4 years

It's been a tad over 4 years since Twin, Smokey and myself formed this site. 12/14/2007 to be exact...two new DS tires and over 50K on my bike alone.
Twin was the first 1300 rider to mount up a DS, Smokey and myself soon followed as did tons of other folks.
Thru out the entire first few months and years of DS even being mentioned on some sites we all took flack and BS from non believers and simply close minded folks.
But thru out all of that we've grown to a large number of fellow like minded bikers.

Is Darkside for everyone? No, some it's a mental issue...some it's a lack of experience to cope, some it's plain hard headiness.

Do those of us that ride DS love it? Sure.

Would I change a thing? Nope, other than doing it sooner.

Sorry I've not been active around here the last year or so, but I've been watching the site grow. Glad to call those I've met friends and family.

I'm going to leave this as a sticky for a bit. I think it's time to update the look a bit. Up for suggestions from everyone, ideas for new sections, background image, banner etc.

In the mean time I'm heading out for a ride in the morning and Saturday morning. Ya'll enjoy the road and I'll see ya out there!

Joe

This has been a hot topic on the American Voyager Assn. site that I'm a member of. That brought me to this sight, I admit that not long ago I thought DS was just crazy, no way it would be even close to working or safe, but I've done lots of research and can't find anything that says it don't. I've been here, U-Tube and anywhere else I could find and have yet to find anywhere where a bike went down or had any problem running DS. To the point that I have got the new tire and a spare rim to put it on, I'm mounting it up after I get back from Daytona this weekend and putting it on my 88 Kawasaki Voyager XII. So put me in the Darkside. Thanks to all.

First, glad you started the site, and I've learned from the information here.

Just my opinion, but the looks and feel of the site are just fine and are not the important thing, content is and allowing discussion of varied opinions about tools, equipment and other items is important.

The only thing I'd like to change is to not allow political posts, bike forums just aren't equipped to handle them.

4 Years. That long already. It does not seem that long. Twins fault for inviting me. Being the first on a 1300 is still impressive. Talking all the rest of us into it is priceless. Thanks Bobby. I do remember a few of the early stuggles, and then the hacker, through it all Joe you have done a great job. Smokey what can we say about you. Only that you have helped keep us all on the straight and narrow with your antic's and mis-adventures. Thanks Larry. We have made friendships that will last a lifetime and we miss the ones we no longer hear from, but new friendships are here waiting to be built.

Wow! 4 years already....
Thanks to you guys I've been riding a safer CAR TIRE for that long
and have made a few friends along the way.

I'm grateful to be a part of this and personally don't think we need to change a thing.


It's that good!

I have only been riding my DS for a year. I followed the site and all the other posts about DS on other sites for 2 years before that. All I can say is thank you for being the first and starting this site. I will never go back and I am thankful I was able to learn and help others here locally around me convert. Despite all of the naysayers, I too have not found a single incident in 3 years that I have been reading and researching about it that a darkside tire has caused any crashes or failures. I am fine with any changes you care to make to the site and appreciate your efforts to keep it up and running.

Thanks for all you guys do.

I too would like to thank the Admin guys here. I was on another forum site and read about going Darkside and it had a link to this site. I came here and joined and started my research about the darkside. If it were not for this forum I might not have done the darkside on my wing. I put a CT on my Honda GL1500 and the ride is great. I am in the process of getting a Honda GL1800 for my stable and I plan on darksiding it also......

Ride Safe Always !!!!

in the past year, there has become a small but growing contingent of V-Strom Darksiders

Thanks to all of you for the valuable info. If not for this site, I probably would not have switched to the "darkside". Have been a darksider for more than 7 months and loving it. I've put over 8000 miles on my Nomad since the switch. The tire still looks new.

haven t been on site in awhile, but am happy I found it, 16000, miles on ct and no issues that matter.
not getting expected miles on tire but am not complaing ,no way. my 1800 takes off pretty hard most of the time ,my fault not the tire ha ha. still got plenty miles on tire except for the nail that decide to ride with me. You guys have done a great job, ever get to so georgia maybe we can hook up
underdog60

Toasted: any idea of how many members now?

quadancer wrote:Toasted: any idea of how many members now?

We have 3153 registered users that have signed up on the board.

Congrats on the 4 years! Where does the time go????

WOW, 4 years! I've been doing the darkside thing since June 6, 2008 so it will be 4 years for me too in just 2 more months. AND!! I was the first to do it on a Honda Reflex scooter. I took the slings and arrows of outrageous naysayers for a good bit too so I know what that is all about. But now resistance has waned and there are several converts and semi-promoters. They don't try to overdo the idea or push it like a used car salesman, but the converts do answer politely and give information that they are able to. I say this to potential darksiders, those who are curious and are considering going or those that will be going to the Darkside:

If it works out, then good for you. It won't matter what anyone else says when you KNOW you are right about your decision. Be quietly satisfied with yourself, speak honestly and modestly of your success and let the naysayers eat crow.

What tickles me is that a long time vehement detractor on a scooter forum I go to, apparently saw the light (isn't that a funny thing to say about going to the Darkside?) and went darkside after about 3 years of watching what other darksiders were doing and saying about it.

I may have even convinced a friend to convert with his Yamaha Majesty 400 scooter.
Cheers, Here's to another 4 years

Well hello there! I'm new to this site and have signed on . I think that this site is just great the way it is . Thanks to the folks who started this forum and the members who contributed with tons of info being circulated I now am able to make an intelligent choice with regards to ct. (I don't wan't to be a jedi anymore) I'm crossing over to the darkside.

thank you

Hey now, Twin only beat me by about 10 to 14 days.
The first year, I went through 4 tires, testing them to see which ones would work.
I am now running a Hydro Edge. I dont go on the computer much these days. I do have over 90k on the bike, I put in a new motor about 18 months ago, I lost some compression in the jugs, It was down to 150 and 160 in the front and was burning about 1 qt oil in 1,000 to 1200 miles.
Been working less and rideing more, and working less, but now work has picked up some.

I love ya Twin; can't be anything BUT an advocate, being a totally aggresssive rider on a modified Softail. Modified, that is, for torque, and lean angles.
This rocks and I did study for 3 months every post i could find on it before my first tire...3 tires ago.
DARKSIDE RULES BABY!!!!

bandito_two wrote:WOW, 4 years! I've been doing the darkside thing since June 6, 2008 so it will be 4 years for me too in just 2 more months. AND!! I was the first to do it on a Honda Reflex scooter.

I may have even convinced a friend to convert with his Yamaha Majesty 400 scooter.
Cheers, Here's to another 4 years

Well now it has been 10 years of doing the darkside thing for me... my how the time flies by. Still have that same
Reflex scooter too. 34,000 + miles on it now.

The friend sold his Yamaha Majesty 400 scooter some time back and got a Silverwing 600 scooter. When it comes time
for him to change that rear tire, we'll see if he can be convinced to use a car tire on the rear of his bike. After all, 2 of
his friends that ride Silverwing 600s ride on the darkside... and have done so for quite a while... we'll see.

Oh, and Cheers, Here's to another 10 years!!!

BTW, looking at the view count on the  "For Maxi-Scooters The DarkSide (according to bandito2) Part 1 & 2" item I posted
back in November 2015, it looks like it gets viewed (if not read completely) by more than just the members of various scooter
forums that are offered to read it here... I never would have thought it would have turned out to be so popular... Just amazing.