Tire time

v4_jeff · March 30, 2015, 04:04:52 PM

Another 3000ish miles, another spent rear IRC 920 Wild Flare. There may be a bit of life left but it definitely won't make it through MOOTMaG. I was thinking that maybe I'd spring for some real tires this time. The IRCs have treated me right in the corners and bike night lots but the DX hauls are tearing through them quicker than I'd like. My research has led me to the Michellin Commander II and its sport-touring-esque dual compound (harder compound center rib, softer compound shoulders). Anyone tried these things? Anyone have suggestions of something that might work better? Keep in mind that I tend to ride this thing like a sport bike...

While I've considered a darkside setup, I'm still shying away this time. Maybe I can get someone to lend me a test ride to convince me for the next time around... I hear there's some kind of meet coming up...

hootmon · March 30, 2015, 05:37:28 PM

Jeff...

Here is my 2cents..

I am running the Commander II on the back of my Magna now..
I like it 90 % of the time...
When do I NOT like it?? When the road is wet.. I've had it slip on me in corners several times...

I am going back to a Metz my next go round..

As for the dark side... I loved them.. period..

I did read a post that you are NOT supposed to run Car tires on 15" rims though (The post was NOT anti-car tire).. The reason.. There is a size difference between a 15" car rim and a 15" Motorcycle rim.. I believe this is the reason I needed 115# of air to seat the bead on multiple car tires.. This added continuous stress in the bead area does not seem like a good idea.. I guess if you were willing to purchase a used rear wheel and knew a good machinist that could cut down the bead area on the rim to the car rim diameter, then this would be a good option..

That's why I am going with a Metz.. It's too much money for the tire, but the best tire I've tried...

Now for the front.. I've run both the Pilot 3 and now the Pilot 4 (it is a shorter tire and throws your speedo off).. It is fabulous on dry and wet and last just as long as anything else..

If they made a Pilot 3/4 that would work on the rear, I'd go for it in a second..

Hope it helps...

hop along · March 31, 2015, 08:32:18 AM

Hi Jeff
FWIW I started using the Dunlop Elite 3 rear-I believe after Mike's suggestion. Great mileage, good wet use, but I've found with the stock size front tire you lose the sportiness-it's just resistant to lean in. BTW I'm on 20,000 rear tire miles and no sign of slowing down. Best thing for mileage this side of darksiding as far as I'm concerned.

So I now am running an ME880 front in a 120/70 size instead of the stock 120/80. The sportiness has returned with the shorter profile. It looks funny with a big gap to the fender, and yes the speedo is off. But I'm happy with the setup-enough so that I just ordered a new front from Motorcycle Superstore-the only source I found for that size/type front.

Hope that helps
Scott

v4_jeff · March 31, 2015, 08:45:08 AM

Thanks Hoot, good to know and something I'll have to consider. I've been known to ride in the rain a bit. https://youtu.be/2fuJwfoMj8g

Scott, I've never ridden a Dunlop I've liked. I don't know what it is about them but every one I've tried has clashed with my riding style. I just stay away from them now. Not to say that they're bad tires, they're just not for me.

I really wish I could fit a proper sport touring tire on this thing. I love the Pilot 3 set I have on the Versys. Maybe it's time to revisit the CBR rim conversion, but that's not gonna happen soon enough to affect this purchase.

TLRam1 · March 31, 2015, 02:05:41 PM

Riding with wet boots, is that suppose to help keep the weight low.

v4_jeff · April 07, 2015, 06:23:00 PM

Quote from: TLRam1 on March 31, 2015, 02:05:41 PM
Riding with wet boots, is that suppose to help keep the weight low.

haha... Weight was the least of my worries that day. That was on the ride home from MMaG '14... I got a dang fine plate of ribs out of it though. Loves me some Gristmill!

hootmon · April 07, 2015, 07:01:05 PM

I've decided to try a Perelli Night Dragon on the back of the Magna, soon..
I was going to go with a Metz (best M/C tire I've tried yet)..
I'll let you know what I think, Once I have some miles on it..

Info Video

TLRam1 · April 07, 2015, 09:45:57 PM

Gristmill DOES have good ribs!

v4_jeff · April 25, 2015, 01:05:30 PM

Well after doing a final shop on tires, I chickened out and got another set of IRC 920 Wild Flares, this time in stock size (previous set were both 90 sidewalls instead of the stock 80). I know them, I know they work for my riding style, and the price is so far below the others I just couldn't justify the more expensive options.

Plus, and I know this might not help my popularity around here, I'll likely put the Magna up for sale when I return home from MOOTMaG. With the Zero as my primary urban basher and the g/f more comfortable on the baby sport tourer, the Magna isn't seeing enough action to keep the carbs clear. Next week I'll be tearing into them to clean the idle needles for the second time this year and the third time in two years just to get it to be rideable. Anyway, with a sale in the near future, didnt see the sense in blowing the extra dollars for potential tire mileage that I wouldn't be using.

If anyone's interested in taking the beast off my hands, I'll happily offer test rides at MOOTMaG!

TLRam1 · April 26, 2015, 04:42:02 AM

Anyone remember a V4 Jeff? Who is V4 Jeff, once upon a time.......

Don't stop coming around just because you don't have a Magna Jeff, you know better than that.

ripster31 · May 16, 2015, 06:38:45 PM

I use the IRC Wildfire on both the front and rear. I put a lot of miles a year on my bike, and they seem to last me most of the year as long as I keep the tire pressure 36 psi in the front and 41 psi in the rear. Im into my 2nd oil change with the tires and they are only half worn.

Hoss83 · May 17, 2015, 12:00:10 AM

Quote from: v4_jeff on March 31, 2015, 08:45:08 AM
Thanks Hoot, good to know and something I'll have to consider. I've been known to ride in the rain a bit. https://youtu.be/2fuJwfoMj8g

Scott, I've never ridden a Dunlop I've liked. I don't know what it is about them but every one I've tried has clashed with my riding style. I just stay away from them now. Not to say that they're bad tires, they're just not for me.

I really wish I could fit a proper sport touring tire on this thing. I love the Pilot 3 set I have on the Versys. Maybe it's time to revisit the CBR rim conversion, but that's not gonna happen soon enough to affect this purchase.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this CBR rim conversion or at least where the info is.
I've done the Kosman widening and also 17" wheel size on my V65 extremely happy with the results.

TLRam1 · May 17, 2015, 02:55:12 AM

Search this guys (Chokse) posts for the CBR600 conversion, he did a nice custom build on his Magna.

http://www.magnaownersoftexas.com/forums/index.php/topic,4499.0.html

v4_jeff · May 17, 2015, 09:14:36 PM

That's the one, yah. I'd love to use the VFR rims and do a single sided swing arm conversion too, but I'm not that patient. Swapping front ends and fabricating rear spacers I could probably handle...