1600 Nomad 2006 Riding on the Dark Side NOW!!!

40,000 Kilometers four different bike tires average 10,000 K per - Why did I take so damned long to get the CT Buddy of mine has had a car tire on for three seasoned 07,08,09 he is well past 40,000 K on the same $150.00 tire and I have burned up $1,200 easy on bike rubber makes ya wonder huh!

My personal observations of the Dark Side - Still trying to figure that one out - 1969 I bought a military surplus bike, 1949 HD still in the crate came with two car tires???? Soooo it isn't a new concept! Then up till about the late 80's early 90's I started getting worse mileage from the bike tires, hell I remember a 79 /Glide I had put 62,000 miles on it and sold it with the original tires??? Wuzz Zupp with that HUH! The tire GODS started expressing softer rubber for better traction on curves and such, I run a cruiser not a crotch rocket, why in hell would you limit the distance on a tire for someone that runs 30 to 40,000 per year and make it so damned expensive compared to car tires???? :pirat: Thievery - of the newest recreational vehicle for the middle to upper income people more expensive. Hell you want expensive drive a Harley less power more vibration and twice the price why screw with the maintenance of a machine.

Then OHHH SURPRISE!!! Way better traction on the CT than I ever had on a BT... Handling is ten times more responsive in wet snow and cold... All season riding in Canada is it possible - going to be finding out this winter!!! Rode in to town today 23 K -1 raining and was a great ride, still raining and I will be riding home after the store closes no problem. Then I Ran into a guy from Miami Florida who rides every year from Florida to Anchorage Alaska to work the Crab Boats he runs a car tire front and back, he has ridden in every kinda of road conditions and weather you can think of, Alaska in the fall is prone to snow for sure and every year in the last three he has had to ride in snow and it's only been a few years that he didn't have 600 miles of gravel also. Point is he prefers the stable ride of the CT sure it handles heavier in the front I rode it... But stable as all hell, safer feel to the ride as well... He says biggest thing is balancing of the tires he swears by bead balancing over lead.

So have the bike tire GODS F--ked them selves, no so many riders get this brain fart that won't let go... Bike tires are for bikes and car tires are for cars or so the tire GODS have proposed and many sheep (oops) bikers have bought into the idea. Seriously if more were to tell the bike tire GODS to stick it... Prices would drop and tires would be made to fit cruisers and touring bikes with better mileage and superior handling... But as long as the (bikers) follow the Shepard WELL...
So Dudes and Dudetts what's your take on this... I'm a big boy want ta give me crap on a stick go for it... Would like ta here your stories I use them for many other sites I am actively becoming and activist on

Mingo, welcome to the site, its great to have you here. Stories are posted all over the place in here.

Jerry

Welcome Mingo! You sound like our kind of fellow! Congrats on "returning" to the darkside....



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


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jedishon wrote:Mingo, welcome to the site, its great to have you here. Stories are posted all over the place in here.

Jerry

Nice bike - oh ya thanks for the welcome Hope ta be around a while - got some invites and some ideas ta share with ya all!!! Have a good one. :arrow: :afro:

twin1300 wrote:Welcome Mingo! You sound like our kind of fellow! Congrats on "returning" to the darkside....



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


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WOW been called a lota things "kind of fellow" Ya the CT is running good plan on running till way past snow see if I can make break up this year, riding every week day to and from work 56 K per day!!!

Hi Mingo,
Put a Toyo P205-65-R-16 on my 05 Nomad. Ran it about 1,000 miles before taking a road trip. Just returned from Maine, started off in Louisiana..to East Coast..up to Maine,,back thru Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, etc... Never intend on going back to a bt on this bike. Although this tire is a bit taller than the original 170/70-16 bt, my speedo is still a little off according to the gps.. still a little slower than clock speed. The ct is rated for 149mph. It takes a little more energy to 'curve' it, and with 40psi it tracks well until I hit speeds above 90mph...at 100 the rear begins to 'walk' almost uncontrollably...but that's much faster than the law allows anyway. The two main problems were getting it mounted.. had to do it at home..popped it on the rim,,,let the air out..force it between the swing arms..then air it back up... then finally finding the right psi so it wasn't 'squirrely' at low to moderate speeds...but this forum helped me out there.. Over 6,000 miles and happy so far..

dangerousdan736 wrote:Hi Mingo,
Put a Toyo P205-65-R-16 on my 05 Nomad. Ran it about 1,000 miles before taking a road trip. Just returned from Maine, started off in Louisiana..to East Coast..up to Maine,,back thru Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, etc... Never intend on going back to a bt on this bike. Although this tire is a bit taller than the original 170/70-16 bt, my speedo is still a little off according to the gps.. still a little slower than clock speed. The ct is rated for 149mph. It takes a little more energy to 'curve' it, and with 40psi it tracks well until I hit speeds above 90mph...at 100 the rear begins to 'walk' almost uncontrollably...but that's much faster than the law allows anyway. The two main problems were getting it mounted.. had to do it at home..popped it on the rim,,,let the air out..force it between the swing arms..then air it back up... then finally finding the right psi so it wasn't 'squirrely' at low to moderate speeds...but this forum helped me out there.. Over 6,000 miles and happy so far..

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you are experiencing bad walkout you have a problem somewhere,I run gytt 205-60-16 have seen 130 or better(accidently of course) with no walkout on my 05 nomad

[b]Well I have had to drop my tire pressure to 38 lbs but other than that I am totally happy after 59,000 kilometers that is 36,660 miles with 60% treat left. A buddy has four seasons and 78,000 on his CT that is 48,466 with 30% tread left bud he toes a trailers I don't!
I will never go back to a BT when I get mileage like this on a CT!

Mingo wrote:[b]Well I have had to drop my tire pressure to 38 lbs but other than that I am totally happy after 59,000 kilometers that is 36,660 miles with 60% treat left. A buddy has four seasons and 78,000 on his CT that is 48,466 with 30% tread left bud he toes a trailers I don't!
I will never go back to a BT when I get mileage like this on a CT!

This Walk out being referred to is it like a warble? Tracking? What? I have run my 1600 at 225 for 209 kilometers a few times that is 129 mi. at 140 miles per hr. Do strictly to a mandatory time infraction on an account I could not be without

Hey Mingo,
What size and type of tire did you put on? I hope I didn't just miss the info in your posts.

Thanks,
Santa

santareg wrote:Hey Mingo,
What size and type of tire did you put on? I hope I didn't just miss the info in your posts.

Thanks,
Santa

Toyo P205-65-R-16 will work just fine! Bead balancing is the trick of the trade!

I dont mean to sound stupid but what is bead balancing??
...... sorry i did some research and now understand

Dyna beads. 3 oz. in a car tire on the back of the bike. The walkout goes away with reduction in tire pressure.....bearings. I run a Potenza G109 Grid 205/60R16 on the back of my '09 Nomad 1700 at 47psi. and it is perfect. Reducing the pressure of the tire makes it absorb the "warble". That warble is text book bearing problems that are caused by wear, misaligned rear tire on the swingarm, and the belt too tight will wear the bearings out, the swingarm bearings should be checked also for tightness AND if the belt is too tight the bike won't roll easily when you push it with your feet and there will be a noticeable whine going up through the gears and slowing down coasting caused by the harmonics of the pulleys. Check bearings not the tire pressure first.....try to find any play or looseness.

i just put a kumho 205 60/16 on my nomad today. I did not balance it because i couldn't find a shop that would do it. but i made sure to buy a tire that was factory balanced. i have only had time for a few miles of test riding at highway speeds 65-75 but there is no wobble or vibration so i guess it is good. I cant believe how solid it feels...... I cant wait to try it in some twisties.

First time I started out. Went one block and made a left turn. Noticed the need for more counter-steering input but now I don't notice it at all. Once I got on the road....it felt like it was on rails and stable as I had ever experienced on a motorcycle ride. Coming up to stop signs there is no more back and forth on the slow-down anymore either.

You can add Dynabeads later if you need 'em.....let out the air and put them in through the valve stem after removing the core, gives all the details on the website. The tire will lose rubber as you ride and put miles on it so balancing may be needed later, the nice thing about the beads is it is a dynamic balance i.e., it changes with the needs of the tire. I never heard of factory balance and this in no way derides you or the companies claim but can you please elaborate on the theory for me? Ride safe.

The factory checks the balance of all bt and some ct before they even leave the plant that is what that yellow or red circle on the sidewall of your tire is for. that circle is supposed to be lined up with the valve stem for optimal balance

Got it. Thanks. I knew that about the dot/circle and the valve stem association but didn't connect it with what you were describing. Egg on my face...lol!!

Its not egg on your face....its like a similar question i asked earlier about balance beads.its just not enough knowledge about the product..after some research i learned what dyna beads were and answered my own question.

just gave the ct a test ride through some twisties at 65-80mph it handles great