I've PM'd Michael, but allow me to re-iterate some of the finer points, and elaborate on some points made elsewhere that I feel need revisiting, in accordance with my observations regarding Darksiding.
First, for those others who are wondering, I'm running the Federal Formoza FD1 on my rear, and the (currently) OEM Bridgestone Battleax THo1M F on my front (this is the tire, I believe is being referenced above by Michael, that had it's center rib area reinforced to increase mileage). Honestly, having now reached the time to replace it (I have a new one on now, btw), I have NOT seen any significant mileage increase in the tire, per se. Now, what I mean by per se is this...
The revisioned M series tires do seem to be thicker in the middle, but, having had the front and the rear versions, neither tire's improvements indicate the wear level was increased. I typically got ~13K miles with the rear and 23K Miles on the front Bridgestones, before the revision. I got about the same mileage (maybe +1K) with the M series. What I did notice, however, is what may have been an improvement on HOW they wear. The rear and front tires started to bulge (knot up) in spots at about the same mileage points, prompting replacement, and long before the wear marks on the tires (the original ones got really thin before needing replacement). When I called Bridgestone and asked about it (after it happened to the front... I check air pressure almost every other day, and twice weekly at the least), I was told that the tire was "at the end of it's life when it does that, regardless of the wear mark". When I pressed and asked if that was built into the design, I couldn't get a straight answer, and suddenly he had to go. I don't know about Bridgestone, but Apple and HP use this tactic when you "ask too many questions" about what's "coming out" or "possible" with their hardware. Hint, Hint!
Something Michael eludes to, and some others have mentioned in PMs and on the forum... so I'll say this again...
Aggressive riding can be fun, but it's also VERY DANGEROUS!!! And yet, some of us STILL do it... Myself included! That's all fine and dandy. I'm not judging. HOWEVER... if you are still in that "need to increase my chicken-strips" mode of sport-bike thinking, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE WAIT until you have SATISFIED that need BEFORE DARKSIDING!!!
This choice is also a compromise. When you put a CT on a bike, you do it for the straightline improvements, the longevity, and maybe even the cost, but, what you give up in the bargain is the ability to cut your bike at 45+ degree turns and angles at high speeds like a sport-bike. This doesn't mean you can't lean your bike, or that it's a dangerous thing to ride at high-speed into turns. This is one of the reasons not every CT is appropriate for Darksiding. What it does mean is you have to be significantly more aware of the LIMITS of your CT, where the TREAD ENDS AND THE SIDEWALL BEGINS, of the LATERAL STRESSES your CT can take, and of your SPEED AND ANGLE in a turn. You increase your road footprint in a straight line, but in a turn or lean, you actually may decrease your footprint if you are not careful and responsible. Going too far and testing those limits can leave you with a 600+lb bike on top of your broken and splattered body! I don't mean to be a drag, but it's the reality of what we're doing, and I don't want any of us ending up another statistic.
This is why I am adamant about using only "H" or better speed rated tires, and why the load rating on the Can-Am's Kenda RT tire disqualified it, in my opinion, as a candidate for our bikes.
A final point, a bunch of us guys were down at Friday's in Greenbelt, Md. Wed. Night for Bike Night (weekly event, so come on down anytime), and some of the guys were showing off how easily they can turn their bikes (mostly sport-bikes) around by leaning them on their kickstands. So one of them decided he wanted to try doing it with my "Scooter". I told him it couldn't me done, so he decided he would prove to me it can be done with ANY bike...
4 guys later... it was done... oh, and I mean 4 GUYS AT THE SAME TIME helping each other after the first guy almost dropped the bike!!! The 650 is a motorcycle designed to resemble a scooter. Remember that; RESPECT that, and it may save your life!
