Tires

[Skeldog]

Just got a 1982 GL 1100. have it running and soon hope to have it road ready. tires OK right now but just womdering if anyone runs a car tire on the back. last bike I had was a Valkyrie an quite a few of the folks were running them and seemed to like them. not interested in running over the speed limit these days though on the Valk it was hard to stay off the throttle/ just seems like the tires sure ran a lot longer than the bike tire

[nwkwinger]

This is called Dark Siding. It's a subject that draws long, argumentative discussions. Yes it's done. Some like it, some don't, some won't ever try it. Basically, it's up to you. One of the channels on You Tube where someone did this is "Chris Caliente". He did this to his newer GL1800 and really likes it. I've seen other You Tube videos where people didn't like it. Again, I think it's a personal decision. As for me, I plan to try this someday on my GL1100.

[Skeldog]

sorry to pick a sore there :<} I should have thought. I understand. that's like asking what's the best oil. I know there are so many opinions it's a stupid question. after I posted I ran across an add for some kind of a voltage limiter on the site that said it's for the temp gage and gas gage. claimed that causes them to not work if bad. that got me to thinking. this one when I first rode it they were not working but after 10 miles or so they began to register. I'm wondering if that could be the problem and if so where it might be located. hat should be a more legitimate question to ask.

[Solo So Long]

Check FortNine on YouTube. He did a pretty scientific study of Dark Siding.

For me, I'll take real motorcycle tires. Other riders love Dark Siding, and have valid reasons for doing so.

[Overdog]

Options are very limited for the 1100...not enough width in the swingarm. Double Dark is when they run a car tire in the rear and a rear motorcycle tire up front. I've done this on my 83 1100. I have a Bridgestone Battleax BT-45 120/90 rear tire on the front. After 8000+ miles it still looks new.

[newday777]

The problem will be finding a ct narrow enough to fit in the 1100 swingarm. The driveshaft is too close to the stock MC tire.

[newday777]

And then the double shocks add too much play in the rear end. Get a 1800 for the single sided swingarm which is far better suited for the ds.

[Maz]

sorry to pick a sore there :<} I should have thought. I understand. that's like asking what's the best oil. I know there are so many opinions it's a stupid question. after I posted I ran across an add for some kind of a voltage limiter on the site that said it's for the temp gage and gas gage. claimed that causes them to not work if bad. that got me to thinking. this one when I first rode it they were not working but after 10 miles or so they began to register. I'm wondering if that could be the problem and if so where it might be located. hat should be a more legitimate question to ask.

It's the 7v regulator. Yes, if it goes bad both the fuel and temp gauges are affected. It should be behind the left side of the false tank. WingAdmin has had new ones manufactured and they are available from this site.
Maz

[newday777]

sorry to pick a sore there :<} I should have thought. I understand. that's like asking what's the best oil. I know there are so many opinions it's a stupid question. after I posted I ran across an add for some kind of a voltage limiter on the site that said it's for the temp gage and gas gage. claimed that causes them to not work if bad. that got me to thinking. this one when I first rode it they were not working but after 10 miles or so they began to register. I'm wondering if that could be the problem and if so where it might be located. hat should be a more legitimate question to ask.

It's the 7v regulator. Yes, if it goes bad both the fuel and temp gauges are affected. It should be behind the left side of the false tank. WingAdmin has had new ones manufactured and they are available from this site.
Maz

Maz
Wrong location of the 7 volt regulator.... Behind the gauge cluster.

[Maz]

sorry to pick a sore there :<} I should have thought. I understand. that's like asking what's the best oil. I know there are so many opinions it's a stupid question. after I posted I ran across an add for some kind of a voltage limiter on the site that said it's for the temp gage and gas gage. claimed that causes them to not work if bad. that got me to thinking. this one when I first rode it they were not working but after 10 miles or so they began to register. I'm wondering if that could be the problem and if so where it might be located. hat should be a more legitimate question to ask.

It's the 7v regulator. Yes, if it goes bad both the fuel and temp gauges are affected. It should be behind the left side of the false tank. WingAdmin has had new ones manufactured and they are available from this site.
Maz

Maz
Wrong location of the 7 volt regulator.... Behind the gauge cluster.

D'oh! I'm thinking of my '75 GL1000. My mistake.

Maz

[Skeldog]

thanks on the voltage tip. I checked the connection on the fuel float connector and I think it was the culprit on the gage. the temp may be just slow to warm up. possibly the thermostat was sticking open. it does work now

[bigbyrd4]

I used to ride a "96 Suzuki Intruder 1400 and I went darkside on it a few years ago. I loved it!!!

I am going to go darkside on my 1500 as soon as i can get some information on tire sizes. Most of the forums I have found are very outdated.

I am especially interested in going double darkside. Everyone that I can find that has done it loves it.

I used to ride pretty aggressively, but now that I am older and on a bike that weight probably 1.5 times what the Suzuki weighs I just like to take it easy and enjoy the ride. I never noticed any difference between the MC tire and the CT. My son is riding the Intruder now and he was a little hesitant at first with the CT, but after he rode it a while he was hooked.

[AZgl1800]

I used to ride a "96 Suzuki Intruder 1400 and I went darkside on it a few years ago. I loved it!!!

I am going to go darkside on my 1500 as soon as i can get some information on tire sizes. Most of the forums I have found are very outdated.

I am especially interested in going double darkside. Everyone that I can find that has done it loves it.

I used to ride pretty aggressively, but now that I am older and on a bike that weight probably 1.5 times what the Suzuki weighs I just like to take it easy and enjoy the ride. I never noticed any difference between the MC tire and the CT. My son is riding the Intruder now and he was a little hesitant at first with the CT, but after he rode it a while he was hooked.

you might want to consider this tire size, slightly shorter, but will fit the rear suspension arm without rubbing.

https://tiresize.com/tiresizes/175-60R16.htm

The winter tread versions are awesome.

[bigbyrd4]

looking at the tire calculator, the 175/60 tire is 24.3 inches diameter and the 175/75 tire is 26.3 inches.

I'm pretty sure i read somewhere that the MC tire is 26 inches.

I don't want to mess with the ratios too much and would rather keep the diameters as close as i can.

thanks for the info, though.

[newday777]

looking at the tire calculator, the 175/60 tire is 24.3 inches diameter and the 175/75 tire is 26.3 inches.

I'm pretty sure i read somewhere that the MC tire is 26 inches.

I don't want to mess with the ratios too much and would rather keep the diameters as close as i can.

thanks for the info, though.

The problem is finding a 175/75-16 ct today. 10 years ago they were available here in the states but have since been discontinued. I can tell you on the 1500 you need to use a very stiff sidewall ct or you will be wandering greatly on grooved surface roads. The 1500 rear suspension is not ct friendly as there is way too much play. I had 17,000 miles out of the 1st ct on my 99SE and had several pucker moments in tank slappers with a 4 ply sidewall ct. The next tire was a 6 ply sidewall 175/75-16 Vredestien Comtract, designed for the taxis in Europe(discontinued sales in USA). I put 10,000 miles on it before the SE got the front end totaled, then put it on a 99 Aspencade I bought with only 17,500 miles on the bike so it wasn't a matter of worn bushings. This tire also had severe tank slappers in highway corner speeds. I did a test putting the other wheel back on with the motorcycle tire and the tank slapper disappeared on the Aspencade.
My suggestion to you is if you want to go to thr darkside is wait until you get an 1800 instead of trying it on your 1500. The 1800 has a far better suspension for going darkside. I'm just passing 125,000 miles of darkside on my 08 and can say from experience you will have handling problems on any 2 shock swingarm. No handling problems on the single shock, single sided swingarm of the 1800 wing. Plus there is room to use available tires on the market. Don't waste your time, money and handling safety doing it on a 1500. I am an avid supporter of ds on the 1800 wing.
I have also riden a friend's gl1200 that had the gl1500 final drive and wheel conversion with an Austone ct mounted that also had the handling problems like both my 1500s had.