Joined the Dark Side yesterday

[oldman]

Well I finally got a Dark Side tire on my Valk on the second attempt.  I had ordered a General Altimax 205/65-16 from a motorcycle shop in Reno.  Got there last Wednesday, but the tire was a "RT" instead of a "HP".  The treads on the outside of the RT go in opposite direction, not sure what that would have done to cornering.  Anyway, the place where the mechanic gets his tires could not get a HP in the "65" series. Said they quit making them (I check several place on the web when I got home couldn't find any either).  So ended up with a HydroEdge, 205/65-16.  I really liked the Altimax, especially when I measured it.  It was only 7.5 inches wide.   Anyway, the HydroEdge (it is 8.1 inch wide) wasn't due to come in till Saturday, (Shipment problems-don't ask).  So Saturday Morning I got the HydroEdge mounted/balanced.   

Saturday afternoon I started trying to put the tire on the Ol' Fat Lady.  Found that I couldn't get it under the rear end with the MC Lift in highest position like I did with the E-3, so had DW push down on the front end a little so I could slide the tire in.  Went in all right, till I tried to get it past the pumpkin and the left windarm.  Wouldn't go.  Also noticed that I had not got the bottom bolt for the back brake totally out, it was sticking out about a half inch which didn't help.  So I ended up taking the pumpkin off, drive shaft of course came off with it.  Once the pumpkin was off, the tire rolled into place. Then put the drive shaft back in, a real pain to put the shaft in (took 20 minutes of good words to get it in).  Then put the pumpkin back on the drive shaft while slipping it on the wheel.  Not as bad as it sounds.  But going to be a pain when I need to grease the rear end in 10 K miles.

Once I got all the parts back on and somewhat tighten up, I checked for clearance.  I had removed the Cage Nut and replaced it with a 5/16 bolt.  Bolt put on from the inside as per MP's suggestion.  I found using a steel straight edge that I had the same clearance for the bolt as the E-3 I took off had, when the cage and nut were in place.   Good so far.  Also have about a 1/8 inch clearance with the right swing arm.  Even after tightening up the bolts still had plenty of clearance. 

Took her for a short (50 mile) ride yesterday.  The tire pressure is 40 (+/-) lbs (cold).  No real problems, no rubbing.  Took her for a 280 miler today.  Same tire pressure.  Tire was warm but not hot.  No rubbing, scrapping.   I am planning on dropping the pressure to 32 lbs tomorrow and taking her for another ride.
 
Thoughts on the tire.  Pretty much what others have said.  The tire wants to follow the ruts, and moves around in them.  Not so bad that I can't handled them.  Cornering is about the same as the E-3 as far as speed I feel conforable with.  This may improve when I get more use to the tire.   Hopefully dropping the tire pressure as others have done will help rut problem. I have a great section of road about 40 miles out that is really messed up.  My E-3 would even wiggle around on them.  So I will try them out tomorrow.

I do have a question for you all.  I never noticed that the pumpkin gets warm (could hold my hand on it for a minute or so) after a long ride.  I suspect that this is normal??  I just have never put my hand on it after a ride.

[oldman]

I dropped the air pressure to 32 lbs (according to my gauge).  Went for a short 100 mile ride.

Easier to lay over for turns, almost as easy as the E-3 tire.  Still following ruts but not as bad as when the presssure was 40 lbs.   Also got to ride in 25-30 mph winds.  No different effect from the wind with the CT.  The tire is beginning to feel good, no real difference from the E-3.

Need to try out riding 2 up.  Hopefully, WE will be able to do that on Wednesday.  That will tell if WE are going to get in rubbing or scrapping problems.  Winds are not supposed to be bad, or at least that's what the weather folks are saying.

[timmer]

Sounds good oldman, welcome to the darkside    ha, ha, ha .................

[Nogrey]

Hey oldman, interesting reading your post. I have an altimax hp on my bike that I like very much. My brother is a tire dealer and when he wears his E3 out he's going to put a hydroedge on. It seems like folks really like that one or the tripletread. The three tires look very similar. The HP is a very sticky tire in the curvies. I never feel like I'm slipping. I run 26psi in it when riding 1 up though and that makes the tire behave like I want it to. Took my wife for a ride yesterday and boosted the pressure to 32 and that was perfect. I've got about 2k miles on it now and it looks as new as the day I bought it. Had 3k on my Avon and it looked about half done with a pretty good flat spot running through the mid section. My brother's Harley Road King probably has 5K on his tires. Not sure what they are but are MC tires and show no appreciable wear. Not sure why the Valks eats them so bad but it seems that she does. Oh well, She's a good girl. A few bad habits though. She got fat eating too much fuel and tires. 

[ossiningvalkyrie]

could it be the extra 35+ hp at the rear wheel nogrey?

or is it the fact that twisting the right wrist and listening to what sounds like a porsche beneath you is just addictive

would you rather hear a throaty roar or potato potato

[Nogrey]

could it be the extra 35+ hp at the rear wheel nogrey?

or is it the fact that twisting the right wrist and listening to what sounds like a porsche beneath you is just addictive

would you rather hear a throaty roar or potato potato

Well, after all, I AM from Idaho! 

[MP]

No power =  long tire life.

Explains why HD tires on stockers last so long.

MP

[oldman]

Not sure that it's the power thing.   I had to replace the OEM tires on my 1100 shadow after 8 K miles, it only 50 HP. Totally wore out, no tread left.  I did notice that at 5 K on the rear E-3, it looked like it was hardly worn.  5 K later it was gone. possibility that is what you are seeing with the HD tire.

[oldman]

Last Monday went for a short 50 miler two up.  Tire pressure seems good at 32 lbs, the bike lays over in the curves just like the MC tires at the same speed.  BUT found that I had some rubbing noise on the curves.

Since the tire didn't show any rubber marks, I got looking under the fender. The left side "cage nut" bracket looked like it was kind of shinny. (MP told me to remove it when I did the right one, but didn't do it.)  Also the right side seam where the cage nut was looked like it might be getting scraped.  Used a flat piece of straight metal to check the clearance on both spots.  They both barely hit. 

So Yesterday I removed the left "cage nut", without taking the tire off.  Jacked up the bike and dropped the wheel down a bit by pulling the bottom shock bolts.  Dremel tool worked great, plus grabbing the cage with vice grips to remove them. 

The right side seam was another problem that took a bit to cure.  I had read on the "Will my car tire rub" http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/cartirenutcages.htm website that some folks had to do the washer thing.  The washers are suppose to go on the front fender bolt of the Fender Rail (chrome bracket) that runs from the top Shock bolt to the rear (shinning chunk of heavy metal).  Since I have an I/S model, I had to unbolt the trunk, the back cross piece (one that holds the antenna), remove the top shock bolt, the two bolts holding the bracket that holds the trunk, and the two bolts holding the fender rail.  By putting the washers between the fender rail and the frame, it causes the rear of the fender rail to stick out a bit which will means the fender will be pulled to the out a bit.  Not a lot of room for fat finger guys to get the washers in.  I Had do a trial and error to see how many washers wourld do the trick.  I Had to put on fender rail and take it off a couple times to get the right number of washers on. In my case I used 3 washers. After I got it right and bolted down, there was issues with putting on the back brace (one on the back holding the Antenna) as the holes did not line up.

The end result after several hours of choice words and effort is that the tire does not hit any part of the fender, swing arm, nor anything underneath the fender.  It works, feels good riding two up.  Now to but miles on before the snow flies.