Nicely done as usual. And if or when I get my next Goldwing, I'll have no problem dark siding! Especially at my tender age of 71, keeping the bike up at stoplights would certainly be helpful! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this apparent controversial issue, which is really not! 👍
Back in 2008, I went to the Dark Side kumho 195/55R16 RF, and I have to say it was taking getting used to not bad feelings, just different. First long trip, two up pulling trailer first thing I noticed was how more balanced the wing was going down I40 east I was really impressed with the wing handles the groves & trucks passing us. To this day I still running darkside. It's my own preference. I don't pressure others to try it, but I know I love the handling of the wing around Eureka Springs AR back roads and going down the interstate roads. I average around 39mpg two up pulling trailer. I'm not an aggressive rider. I'm a more relaxed type rider who enjoys the company of my first lady enjoying the scenery on our trips, taking our time now that we are retired. Now I'm running kumho NRF 195/60R16 tire, and I still love the handling of the wing.
I had my goldwing darksided this week and took my first ride tonight on it. It is much more stable and actually a much better ride than the 709 and 704 I had on before the ct. I put the Yokohama run flat on the back and a new Bridgestone 709 on the front. The ride is excellent. Mike Knoll
Thanks Chris for doing your videos. I have been watching your latest when damn if I didn't put a hex head bolt through my new Dunlop E4 rear tire. To keep it short, I went with the car tire. I'm still not sure if I like it. After seting the rear preload from 18 to 22, I did find that it feels much better. Still not hooked on it.
I own a Yamaha Stratoliner (and 2 Harleys) and run a Yokohama Avid Touring S, 215/60/17 on the rear and a Dunlop American Elite up front. Love that combination. Runs, handles, and lasts. I can finally afford to ride my bike, not having to change my rear tire with every oil change.
Zac vaper you’re correct have not changed it yet and we ride 2 up about 98% of the time and love it. It’s super smooth on the interstate running 80 to 85 mph with no issues.
About the insurance company claim. I checked. The policy doesn't mention tires. There is no restriction on tire choice. One could say.....Uh-hem.....this is a "Dark area" regarding insurances. Welcome to the Dark side! Everyone that does it loves it and those that don't....well they don't. Ride safe bro!
Michael Hukins What would the insurance company say about him pulling a trailer? Honda does not recommend that either. Funny how everyone is Ok with a trailer, but go crazy over a car tire? I agree with you, there will be no problem with the insurance company over the tire.
Say Chris, I'm glad you're enjoying YOUR Goldwing that YOU paid for. I don't hear anyone complaining about the tire companies charging us outrageous prices for our motorcycle tires. We all should go dark side and drive down the motorcycle tire prices. Yes I still have my cycle tires on and when I stop moving my bike has the tendency to "fall down" and I sure Honda didn't have that in mind either. A 1000 lbs bike riding on 3 inches of tire. I believe the 2018 Goldwings tires are wider, what's Honda telling us now? Everybody has an opinion, you can listen to it, but do what makes YOU feel safer, and best for you. Enjoy your bike.
Its a Dot tire for on road ,love it or leave it, I have ran dark side in the 1980 and still do ,I dont tell others to do it ,but many of my friends have .
Hey Chris this is Dunkin hey road today coming from the race up in Virginia on The Darkside had a lot of rocky roads on the highway 29 and ran into some rain on the rugged roads and couldn't really tell a difference if you feel better with the car tire feel more stable and I could tell it had deeper tread pattern because the way the bike was handling in the rain enjoyed it I love it never going back and as far as insurance or tire is a tire anything that's made out of rubber and rolls on vehicle is still legal
If a tire manufacturer designed a tire for motorcycles, but made it flatter and with thicker treads they would make a killing! Design something that is the best of both worlds and everyone would be happy!
never was a fan of darksiding but to be honest I never tried it just worried for all the reasons you mentioned but u got my attention on how the bike sits more straight up when you stop and helps with balance, I never even considered it doing that,not sure im ready to try it but does have my curiosity, I will need new tires next year but will probably stick with MC tire for now since im a one up rider and don't pull a trailer but am following this to see how you like it long term
Hey Chris. Great thoughts on darksiding! I was gonna do it on my Harley but I asked if that would void my warranty. They said it wouldn’t void the warranty necessarily, but they would do anything to find that the car tire was the reason for any bearing or transmission issues. They said the Harley extended service plan denied a guys transmission claim because he had some flags in his bike and that it “caused extra drag” which led to premature wear. So they denied the claim. So I’m gonna wait till my warranty is up and then to the dark side I come. Cause you know with a Harley, it’s not if you break down, it’s when! Lol keep up the good work man. Love the videos.
SO, Chris we are thinking about trading to a Goldwing, how many miles were you getting out of motorcycle tires? Interesting videos on this subject by the way!!
We get 10k on the rear if were lucky on the Victory Vision. we can get 20k out of the front. On the insurance issue, I work in claims and we have never denied a claim because of dark side. We don't care what kind of tire you're using.
Everything you’ve said and then some. Now imagine the ride and handling with a Traxxion suspension upgrade. Maybe that’s why I wasn’t too impressed with a 2018. The dark tire and suspension made my 09 ride and handle very smoovly( better than smooth.)
Hi Chris I’m a 1500 GL rider ,dark siding is something I’m considering for my wing.I was wondering if you you noticed any difference in fuel mileage.Love your channel
Just went darkside on 02 goldwing Goodrich advantage T A about 1000 miles So far and love it doesn't grab groves in rd as bad and much easier to hold up at stop can use one foot getting ready to go from akron oh to maine and thro new England states two up pulling trailer let you know how it handles
I must have made a poor tire choice 8 years ago when I tried it because my experience was not good at all. The Harley's I rode in the 60's and 70's had car looking tires on the rear, I think they were 560/16.
I’m not sure if you did extensive research before selecting the tires you used. Tires manufactured today should be better manufactured than yesteryear tires. Looking on forums to see what other riders with the same bike used might have been a better route or just stick to Motorcycle Tires.
Yes, I did a lot of that at the time, however I'm sure the knowledge and selection was much more limited. As I have said I'm not against trying it again.
I can’t comment on dark siding cause I haven’t tried it but noting venture is nothing gained as it is said I think from the people that have done it they all like including you what is the tires size and brand of tires you are using and I wonder why the motorcycle tires companies haven’t though of maybe making the tires bigger and more side tread etc just a thought but I’m very curious to see what your final thoughts and decisions will be either way ride safe stay safe and ride your ride!
Black Jesus “To hell with critics”? Who the hell are you? This is America pal. You don’t like free speech, and one’s own freedom to express one-self, the leave! You belong in N Korea.
You said something "key" here! Unless you test it yourself you don't know - if this works for you then that's all that matters - smooth /lighter feel is important for wounded vets like myself. I'm waiting on your final review so I can look into this for my F6B - Do you brother and be safe!
According to THE WORKSHOP these two riders were doing it so wrong that the Car Tire flew off the wheel did a double back flip and Decapitated the Riders.
Chris. Does this raise the bike. I have spent a lot trying to lower this bike using the lower the wing part $400 and sending my Diamond sear to Fla. for redo to lower it further.
Albert McDonald & anyone, some folks are also considering upgrading their front MC tire to another size in the theory that a wider rear CT needs to be upgraded too. Thoughts or comments anyone?
Here is a link to a discussion from an iron butt perspective: forum.ironbutt.org/index.php?threads/examining-the-%E2%80%9Cdark-side%E2%80%9D.9/ Your statement that those who speak against darksiding have never done it reminds me of a story told by a guy one hundred years ago. "There are those who learn from books, and there are those who learn from what they see. And then there is the rest of us... who have to pee on the electric fence to find out for ourselves." Keep the rubber side down my friend!
ua-cam.com/video/natCiaK-920/v-deo.html Dont use the excuse that you meant to leave the contraction off of wouldn't.oooops 9:00 min mark. This is not about changing your perpective and decision, this is about you slamming a couple of viewers comments and making rediculous statements about you commenting about "farting on your goldwing from eating to much chili and crashing would the insurance company deny your claim".
I was doing some reading on the pros/cons of going darkside. I am going to paste a paragraph concerning going Darkside and the implications of having a car tire on a motorcycle and having a crash....thoughts ?The darker side of the Dark Side argumentStill not convinced? Even if you believe that running a car tire on your motorcycle fits within your acceptable risk threshold on the road, you may have left out an important consideration that can strike a little closer to home. Can the rider with a car tire mounted on his motorcycle have complete confidence that, in the event of a crash, he will be covered by his insurance? Or that others injured in a crash won’t target him with a costly lawsuit because he fit his motorcycle with tires that were not designed or intended for motorcycle use and may have contributed to the crash? Are the few dollars saved by turning to a car tire outweighed by the potential loss of a house and whatever dollars may be squirreled away for retirement?
I feel pretty sure you are going to inspire a lot of people to try a move to the darkside. I have a question. Will a motorcycle dealer even install a car tire onto a motorcycle wheel? How does it affect braking? TPMS? As to whether or not a car tire is "safe" on a motorcycle, the answer it NO. And, a MOTORCYCLE tire on a motorcycle is not safe. Motorcycle is inherently NOT SAFE. I doubt the tire is going to be what gets you. Worry about people in cars texting, not the car tire under you. There is a possibility that because of the increased tread depth, and additional resistance to puncture, that a car tire is actually SAFER than a motorcycle tire. I can see where you would not want to put a car tire on a sport bike, or adventure bike, but this is a GOLDWING. For the most part, we eat up mile after mile of straight, flat highway.
ALL aspects of the motorcycle dynamics will change (even this poster fully admits this). If you actually think that putting a square tire on a vehicle designed to have a rounded profile tire (never mind taking tire carcass construction and rubber compound into consideration) will not change the handling characteristics of the vehicle, then there really is only one word to describe you, MORON. As a professional technician I will NEVER install a car tire onto a motorcycle. Up here in Ontario, Canada, technicians need to be certified to work on vehicles and we can be help CRIMINALLY liable for the work we do. I will never install a trailer tire onto a car just because its cheaper (and be perfectly honest people, being cheap is the ONLY reason for this questionable decision). Sometimes customers need to be protected from their own ignorance and stupidity. If I have a machine with a safety concern (tires, brakes, suspension) that a customer refuses to fix, then I insist on a signature on the work order that the repairs were refused. The last thing I need is to go to jail because a customer is too cheap and or stupid to properly maintain their vehicle. The worst part is that even though the customer is the stupid one (and accepts the risks of being cheap/stupid), if they perish in an accident, the surviving relatives will still sue (and likely win) because I am a licensed technician that knows better and it is my duty to keep my customers safe.
I love it. People have been doing it for over 30 years and yet you still hear about unsafe it is. Typically the sounds of dealerships and those that have never done it.
Road Glide, all none believers like you should always err on the side of caution put your money in fixed rate accounds, fear getting denied by your insurance company and never darkside. All others buy stocks, keep a good attorney on speed dial, have an additional life insurance policy, darkside your motorcycle and enjoy the freedom of the open road.
If a bike has the tendency to "sit up" then it can not enter a turn like it was intended to. How much money and time has Honda spent making this heavy touring bike handle like a big sport bike? Then you put a square car tire on the back and kill all that work. If you actually want a machine that sits up on its own and you don't have to worry about tipping over, then just go buy a Spyder. You "darksiders" should start pioneering another movement. Bicycle helmets are WAY cheaper than motorcycle helmets so why not just use those? They have way more venting so they will be far superior for warm weather riding and they are way lighter so they will definitely not fatigue your neck muscles like a big heavy motorcycle helmet. Sounds like another terrific idea of using a product for an application that it is not intended for. Go for it guys!!!
If I remember correctly, the tire he put on had a sort of rounded side and the tread went up the sidewall just a bit. It's not like you just choose a random tire to throw on there. There are certain ones that are recommended to use. If you watch the videos Chris has put up, as well as the videos other have put up; the tire flexes and keeps constant contact with the pavement. According to his videos as well as other videos, there is more contact with the car tire than a motorcycle tire. The videos are proof. As far as handling, it just takes a few miles to get used to it. Every bike you get on takes some getting used to because they all handle different for one reason or another so that shouldn't be an issue.
If you get in an accident due to the car tire being installed improperly, and through their investigation find it is not a recommended size tire, they can deny your claim and your policy. Your bike warranty could also be voided.
Then you have recourse. If you die, your family has recourse to litigate. There’s absolutely No recourse with an improper and non compliant product installed. You should know this Cruiseman.
Cruiseman's Garage at the least the insurance company can recover the loss from the installer for not installing a recommended tire properly as opposed to the insurance company finding the insurance holder is partly at fault for approving a tire not recommended for the vehicle.
I have had more than my share of insurance claims and I have never had anyone look at a tire. Now, if an accident was caused by a car tire failure, that could be another question.
The first lady has said it is smoother, her ya go folks, the voice of wisdom has spoken.
That was my wife's first comment. A "plusher" ride.
Zm😎🇿🇼🇲🇼
I was one of the biggest critics of the dark side before I finely tried it on my 2012 GL1800. I will never go back.
Nicely done as usual. And if or when I get my next Goldwing, I'll have no problem dark siding!
Especially at my tender age of 71, keeping the bike up at stoplights would certainly be helpful!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this apparent controversial issue, which is really not! 👍
Back in 2008, I went to the Dark Side kumho 195/55R16 RF, and I have to say it was taking getting used to not bad feelings, just different. First long trip, two up pulling trailer first thing I noticed was how more balanced the wing was going down I40 east I was really impressed with the wing handles the groves & trucks passing us. To this day I still running darkside.
It's my own preference. I don't pressure others to try it, but I know I love the handling of the wing around Eureka Springs AR back roads and going down the interstate roads. I average around 39mpg two up pulling trailer. I'm not an aggressive rider. I'm a more relaxed type rider who enjoys the company of my first lady enjoying the scenery on our trips, taking our time now that we are retired. Now I'm running kumho NRF 195/60R16 tire, and I still love the handling of the wing.
I had my goldwing darksided this week and took my first ride tonight on it. It is much more stable and actually a much better ride than the 709 and 704 I had on before the ct. I put the Yokohama run flat on the back and a new Bridgestone 709 on the front. The ride is excellent.
Mike Knoll
Thanks Chris for doing your videos. I have been watching your latest when damn if I didn't put a hex head bolt through my new Dunlop E4 rear tire. To keep it short, I went with the car tire. I'm still not sure if I like it. After seting the rear preload from 18 to 22, I did find that it feels much better. Still not hooked on it.
I own a Yamaha Stratoliner (and 2 Harleys) and run a Yokohama Avid Touring S, 215/60/17 on the rear and a Dunlop American Elite up front. Love that combination. Runs, handles, and lasts. I can finally afford to ride my bike, not having to change my rear tire with every oil change.
We been running on the dark side for 4 years now on our 2008 Goldwing and love it. No problems at all.
And probably haven't had to change it yet. Nice to get more than one season out of a tire!
Zac vaper you’re correct have not changed it yet and we ride 2 up about 98% of the time and love it. It’s super smooth on the interstate running 80 to 85 mph with no issues.
Do you run the same tires front and back?
No. Car tire is just for the rear.
Zac vaper I run a Bridgestone Battlax BT45 for the front tire
About the insurance company claim. I checked. The policy doesn't mention tires. There is no restriction on tire choice. One could say.....Uh-hem.....this is a "Dark area" regarding insurances. Welcome to the Dark side! Everyone that does it loves it and those that don't....well they don't.
Ride safe bro!
Michael Hukins
What would the insurance company say about him pulling a trailer? Honda does not recommend that either. Funny how everyone is Ok with a trailer, but go crazy over a car tire? I agree with you, there will be no problem with the insurance company over the tire.
Say Chris, I'm glad you're enjoying YOUR Goldwing that YOU paid for. I don't hear anyone complaining about the tire companies charging us outrageous prices for our motorcycle tires. We all should go dark side and drive down the motorcycle tire prices. Yes I still have my cycle tires on and when I stop moving my bike has the tendency to "fall down" and I sure Honda didn't have that in mind either. A 1000 lbs bike riding on 3 inches of tire. I believe the 2018 Goldwings tires are wider, what's Honda telling us now? Everybody has an opinion, you can listen to it, but do what makes YOU feel safer, and best for you. Enjoy your bike.
Thanks for the update. Looking to hear how it performs in the rain.
Its a Dot tire for on road ,love it or leave it, I have ran dark side in the 1980 and still do ,I dont tell others to do it ,but many of my friends have .
Hey Chris this is Dunkin hey road today coming from the race up in Virginia on The Darkside had a lot of rocky roads on the highway 29 and ran into some rain on the rugged roads and couldn't really tell a difference if you feel better with the car tire feel more stable and I could tell it had deeper tread pattern because the way the bike was handling in the rain enjoyed it I love it never going back and as far as insurance or tire is a tire anything that's made out of rubber and rolls on vehicle is still legal
I've been GW darksiding for about a year. I like it. You go Chris!
Great video Chris!!! I know what my next rear tire will be.
Oh, and the lunch offer goes for "The First Lady" too. :-)
If a tire manufacturer designed a tire for motorcycles, but made it flatter and with thicker treads they would make a killing! Design something that is the best of both worlds and everyone would be happy!
never was a fan of darksiding but to be honest I never tried it just worried for all the reasons you mentioned but u got my attention on how the bike sits more straight up when you stop and helps with balance, I never even considered it doing that,not sure im ready to try it but does have my curiosity, I will need new tires next year but will probably stick with MC tire for now since im a one up rider and don't pull a trailer but am following this to see how you like it long term
Hey Chris. Great thoughts on darksiding! I was gonna do it on my Harley but I asked if that would void my warranty. They said it wouldn’t void the warranty necessarily, but they would do anything to find that the car tire was the reason for any bearing or transmission issues. They said the Harley extended service plan denied a guys transmission claim because he had some flags in his bike and that it “caused extra drag” which led to premature wear. So they denied the claim. So I’m gonna wait till my warranty is up and then to the dark side I come. Cause you know with a Harley, it’s not if you break down, it’s when! Lol keep up the good work man. Love the videos.
Never dark side before now,but after watching all these reviews,I'm going to try it myself.
Thanks Chris, keep on rolling , I’m going to darkside the back. Was before I seen your video.
Been on the dark side on my bike for 3 years now. On a cheap ass Walmart tire. 30k miles and it's almost time to change it.
Very interested. Who installs them? Bike shop? Cost comparison?
I will ask the question again. Is the car tire Bead different from the motorcycle tire? That’s the reason I have been told it’s an unsafe practice?
Great job Chris.
I hear you. forget the nay sayers, it's a choice, do or don't.
I like your videos, mate. If I ever get to meet you, I'll buy you lunch.
Chris,
please send me the tire size and brand.....Going bubble Darkside......Thanks
SO, Chris we are thinking about trading to a Goldwing, how many miles were you getting out of motorcycle tires? Interesting videos on this subject by the way!!
15k is all iget out of MC tires if I'm lucky.
We get 10k on the rear if were lucky on the Victory Vision. we can get 20k out of the front. On the insurance issue, I work in claims and we have never denied a claim because of dark side. We don't care what kind of tire you're using.
Everything you’ve said and then some. Now imagine the ride and handling with a Traxxion suspension upgrade. Maybe that’s why I wasn’t too impressed with a 2018. The dark tire and suspension made my 09 ride and handle very smoovly( better than smooth.)
I have a 2019 with full Traction and run a CT the handling is fantastic
Hi Chris I’m a 1500 GL rider ,dark siding is something I’m considering for my wing.I was wondering if you you noticed any difference in fuel mileage.Love your channel
Just went darkside on 02 goldwing Goodrich advantage T A about 1000 miles So far and love it doesn't grab groves in rd as bad and much easier to hold up at stop can use one foot getting ready to go from akron oh to maine and thro new England states two up pulling trailer let you know how it handles
I must have made a poor tire choice 8 years ago when I tried it because my experience was not good at all.
The Harley's I rode in the 60's and 70's had car looking tires on the rear, I think they were 560/16.
I’m not sure if you did extensive research before selecting the tires you used. Tires manufactured today should be better manufactured than yesteryear tires. Looking on forums to see what other riders with the same bike used might have been a better route or just stick to Motorcycle Tires.
Yes, I did a lot of that at the time, however I'm sure the knowledge and selection was much more limited.
As I have said I'm not against trying it again.
I like your UA-cam thanks "
I can’t comment on dark siding cause I haven’t tried it but noting venture is nothing gained as it is said I think from the people that have done it they all like including you what is the tires size and brand of tires you are using and I wonder why the motorcycle tires companies haven’t though of maybe making the tires bigger and more side tread etc just a thought but I’m very curious to see what your final thoughts and decisions will be either way ride safe stay safe and ride your ride!
Good Advice Brother on the Insurance claims, seek the Attorney's advice as they speak the law of the Courts and land! MotorMan out 10-4
Hey Chris I love my car tire my wife would like to know your wife's impressions of the car versus motorcycle tire.
TERRY Glisson she feels that the bike is more comfortable and stable.
The Hell with the critics........Do what you like to your scoot!!
Black Jesus “To hell with critics”? Who the hell are you? This is America pal. You don’t like free speech, and one’s own freedom to express one-self, the leave! You belong in N Korea.
Stephen Smith Your funny😂😂😂....I'm not your pal buddy!
No - you're not! And I'm not your "buddy".
Stephen Smith. Your absolutely RIGHT........You're a BITCH boy!
You said something "key" here! Unless you test it yourself you don't know - if this works for you then that's all that matters - smooth /lighter feel is important for wounded vets like myself. I'm waiting on your final review so I can look into this for my F6B - Do you brother and be safe!
is it just the video, or is your right hand side exhaust pipe coming loose?
According to THE WORKSHOP these two riders were doing it so wrong that the Car Tire flew off the wheel did a double back flip and Decapitated the Riders.
8. 18. 18. A reason to get drunk if there ever was one!
are u going double darkside
Well think about it trikes have two car tires
I 2nd your opinion vinny rides. What's right is right.
Chris. Does this raise the bike. I have spent a lot trying to lower this bike using the lower the wing part $400 and sending my Diamond sear to Fla. for redo to lower it further.
rufuss1948 not completely sure but it feels like it.
Chris send me the size and tire info!
I bought the bridgestone driveguard runflat 195 55 R16
Albert McDonald & anyone, some folks are also considering upgrading their front MC tire to another size in the theory that a wider rear CT needs to be upgraded too. Thoughts or comments anyone?
I wonder if it affects gas mileage?
How much air pressure are you running?
Unless he changed it, 45psi
Safety while riding should one of the priorities of a cyclist. If by using a true that can assist with riding and being safe then do it.
Correction, tyre,should be
What pressure are you running in your tire?
He said 45psi
Here is a link to a discussion from an iron butt perspective: forum.ironbutt.org/index.php?threads/examining-the-%E2%80%9Cdark-side%E2%80%9D.9/
Your statement that those who speak against darksiding have never done it reminds me of a story told by a guy one hundred years ago. "There are those who learn from books, and there are those who learn from what they see. And then there is the rest of us... who have to pee on the electric fence to find out for ourselves." Keep the rubber side down my friend!
Or if u riding in heavy wind
Nice
Try running 32 psi , lot smoother
You darksided?
Chris Caliente yes over a year ago
How do you like it?
Chris Caliente
No problem so far
ua-cam.com/video/natCiaK-920/v-deo.html Dont use the excuse that you meant to leave the contraction off of wouldn't.oooops 9:00 min mark. This is not about changing your perpective and decision, this is about you slamming a couple of viewers comments and making rediculous statements about you commenting about "farting on your goldwing from eating to much chili and crashing would the insurance company deny your claim".
I was doing some reading on the pros/cons of going darkside. I am going to paste a paragraph concerning going Darkside and the implications of having a car tire on a motorcycle and having a crash....thoughts ?The darker side of the Dark Side argumentStill not convinced? Even if you believe that running a car tire on your motorcycle fits within your acceptable risk threshold on the road, you may have left out an important consideration that can strike a little closer to home. Can the rider with a car tire mounted on his motorcycle have complete confidence that, in the event of a crash, he will be covered by his insurance? Or that others injured in a crash won’t target him with a costly lawsuit because he fit his motorcycle with tires that were not designed or intended for motorcycle use and may have contributed to the crash? Are the few dollars saved by turning to a car tire outweighed by the potential loss of a house and whatever dollars may be squirreled away for retirement?
I feel pretty sure you are going to inspire a lot of people to try a move to the darkside. I have a question. Will a motorcycle dealer even install a car tire onto a motorcycle wheel? How does it affect braking? TPMS?
As to whether or not a car tire is "safe" on a motorcycle, the answer it NO. And, a MOTORCYCLE tire on a motorcycle is not safe. Motorcycle is inherently NOT SAFE. I doubt the tire is going to be what gets you. Worry about people in cars texting, not the car tire under you. There is a possibility that because of the increased tread depth, and additional resistance to puncture, that a car tire is actually SAFER than a motorcycle tire.
I can see where you would not want to put a car tire on a sport bike, or adventure bike, but this is a GOLDWING. For the most part, we eat up mile after mile of straight, flat highway.
ALL aspects of the motorcycle dynamics will change (even this poster fully admits this). If you actually think that putting a square tire on a vehicle designed to have a rounded profile tire (never mind taking tire carcass construction and rubber compound into consideration) will not change the handling characteristics of the vehicle, then there really is only one word to describe you, MORON.
As a professional technician I will NEVER install a car tire onto a motorcycle. Up here in Ontario, Canada, technicians need to be certified to work on vehicles and we can be help CRIMINALLY liable for the work we do. I will never install a trailer tire onto a car just because its cheaper (and be perfectly honest people, being cheap is the ONLY reason for this questionable decision). Sometimes customers need to be protected from their own ignorance and stupidity. If I have a machine with a safety concern (tires, brakes, suspension) that a customer refuses to fix, then I insist on a signature on the work order that the repairs were refused. The last thing I need is to go to jail because a customer is too cheap and or stupid to properly maintain their vehicle. The worst part is that even though the customer is the stupid one (and accepts the risks of being cheap/stupid), if they perish in an accident, the surviving relatives will still sue (and likely win) because I am a licensed technician that knows better and it is my duty to keep my customers safe.
I love it. People have been doing it for over 30 years and yet you still hear about unsafe it is. Typically the sounds of dealerships and those that have never done it.
Would you install a trailer hitch on a motorcycle?
Cruiseman's Garage my TMPS works perfectly with the car tire. The bike now stops at a shorter distance with all the extra tread on the car tire.
Road Glide, all none believers like you should always err on the side of caution put your money in fixed rate accounds, fear getting denied by your insurance company and never darkside. All others buy stocks, keep a good attorney on speed dial, have an additional life insurance policy, darkside your motorcycle and enjoy the freedom of the open road.
If a bike has the tendency to "sit up" then it can not enter a turn like it was intended to. How much money and time has Honda spent making this heavy touring bike handle like a big sport bike? Then you put a square car tire on the back and kill all that work.
If you actually want a machine that sits up on its own and you don't have to worry about tipping over, then just go buy a Spyder.
You "darksiders" should start pioneering another movement. Bicycle helmets are WAY cheaper than motorcycle helmets so why not just use those? They have way more venting so they will be far superior for warm weather riding and they are way lighter so they will definitely not fatigue your neck muscles like a big heavy motorcycle helmet. Sounds like another terrific idea of using a product for an application that it is not intended for. Go for it guys!!!
Derek Carreau what type bike do you ride?
Derrick secretly wants to Darkside , just doesn't have the balls
Darksiding is not for the skittish.
If I remember correctly, the tire he put on had a sort of rounded side and the tread went up the sidewall just a bit. It's not like you just choose a random tire to throw on there. There are certain ones that are recommended to use. If you watch the videos Chris has put up, as well as the videos other have put up; the tire flexes and keeps constant contact with the pavement. According to his videos as well as other videos, there is more contact with the car tire than a motorcycle tire. The videos are proof. As far as handling, it just takes a few miles to get used to it. Every bike you get on takes some getting used to because they all handle different for one reason or another so that shouldn't be an issue.
Bryan don't try to explain it to Derek, we know the truth.
If you get in an accident due to the car tire being installed improperly, and through their investigation find it is not a recommended size tire, they can deny your claim and your policy. Your bike warranty could also be voided.
What about if a motorcycle tire is installed improperly?
Then you have recourse. If you die, your family has recourse to litigate. There’s absolutely No recourse with an improper and non compliant product installed. You should know this Cruiseman.
Cruiseman's Garage at the least the insurance company can recover the loss from the installer for not installing a recommended tire properly as opposed to the insurance company finding the insurance holder is partly at fault for approving a tire not recommended for the vehicle.
It would be interesting to hear from anyone that has had a claim denied for using a car tire. I haven't seen it yet.
I have had more than my share of insurance claims and I have never had anyone look at a tire. Now, if an accident was caused by a car tire failure, that could be another question.