GL1200 darkside question

[Yosemite Sam]

Gotta a question, hoping I can get some good advice here...

I'm thinking of going darkside on my 85 GL1200 Interstate, but searching the internet and this forum there's not a whole lot of specific info. Some info I read says that some had to grind their rims a bit to get a good seal, and some say they didn't but I wasn't clear on what brand and size tire they used.

My reading tells me that the 15" rim on the GL1200 is the trickiest to put a car tire on, but like I said the ones who did it successflully, I wasn't clear on the specific tire.

So, as mentioned earlier, I'm hoping to get some up to date and specific info....if you put car tires on your GL1200 (with 15" rim), what tire and size is it?

Thanks for your help!!!!

[Mooseman]

Here you go. Check out this site. Gives brands and sizes....
http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/t439 ... g-darkside

[Akron331pres]

Please read the article in the JULY 2012 Rider magazine. You may change your mind about putting a car tire on a bike.

[Ratslayer]

I am trying to find an appropriate CT for my 1200 as well. I have been running a Michelin PA 3 ZP 195/55 R16 @ 32 psi on my 1800 and have about 17,000 miles on just this year. Lots of research went into choosing that one. I hared comments about the Kumos having a shoulder bump to them as you leaned. Not so with the PA 3, you can't tell it isn't a MC tire. My service guy rode it right after I put it on and totally skeptical was shocked at how well it did. He fully expected to find that shoulder bump but nope. He was impressed. My front is a Bridgestone Battleax BT 45 130/70 R18 MC @ 38. The great news is that they both still look brand new. My E3's wore out in 6,000 and cupped so bad I thought I was riding on mud grips when I went into a corner. IT'S ALL GONE!! I know the 1200 has a narrower frame area and enen the stock E3's were a ****-bear to get on the rear.

Just my 2 cents

[gervais]

well
i am not sure one bit that a vehicule tire can be installed on a motorcycle,,
i would like to see pictures after the install,
how the tire fits on the shoulder of the rim???

any pictures!

thanks
gervais
i have a 1984 Aspencade

[Rednaxs60]

Had a CT on my '08 1800 that I just sold, put some 8000 Km on it and no noticeable wear and the ride quality was good. Lots of GWs with a CT installed, other makes as well. There is a difference but once you get use to this, you will never notice it. I have HD friends who followed me for two years and tried to find something wrong but could not. A fellow here on the island who does the IBA rides uses a CT when on these rides, but changes back to an MT when in town, easier to not explain the rationale for having a CT installed.

Have a spare rear rim for my '85 LTD now and intend to install a CT on it. Be great for touring.

Worst case is you try the CT and don't like it, go back to an MT. I hearken this issue to the same as pulling a trailer, not recommended by any OEM, go figure - but it is done.

Cheers

[gervais]

well
i checked for the Nexen SB802 165/80r15 and the Khumo Power Star 758 : i checked their prices via Internet and in comparaison Dunlop D404 G would be less $ for me but maybe tomorrow i will make 2-3 phone calls if i can find it here.

i love the Khumo design and the nexen have more grip in bad asphalt as we have here.

i need 2 tires for my 1984,

gef in a rural zone

[Rednaxs60]

Looked at the profiles of the two tires. Like the Nexen SB802 best.

[gervais]

well
they are sure rare around these tires,

i maybe forced to buy Shinko finally

Gef

[Rednaxs60]

I have Michelin Commander II on my '85 LTD here in Victoria, got them from Fortnine. Have 23K Kms on them and just around 50% gone. Have kept these at 40 PSI. Will get at least 25K Kms and more.

Have ordered Shinko Tourmaster tires for the bike in Ontario. No sense in tempting fate when I come across Canada in June. Also use Ride On Tire Sealant and Balancing formula instead of weights. Have also tried Counter Act beads but prefer the Ride On formula. I think these new balancing technologies are better for the tires because of the continual balancing to compensate for tire wear.

If the Shinko tires work well, will put them on the bike here in Victoria.

Cheers

[Andy Cote]

While I never got to the point of darkside on my 1200 and can not offer real results as you requested, I did some research as you have. The difference in bead diameter on the 15" CT vs the 15" MT is only a few millimeters but has caused some folks trouble getting the bead to set. There are a few stories about using way too much air pressure and subsequent wheel failure during mounting. NOT GOOD!

While some have talked about machining the bead area others have been fine doing nothing or just polishing the bead area with Scotch Brite, using plenty of tire mount lubricant and leaving the mounted wheel/tire in the direct sun for a while at a slightly higher seating pressure.

Another solution is to change to a 16" wheel. There are web instructions on converting to the GL1500 final drive and wheel. The final drive ratio on the 1500 in combination with an Austone Taxi tire will reduce your RPM from stock so a wee bit more throttle may be necessary on start.

[brianinpa]

I have a Classic 165/80R-15 on the rear of my 87 Interstate. Before that, it was on the rear of my 81 1100 and before that, it was on the rear of my 84 Standard. I think I paid somewhere near $60 for the tire. All totaled, I have just over 11,000 miles on the tire right now and I will probably get at least another 11,000 miles out of it.

Yes, I had to mill the rim to get it to fit... NO you do not need to do that. You either need to mill the rim or use about 80 to 90 psi of air to get the bead to seat.
This is a stock 1200 Rim:

Stock 1200 Rim

This is what I did to it:

Milled Rim

This is what it looks like inflated:

Inflated Stopped

The one and only downfall to taking a 1200 to the Darkside... the selection of tires available in the 165/80R-15 size, but that's my opinion and as these threads always show, everyone has an opinion on the subject of the Darkside.

[gervais]

well
i am not sure i would gring my wheel here,it is to touchey job to do ,yes a good application of "tire grease" will do the job.

yes there are not much a selection of tires of this size:
Yokohama Avid Touring-S
Federal SS657 165/80 TR-15 ,,,,,,,,i never saw this TR classifcation before ???

i will no go at changing my rear wheel also,there are no parts around here for me doing it anyway.

thanks a lot for your pictures also,i continue my search for a tire around here in my village but man they are rare .

Gervais.

[gervais]

Ernest,
how much would you pay in BC for a Nexen SB802 or a Khumo Power Star 758??
i am curious to see the difference with me here,

i have found also the
Yokohama Avid Touring -S
Federal SS657 ,165/80TR15 and i never heard of TR15 tires???

i am seriously thinking about switching at the Nexen at the rear and a new Dunlop 404 in the front

Hi Andy Cote from Maine,,i am near Fort Kent,Maine

[Andy Cote]

Hi Andy Cote from Maine,,i am near Fort Kent,Maine

Fort Kent. Only a day away from me! Just kidding.

I do have a GL1500 rear end, swing arm, tire and wheel setup for sale if you decide to change to a 16" setup.

[Ohara]

I see that Wall Mart.com has the Nixen 165 80R 15 SB802 tire on for $60.00.You can order one on line and pick it up at your closest Wall Mart. You will have to pick it up in the U.S. If you are close to the U.S. border this may be your least expensive route to the dark side...

[gervais]

well
i am trying to find someone here near my location,in Northern Maine

i am living near Fort Kent but i dont have a passport yet to cross that border,,

gervais

[gervais]

Hi Andy Cote from Maine,,i am near Fort Kent,Maine

Fort Kent. Only a day away from me! Just kidding.

I do have a GL1500 rear end, swing arm, tire and wheel setup for sale if you decide to change to a 16" setup.

well Andy
i will wait later this spring,
if someone cross the border here and can carry me one,

here at wall mart they cannot order one from the states,,,,,,what a stupidity!!!!!

gervais

[blackbird]

The question I have had for sometime regarding car tires on bikes, is "What happens in a major accident and the insurance companies decide that YOU have put a non-standard tire on a motorcycle"? I'm not sure this has been tested in court yet, but I could see the Insurance industry balking at paying your bills, or covering any claims for you or against you.

[Rednaxs60]

Always an issue. Same could be asked about having an accident while towing a trailer - owner's manuals do not recommend trailer use, and as such all trailer towing parts/items are aftermarket. The forums do not get as animated when asked about motorcycle trailer recommendations.

I have not read where a CT is not recommended in the owner's manual, but the OEMs do mention that use of tires other than those listed in the owner's manual may adversely affect handling. The owner's manual for my '85 LTD only lists Dunlop tires.

What about exceeding the GVW of the bike? See this all the time considering that the leeway between the bike weight and the GVW is only about 400 or so pounds. For my '85 LTD this is about 385 pounds. Motorcycle tire rating for each bike is based on this GVW rating. A CT install cannot change this GVW rating.

I have read of people south of the border getting a letter from their insurance broker regarding this issue.

Cheers

[blackbird]

Excellent points, and considerations for all of us.

[jsphs]

Hi all, I just acquired an ‘84 Aspencade that had a pair of weather cracked Metzler’s on it.
I wanted to try the Darkside and ended up going all the way with a double dark side setup.
I went with the Nexen SB802 165/80R15 87T for the rear simply cause it was the first one I found on ebay and I’ve heard it mentioned on the forums.
I decided on the Shinko 230 Tour Master 130/90-16 V66 rear tire for the front. I went with the Shinko because the specs on their website showed a physical size that should fit without problems under my fender and in my forks.
I’m running 40psi on the back and 36 in the front.
The bike feels planted and solid, I’ve got about 1000km’s on so far.
I mounted the tires myself with tire spoons, no problem getting them on the rim.
The front tire beat set pretty much like normal.
The rear tire took a little more effort to seat, probably near 100psi, try, try and try again. Each time it was the area opposite of the valve that wouldn’t set on one side.
I did not balance the back or the front I believe even balanced tires will get their balance thrown off in time anyhow. So far I’m not finding any problems. I have always used balance beads on other bikes and can always add them here if I feel the need.

[DaRamblerman]

I have tried like the dickens to get my Nexen SB802 to mount on the rear. It will not seat. What did you do to get it seated?? 87 GL1200 Aspy.

[Rambozo]

Starting fluid and a match?

Sometimes a ratchet strap around the outside can do the trick.

[DaRamblerman]

The problem Rambozo is getting the Nexen bead over the bead hump in the cycle rim. The car tire is slightly smaller than cycle tire.