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NYCSTRIPES
05-09-2006, 01:13 AM
My current road bike, much cheaper on insurance, great for two-up riding/trips
1998 Valkyrie
Ken
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/RC51/IMG_1537.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/kens_new_bike1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/98Valkyrie.jpg

Gear Dog
05-09-2006, 07:56 AM
Nice.
I'm trying to convince the wife to get a cruiser.

Hassmaschine
05-09-2006, 08:05 AM
I'd love to get a cruiser for a second bike... just not in the cards right now.

jcblitz
05-09-2006, 09:08 AM
I've ridden my dads vstar 1100 a few times and I hate big cruisers. I'd much rather have a harley 880 or something small like it. Yeah it doesn't have the power, but its still fun.

CBRBob
05-09-2006, 09:50 AM
I've ridden my dads vstar 1100 a few times and I hate big cruisers. I'd much rather have a harley 880 or something small like it. Yeah it doesn't have the power, but its still fun.

Like a Sportster isn't a big cruiser? It's about the most top heavy cruiser in the world. Hell, take a 750 Vulcan anytime.

jcblitz
05-09-2006, 09:57 AM
Like a Sportster isn't a big cruiser? It's about the most top heavy cruiser in the world. Hell, take a 750 Vulcan anytime.

I haven't ridden a vulcan. The only cruisers I've ridden were an 880 harley, 1100 vstar, and a 1983 Honda nighthawk. I thought the sportster was a lot easier to handle than the vstar.

NYCSTRIPES
05-09-2006, 11:13 AM
If you want comfort, staty away from an 883 sportster, way too small, seat is too hard for trips. There are many more better bikes out there.
Ken

High_Revs_17
05-09-2006, 02:30 PM
Ah the Valk. Honda did right by that one for many years.

MPtotheFZ
05-10-2006, 07:19 AM
I learned to ride on an '81 KZ650 and that was a pretty comfortable bike. Big padded seat, i could touch the ground no problem and it had good power.

NYCSTRIPES
05-12-2006, 02:23 PM
I'll be adding a 205/60-R16 car tire to the rear of my Valkyrie soon, seems to be a pretty popular modification for Valkyries, Ride Characteristics aren't negatively effected, rear tires are also inexpensive this way.
Ken

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/img1245a0xc.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/P8250506.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/dsnewasura.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/nycstripes/sludgevalk9.jpg

High_Revs_17
05-12-2006, 02:31 PM
Car tires aren't designed to lean/roll like a bike tire does in the turns...I hope it works out for you.

jcblitz
05-12-2006, 02:59 PM
Car tires aren't designed to lean/roll like a bike tire does in the turns...I hope it works out for you.

agreed. I can't see how that would work out well. It has to be so unstable around corners.

gottaducati
05-12-2006, 03:12 PM
cool bike..it looks like the Triumph rocket III
but whats with the car tires? dont cheap out on your rubbers, man. no bitch would appreciate that...

IrocRob
05-12-2006, 03:25 PM
I'll be adding a 205/60-R16 car tire to the rear of my Valkyrie soon, seems to be a pretty popular modification for Valkyries, Ride Characteristics aren't negatively effected, rear tires are also inexpensive this way.
Ken



Seems like an interesting idea, and I'm sure it'll be very
stable in a straight line. With the air pressure low enough,
the sidewalls should flex enough to keep the contact
patch pretty large. I'd be interested in seeing how well
that conversion works for you. Keep us updated.

High_Revs_17
05-12-2006, 03:47 PM
With the air pressure low enough, the sidewalls should flex enough to keep the contact patch pretty large.

Lower pressure might build up too much heat, and the contact patch can increase providing the sidewall doesn't become part of the contact patch.

NYCSTRIPES
05-12-2006, 04:10 PM
from the information I have received, the sidewall is never part of the contact patch.
Ken

High_Revs_17
05-12-2006, 04:28 PM
from the information I have received, the sidewall is never part of the contact patch.

Which make & model tire?

gottaducati
05-12-2006, 05:34 PM
from the information I have received, the sidewall is never part of the contact patch.
Ken

its your bike - put an airplane wing on it for all i know but when i look at my rear tire every inch of that shit has touched the street at some point judging by the way it is colored so i cant logically agree that the sidewall isnt gonna get involved somehow.

but then again what do i know, i have motorcycle tires on my bike.....:whistle:

IrocRob
05-12-2006, 05:47 PM
The sidewall of an automotive tire will not become part
of the contact patch when that tire is mounted on a
motorcycle. A motorcycle does not weigh enough,
nor does it place loads on the tires in the same way that
cars do. On a motorcycle, if the sidewall has become part
of the "contact patch", it's time to stand up, because you've crashed.:roflmao:

NYCSTRIPES
05-12-2006, 06:42 PM
Here is a website with more informaiton on the topic.
Ken
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

gottaducati
05-12-2006, 07:25 PM
Here is a website with more informaiton on the topic.
Ken
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

i have to admit, he made a very convincing argument but i think my bike will look ridiculous if i tried to slap a set of eagle f1's on her. :)

btw, where the fuck is this guy getting car tires for 90$

NYCSTRIPES
05-12-2006, 07:51 PM
check Mavis tires
http://www.mavistire.com/ProductCart/pc/_shopbysize.asp
205/60 r 16

Cakes206
05-13-2006, 12:28 PM
from the information I have received, the sidewall is never part of the contact patch.
Ken

Yea but car tires are flat treaded, bike tires are rounded. Theres a reason for that. It has to definitely change the steering characteristics. Unless its a drag bike.

IrocRob
05-13-2006, 12:45 PM
This is a quote from the website:

QUOTE - How does it handle?
I am happy with it. It is very smooth and stable at high
speeds, and for me at least, at very low speeds (full
deflection turns for instance) it is an improvement over
the motorcycle tire. Basically, I've found it to be superior
in all conditions.

There are two areas of difference in feel:
It requires active counter-steering to put the bike in a
corner. The Valkyrie has always required a firm hand, and
this is not significantly different. The difference is that on
the motorcycle tire, once the bike was stable in a corner,
driver input on the handlebars is not really needed. The
bike will stay in the turn unless power is applied or
removed, or the terrain/surface of the road changes. With
the car tire, the counter-steering input is required the
entire time the bike is in the corner. If it is released, the
bike will straighten up on its own. Those of you that push
the twisties and know how to drag pegs (really know how
to turn) will understand it right away.
UNQUOTE

Remember that this is a heavy cruiser, not a sportbike;
hard parts may start dragging at 25-30° of lean angle.
Sportbikes can acheive 40-45° of lean angle.

High_Revs_17
05-13-2006, 02:04 PM
I wonder how that tire reacts in a off-camber, decreasing radius turn.

NYCSTRIPES
05-13-2006, 02:20 PM
I will keep everyone posted

MPtotheFZ
05-14-2006, 10:00 AM
It probally works fine. With race cars on an oval track they are always adjusting the cambver of the outside tires to make the car turn easier and faster in the turns. And when your leaning your bike your putting camber on the tires. I mean its a crusier and i doubt you'll be doing heavy leaning in turns.

Another guy i know was bitchin about how much a rear tire for that Valk costs, so anything that works that saves you some money. Good luck with it!

FigNewTon
05-14-2006, 01:21 PM
Nice Ken...Good luck with it.

Cakes206
05-14-2006, 04:45 PM
It probally works fine. With race cars on an oval track they are always adjusting the cambver of the outside tires to make the car turn easier and faster in the turns. And when your leaning your bike your putting camber on the tires. I mean its a crusier and i doubt you'll be doing heavy leaning in turns.

Race cars are different, they have that option of adjusting the camber so that along with the indipendent suspension, the tire's full tread is flat on the ground when turning, hitting bumps, etc. Can't do that on a bike. Which is why we have to lean hence curved tires.

This is a great discussion btw.

NYCSTRIPES
05-14-2006, 05:18 PM
Granted the guys who like the mod are somewhat biased, there is some good information here. For my part, it's worth the $80 investment to give it a whirl. That said, I wouldn't be taking my girlfriend on the bike again until I am confident the bike handles correctly after making the mod.
If the car tire does not work out, I am out some precious saturday project time and $80. I have done far worse with $80 in my time. If it works out, it'll look pretty cool.
Ken
MORE INFOhttp://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/CarTire/home.htm

southjersey636
05-21-2006, 09:15 PM
from the look of those pics you can where its not hitting on the side so it looks like it would work. I mean overaul its a Valkyrie not a streetbike there throwing the tire on where your gonna be leaning it over alot more.