I have had it with my dunlops..

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Dec 10, 2012 | 05:57 PM

#11

Jackie Paper

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Joined: Mar 2010

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From: Honah Lee

Riding on freshly grooved concrete sucks with Metzlers , Dunlops and Michelin because I have had all three. Have to admit it went at the Dunlop like the erasure on a first grader. However the stock 17" Dunlop for a Deuce is close to a race tire soft spec. Tell you what else it does, it will get up in the drive belt and will take a few years but it will grind the chrome right on down to the soft aluminum on the drive pulley. I put about 17K in the last few years driving on in back and forth to work.

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 10, 2012 at 06:01 PM.

Dec 10, 2012 | 06:08 PM

#12

DynaJ

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Joined: May 2011

Posts: 1,240

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From: lancaster,ca

What is the biggest tire I can run? I know that I can barely get my finger between the rear tire and the left side of the fender..

Dec 10, 2012 | 06:43 PM

#13

back again

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Joined: May 2005

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From: Georgia

I recently went back to Dunlops after running Me 880's the last 50k on the Train.got the E-3's this time and they made a huge difference in handling and ride softness over the metzlers which I previously thought were the best thing that rolled. Much smoother in the hills. Like you we have friggin grooved roads all over Ga. Two wheels and grooves just don't go together,you get used to it. the 21" E-3 is much more stable on the Train than the Metz was for sure. Got a few friends that recently put the Mich commanders on their Fatboys and like them. Mileage claims are pretty high for the E-3's and the Mich.anything will be an improvement over the Metzler's. I could not get over 6500 out of a rear to save my life. I ride the hills hard and every once in awhile will get a little heavy handed with the throttle. we'll see in a few months if there is a difference.

Dec 10, 2012 | 09:28 PM

#14

tbonetony06

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Joined: Oct 2011

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From: Illinois

I don't know how anyone or everyone is going to reply or respond to this but I am going to throw it out there anyway. I am running 16's on my Deluxe. My bike would "track" or sway back and forth just like any other bike does when I get on the grooved roads or in ruts. I didn't change my tires but my bike no longer tracks or sways back and forth when I get in the ruts or when I am in the grooved roads. So, what is different about my bike and why did it stop handling like that? I put the Shotgun shock on it and I pulled the springs up front, dropped it an inch and dropped the progressive monotubes in it. I put my bike in ruts on purpose now to see how it handles and it's incredible how it just eats up adverse road conditions now. I can one hand it in a 2 inch deep rut now and can barely even tell I'm in a rut! Maybe others that have installed the Shotgun can chime in on this thread and tell their story but I **** you not, it's as smooth as silk now.

Last edited by tbonetony06; Dec 10, 2012 at 09:30 PM.

Dec 10, 2012 | 09:55 PM

#15

STLFLSTF_Mike

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Joined: Feb 2011

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DynaJ

I have to say Riding on california freeways with my white walled dunlops sucks!! I have replaced tires, checked the tire pressure and all the bearings and have come to the conclusion that on freeways with concrete that have been grooved for rain just plain suck my bike feels like its on a tight rope side to side and all that jazz. I don't know why I evn went back to a dunlop? I took it in for the 10,000 mile service and the harley tech says " my bike used to do that until I got metzlers" wow that says alot about the dunlop...I have 200 miles on the tires and I'm done!! That being said if I'm on streets and side routes the bike is on a straight line I guess the tread pattern is no good for our type of freeways? Anyone with 16" wheels that are running metzlers or anything else they can recommend??

I have a friend that rides a RK, last year when we went to Sturgis and he complained about the same thing. I could actually see the bike moved left to right (constantly) when we were in the grooved concrete. He bought a new set of tires while we were there (don't do that....$$$$$$) and it got worse. Weird thing was my Fatboy rolled right through with no problem.....guess the fat rear tire tends to stabilize the ride.

Last edited by STLFLSTF_Mike; Dec 10, 2012 at 10:00 PM.

Dec 11, 2012 | 02:14 AM

#16

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

The Commander II's I installed seems to remove the wandering issue VS the Lops on ground roadways..

At least the roads I've rode on.. Where they were Grinding and leaving the groovs while prepping for new Blacktop.

.

Dec 11, 2012 | 10:01 AM

#17

Hogpro

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Joined: Aug 2005

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The wandering is related to the tread pattern. If you have tread on your tire that goes in a forward direction the grooves will grab that tread. If you do not have tread that goes in a forward direction there is nothing for the grooves to grab. Another thing to check is tire pressure. And of course quality suspension will always make any ride better.

Dec 11, 2012 | 11:40 AM

#18

DynaJ

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Joined: May 2011

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From: lancaster,ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogpro

You are the second person that has told me this..Thats why I was leaning towards the metz, Harley was actually who told me that the tread design on the Dunlops was no good for our Highways LOL..Guess I will be switching to the Metz's and I will be purchasing them from you guys..