On the tarmac the combo doesn't appear to perform any worse than my last set of tyres, Pirelli MT21's. Off the tarmac I'm very happy, that's where I prefer to ride.
YES FOR SURE.. But I notice dirt tyres, CROSS or ENDURO, go worst on tarmac , so much noise running. But so rely on dirt, hahaha, TW 301-302 fantastic on dirt. much better than stocks. unfortunately, last year I have no choise to do so much DIRT tracks.
Going to Phillip Island for the MotoGP in October so I am fitting road tyres before the trip. Michelin make a new Road Pilot 4 in a "trail" version. Really road tyres for a 19" wheel. I am going to a 120/60 for the front and a 150/70 for the rear. Look completely unsuitable for any dirt at all. I have had really good success with Michelins in the past and they are way lighter than the std lumps so should help the turn in a lot at speed. The write ups on then are extremely good including from Fast Bikes who usually don't mince works and flog tyres mercilessly. Should have them fitted by next week so I will report.
From what I know the Pilot 4 Trail is identical tread to the standard Pilot 4 but has a softer compound rubber, so will wear faster. I have a standard Pilot Road 4 rear on my DL1000 and have no issues with it. I think the 19" front only comes in the Trail compound.
Got the Pilot Road 4 150/70 for the rear not the trail version. Has a harder compound in the centre which will be better for touring. Close enough diameter not to effect the ABS. 120/70 for the front. Trail version, as 19" are only trail version, though the compound set ( soft med) is the same. Can't find if the ACTUAL compounds are the same. Rolling radius is only 4mm diff so ABS should be OK there as well. First ride showed no abs lights. The really big thing is how much lighter the new ones are. I got the shop to fit them for me ( free!!!) I just took the wheels in, so I didn't have a chance to weigh the new ones, but when I picked up the wheels, the difference felt huge for front and back. This will help the turn in a lot. Only taken them on a scrub in ride around the block ( big block) so won't be able to give a better report til a proper ride is done. Very nice profile for cornering.
Took them out for a bit of a ride. Trying to find twisties. Pretty much a lost cause in Bundaberg region finding places with lots of 1st gear ( or second, or third) gear corners but there is some good areas with fast 4th and 5th gear corners with the occasional 3rd). Managed to get in 250km approx mostly 100kph ( plus or minus) stuff. The tyres look like they have done not a lot. Just getting to the edge on the back and still a cm or so chicken strips on the front, as they feel VERY different to the std lumps and still getting the feel for them as no real supertight stuff really work them. Profiles are incredibly neutral and I wish I had some tighter high load corners to try them. The front has now a LOT less of the resistance to turn in ( still there . the 19" is a 19"). Found myself having to turn OUT on a lot of corners as it tracks into the corners and there is absolutely no transition feeling. Typical Michelin. Grip at the loads I was using is exemplary and the tyres ride much less harsh ( read soft and compliant) . The metzeler duals felt like Dunlops, harsh, but grip well. I ran the manual recommended pressures to see what they were like, but will experiment later ( 28r 32f) . I was running 28 28 on the metzelers. Their big plus is supposed to be wear and wet grip but that will have to wait and see. On the whole for a ROAD tyre I can completely recommend them ...so far. Possibly the best road tyres I have ever ridden on. Grip certainly up there with BT090's, Road attack2's and S20's.
The TKC80 looks pretty bad ass. Was super easy to install and balance as well. The K60 on the back was a bit more difficult the first go around. But when I realized I put it on backwards, it came off and went back on easily. Balance took a bit longer on it, but each end worked out to about 1.5 oz.
Good new tyre to choose, instead of K60s... Conti TKC70... yes, 70 ! Well, might be worth trying on the rear with TKC80 in front. Will probably try that combo soon. http://www.adventuremotorcycle.com/...79-continental-tkc70-test-report#.U_sECKNTZ-Y
I don't know how people are pulling the miles they do on the TKC80 front / K60 Scout rear. I've got 6k miles from my trip on mine now and the wear indicators are all but gone on the rear and the front is at about 1/3 height. I'll probably keep running them longer as the wear indicators leave a lot of rubber and it's probably pavement here on out for this bike, but I don't see 10k miles being realistic.
I am at about 7,000 miles and my stock Metzler Sahara's are worn. The front may have another 1,000 miles or so but I just went ahead and ordered a set of TKC80's. I am mostly on Tarmac now that I moved to the SF Bay Area. We'll see how long they last.
TKC 80's front and rear. I've got about 5k miles on this set and the rear will be toast in another 1k. Front would be ok, but it has worn in the goofiest goddamn way possible. Every other lug looks to be worn? It's weird. The rear wore nice and even and my bike is typically loaded up heavily for the time it's on pavement (26psi r/ 28psi f) is what I typically run. Maybe more in back if I've got a passenger. Off-road I'm down around 15lbs. Never had a flat with these, never chunked on me. I'd get another set but I really want to try the mitas...
Usually (not always) uneven wear (every other) lug wear is due to using the front brake more than normal, whatever normal is. I used to get that kind of wear on my early enduro bikes. But modern tires have much better compounds. Maybe someone else can give you some ideas.
I had kind of an unfortunate start with my TKC's- I had the tires sitting in my shop for a few months before I got around to mounting them and when I finally did the front had a noticeable hop in it. I assumed the bead didn't seat correctly so I unseated it and remounted. Same thing. I didn't bother trying to get motorcycle superstore to take it back (they might have, it's without a doubt a manufacturing defect) I ended up getting used to it and tried to compensate with weight, etc but the carcass is deformed. I'm undecided right now on what front I'll run. I thought maybe go less aggressive all round since I've got the gas gas for the real fun stuff... But the husky has a way of going further from civilization than it should (plus my buddies all ride heavy bikes- DR's, DRZ's and riding the gasser in that company is a little unfair off road) I really want to try the Mitas E09 Dakar on the rear. If anyone has a suggestion on a front lemme have it.
threw a dunlop D606 on the rear of my TR and left the stock metzler Sahara front on for now. works a good combo. have been riding in mainly sand and sandstone trails and can throw it around with alot more confidence, have even been hitting some motorcross berms on the big girl. cannot recommend the change any more to anyone who prefers riding offroad the stocks were too road orientated, D606 a little noisy on the road but othewise good. any suggestions for my front tyre?
MT21 Scorpion Rally are currently now my favourite front tyre. Hard to beat the D606 on the rear considering the price of course, they are good value. Starcross HP4 are bloody fantastic tyres, damn hard to get them in NSW though and are marked not for Hwy use. Glenn Hoffman Honda usually has some very slightly used ones around.
I found a Mefo Super Explorer 99 for the rear (at a sensible price), now researching fronts, have a Karoo 3 on at the moment, looking at E-09 Dakar, Big Block or another Karoo 3 The Mefo replaced the K60 (my choices would have been a K60 or E-07)
Don't know why people like the K60 so much. Performed underwhelming for me, only got 6500 miles out of the rear with medium performance in dirt and a very soapy feeling cornering on the road esp. on wet surface. Had a set of Karoo 3's mounted for a Baja camping trip that worked awesome in dirt and sand, surprisingly decent on the road, but the front always felt twitchy and increased the weaving above 70mph. Got 5500 miles out of the rear and tossed the front at 7000 because it felt to me the weaving was increasing with wear. My new set of tires is a Metzeler Sahara rear and a TKC80 front that work awesome together. The Sahara has plenty of traction on gravel and dirt and performs super on the blacktop, the TKC got good stick on the road and excels off the road. Just scrubbed them in, following two crazy guys on 250's in the mountains around here on forest service roads, abandoned logging tracks, water crossings and deep washouts, riding home through the twisties on Redwood highway. Awesome combo on and off road, surprised my self with what I could accomplish with them.
