With about 1,500 miles on my Cooper 205/65R16 rear tire, I had the
opportunity to get some interesting experience this afternoon with some
friends and their crotch rockets in touring clothes.  Yamaha FLZ1300
sports touring bikes to be exact.  The only thing that kept me
competitive with these guys was adequate acceleration... just barely
adequate!  Those bikes are absolute rockets on rails.

It was raining lightly when we took off from my house in Texarkana about
noon, but, it was trying to quit.  We traveled north into Arkansas and
began our trek through the timbered hills of southeast Arkansas.  It was
beautiful and a true sight to behold, but, the real amazing part was the
roads... oh my gosh, twisty, curvy, up and down... a wonderful place to
ride, if I could keep up which I couldn't.

To be absolutely honest the Cooper tire was a great asset.  The roads
were wet and slick and my friends were very familiar with them and I had
never seen any of these roads.  The Yamaha bikes were designed to go
around corners very quickly and Valkyries are... well Valkyries are
cruisers with decent handling.  As the roads began to dry and my
confidence expanded I began to do better in the corners.  I had NO
chance of keeping up with these guys, but, I could make up some on the
straights... they only got out of sight once... well maybe twice.  The
Cooper never lost its composure, nor its grip.  I was riding way past
what I could have done without these guys showing me that it was
possible... it was fun and I felt safe.

Later on the way home we took roads that were much more to my liking.  
Higher speeds and long sweeping curves and I actually dragged my left
peg a couple of times.  The Arkansas Highway Patrol was cooperating and
we never saw a cop all day.  Its a damn good thing too as we were
flying.... sometimes on roads that were so twisty you never sat upright
at all.  This was some of the best riding I have ever done.

I thank my friends for taking the time to let me go with them.  And they
did run easier for me most of the time.  In all fairness I must admit to
having ten to fifteen years on each of these guys and they were playing
with the proper machinery for the job.  My riding style is not likened
to road racing, but, to touring.  Even at that I have to admit this was
a blast.  I even got invited back.

In honor of my Valkyrie, there were some passing situations where the
Valkyrie nearly ran up the tailpipe of the rockets... and they were
greatly impressed.  An impromptu four way drag race just as we got back
into Texas dropped their chins when I didn't loose an inch to their very
impressive acceleration, even though I kept both wheels on the ground.

This was total proof positive to me that the Cooper tire was not a mistake.

I can't wait to do this ride again... with my camera and a bit more
time.  When it happens I'll post another article.