Had to say goodbye to my 99RSV

[Chaharly]

Well I had the chance to say goodbye to my girl one last time before they take her tomorrow. She was sitting on her sidestand, and I had dad hold her up so I could shake the bike back and fourth one last time to try and figure out what went wrong. I noticed the back tire was extreemly squishy like it had only 15 or so PSI in it. Could I have possibly picked up a leak on the ride and hitting an uneven patch of road at high speed (70)mph had cause my accident? I stupidly didnt check the tire pressure before I left, but I also hit 110mph on it that day and didnt have any trouble. Everything else seemed tight which makes me a little more confident in my mechanic skills again.

 

I think from now on I'm going to run bike tires specifically for the fact that the sidewalls on bike tires will just generally hold up alot better if the tire goes flat. A day before my accident my dad, while in texas going down the interstate at 70 with no helmet had his tire go almost completely flat while puling a trailer.. He said he didnt even notice, the only thing he noticed was the smell. I would really hate to say anything against Darksiding though, because I did only get one ride in. I probably wont go darkside again... I guess i'll just have to change my back tire every 6K miles.....

 

Unrelated note, although the bike was stuck in 5th (because the footpeg and the shifter became one piece) I pulled in the clutch, kicked the kickstand up and to my surprise she turned over. I tried pulling the choke, but thats when I realized the choke levers had popped off and It seemed froze up. I think it is still in riding shape honestly, so maybe the insurance will make a little money back on it, which I hope they do. Dairyland has treated me very well on this and they are extremely polite, kind people to work with.

 

Just needed to vent for a little while tonight! I'm sure gonna miss my good friend of 2 years....

[DarkLeftArm]

Dang, dude. Sounds like it was a serious accident. Hope you're okay?

 

As far as tires go, I just changed out my first set of E3 Dunlops. 17k miles and they still had 3/32" of tread left. And I'm a big guy. I go about 280# and Susan isn't a twig. I know we are WAY over the recommended weight when we go 2 up. And that's most of the time.

I'm VERY picky about tire pressure though. I check them with a gauge every time I ride.

 

So... You gonna find another Royal Star?

[Chaharly]

Dang, dude. Sounds like it was a serious accident. Hope you're okay?

 

As far as tires go, I just changed out my first set of E3 Dunlops. 17k miles and they still had 3/32" of tread left. And I'm a big guy. I go about 280# and Susan isn't a twig. I know we are WAY over the recommended weight when we go 2 up. And that's most of the time.

I'm VERY picky about tire pressure though. I check them with a gauge every time I ride.

 

So... You gonna find another Royal Star?

 

I've actually got a post with my xrays on here somewhere. Broke a couple bones in my wrist, and alot of bleeding in my elbow. That was January 28th and I honestly couldnt feel better.

 

As for the Royal Star, no I'm not going to get one of those again...

 

I'm going to get an 89 Venture Royale I really cant see myself owning anything other than a venture at the moment. I figure I'll make the bank happier with a cheaper bike and I think I prefer the solid mount fairing a little more than the Batwing.

[DarkLeftArm]

Cool.

Glad you're doing well. Bike wrecks suck from any perspective.

Good choice of replacement, too.

[Zzyzx]

WOW, Sorry to hear about the accident and hope your recovery goes well.

Sorry about the loss of your 99-RSV as well.

Same model as I have and love.

Hope you find the ride you want soon.

[Chaharly]

I loved mine too. I put so much work in it I was really hoping to go a hundred thousand more miles on it

[Yammer Dan]

Had to turn loose of a few of them. It ain't easy. But there is the next one to look forward to....

[jjven68]

Hey I am sorry about your accident...I know it was a year ago, so by now I am sure you are well and you are probably up and running with your "New" '89 one.

 

I,m looking to turn to the Darkside with a 99 Venture and I was wondering what car tires you guys recommend.

I live in Tampa and I do a lot of highway driving, so cornering is definitely no much of my worries.

 

So far these are my choices.

Please feel free to opine...

 

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?pc=12447&ar=80&rd=15&cs=165

http://www.onlinetires.com/products/vehicle/tires/nexen/165%252F80-15+nexen+sb802+87t.html

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?ra=searchTiresBySize.do&fl=&pc=10072&counter=0&ar=80&rd=15&cs=165

 

 

Thanks!

Edited February 9, 2016 by jjven68

[Chaharly]

Hey I am sorry about your accident...I know it was a year ago, so by now I am sure you are well and you are probably up and running with your "New" '89 one.

 

I,m looking to turn to the Darkside with a 99 Venture and I was wondering what car tires you guys recommend.

I live in Tampa and I do a lot of highway driving, so cornering is definitely no much of my worries.

 

So far these are my choices.

Please feel free to opine...

 

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?pc=12447&ar=80&rd=15&cs=165

http://www.onlinetires.com/products/vehicle/tires/nexen/165%252F80-15+nexen+sb802+87t.html

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?ra=searchTiresBySize.do&fl=&pc=10072&counter=0&ar=80&rd=15&cs=165

 

 

Thanks!

 

Well, we never did manage to figure out exactly what caused the crash. It could've been the new dog bones I installed, or possibly something on reassembly I put together wrong. But I couldn't find or feel any loose parts on the bike. The only thing that I could find was about a week or two after the crash I had my dad sit on the bike so I could give it a shake to find anything loose and I found that the only thing out of the ordinary was the tire on the back was low enough to almost be flat.

 

That being said, my Darksiding days are over, I was happy with how the bike ran and performed with the tire on, but I'm assuming the day of the wreck my slow leak had probably only left 28lbs in the tire. Cornering, IMHO, isn't the problem with the car tires. I think what it is is really checking the tire pressure before and during every ride. The side wall is much softer than a bike tire, and I cant help but blame the accident on my low pressure.

 

It was my first and only highway test run on that bike with the Darkside tire. So I don't think I'd recommend any car tire. The one that I used is the Nexen (second link down) but again, I'd bike the bullet and get the bike tire. Trying to save myself a few bucks cost me about $4800 (thank god for health insurance) and lets not forget the 5000 that was Venture. And even being down that much cash I still consider myself lucky because it could've been much much worse

[Great White]

I know many guys run car tires and have never had an issue.

 

But I can't bring myself to try one. The incompatibility of the bead seat is just too much of a question mark for me.

 

 

More power to those who use 'em. I just can't square it away in my own head enough to "risk" it.

[jakester]

I remember when you had your accident, when they are yours, they are very personal. About the bike, There are many, many more bikes out there waiting for you to take them on that nice country road in the early spring, watching the trees bud out and the flowers bloom. There are many more rides left to take from here.

Best of luck

Bill

[Chaharly]

I know many guys run car tires and have never had an issue.

 

But I can't bring myself to try one. The incompatibility of the bead seat is just too much of a question mark for me.

 

 

More power to those who use 'em. I just can't square it away in my own head enough to "risk" it.

 

I feel much the same way now. I know many, many people have had no problem running car tires, I just don't know what else could've caused my death wobble like that

 

I remember when you had your accident, when they are yours, they are very personal. About the bike, There are many, many more bikes out there waiting for you to take them on that nice country road in the early spring, watching the trees bud out and the flowers bloom. There are many more rides left to take from here.

Best of luck

Bill

 

It is very personal Jakester, I feel like I lost a close personal friend. I did however, over the summer redeem myself. I bought my 88 and road it to California, now I'm just waiting for the snow to thaw so I can get the old girl out and get the wind in my hair again! Of course, that's only if @Flyinfool will let me

[SilvrT]

I know many guys run car tires and have never had an issue.

 

But I can't bring myself to try one. The incompatibility of the bead seat is just too much of a question mark for me.

 

 

More power to those who use 'em. I just can't square it away in my own head enough to "risk" it.

 

I can't speak for the RSV; however, I ran a C/T on my Wing and now run one on my VIc. Scraping the boards or footpegs with full confidence even riding 2-up. Took me quite a while to come to the decision of trying it. Very glad I did.

 

FWIW, bike sat all winter (last ride was sometime mid October) and the C/T never lost a bit of air yet my front tire dropped 3 lbs.

[videoarizona]

CJ, while riding a 250cc Yamaha DS6C from New Hampshire to Arizona, I had a rear tire go flat outside of Mineola Texas. The wonderful way the town took care of me is another story (being a serviceman heading for new duty station). But that's another story. The only indication I had was I found myself slowing down, then the rear end started to sashay down the road.... I pulled over and rear was flat. That was the only indication I had the tire was flat.

 

Sorry to hear about RSV.... But do think you will thoroughly enjoy the VR!!

[Chaharly]

They certainly are different than the RSV but I love my VR. My buddies who all own Harley's and Shadows and sport bikes give me crap for having such a big old bike, but when I hop on they say it fits me perfectly. Especially when I leave them in the dust. That's the thing that bothers me though, if the tire would've blown or just went flat it would've made a lot of sense to me, but immediately after my wreck I kicked the back tire and found that it had quite a bit of air in it.

 

Mom and dad have had a couple of GW tires blow while pulling trailers and they haven't had any problems. I don't know why I went down though

[Great White]

I can't speak for the RSV; however, I ran a C/T on my Wing and now run one on my VIc. Scraping the boards or footpegs with full confidence even riding 2-up. Took me quite a while to come to the decision of trying it. Very glad I did.

 

FWIW, bike sat all winter (last ride was sometime mid October) and the C/T never lost a bit of air yet my front tire dropped 3 lbs.

 

As i said, more power to those that run a car tire on a motorcycle rim. I just can't get it squared away in my head knowing what i know so I won't use them.

 

 

Glad you're happy with them, its just not for me.

[videoarizona]

They certainly are different than the RSV but I love my VR. My buddies who all own Harley's and Shadows and sport bikes give me crap for having such a big old bike, but when I hop on they say it fits me perfectly. Especially when I leave them in the dust. That's the thing that bothers me though, if the tire would've blown or just went flat it would've made a lot of sense to me, but immediately after my wreck I kicked the back tire and found that it had quite a bit of air in it.

 

 

Agreed. Doesn't sound like the tire caused the fall. But what else could have?

Agreed also about riding the VR. My buddy who rides an HD Ultra Classic is impressed by how fast my 89 is.

Edited February 10, 2016 by videoarizona
Spelling

[SilvrT]

As i said, more power to those that run a car tire on a motorcycle rim. I just can't get it squared away in my head knowing what i know so I won't use them.

 

 

Glad you're happy with them, its just not for me.

 

Wasn't tryin to convince you (or anyone) otherwise ... just stating how I feel about them. There's nothing wrong with running an MC tire ... heck, I didn't even know about putting car tires on a bike until quite some time after I joined this forum.

 

Took me a couple years reading and researching about it and a move to a Wing before I "bit the bullet" so to speak.

[Chaharly]

Agreed. Doesn't sound like the tire caused the fall. But what else could have?

Agreed also about riding the VR. My buddy who rides an HD Ultra Classic is impressed by how fast my 89 is.

 

 

Plus with all of the similar Harleys and Goldwings running around we get a bit of a unique feeling zooming by on these (getting to be) rare bikes!

[Hummingbird]

but I also hit 110mph on it that day and didnt have any trouble

 

playing devils advocate, just what is the speed limit in your area ?

[Chaharly]

Well in Germany, on the Audubon there really is no speed limit....

 

However...... it may have been significantly less than 110 here in Nebraska

 

60 maybe 55

[Hummingbird]

Well in Germany, on the Audubon there really is no speed limit....

 

However...... it may have been significantly less than 110 here in Nebraska

 

60 maybe 55

 

well, perhaps because of some twist of fate - you did have an accident but remained one lucky fella.

hope you healed up ok.

I run ct's on my '09' Venture but it's a trike

[Chaharly]

Yeah I suppose the extra wheel and car rim would make alot of difference on the safety side of it.

 

How do you like the rsv as a trike?