Quote:
Originally Posted by Houndguy
I've been following the debate for a while. I'm not sure if it's even possible for me to go to the "Darkside" on my Xciting. I generally ride back and forth to work, a commute of about 80 miles (128.8 KM) round trip. This year has been a little odd in that I was actually off the bike for several months (doc's orders - damn my age).
Living in Florida is tough on the tires to begin with so getting more for my buck does appeal to me...however I'm still not sure if "going dark" is the right move safety wise.
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I'll admit to being a car tire heretic. And I have been involved in car tires on scooters since early June of 2008. (my Honda Reflex 250 scooters among all the other Reflex riders that followed my lead and now use a car tire and my Silverwing 600ABS scooter... you might say I've learned a bit about it in that time) But I am curious to know if your safety concerns are because of mishaps, accidents, injuries or deaths related to car tire use on bikes or just on the say so of others? If something else, then what is that something else that concerns you?
(OK it was a trick question to ask about mishaps, accidents, injuries or deaths related to car tire use on bikes since one would be hard pressed to find some if any at all.) I only know of one and it was a guy trying to be too careful and dropped his bike going over a speed bump.... no kidding a speed bump.... really I think it was because he obviously lacked some basic riding skills. So even then, the car tire being involved was questionable in my view and I think he was just looking for something to blame it on other than his poor riding ability. BTW, the first car tire I ever used went 35,000 miles before I changed it to try a taller tire... it could have gone a couple thousand miles more easily.
Mostly I think those that oppose the idea either just repeat things they've heard or they are misinformed and don't understand that car tires use better rubber compounds and the tires are far stronger and can take far more abuse than a bike is even capable of inflicting. Yes there are differences in design, yet they still work and work well and safe enough as demonstrated by millions of collective miles without mishap.
In any event, a nickname I've heard Florida called is "Flatistan" I assure you that car tires can handle the curves amazingly well if that is a concern for you. For instance, a while back I rode with a few sport bikes (Ninja 1200, Aprilia RSV4 and a GSXR) and stayed right on their heels while leaving the rest of the motorcycles out of view from the mirrors. (We'd wait for them to catch up at turn points.... shamed a bunch of them with my scooter.... with a car tire besides.... it just blew them away about that) The point being you ride flat roads which the car tire is well suited for. They would be good for riders out in the western flat lands as well and would run cooler than motorcycle tires besides.
BTW, here is a link to a passenger vehicle (car) tire that is probably the best size (165/65R14) to fit your bike since it is closest in car tires to the stock scooter rear tire size for the Kymco Xciting500 (150/70-14). (and it has a 40,000 mile wear warranty..... what bike tire could even begin to compete with that? !!!) You >might< find that size, maybe even in a different brand elsewhere for less, but is is not a very common size. It really is not that much wider than the stock scooter tire, but what is also important is that it is closer to the diameter of the scooter tire than any other car tire.
http://www.tirebuyer.com/products/ti...ontDiameter=14
You do sound interested, so before you decide either way, you should learn as much as you think you need and then maybe a little more. Both sides... But be aware that while design differences are pointed out and theories posed, there has been NO actual scientific physical testing done to prove that car tire use on a bike is, and to what degree, safe OR dangerous.... NONE, ZIP, ZILCH, ZERO, NADA. (they claim liability issues as the reason for not testing)
Can't help myself... While the Darksiders ride merrily along without incident on their car tires in spite of all the speculation, theory, misinformation, fear mongering, knee jerk reactions etc. about it being not safe.
In all honesty, there is only one negative issue that I can think of with car tires. And that is a lack of sidewall support with a flat car tire. Motorcycles have a much stiffer sidewall and do a bit better in that respect.
IMO, the issue of the "squared shoulders" of a car tire has more to do with getting acclimated to the different "feel" and handling attributes than being a safety issue. If one can't or won't learn and adapt, then they probably shouldn't be riding motorbikes at all; car tires or not.
FWIW
