only difference from then till now is "There is a chance" that some POS lawyer might sue somebody.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

. . .
I have had conversations with CT guys who tell me that you do notice a difference compared to running a MT. They tell me that it takes a little more pressure on the bars to drop into a turn and constant pressure to hold it there. They tell me that irregularities in the road surface tend to push the bike around so you have to stay on your toes. Of course there are Motorcycle tires with blocky tread patterns and a single groove running down the center that are affected by road surface as well. . .

The difference in counter steering is there, but hard to explain. Depending on how "deep" the corner is, it's sort of a +, ++, =, - sort of thing. It's not bad, just different. It's comparable to the differences in handling between models. I've had several motorcycles, NONE of them ride the same as a different model. I test rode 4 different H-D models before I bought my Nomad. Again, all of them handle different.

[Tiger J]

I have heard both sides of the debate and don't know enough about motorcycle dynamics to form my own opinion... what keeps me from even considering darksiding are two things: 1) I would have to install the car tire myself because no shop around here will do it; and 2) (this is the big one) insurance won't cover me if I have an accident with a car tire on the bike.

The only advice I could offer to anyone considering darksiding is to check with their insurance carrier first. I use Progressive... they say absolutely no!

[nomadtom69]

Did you go online to ask or did you talk to a agent who handles Progressive

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by Tiger J

I have heard both sides of the debate and don't know enough about motorcycle dynamics to form my own opinion... what keeps me from even considering darksiding are two things: 1) I would have to install the car tire myself because no shop around here will do it; and 2) (this is the big one) insurance won't cover me if I have an accident with a car tire on the bike.

The only advice I could offer to anyone considering darksiding is to check with their insurance carrier first. I use Progressive... they say absolutely no!

I'd just get a different carrier. Some carriers don't insure motorcycles at all. Does that mean you'll quit riding?

[twowheeladdict]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I wouldn't even consider putting a car tire on a sport bike. It works on a cruiser/tourer, but sport bikes are ridden differently.

I guess that's my problem. I don't ride my bike differently

I take the same lines on the tourer as I do on sport oriented bikes.

I end up upgrading the suspension on my touring bikes so they end up with a sportier ride.

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by Tiger J

I have heard both sides of the debate and don't know enough about motorcycle dynamics to form my own opinion... what keeps me from even considering darksiding are two things: 1) I would have to install the car tire myself because no shop around here will do it; and 2) (this is the big one) insurance won't cover me if I have an accident with a car tire on the bike.

The only advice I could offer to anyone considering darksiding is to check with their insurance carrier first. I use Progressive... they say absolutely no!

I use Dairyland now, but before, I had progressive, and they told me the same thing as Dairyland, as long as it is a DOT approved tire, with the DOT stamp on the sidewall, it will be covered.

[mobandy78]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

I use Dairyland now, but before, I had progressive, and they told me the same thing as Dairyland, as long as it is a DOT approved tire, with the DOT stamp on the sidewall, it will be covered.

This has been talked about before... with one of our members being an insurance guy. He said this same statement. As long as it's DOT approved, it would be covered. Last time I checked, car tires were DOT approved.

[waterman]

Two years ago at a VROC rally several of us were having a discussion on CT's. Well, another person who claimed he wrote for motorcycle magazines poked his nose in and claimed that motorcycles have never run on car tires and that he knew the history of motorcycle's. We politely told him to check his history as in the past there were no such things as motorcycle specific tires.

CT's are not for everyone but they are for some. Too each his own.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

I guess that's my problem. I don't ride my bike differently

I take the same lines on the tourer as I do on sport oriented bikes.

I end up upgrading the suspension on my touring bikes so they end up with a sportier ride.

I have a 205/60-16 CT and still ride my Nomad pretty "sporty" at times. It actually does much better at it with the CT.

I think the reason most sport bikes don't Dark Side is the different rim size makes it hard to cross match sizes.

[toy4bob]

Thanks everyone for the input, and the offer to test ride your's Monkeyman once you go there (I hope that fairing is on by then too :)). I am really torn to give it a try the first time I need to replace, we shall see as I am sure this will be needed this summer sometime.

I read everything posted about CT / darkside, and posted this thread as someone had an opinion and I wondered what some of you who have gone CT had to say in response to it.

On a side note, I posted the exact same post on another forum at the same time I started this thread, had one reply before at some point the thread was locked. I also received a message from an admin, telling me I was given an "infraction" and points due to trolling and firestarting. wow, really???? I really thought I stated right off that I was on the fence, and here was an opinion below.... I think we are all still entitled to those, like em or not.

Anyway, I apologized and expressed that was not my intent at all, and even pointed out that I started same thread here and had 2 pages of helpful info... and again I thank you all for that. Rgardless, I thought I better warn wompus DO NOT post his gay guy / black guy joke over there.... LOL

Ride on, regardless of what tires you are on.

Bob