dARKSIDE

[Lucasind]

I had the wal-mart webpage for the Nexen printed out and in hand when I walked into the automotive dept of our local store, They ordered the tire,and called a couple of days later saying the tire had come in and I could pick it up, for $59, I drove over there the next day and one of the employees told me there was a problem,no one (including 2 managers)could ring out the sale of the tire...cause "it did not exist" in the store's system,even though we were holding it in our hands ! I was told to come back the next day,and they would have this sorted out, I expressed my dis-approval
Long story short,the manager apologized , and took $10 bucks off the price for my in convenience,
New rear tire for $49 works for me ! I have 600 miles on it now, and have increased my tire pressure from 35 to 38 to 40 to 42...and that seems to be the "sweet spot" for my bike and riding condition (was experiencing sidewall flex at lower pressure as mentioned) So far ...so good with the Nexen rear...and Dunlop E III front, tire combination.........................tony

[kjsett]

Hi All, out here i appear to be alone in my area (Phoenix) so don't have anyone to visit with (maybe Tucson, but responsibilities keeps me around here except when very hot). Anyway, that said:
I decided due to lack of local knowledge that staying with E3's was in my best interest (although I am considering Michelin Commanders II's for my next change). But one thing they don't like is gravel. My future riding (next year) may include a trip south of the border, and as the budget doesn't allow for a Dual purpose bike (KLR650 being the smallest choice), I was curious how well a CT would work in undesirable locations/roads (gravel, ruts, and potholes galore). This would likely be one up and pulling a trailer (4x5 clamshell fiberglass body with 4x8 tires). One thing it seems in reviewing is that the CT is treadwise more resistant to puncture and traction in loose material is better. Has that proven to be the case? I will probably be needing to change the tires again this fall (4k+ trip this summer), so time to start asking now. I will be at the Rally, but because of work requirements I will only be at the Monday Evening and Tuesday morning activities (staying at the KOA Sunday and Monday). Because of repairs to it and my wife's Vulcan 800 recently, my bike is a traveler, not a show piece, but I love her (did I say that in my outside voice ).

Just curious, and thanks for any responses,
Ken

[the2knights]

Have had the car tire over several miles of gravel, from hard pack to fresh poured #7 that was over 4" thick. Bike was loaded and 2 up, worked very well. Only have to worry about chasing the front end around with the rear wheel planted so firmly!

[Wahrsuul]

Try as I might, I could NOT get the bead to set with the Nexen. I ended up going with the PR3 just to get the bike on the road. If I keep it, I'll have to get a spare rim and see about getting it seated on that one - maybe to the point of some machining to get things working. I've used CTs on my big bikes, and I miss it on this one.

[lockwoodjohn]

Hi everyone, Over July 4th weekend I to went darkside. Love the tire. Putting a Mitchlin Comander 11 on the front this week end. What tire pressure is recommended in the front tire? 36 to40 lbs just like the Dunlops?

[voyager55]

I got a new Nexen tire mounted on a spare rim I got from Carl.. Seated well, But the darn thing looses 3-4 lbs over a few days. Checked everything, air valve etc. Put soapy water on everything, can't see a leak.
I don't want to put it on the bike, can't trust it.
Will probably stick to bike tires.
Going to try Pirelli MT 66 tires next

[SgtSlag]

Make sure you check back in with your impression of the Pirelli's...

Cheers!

[chevyman1]

I got a new Nexen tire mounted on a spare rim I got from Carl.. Seated well, But the darn thing looses 3-4 lbs over a few days. Checked everything, air valve etc. Put soapy water on everything, can't see a leak.
I don't want to put it on the bike, can't trust it.
Will probably stick to bike tires.
Going to try Pirelli MT 66 tires next

Just a thought, If the temperature dropped 10+ deg. you will see that much loss in pressure.

[Pbpd183]

I am interested in going to the darkside soon. Is there a list of installers that will do this?
I'm pretty close to my feet reaching the ground with my custom seat and progressive shocks. Will the CT raise the ride height any?

[Ozymandias]

I got a new Nexen tire mounted on a spare rim I got from Carl.. Seated well, But the darn thing looses 3-4 lbs over a few days. Checked everything, air valve etc. Put soapy water on everything, can't see a leak.
I don't want to put it on the bike, can't trust it.
Will probably stick to bike tires.
Going to try Pirelli MT 66 tires next

Just a thought, If the temperature dropped 10+ deg. you will see that much loss in pressure.

Probably not that much. I did a quick-and-dirty calculation and the results seem to be in the range of about two-thirds of a lb for every 10F deg. change of temp. In practice the change may be different or I may have done something wrong, but when I did some test measurements during cooler times last winter the results seemed to be consistent.

[usmalenurse]

Hi everyone, Over July 4th weekend I to went darkside. Love the tire. Putting a Mitchlin Comander 11 on the front this week end. What tire pressure is recommended in the front tire? 36 to40 lbs just like the Dunlops?

I've been running the Commander II's and have always ran them at 40 lbs. I like the Commanders but also switched to CT on the rear last fall.

[lockwoodjohn]

Thank you for your input!!

[Pbpd183]

Well I found a tire shop that is willing to mount a CT on the voyager. He was trying very hard to talk me out of it convinced I would hate it. He claims it will feel like I'm riding on a bridge grate the entire time. He claims the crown on the roads here in Florida will cause me to correct for the flat contact patch constantly.

Anybody have experience with this? I have not heard any bad comments on going to the darkside on the voyager.

[Lucasind]

I experienced what might be called a"break in period" did not like the way the bike rode and handled after using up my previous Avons..... was starting to think "what did I do" ?
Well I just kept putting miles on the Nexen/rear,Dunlop E3 combo,and various tire pressures, and now have 7000 miles on them and will stick with this tire combo in the future .....love it ! and they are wearing very well.

[Pbpd183]

I experienced what might be called a"break in period" did not like the way the bike rode and handled after using up my previous Avons..... was starting to think "what did I do" ?
Well I just kept putting miles on the Nexen/rear,Dunlop E3 combo,and various tire pressures, and now have 7000 miles on them and will stick with this tire combo in the future .....love it ! and they are wearing very well.

Thank you sir

[doug of so fla]

I have 25,000 miles on a Run flat Michelin Radial tire on my Goldwing, Will probably go another 5000mi & it was used when i got it. I have only been riding around on north central Florida roads and would never go back to a standard M/C tire unless they improve them tremendously!!
It is the best tire I have ever used on a M/C in over a half million miles of m/c riding.
Go to website GL1800riders.com on the "Darksider" forum and you will find about 1900 darkside riders and just with a couple of hundred riders posting their miles on a car tire, totaled up to over 10, million miles. M/C's have been using them for years with absolutely no problems with them.
I know of no runflats for a Voyager and would not put a regular cheap standard old car tire on XII, Nexen, seems to work but mounting it sometimes is a dangerous problem. Do some research before you do it. Most of the problem is mounting it, but if it is a good tire it will give you trouble free safe miles.. The 15"XII rim is hard to find a good runflat car tire for... Ride Safe..

[Pbpd183]

Finally did it. So far, I love it.

[6ft1_grand]

Here's mine

[Pbpd183]

I went for a 100+ ride today on the new tire. I found that at 65 mph and up, it felt very "squirrelly" like it was chasing center. I am running 38 psi in the tire and 32 on the front. I know I need to adjust tire pressure but should I go with more psi or less?
Should I also adjust the front tire pressure?
I have progressive shocks front and rear. The rears are set to the highest preload. Would it help to lessen the preload?

[Barry]

Hi Dan,
I had a similar experience, but it occurred at 70+, and not all the time. I have progressives on the front, factory shocks rear. I am running an Avon Venom on the front that had started cupping. I increased the front to 40 and run 40-42 in the rear. My rear tire is a nexen. I softened the rear suspension and the problem gradually went away. Even the cupping is almost totally gone now. What tires are you running?