Chris, let's do it! If you have anything in mind just let me know, and I will do the same. I have several dirt trips planned for 14; DV, UTBDR and an Idaho trip. I'm also thinking of re-riding the Western TAT or part of Big Dog's MexCan trip as it starts literally right out of my driveway. For pavement, there is just one on the schedule up to Western Washington. More needed!
Utah is on the list, road trip. AZ too. My sister has a cabin in Flagstaff. Would like to jump off from Seattle going north in August for a week...Van'Isle and a ferryboat ride to SE AK, ride BC interior. You might like that one. Not sure if it's gonna be dualsports or adventure bikes. We'll talk in DV. Can PM beforehand...you have my email.
I had one of those left over from a husky take-off too...stuck it on the front of the Tiger for this same annual trip coming that the pic above was from. Yes, that was a year ago, we're going back. This time I wanted a little more bite on the front and had that karoo laying around so I threw on there today and took it for a spin - up the freeway at 85 and almost got a stoppie out of it before abs kicked in. Layed it over in the sweeper ramps - IT ROCKS! So if you guys run across any more of those let me know, I'd like to have another one - I doubt it will last long on the Tiger, but even a few thousand for a couple of local trips it would be good. I normally run pretty close to road tires on it.
A week is not long enough to ride the B.C. Interior! Unless you don't like twisty Kootenay slab and epic trails and views. Just saying.
I'd like to tap you for info on routing. Unfortunately I can only get two weeks off and it's a week just getting to Seattle and back from so-Cal. For us working class people down here it's hard enough getting them to fly in and ride for a week. I was planning to haul bikes up on a big trailer behind the winnebago. I would like to make it 7-9 days. We'll have to see. My birth certificate says British Columbia.
Tires, especially front tires, are so difficult (for me at least) to predict when it comes to handling. My Husky 650 had Karoo's front and back, and the front would put me into a light speed wobble at around 65, getting worse as the speed went up. It looks similar to the Karoo 2, and also the TKC 80 and TR8, both of which have been rock solid at speed. Fortunately, we have a lot of choices, with more on the way (Anakee Wild looks interesting) and the fronts are relatively cheap and long lasting. Just musing......
We rode your New Denver/Kaslo road in July...very nice. The area reminded me of Tennessee and N. Carolina (Deal's Gap). I'm still loving my Mich Desert Race front, going to try the rear when my 908 wears out (3k miles so far). .
I wish I knew you were here, I would have bought you an after ride drink for all your contributions to the Husky community. And picked your brain about PC-V
That would have been cool. We stayed in Falkland one night and Ainsworth Hot Springs the next...and rode two ferries the same day. Dad left an iphone5 along the road somewhere .
Yes tire measurements sure are varied between different manufacturers. My AC10 arrived and I was surprised as tire is actually quite beefy. Haven't mounted it yet but dont think I would want anything wider as would be too close to rubbing the swingarm. Photo below is L to R: Shinko 244, 5.10 x 18 actual width is 5.05" Dunlop D606, 130/90-18 actual width is 5.5" Michelin AC10, 120/90-18 actual width is 5.75" So by its stated size the AC10 should be the narrowest but turns out to be the widest of the three by a good margin. I'm going to remount and use up the Shinko first before mounting it though. So will have a review on it in about a month.
You mean the one in the middle, that is a D606 and yes it was toasted at least 500 miles ago for any dirt use and earlier than that for serious dirt. Last 300 miles was all pavement and the 425 miles before that was dirt/gravel roads. Squeezed almost 2,500 miles out of it total but the last 725 miles dont really count by most standards. Actually I would put more pavement miles on it but next ride is all dirt so it is gone. The Shinko is on the left and still has life left, a little bit chunked from rocks here and there but it'll still hook up and go another 1,000 miles. Question for you Kyle, is the AC10 front tire directional? I noticed the rear is not and they even instruct you to flip direction after the "M's" in the knobs are worn down. If the front is bi-directional also then I would consider flipping it to even out the uneven brake cupping. The rear I wont bother with though as I dont expect it too last long enough to justify a demount, flip and remount. _
No, I didn't mean the one in the middle, I meant the one on the left. I'd be re installing that right into the trash bin! AC10 is not directional. Flipping it is a good idea!
While I would like to always run fresh knobs it is not practical for me. That Shinko has only 975 miles on it and if I replaced tires at that poiint I would be mounting a new rear tire nearly every other weekend. As it is we me squeezing double service life out of rear tires that is still my 8th tire used up in 14 months. I'm really anxious to get that AC10 mounted and see how it does. It is a DOT tire also for those in states where that is required. _
If you are going through tires that fast, try something that will last longer. Kenda K760 lasts a long time, is cheap, and is DOT. Probably will last twice as long as an AC10. Maxxis IT Desert will last a long time, not DOT though. Dunlop 908RR lasts forever, but is not cheap.
I do get between 2,000-2,500 per quality DS tire so it's not that I burn through them hard I just ride lots of miles. Tried a couple softer enduro tires early on and only got 900-1,200 miles from them. I have the Trakmaster up next on my order list if not happy with the AC10. But reviews of the Kenda complain of low mileage and very noisy on pavement also. I'm almost to the end of trying new tires and going back permanently to a Michelin T63. I have repeated that tire 3 times and so far is my all around favorite "DS value" tire. DS value being compromise of traction on dirt, pavement, rain, noise, service life and price. T63 compromises (balances) all of those for my riding mix the best thus far. The Shinko was a close second when they were $40 but now priced at only $5 less than a T63 so way down on my list. Dunlop 908RR is a $200 tire!! I would need to get 7,500 miles from one to equal the same cost of three T63's. Doubt that possible so much I will not even try. Also thought of trying the long wearing Heidneau K60 but not willing to give up that much dirt performance to gain mileage. It's all compromise for DS and no two people have the exact requirements or expectations so no one perfect tire exists for everyone I guess. _
908 at 3100 miles. I think it will go 5000 before getting changed. Has already been to CO/UT twice and would go again if I was leaving tomorrow. Def not the tire for everyone, I like the stiffness/stregnth when I occasional ride two-up, and I can't imagine what it would take to puncture it (now I'll find out for sure). Not changing tires (swearing) as often also has appeal for me. That being said, pretty sure I'm going w/ a Desert Race to match the front next time. ... .
For what it's worth, I got 2500 miles out of a K760 on a DRZ400 on the TAT. Based on that, it ought to work pretty well for you. I have run a T63, but it's just not aggressive enough of a tire for my riding, so I won't run them any more. I get similar wear and WAY better hookup from a 760 or Desert IT, so I figure "why bother."
That is very good life. I think if I had to do a long TAT or CDT ride and didn't want to mess with a tire change enroute I would go with that tire. In that case the cost would be justified. How does it hook up? Have you have it on loose sand or mud? _
