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Dark Side Advice Needed

Talk about issues and questions specific to the FJR here.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by wheatonFJR »

raYzerman wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:29 pm Option if you want..... cut down your existing one..... you won't need the original even if you take the CT off... but, some Canadian dick has a spare one in his stash if ya talk nice one day.
That sounds like there is kissing involved. If so, that's right up NTX' alley so he should be in good shape. :stickpoke:
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

I got the toe of my boot that's good at kissing, c'mon over buddy... :lol:
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

raYzerman wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:29 pm Option if you want..... cut down your existing one..... you won't need the original even if you take the CT off... but, some Canadian dick has a spare one in his stash if ya talk nice one day.
Coolio, I might have to talk nice about you for a few days not just one, and maybe get your lunch too for that offer. Thanks Ray
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by FJRPittsburgh »

And Brodie came through with the answer. He's the man! Well, he's the man when Ray's not around.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

So I finished up the install today along with speed bleeders and a much needed system flush of front, back, and clutch, including the abs flush. It was really quite simple once I got into it, many thanks to Ray for making the abs flush test harness, and to Wayne and Co. for making them available to us forum jokers.

The shake down run revealed that it's going to take some time to get used to this tire but it's not as awkward as I half expected it to be. It feels to me a bit wallowy at first lean going into a turn but once in it the tire seemed to grip just fine. I won't be trying to keep up with Oface or Jwilly anytime soon, not that I would try to anyway, but I can definitely see the shine that the dark siders like about these. I'm going to enjoy the 30K+ mileage they give. It only took .25 oz to balance which surprised me, I've had some mc tires take as much as 2.5 oz.

Check out the girth on that baby. I measured around 1.25" at widest point from the 180 mc tire to this 205 ct.

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I copied Brodie's image when milling mine out

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Not a whole lot of clearance up there, but it's enough

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Last edited by NTXFJR on Sun Jun 07, 2020 11:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by raYzerman »

You can experiment with pressures, lower will allow greater flexibility, not sure how stiff your sidewall is. I ran 28-30 psi and found that was the sweet spot. You can run it up to 35 or more and see how stiffer it gets, along with different turn-in. So, your next rear tire is in like 50k miles!
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by Canadian FJR »

After the first ride it will seem like the new normal.

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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by natehawk750 »

I like to run mine at about 28psi. I can't even feel the difference anymore.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

I set mine at 31 to start. I may try 28 just to see, thanks for the tips. I will be checking the tread wear as time goes on. The tire should wear decently since it will be carrying quite a bit less weight than a car would have, but that's a double edged sword because that flat profile needs to shed water in a deluge and less weight is an enemy in this case. I don't think I'll be pushing the tire to it's wear bars because of this, decent sipes are your friend.
Last edited by NTXFJR on Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by rbentnail »

Mess around with the pressure some. I like mine up around 33. I've noticed with FOBO tpms the rear heats quickly and the pressure rises about 4 psi on a sunny 85*F+ day so be sure to base decisions on miles, not cold pressure.

I have a spare rim I keep a bike tire on, picked it up cheap. Rarely use it anymore.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by raYzerman »

It will mostly depend on the tire being used. If overinflated the center will wear more, and it may anyway. CT's usually have softer compounds than bike tires, but larger tread depth and wear spread over a much larger area.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by Uncle Hud »

Sipes are built for a car’s weight. Don’t know now, but you were a lot lighter than that a few years ago at SFO. 8-)
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

Uncle Hud wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:09 pm Sipes are built for a car’s weight. Don’t know now, but you were a lot lighter than that a few years ago at SFO. 8-)
No so much now...
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

Went to 28 psi and this BFG GForce tire seems a bit easier to lean over. Still getting used to things but it seems quite manageable.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by natehawk750 »

You'll get use to it the more you ride with it. I love the Darkside for LDriding when I'm just burning tires on the hwy. I'm not so sold on that I'd ride with it when I'm riding with the intent to carve up the twisties. I'll swap back to a pr5gt for that.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by wheatonFJR »

NTXFJR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:46 pm Went to 28 psi and this BFG GForce tire seems a bit easier to lean over. Still getting used to things but it seems quite manageable.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by NTXFJR »

rbentnail wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:37 am Mess around with the pressure some. I like mine up around 33. I've noticed with FOBO tpms the rear heats quickly and the pressure rises about 4 psi on a sunny 85*F+ day so be sure to base decisions on miles, not cold pressure.

I have a spare rim I keep a bike tire on, picked it up cheap. Rarely use it anymore.
I put tpms on when the bike was new and was surprised at the rise in pressure as the tires heat up. 42 psi is easily replaced with 48 psi on hot pavement, 104f temps in Arizona 3 yrs ago made things really interesting on the back tire especially. I'll keep an eye on this ct next week to see what it does.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by gixxerjasen »

NTXFJR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:46 pm Went to 28 psi and this BFG GForce tire seems a bit easier to lean over. Still getting used to things but it seems quite manageable.
I'm quite surprised you aren't dead yet. I was told that going darkside would make the bike spontaneously burst into flames within the first few miles. Surely I haven't been misled.
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by natehawk750 »

:threadjack:
gixxerjasen wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:02 pm
NTXFJR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:46 pm Went to 28 psi and this BFG GForce tire seems a bit easier to lean over. Still getting used to things but it seems quite manageable.
I'm quite surprised you aren't dead yet. I was told that going darkside would make the bike spontaneously burst into flames within the first few miles. Surely I haven't been misled.
I'm doomed I've been running darkside with and Aux tank for a few months now!
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Re: Dark Side Advice Needed

Post by gixxerjasen »

natehawk750 wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:36 pm :threadjack:
gixxerjasen wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:02 pm
NTXFJR wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:46 pm Went to 28 psi and this BFG GForce tire seems a bit easier to lean over. Still getting used to things but it seems quite manageable.
I'm quite surprised you aren't dead yet. I was told that going darkside would make the bike spontaneously burst into flames within the first few miles. Surely I haven't been misled.
I'm doomed I've been running darkside with and Aux tank for a few months now!
:shock: :o
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