C109 Darkside conversion

K

Kayy♫

New member
Has anyone on a 109 joined the Darkside and used a car tire for the rear?

I know guys on Nomads and Shadows who have and they swear by the tires, not only for the additional mileage and cost savings, but say that there's not a big difference in the handling.
 
I considered it with my Shadow, but with the pricing locally at $300 + for the rear tire, if I could get 80,000km out of a car tire for 1/3 the price and no real change in handling......

Seems like a no brainer
 
I was just teasing. There has been a more than a few heated discussions on the dark side on here.

I have never tried it myself. It would never work or be safe (in my opinion) on a Sport bike. If I had a heavy cruiser with limited cornering clearance, I would probably be very tempted to try it myself. Especially if I spent most of my time up right and handling was a lesser concern. There are videos on U-tube showing bikes with car tires on them. They are all Gold Wings and cruisers. Most of them mounted cameras on the bottom of the bike to show how the tires react to cornering. From what I have read is they run really low tire pressures to help the tire react to the cornering forces and flatten as it corners.

I have never ridden a bike with a car tire on it, but I have to believe that it would have a more than noticeable effect on the handling. It would slow it down a lot, require more effort to turn the bike, and the bike would be reluctant to hold it's line. I notice it when I get a flat spot on my motorcycle tire. I am sure it would be a lot worse with a car tire. The thing is that you would get used to and not notice the difference after a while. You would probably notice it more if you went back to a motorcycle tire.

I feel your pain. I am already trying to plan my next rear tire replacement. The tires are expensive and they do not last very long. Especially on a sport bike. With the economy the way it is and that I am going back to school, my income it pretty low right now. If I had a cruiser, I might give it a shot myself even thought I have my doubts about it. I would like to ride a bike with a car tire on it once to just see how it does effect it.
 
Yeah, $600 (pair)Canadian is a tough pill to swallow at this time, especially if I'm going to have to replace rear tires nearly twice in a season.

There's a good article here
The Dark Side

I'm not looking for arguments plus or minus on the issue, since every forum is full of them and you're right, it's a pretty heated issue where everyone's an expert. Since the 109 is a newer model, there's just limited data to suggest which tire is best suited to replace the 240 on the rear.

I read the last 4 page debate here on MJ concerning the issue and there's some good information in it as well.
 
It just dawned on me that with such a wide tire standard on the 109, you will have a few more options available to you.

The only advice I could give without experience, is that car tire manufacturers have recommended tire widths for a given rim width. So, you could figure out which tire will go best on your rim.
 
So.......while considering this "dark side" alternative, have you also spent at least an equivalent amount of time researching high mileage MOTORCYCLE tires that would fit your bike ????

The price you quoted might suggest that those are "high performance" tires, which means sticky and SOFT. "Sport" tires on a cruiser just doesn't make any sense......for most riders.
 
There is no such thing as a "high mileage" motorcycle tire. I have read quite a bit about D.S. tires but I really don't think I would go there. I have not heard of anyone putting it on a 109 though mostly lowered intruders and C90s. Some guys swear by them. Cornering seems to be good, wear is excellent and IMO, it looks cool. Still would not go there though. I just bought a set of Pirelli's recently and the bill came to $198 total. Should last me two seasons. OK by me.
 
No, not at all. I know and understand the diff. between a sticky tire and a tire with a harder compound, kinda like my stock stones. Great mileage for a mc tire but pretty poor ride IMO. I have been riding since I was five and can't recall how many tires I have gone through. I still would not go D.S. I like bike tires on my bike!!

Back atcha:shock::roll:
 
Holy crap. And you still go through TWO sets in a season !?!?! :shock:
I'm jealous......well, except for the cost, that is. :roll:
 
Between June and December of 08, I managed nearly 20,000 km and that's on the Bridgestones that came stock.

Everything I'm reading and hearing is telling me that the Avons and Metzlers would get half to two-thirds that mileage.

Realistically, I'm foreseeing 30,000 +km a year and don't want to be replacing rubber more often than I need to.
 
The price you quoted might suggest that those are "high performance" tires, which means sticky and SOFT. "Sport" tires on a cruiser just doesn't make any sense......for most riders.[/QUOTE]

Probably not Easy. We Canadians get to pay dearly for rubber in the GWN. It is not uncommon for our costs to be twice as much.
 
When I last replaced my tires, I was quoted $8/00 for a pair of OEM IRC's, less 20%. A suzuki dealer across the border qouted $158 for the pair plus shipping.

The local dealers excuse for the high price was they had to buy them from Suzuki.

Just like my Mustang seat, it was $705+ and I got it from a US Suzuki dealer for $455 Cdn. landed at my door.

Just for your info, shop time is billed at $95 to $105 per hour.

:roll:
 
Back
Top