Darkside Review ???

[nolton]

Chuck Norris kicked the bike.

 

[PeteOZ]

remember Jan 11 Kangaroo Valley (time to be set) be there and you can get first hand info maybe depending on conditions a ride on the Darkside also if you read my previous post you will see that I have indeed checked out the legalitys:bch:

Looking forward to the Bear's initial take on riding the darkside Hanso. As someone who has ridden nearly every type of bike made, on nearly every type of road surface and country in the world (the Bear, not me ) and knowing his pragmatism, I can't think of anyone better qualified to provide observations on the differences.

I wouldn't mind poking my head in myself to see what transpires (not to get a darkside ride, I'm not a talented enough rider )

Regards, Pete

 

[HansO]

Looking forward to the Bear's initial take on riding the darkside Hanso. As someone who has ridden nearly every type of bike made, on nearly every type of road surface and country in the world (the Bear, not me ) and knowing his pragmatism, I can't think of anyone better qualified to provide observations on the differences.

I wouldn't mind poking my head in myself to see what transpires (not to get a darkside ride, I'm not a talented enough rider )

Regards, Pete

Pete knowing you ride a Touring have you ever ridden a Std or a Classic which have the 240 rear tyre because I believe (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the Touring turns a lot easier and doesn't follow the camber as much as the Std/Classic with the wider rear Metz tyre, the difference between a 240/50 Metz and the car tyre is minimal just a little extra counter steer and after a few Km's you won't even notice contary to what some people tell you it does not take any extra skill just a bit of awareness that given certain conditions eg rutted dirt, diagnal bumps in carparks etc all slow speed obisticals which if care is taken are not really a hassle for an average competant rider. The critical thing is to take it easy till a/ you get the tyre pressure right for your style and weight, b/ you get to the point where you don't notice the slight extra counter steer, as I have not ridden a Touring it may be a slightly bigger difference when you change to a Darkside and I don't claim to know all because we are all different. I t is just my opinon based on my riding experence that I do not like the Metzlers (have had a bad experience with them letting go without warning resulting in a broken back in two places in dry conditions and I was not pushing the limits)and went to the Car Tyre (Darkside) because of the Avon Cobra's having recall issues (due to Blowouts ) at the time when I was looking for an alternative I have since found there is also a Brigdestone available I have even looked at getting a differet back wheel but at 5 grand is not a practical option.
Any body that wants to come on 11th of jan PM me and I'll let you know what time when "The Bear" get back to me I'll let you know, I'm sure he will apreciate all imput.
Cheers
Hans
Oh and by the way
MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL :bch:

 

[CanberraR3]

Hey Hanso

Turns out I have to fly down to Melbourne on 10th and not back until 14th so unfortunately I can't make it on the 11th. Bloody annoying but it can't be helped. If for some reason the date changes please let me know.

Hope it all goes well. The outcome I'd like to see is not whether anyone 'likes' the CTs, but rather that it is a viable option - or at least further objective material on which I can base an informed decision.

Merry Christmas to all too.

Richard

 

[HansO]

Hey Hanso

Turns out I have to fly down to Melbourne on 10th and not back until 14th so unfortunately I can't make it on the 11th. Bloody annoying but it can't be helped. If for some reason the date changes please let me know.

Hope it all goes well. The outcome I'd like to see is not whether anyone 'likes' the CTs, but rather that it is a viable option - or at least further objective material on which I can base an informed decision.

Merry Christmas to all too.

Richard

Have a safe trip and we will catch up in the new year for a ride and maybe you can then form your own opinion then, I am not pushing them just saying they are a very reasonable alernitive with many +'s and only some -"s,

 

[PeteOZ]

Pete knowing you ride a Touring have you ever ridden a Std or a Classic which have the 240 rear tyre because I believe (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the Touring turns a lot easier and doesn't follow the camber as much as the Std/Classic with the wider rear Metz tyre, the difference between a 240/50 Metz and the car tyre is minimal just a little extra counter steer and after a few Km's you won't even notice contary to what some people tell you it does not take any extra skill just a bit of awareness that given certain conditions eg rutted dirt, diagnal bumps in carparks etc all slow speed obisticals which if care is taken are not really a hassle for an average competant rider. The critical thing is to take it easy till a/ you get the tyre pressure right for your style and weight, b/ you get to the point where you don't notice the slight extra counter steer, as I have not ridden a Touring it may be a slightly bigger difference when you change to a Darkside and I don't claim to know all because we are all different. I t is just my opinon based on my riding experence that I do not like the Metzlers (have had a bad experience with them letting go without warning resulting in a broken back in two places in dry conditions and I was not pushing the limits)and went to the Car Tyre (Darkside) because of the Avon Cobra's having recall issues (due to Blowouts ) at the time when I was looking for an alternative I have since found there is also a Brigdestone available I have even looked at getting a differet back wheel but at 5 grand is not a practical option.
Any body that wants to come on 11th of jan PM me and I'll let you know what time when "The Bear" get back to me I'll let you know, I'm sure he will apreciate all imput.
Cheers
Hans
Oh and by the way
MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL :bch:

Yeah, I have ridden a classic Hanso and yes, the Touring does appear to turn a lot easier and follow the camber less. This also applies to the Touring versus the Vulcan 2000, which also has a 240 rear.

There are a couple of Touring guys who have moved across to a 205x60x16 and there are some photos on this link -
http://www.r3owners.net/dark-side/5409-gone-dark-pics.html
looks like it's not too different in handling. The photos certainly do put paid to the oft quoted myth that you have to ride over the "square edge" where the bottom meets the sidewall. I sure can't see a square edge on these. Maybe these guys have been looking at too many square truck tyres

I didn't phrase my last comment well. When I said I wasn't a good enough rider for a darkside ride, I meant that I wouldn't like to ride someone else's bike, regardless of tyre type "just in case". I didn't mean to indicate that you needed to be an brilliant rider to handle a car tyre, as that certainly doesn't appear to be the case.

Regards, Pete

 

[HansO]

Yeah, I have ridden a classic Hanso and yes, the Touring does appear to turn a lot easier and follow the camber less. This also applies to the Touring versus the Vulcan 2000, which also has a 240 rear.

There are a couple of Touring guys who have moved across to a 205x60x16 and there are some photos on this link -
http://www.r3owners.net/dark-side/5409-gone-dark-pics.html
looks like it's not too different in handling. The photos certainly do put paid to the oft quoted myth that you have to ride over the "square edge" where the bottom meets the sidewall. I sure can't see a square edge on these. Maybe these guys have been looking at too many square truck tyres

I didn't phrase my last comment well. When I said I wasn't a good enough rider for a darkside ride, I meant that I wouldn't like to ride someone else's bike, regardless of tyre type "just in case". I didn't mean to indicate that you needed to be an brilliant rider to handle a car tyre, as that certainly doesn't appear to be the case.

Regards, Pete

Pete I respect you for your ability to have an open mind and the fact that didn't want to take a risk do you know any of these Tourers, do you think any would like to come a long The Bear is probally more interested in feed back and my bike will probally be the only one he rides and he can see how the others handle by watching them through the corners anyway
Cheers
Hans

 

[PeteOZ]

Unfortunately, the only one I know of is the one shown in the last attachment Hanso. He mentions a "few others", but they're all located in the USofA.

Hopefully one of the Aussie Goldwing riders will put their hand up before the run. I don't know how many darkside riders there are in OZ, especially around Sydney, but I don't think there's a proliferation

Pete

 

[TriumPhil]

The camera fell off and slid down the road, not the bike.

Talk about beating a dead horse.

Please send me some of whatever yer' smokin, HF.

Watch the video carefully. You'll see that the aspect between the camera and the tire doesn't change at all as that nutjob loses control of his motorcycle. Contrarily, the aspect between the tire and the ground changes radically as he lays it down. I don't think that RRM's caption on his video "Losing It at 1/4 speed" refers to his losing the camera mount, either.

You don't actually believe what that hallucinatory whacko said about his camera, do you? Hell, I'm still waiting for the giant tsunami he predicted...

 

[HellFire]

Please send me some of whatever yer' smokin, HF.

Watch the video carefully. You'll see that the aspect between the camera and the tire doesn't change at all as that nutjob loses control of his motorcycle. Contrarily, the aspect between the tire and the ground changes radically as he lays it down. I don't think that RRM's caption on his video "Losing It at 1/4 speed" refers to his losing the camera mount, either.

You don't actually believe what that hallucinatory whacko said about his camera, do you? Hell, I'm still waiting for the giant tsunami he predicted...

And you truly believe this as fact ... you even insult me with it you believe it so much.

Ok, now that I know who I'm really dealing with here ....

Everyone ... Phil is right about everything ... has been from the start ... sidewalls will pop when you put car tires on bikes ... Art is a Genius ... HellFire doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

Will that work for you?

(Shhhh ... maybe now he'll take his Lithium)