Darkside Review ???

[PeteOZ]

As much as this writer may come recommended for his objectivity, I'm skeptical that he could provide a truly thorough, objective and otherwise fair review.

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If your writer does proceed with this review, please share with him my comments. Hopefully he will take them into consideration when he puts his fingers to the keyboard. If he is true to his word about an objective review, then hopefully he will listen to us supporters as well as the detractors.

He's not stupid, tdragger. Of course he'll listen to both sides (as he has done for many years). You speak above as though he is a darkside hater who will only listen to darkside detractors. So you've dismissed him without knowing anything about him. (sound like a familiar scenario ?)

For some strange reason, some out there think he and his team are going to make a definitive call on whether darksiding is good or bad that the world will sit up and listen to. Not at all...The idea is to present the pluses and minuses (the same as he would do when reviewing a Harley and Honda), without stating a "winner". The mag doesn't provide winners in its reviews, as they believe everyone is different and therefore have different drivers.

I really don't know what you're worried about. Non darksiders have been criticising the darkside for many years using all kinds of unsubstantiated crash and burn theories, which darksiders simply ignore as they know better. Here's a chance to dispel some of the myths. Where's the downside ?

Pete

 

[TriumPhil]

Well Phil, that drivel is based on the following:

A good friend who is the editor-in-chief of a large, very well known motorcycle magazine in the U.S. specifically told me that he would not touch the subject due to pressures from advertisers. It's not drivel, it's real life because millions of dollars are at stake.

/QUOTE]

No offense intended toward your editor friend, t, but I think that his magazine has taken a real chicken**** position. Since the are many, including myself, that believe that there are some serious safety issues at play here, depending upon which bike you ride and how you ride it, vis-a-vis utilizing a CT, what's more important to their magazine, rider's lives/safety or advertising dollars.

In actuality, I just don't see the threat to their bottomline. If a well researched, expert-based article finds that CTs are really great news for riders, assumedly they would pick up ads to sell car tires. The most common MT mfrs make car tires as their main business. If they are misleading motorcyclists into buying needlessly expensive, high margin motorcycle tires, when more affordable, longer-lasting car tires would serve us just as well or better, well, **** them, I would say.

Having put nearly 30,000 Darkside miles on three different bikes, including about 7400 on my R3, all in one of the most densely populated areas in the US, do you know how many other bikes I've seen on the road with car tires on them? Right about zero!!!

What that tells me is that your buddy the editor, won't run such a story because, essentially, for the vast majority of motorcyclists, it is a complete non-issue. I'd be curious to know whether your editor friend would run any of the bikes that he owns or rides on the Darkside??? My inclination would be to believe that he would say "No way, Jose'!" at the top of his lungs.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not deriding yours or anyone elses choice of tire. I actually like them both for some differing reasons, but the risk of tire failure from riding on the sidewall of the CT is a risk I am unwilling to take.

 

[HansO]

He's having trouble getting a darksider to put their hand up and lend a bike in Sydney for the evaluation, Phil.

Pete

just so you know I have been in touch with Peter who by the way is truly fine writer of honest reviews and generaly does not let the big company influence his reports he has supported motorcycling for all ages for many years and is highly respected by Ulysses Club members here in Oz and I have arranged a meeting at Nowra NSW (gateway to some of the twistiest road you will ever see) early January for a test ride on my bike I will be hoipefully getting a couple of mate's who have Darksides on thier Rockets so it could end up being a trio of dark Rockets, will keep you all posted

 

[TriumPhil]

Sounds good. I look forward to hearing the results...

 

[PeteOZ]

Great to hear, Hanso. I'm really looking forward to Peter's observations.

Pete

 

[HansO]

Great to hear, Hanso. I'm really looking forward to Peter's observations.

Pete

I don't think you will be disapointed but as I said to him it takes a few km's to get used to at first so I expect him need a few km's of easy curves before I let him loose on the Camberwarra Mtn back road from Berry(countless tight 1st gear hairpins that take bit of skill) more likely we will take the easier route straight over from Nowra still challenging but more flowing and plenty of grin factor

 

[tdragger]

I don't think you will be disapointed but as I said to him it takes a few km's to get used to at first so I expect him need a few km's of easy curves before I let him loose on the Camberwarra Mtn back road from Berry(countless tight 1st gear hairpins that take bit of skill) more likely we will take the easier route straight over from Nowra still challenging but more flowing and plenty of grin factor

and to my point about flogging an 800 lb CRUISER like it is a squid bike not being an appropriate application of the darkside.

 

[TriumPhil]

More like an inappropriate use of the R3 than the type of tire it sports, t. I ride quite aggressively in the twisties an am no boulevard cruiser on the flats, so perhaps that explains most of my reason for returning to the MT.

 

[HansO]

I just want you guys in the States to understand one thing here in Australia we have big mags which write only what will sell then you have Road Rider started by Peter Thoeming a mature rider himself not some young gun. Peters mag should be read by some of you before you knock or suggest that he will not give an honest review, why don't you see if your local newsagent can't get you a copy it might just open your eyes. I have read some reviews in some mags and they sound like adds for the bikes while peter will not tear a bike to bits or sing unwarranted praise just good old honesty. Peter has over the years gone out of his way be helpfull to establishing better rider education and is a very humble man having met him at a bike rally I found it hard to believe it actually was him, very down to earth man indeed.

 

[HansO]

More like an inappropriate use of the R3 than the type of tire it sports, t. I ride quite aggressively in the twisties an am no boulevard cruiser on the flats, so perhaps that explains most of my reason for returning to the MT.

not trying to start anything here but before I found the right tire pressue for me I ntoo was running on to side wall now I scrape both sides ( run Kuryakan pegs now and they give more clearance since I snapped a peg) and I am also a agressive twisty rider a metzler shod rocket wont stay with me (not trying to bignote my self here) but the same rocket now with a darkside does. It all comes down to tire pressure I recall the post in where your mate (I won't menion his name but you know who I'm talking about) brought to your attention that you were running on the sidewall but there was no mention of you reveiwing your tyre pressure and trying again instead you suddenly got scared and changed back even thought before that ride you had been singing praise on the Darkside
as I said not trying to start anything but you have to keep an open mind and make adjustments as needed not panick and go the other way
and yes the Darkside is not perfect
(a bit of a handle full on rutted walking pace uneven surfaces) but in MHO the better option you just have make sure you eat your wheaties