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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Cabot Arkansas | I have been running the Bridgestone Potenza G019 with 195/55-16 for a little over 14000 miles now, still looks and rides like new.IMHO it takes alittle more effort to drive than the E3 dunlop but not nearly as much as the 240 on my Jackpot did.All in all I am pretty happy with it and plan on another one when the time comes.One downside is when kevinx dyno tuned my vision he said the car tire cost me around 5 hp on the dyno . |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I take it that the 5hp is from the contact patch, or the softness of tread, or both? I wonder if anyone feels this hp drop in the seat of their pants after going DS? Anybody care to comment? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | I, too, have gone to using a car tire. I chose to use the Bridgestone Potenza Grid 109 in 185-55-16 so I could add a hitch in the future. I only have about 160 miles so far. The turn in is similar to the Hammer S that I tesy rode last year. The "getting used to" is no worse than going from a Sportster to the Vision, IMHO. The best part for me is the added slow speed and stopped stability as I have a lingering injury to my right ankle (thank you for the tip over protectors!). |
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Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | I too have the Potenza and I cannot detect any loss of hp. My riding buddy on his Harley gets just as small in my mirrors as ever. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
Perry Hall, MD | Couldn't find a 185 Potenza so I'm going with a Hankook Ventus. First time going with the darkside - hope it is a good decision.
(HankookVentusV2Concept.gif)
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 HankookVentusV2Concept.gif (65KB - 13 downloads)
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22
Kokomo, IN | I notice that the Dunlop E3 tires hydroplane way to easy. They (E3) can be scary in a downpour, and I know from personal experience. I'm lucky to be alive from my experience. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
Perry Hall, MD | Commander - 2012-01-08 8:25 PM
I notice that the Dunlop E3 tires hydroplane way to easy. They (E3) can be scary in a downpour, and I know from personal experience. I'm lucky to be alive from my experience.
Good to hear that you survived Commander.
Maybe I've just been lucky but I have put quite a few highway and backroad miles on the E3s in some heavy rains and never had a problem. They can get darn squirmy (so did my pants) in a light rain when the oil deposits haven't washed off yet, but so would any other tire. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22
Kokomo, IN | I've been through 4 sets of E3 tires. Put 22000 miles on my Vision in about a year. I have one rear E3 left in my M/C trailer. When it's gone I'll switch to Metzler. The Metzler has more grooves to displace water. I had a Metzler on my Vision (got a Cross now)for a while, but got a pointed bolt through it shortly after getting it. The reason I have extra E3 tires is because a guy on eBay had a bunch for sale and I bought all he had. Got a hell of a deal. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 142
elgin mn | Lennyb I put on a Hankook ventus v4 last july, and really like it, I dont think you will be disapointed. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| +1 on Hankook Ventus.... great tire for the Vision |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
| just put GO19 3hr ago 195/55/16; LUV IT; DARK SIDE dark side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | yeah i wouldnt worry about a loss of HP, hell these are touring machines not light to light racers. i had a CT on my 2008 vision, now on my 2011 i have the stock E3. i noticed its alot easier to make turns in 1st gear with a passenger (parkinglot) but already in less than 3000 miles the E3 is already starting to cup! Never had that issue when i ran a car tire. plus i remember how nice it was to keep the same rear tire for YEARS..... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 222
Barefoot Bay, FL United States | That's why I do NOT like the Elite 3. I've gone back to the Elite 2 for the reasons you explain about the center portion of the E3 tire. It's a little scary on the Maine roads when you're riding on the 1" center portion of the tire that is 1/8" higher than the rest of the tire!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 222
Barefoot Bay, FL United States | I have seen a few threads about the dark side and trailering. I have the Hitch Doc on now, and am wondering how many trailer folks put the hitch on with the bolts going 'up' from the underside of the frame, rather than down into the frame, and holding the hitch on with nuts? It seems to me that the head of the bolt isn't protruding into the 'tire space' any more than the original bottom of the bolts that hold the trunk on. It WAS a PITA doing it that way without removing the rear tire, but I got it done, and I think it will run just fine. My question is regarding the 'tire space' with a ct. There should still be plenty of room for the larger or wider tire. Chrome IS a color!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1228
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | If you have a HitchDoc, you need either a 185/55 or a 175/60 tire. |
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Central Wisconsin | witchbiker - 2012-01-22 9:03 AM...My question is regarding the 'tire space' with a ct. There should still be plenty of room for the larger or wider tire.Chrome IS a color!! I had a 195 width CT mounted before I installed the hitch doc.
Took it off after I installed the hitch doc because it rubbed a tiny bit on the hitch doc upper frame. Your best off with a 175 or 185 width CT. Also I have the hitch doc nuts inside the upper wheel well and clearance is a non issue.
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | Just thought I would update also. Still doing good with the CT. The air pressure seems to stay more constant with the CT than with the MT. So far no problems or regrets.
Wayne |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Any tire you have to check air each an every month to get full life out of them.
185 CT is 1/4" narrow then a 195.
If you run a 175 it will drop your bike 3/4" of a inch and you should get a short kick stand then or parking will become scare at times.
I put six thousand miles on my CT last fall and really liked the handling and the smother ride. Still did 95mph or 100mph with the same effort as before.
Yes I had to learn all over again but didn't we all have to learn over when we bought our vision's. The CT was $118 out the door where as the E3 is $200 and more and only last one year if that. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 94
milwaukee wisconsin | has any one noticed how much fuel milage you are looseing with the ct over the mt ??? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 233
flagstaff, AZ | jerrythekingpin - 2012-01-22 1:19 PM
has any one noticed how much fuel milage you are looseing with the ct over the mt ???
I did a 1000 mile ride two days after putting CT on, lost about 1mpg over the entire trip, but I was also averaging 80 mph with elevation changes from 7000' to 1500' and back. |
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Central Wisconsin | john frey - 2012-01-22 1:19 PM ...If you run a 175 it will drop your bike 3/4" of a inch and you should get a short kick stand then or parking will become scare at times. Hey John here's the spec differences between the factory 180/60/16 and the 175/60r/16 CT that some of us are running. Maybe you were thinking of something else the diameter difference is only .2". Tire size calculator
| Specification | Sidewall | Radius | Diameter | Circumference | Revolutions | Speedometer | Odometer | Difference |
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| 180/60-16 | 4.3" | 12.3" | 24.5" | 77.0" | 823/mi | 60MPH | 10000mi | N/A | | 175/60-16 | 4.1" | 12.1" | 24.3" | 76.2" | 831/mi | 61MPH | 10097mi | -1.0% |
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Visionary
Posts: 1228
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I did not notice a difference in mpg going from MT to 175/60 CT, but it did go down when I put on lower deflectors. About 3mpg.
A new 175/60 CT has the same diameter as a worn down 180/60 MT. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | @John-----Yes, air pressure still needs to be checked, but I have noticed that I have to add air less often since switching to a CT. Maybe because it has been warmer this year as compared to last?
@Jerry----I have not noticed (payed attention to) any any REAL difference to MPG.
Wayne |
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | Any darksiders around Augusta GA that wouldn't mind me checking out their bike and possibly giving it a whirl?
I got 10k on mine, find it just fine, but am looking at increasing the commuting distance a LOT next year. It's already expensive with my 2500 mile checkups coming up every other month, and if I can save a little $$$ on tires, I'm willing to give it a shot. Just want to really see what the hoopla is about. Never done anything like this before, never considered anything like this before, but I'm thinking my situation might warrant it. Looking at about 2000 to 2500 miles a month starting in June in commuting and riding for pleasure.
Alexi
PS - Dont' have to be RIGHT around Augusta. I'll be in Atlanta next weekend, and of course, I'm not against taking a ride to get to you if you're willing (hell, I have a Vision, if you're IN augusta I'd suggest a ride anyway!) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 222
Barefoot Bay, FL United States | Thomas I put mine on the opposite, bolts going UP, for fear that the bolts would hang too far into the wheel well. Also if I want to remove the trunk, I can without disturbing the hitch. |
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The Dark side review
