Several weeks ago I asked about leaning with an auto tie on the rear of the Goldwing. My question (really only curiosity rather than concern) was met with assurance that it was no problem.
I know that a number of board members run auto tires on their bikes, and presumably have had no serious problems. Nonetheless, I thought I should share the warnings from an article in the January issue of WingWorld. I know that much of it is engendered by a CYA attitude as a result of our highly litigous society. Nonetheless, it seemed worth sharing, especially for those that might be following another's example without knowing all the facts.
I haven't the time, and it may not be appropriate for me, to repeat the entire article here, so I'll just note a few salient points. If you want to read the whole article, it's the editor's column in the January issue WingWorld. The main point is that the auto tires weren't built to fit motorcycles (a question mostly of the bead/rim fit), nor to withstand the heat and other stresses of leaning in turns (a questioon of materials and construction). The result is the tire can slip on the rim, flex in a manner they are not built for, etc., all resulting in possible catastrophic failure.
I did not post this to start an argument with anyone, but rather to make anyone considering the use of an auto tire aware of these serious concerns, because I had not previously seen any discussion of these concerns on this forum.
Informed comments will be interesting!
Well lazy day, raining, holiday lot of idiots on the road, so I will explain a bit.
Having run a CT for a good seven years I can say there is misinformation on both sides of the fence. The naysayers such as the recent GWRRA articles are wrong and also some of the things the Darkside promotes is wrong. There are lemmings on both sides, those that will blindly follow.
The main thing with the Darkside Board is the attack, Lol! If you do not believe or do or accept, they will hold you down and pour it down your throat. How dare you say one word against a CT, if you do you will be burned at the stake. :lol:
Wing World , GWRRA, and others speak from no experience, and from a general hearsay and biased outlook. None of them have ever used a C.T. or they would not make such statements. Because all the statements they make are false. It is all hearsay, opinion and not a bit of truth in it.
The first thing is to separate the big touring bikes and the Valk from the rest of motorcycles. These bikes do not lean as much as sport bikes and other bikes, their factory rims fit exactly to a C.T. There are no fitment problems and no slipping on the rim and no popping off the rim and no running on the sidewalls of the tires. The rollover tread on a C.T is plenty adequate to keep good tread and traction on the road at all times. And the GL1800 is simply a unique bike, it is ideally suited for the use of a C.T. on it.
A ROF CT will hold up the bike even with holes cut into it with a two inch hole saw. It is a safe tire, and the best solution out there to touring and or riding two up. It prevents things like this.
Troopers: Motorcyclist dies after tire deflates on I-77 - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |
Heat build up on a motorcycle tire causes them to blow sometimes. Death and injury are the result. A ROF CT will never blow on a motorcycle, it runs cooler and has better traction than any other. The stiff sidewalls take the place of the round tire construction and do provide the stability to keep the tread on the road and maintain traction and stability.
Now ya always have the lemmings too. The darkside is intent on self destruction. They do not make a lot of progress because of the ole looky at me , macho man I ride faster than you , looky at me I can ride the sidewalls of my tire and wear them out in 3000 miles. I am an idiot and ride my tire at 95 mph with no hands with no air and .....:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
I am not interested in safety , I am macho man, looky at me........and hey my tire would not fit so I ground off the swing arm. I mean it is a safe tire right, what would it hurt to do a little grinding.........yea they do themselves in.
Along came the money saving deal......I can buy a flimsy ole regular CT for 80 bucks and use this. Hey a ROF costs me just almost as much as a round tire, but I can use this other tire it costs much less......and there the lemmings go. They promote it, and use it and ignore the fact that in a deal like I posted on this post, instant deflation be it a round tire or a flimsy regular C.T will throw you on your head.
So there is bad information on both sides.
The bottom line is ..........
A Run On Flat Car Tire, has no issues on the Wing. It is a very, very safe tire, it has more traction than a round tire, it has superior traction in the wet, it will not blow out, and will not slip on the rim. It is the best option known for touring, two up and for safety. And that is the facts and truth as I know it.
Some of the other stuff......it is what it is. It is what people do. And the Darkside board is not about facts and truth. It is about I can ride faster than you, I can wear out my tire faster than you, and if ya do not conform to the religion, to hell with you. They do themselves in with their attitude.
As for the recent GWRRA articles.......well ya know......they talk a good game but I did notice when I as a member of that social club, I was the only one that wore full protection gear, the only one that could ride the cones and play, and their main intent was to have meetings, sell tickets, inform me that if I used Amsoil I would improve gas milage and their group rides were simply accidents waiting to happen.
So they need to clean up their house before they talk about Car Tires.
The darkside needs to promote safety, and touring and general use. The average rider is interested in safety, and A ROF tire provides that. There was a post about a bubble in the Khumo, so??? Cut the bubble out and ride it to the store for a new one, that is what can be done with that tire.
Getting past the nonsense, is quite the challenge. Too many race track riders wearing out those tires , so the promotion of safety has taken a back seat . So the naysayer now have new ammo, looks like they have used it well. :bow::bow::bow:
You just have to sort it all out. I will speak of facts and truth ,as I am for sure not a Lemming, I will not blindly follow. Now watch the attack on this one.....Ha........gonna wear my Sig today.....
Kit