Looking for Information

[Sludge]

At any rate, it is interesting that I have not run across one posting by a Darksider (or ex-Darksider) saying it was a bad experience and they'd never do it again.

I have seen folks that went to the darkside and then reverted to the bike tire.  Usually their comments (that I can recall) were related to following lines in the road.

[MrBones]

Just wondering. I have 22,000 miles on my Dunlop E3. And still going. So how much more do you CT users get??

[Valker]

Just wondering. I have 22,000 miles on my Dunlop E3. And still going. So how much more do you CT users get??

If this HydroEdge continues to wear at its current rate, it will run 44,000 before it reaches the wear bars. I'd bet it will start to wear faster as it gets thinner, but it will run nearly that. I got about 24,000 from my last CT-it was a Yokohama 420, but it was a cheap one for the experiment. I think I paid $65 for it. My HydroEdge was $112.
For comparison purposes, I got:
OEM-8200 & 8300. Avon-16,000 & 16,500 & 18,200. Metzler-10,000. All of these were rear tires.

[mrflamewerks]

Here's an interesting twist. Some shops telling people they won't mount a CT on an MC because "their insurance company won't cover them" if they do.

Anybody else run across this?

[Sludge]

I had several shops turn me down about mounting one.  The local stealer, wouldnt.  Thats for sure.  I got a local custom bike shop to help me mount it.  He let ME do it too because he didnt want the responsibility.  No one mentioned insurance though.  I think they were just scared of litigation.

[mrflamewerks]

I researched the insurance thing a little more. Here's something my policy includes.

"EXCLUSIONS - READ THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIONS CAREFULLY. IF AN EXCLUSION APPLIES, COVERAGE WILL NOT BE AFFORDED UNDER THIS POLICY

"Coverage under this Part, including our duty to defend, will not apply to any insured person for bodily injury or property damage caused by an intentional act of that insured person, or at the direction of that insured person, even if the actual injury or damage is different than that which was intended or expected".

Although I haven't talked to an attorney to find out for sure, I have talked to my insurance agent, and he told me that this exclusion may be interpereted by an adjuster to include "modifications made to the vehicle that may effect the performance and/or handling characturistics of the vehicle". That would mean that installing a tire designed for an automobile on a motorcycle may allow an insurance company to deny a claim.

Anybody had this problem?

[Valker]

Anybody had this problem?

Nope.......not here at least. If they wanted to do so, ANY aftermarket tire would fit into the exception list, and that makes it tough since the original tires are not made any more.

[mrflamewerks]

Nope.......not here at least. If they wanted to do so, ANY aftermarket tire would fit into the exception list, and that makes it tough since the original tires are not made any more.

It's my understanding that this applies to a tire not originally designed for a motorcycle. ie. If the adjuster notes a tire mounted on your motorcycle, post accident, that was design for a CAR, you may have a problem with a claim denial.

[Valker]

If the adjuster notes a tire mounted on your motorcycle, post accident, that was design for a CAR, you may have a problem with a claim denial.

it was not an issue with my son's crash....and that was a really large insurance claim.

[mrflamewerks]

Ran across some additional information regarding CT's. This chart shows the contact patch for a MT vs bias CT vs radial CT at various lean angles. Is this the effect naysayers are referring to as "riding the edge"?

[j2x]

interesting.  seems pretty relative without any sense of scale.  personally, and without having ever taken any actual measurements myself, that "CT" seems a lot narrower than it should be.  where'd you find it and who's the author?

[mrflamewerks]

interesting.  seems pretty relative without any sense of scale.  personally, and without having ever taken any actual measurements myself, that "CT" seems a lot narrower than it should be.  where'd you find it and who's the author?

It's from a presentation done by somebody at Bridgestone. Here's a link.

MC Tire Explained

[ossvalk2]

now if there was a scale showing inches it might be useful but there is no way the MC contact patch is ever more than about 2 inches wide maybe more on a battleaxe 200 series tire

Also dont forget that once the tire starts cupping and ridging all bets on contact patch are off on the motorcycle tire

Your lean angle and confidence will decline anywhere from 4-5k into that MC tire

I dont see that could ever happen on a radial CT

YMMV   I will be dropping the pressure again down to 33 today on my Toyo and see if the handling changes  25 mile ride on 2-3 lane sweepers at 50-80mph and then moonscape like roads for another 5 miles each way to the courthouse in the bronx

rain handling and braking was awesome on the straights on sunday am. I was pleasantly surprised

[mrflamewerks]

now if there was a scale showing inches it might be useful but there is no way the MC contact patch is ever more than about 2 inches wide maybe more on a battleaxe 200 series tire

I don't think this was meant to be to scale. Having read through the entire presentation, I came away with the sense that the author was merely explaining the differences between CT and MT design and construction, and how they behaved dynamically. Oddly enough, the information and this table got me to thinking about how a rear tire for a heavy cruiser, like the Valk, could be design combining the best of both worlds. Any tire engineers out there?

Also dont forget that once the tire starts cupping and ridging all bets on contact patch are off on the motorcycle tire

The Metzlers on our Interstate are at about half life and Avons on our Standard were slick a good 500+ miles ago without any cupping. The Metzlers aren't ridged, however the rear Avon has a distinct ridge. Cornering traction hasn't been the problem. Braking has, especially the Avons.

Your lean angle and confidence will decline anywhere from 4-5k into that MC tire

This hasn't been a problem, been Draggin' Peg all over the place, on both bikes.

[Russian Concussion]

That was beautiful, Sludge. Tears are running down my cheeks. 

Excellent points all around.