Dark Side for a Day: a Metzeler guy's thoughts on The Dark SideWritten by douglasvanb on 6/15/2011 at 09:45 pmIt's possible my bike provides a rougher ride than yours, Bart. I have custom
springs similar to Progressive Springs in the front with a heavier weight of oil
than most people use and there are after-market shocks in the rear. It gives it
more of a sport bike feel when I'm riding alone and a touring feel when I have a
passenger. If anyone is interested, I could probably root up links to the
springs, what oil weight I used, and I could take a peak to see what a PO
installed shock-wise in the rear.
Oh, and as we determined, Bart's seat is a whole INCH higher than my seat.
Seems someone shaved most of the padding out of mine. That will be fixed quite
soon. No wonder my knees always have felt cramped!
Cheers,
Douglas
--- In
ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "Bart" <bart.eleveld@...> wrote:
>
> Now that you mention it, Wade, I THINK I did feel a bit less kidney rattling
on my second ride using my own Darksider. Offsetting that was less rattling due
to Douglas's bike being tighter in suspension and bodywork. It didn't really
occur to me on the first ride with the Metzlers because I hadn't ridden this
road for several weeks and had forgotten where it lay on the rough/smooth
spectrum. I did notice some vibration in my back on Douglas's bike but not so
severe that I associated it with the tires. If there was a difference, it was
relatively minor and I imagine rear shocks could also play a role. I wonder if
the lower air pressure that I run in the car tire might not be the biggest
factor in small bump and roughness perception.
> Bart
>
> --- In
ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "Wade" <wbpc800@> wrote:
> >
> > Bart,
> >
> > I'm with you on the sight lines. Am a pretty conservative rider most of the
time. Appreciated your perspective.
> >
> > Some day I might like the Mick O Pegs. Have to admit that Tim looked pretty
comfortable on our ride last summer. But I agree with you in that there are
higher priorities for the money right now.
> >
> > Douglas,
> >
> > What rain and gravel I have been in I have been very well satisfied with the
Avon. Not sure I am the best to evaluate it but FWIW, it has not shown to be
unstable at all for me. (Except the very slightest notice of freeway rain
groves. Really don't notice it any more.)
> >
> > To the both of you.
> >
> > There is only one thing that surprised me about your reports, or perhaps I
missed it. You didn't mention the smoothness of the ride. That is one of the
things I like the best. It is smoother and quieter than the MC tire in my
experience. This is something I really like and expected perhaps a comment along
those lines.
> >
> > Wade
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In
ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "Bart" <bart.eleveld@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Anyway, thanks Douglas for participating in the swap. I think it was
instructional for us both, and hopefully for the readers as well.
> > >
> > > Bart
> > >
> > >
> >
>