That's it, I'm crossing over to the darkside

I've read a ton of posts about using a ct on my VTX 1800 R and noticed what y'all have seen - with rare exception, the only people saying it's a horrible idea are the ones that didn't do it. I put a ton of miles on my bikes every year and I'm sick of paying over $200 per tire twice a year to see a tire worn in the middle but not on the edges. I'M COMING OVER, DAMMIT!

I saw a pic of someone running a Goodyear Assurance TripleTred and thought it looked great on the bike. I checked out tire sizes and it seems like a 205/65 R16 will work and found the tire for $72 buck (woot) at a local shop.

Will this fit an 03 VTX 1800R without modifying anything? I tried to search the forums here but couldn't find anything on which tires rub and which don't. Not that I'm afriad to grind on the scoot.....

Tips on where to buy tire irons cheap would be really helpful, too.

That should fit on your scoot no problem. I don't think you will have to mod anything although I did turn my exhaust bracket bolts around as I had read others did that. I have an S model with spokes so mine is a 205/65-15 but love the tire and have over 5000 and really no signs of wear at all!

Bout time!!!! LOL Congrats on your decision to try the darkside! You will love it! And....it's not finding where to buy one that's the problem.....just who will mount it for you! Most want to save your life and will not mount it! Bwwhahahaha



.............................bobby

twin1300 wrote:Bout time!!!! LOL Congrats on your decision to try the darkside! You will love it! And....it's not finding where to buy one that's the problem.....just who will mount it for you! Most want to save your life and will not mount it! Bwwhahahaha

.............................bobby

Finding someone who will mount it is easy - ME. A zillion years ago I worked at a service station and am very familiar with mounting tires. Of course, i had a machine back then and expect this will yield lots of cursing and throwing but hey, I like to curse. A lot. And I flat out blanking HATE paying someone to do something I can do. Last time I had the rear tire replaced the mental giants at the shop didn't torque down the axle right. Rode home one night, walked through the garage, and looked down saying "why the Fblank is my axle sticking out an inch?" Fblanking nut was gone. New nut was about $6 and since the threads on the axle looked a little funny (not bad, just...funny) I figured $39 for a new axle would be cheap peace of mind.

Believe it or not, I had a problem getting local stores to SELL me one. The second I said "motorcycle" they came up with various reasons why they wouldn't do it. Kaufman Tire here in Cumming Georgia told me "we can only sell tires to other dealers if we don't mount them." BULLLLLLLLLLL. Another joint said he'd have to ask for permission to sell me a tire because I said it was going on a motorcycle. That's when I started getting pissy.

9 North Tire in Alpharetta is where I'm going. The guy flat out didn't care what I was mounting it on and gave me a price about 1/2 of an internet tire+shipping. The place comes highly recommended by folks i know.

That is a great tire choice.
When I buy my tires, I tell them I using it for a nunya!!!

I got a great deal on my tire spoons at Harbor Freight store!

00 Doc wrote: That is a great tire choice.
When I buy my tires, I tell them I using it for a nunya!!!

I did it. Got my GYTT 205.55.16 (didn't have a 65, whatever) and slapped it on the back of the VTX. It didn't affect my handling at all. If anything the bike felt top heavy.

I'm looking forward to getting it on the rim. Lololol

pgr_boo wrote:I did it. Got my GYTT 205.55.16 (didn't have a 65, whatever) and slapped it on the back of the VTX. It didn't affect my handling at all. If anything the bike felt top heavy.

I'm looking forward to getting it on the rim. Lololol

That is some funny stuff right there. I had to read it a couple times to get it! I am in the same boat. I will proubably go with a goodyear TT also. I just need help taking the rim off my bike(no stands or lift). Hopefully someone around NW Indiana can help. Mine is going on a 2002 1800R

Got the rear wheel off an couldn't resist sliding the tire in there. How the hell will I get it past the dust cover when it's on the rim?

Tire looks badass. Hope it works out.

once seated, deflate it, if that doesn't work, take the dust ring off, roll tire in, re-install dust ring followed by wheel and tire.

Thanks for the info. Dunno why I didn't think about it, may have been the beer lol

One thing i don't have covered is seating the bead. I don't have an air compressor but may buy one. Any ideas on how big the tanks would need to be for this?

It turns out that I SUCK at removing a tire. Broke the bead easy enough, got 1/2 off after a bit of a struggle, and even with a helper couldn't get the bottom bead over the rim. Made a few calls to find a shop to remove it and BONUS they'll mount the ct too. After 5 hours of fighting I gave up (I rarely give up) and dropped it off at the shop.

I've gone from "we won't sell you a ct knowing it's going on a bike" to "come on down.". Wish I called yesterday! Lol