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Trying out the Kenda Equilibrium

Whats the verdict on the
Kenda Equilibrium?


Jimmy Lewis basically says way better grip in all conditions than the Motoz trials type, but doesn't wear as long.
Kelly - for western washington on my TE300....thoughts on the Kenda?

HR
 
I just came off a 4 day wet and muddy ride in Tennessee and Kentucky. One buddy ran a brand new MotoZ on his KTM200 and another buddy ran the Kenda Equilibrium on his YZ250. The MotoZ guy is ready to toss his tire in the trash. Even running 5 psi, it just slips and slides up hill, down hill, it didn't matter. The Kenda was a much better all around choice. My buddy did say the Kenda was pretty soft and doesn't wear very well. So, just another opinion...
 
After getting a lot of dry riding in on the MotoZ MH, I can say that I am impressed with the straight line traction. Hill climbing and so on. But try to turn the thing and away she goes. I'm selling the MotoZ and have gone back to regular knobs. I might try the Kenda, just for due diligence in trials tire arena. But so far the Battlecross X30 is doing well.
 
I havent seen an consistently positive reviews for the motoz hybrid. Most say it's too heavy and hard with poor traction on average. The kenda flat out works from my experience. I'm back testing a knobby with the tubliss but will definitely go back to the Equilibrium again.
 
reveille said:
I havent seen an consistently positive reviews for the motoz hybrid. Most say it's too heavy and hard with poor traction on average. The kenda flat out works from my experience. I'm back testing a knobby with the tubliss but will definitely go back to the Equilibrium again.
Click to expand...
Tubliss is a game changer for knobby tires, a too stiff sidewall knobby becomes a trials tire and a better tracking knobby once you get the pressure down to about 4psi. Once I went to tubliss I see no need for the slight advantage you might get in the rocks only to give up grass track, deep mud and sugar sand traction.
 
I also forgot to mention that the MotoZ added what felt like two inches of height to my bike. It was crazy hard to reach the ground with my feet on an already tall bike. I believe most trials tires are similar in that regard.

And I'm running UHD tubes with about 8-10 front, 6-7 rear. When those tubes get damaged, I'll be going to tubeless. Have just been putting it off.
 
Cosmokenney said:
I also forgot to mention that the MotoZ added what felt like two inches of height to my bike. It was crazy hard to reach the ground with my feet on an already tall bike. I believe most trials tires are similar in that regard.

And I'm running UHD tubes with about 8-10 front, 6-7 rear. When those tubes get damaged, I'll be going to tubeless. Have just been putting it off.
Click to expand...

That is the bit I'm struggling with! Not so much the height as I have long legs but by lifting the rear that much it made the steering very twitchy.
I actually blame that for me stacking it 2 weeks ago in a rocky section and braking my collarbone. (can't blame the crap rider can I ?! :D)

I contemplate lowering the rear a bit to compensate but I don't like to add sag. Definitively feels very funny and the Austrian Huskies are very sensitive to having the correct sag.
Don't think I'll go Motoz hybrid again, it has plenty of traction but the sideway grip is lacking too. Running 5 psi.
 
reveille said:
Here's mine after 1800 dual sport and single track miles... I'd say she's toast. I'm happy with what she gave me during that time. It handles deep sand quite well which surprised me. I bought 2 in April and have another one ready to mount but I'm going to try the Kenda Washougal 2 dual compound first. The rubber is very durable and resists chunking and tearing. Even with less that a 1/4" of knob left it still hooks up well. The one place it sucks big time is wet grass but so is a trials tire so no big surprise there.
Click to expand...

Did you feel like the 450 size was ok for your 501?
 
lankydoug said:
Tubliss is a game changer for knobby tires, a too stiff sidewall knobby becomes a trials tire and a better tracking knobby once you get the pressure down to about 4psi. Once I went to tubliss I see no need for the slight advantage you might get in the rocks only to give up grass track, deep mud and sugar sand traction.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping. :thumbsup:
 
I've been told that the MotoZ makes a good Duel Sport tire. It's a little hard so it wears well and it tracks pretty good in straight lines and is decent in the gravel ect... FYI
 
Jhunter said:
I've been told that the MotoZ makes a good Duel Sport tire. It's a little hard so it wears well and it tracks pretty good in straight lines and is decent in the gravel ect... FYI
Click to expand...
It does track well in straight lines. Uphill it has traction like a trails tyre.
In tight bush work it is not good as it has almost no sideways traction. If I throttle steer round tight turns it swings the rear around on me and I'm not ham fisted.
It has it's positive points but I probably go back to a knobly like the kenda after it's worn.
I do want to like it so i'll stick with it for now and see how it goes when I can ride again in a few weeks.
 
I have a buddy with three Motos Hybrids in his garage and he says he hates them. Said they suck in PNW clay and roots. I might grab one from him and give it a try.
 
bikesparky said:
It does track well in straight lines. Uphill it has traction like a trails tyre.
In tight bush work it is not good as it has almost no sideways traction. If I throttle steer round tight turns it swings the rear around on me and I'm not ham fisted.
It has it's positive points but I probably go back to a knobly like the kenda after it's worn.
I do want to like it so i'll stick with it for now and see how it goes when I can ride again in a few weeks.
Click to expand...

^^^ yes. Exactly what I was trying to say but couldn't put it in words.

This guy seems to like it but he runs it at almost zero psi and tubliss:
View: https://youtu.be/k7UdxWD1XLY
, plus a lot of his riding is slow and technical.
 
lankydoug said:
Looks to me like they tried to reinvent the MT43
Click to expand...


Thats what the goal was. A trials like tire with side knobs.

I've been running one on my 165 with 6 psi and UHD tubes. It's too hard a compound for dirt only duty IMO. The lack of side to side traction is noticeable. Makes it easy to brake slide around tight corners. It has ZERO downhill braking grip, might as well not even bother trying haha. I'll throw it on my 610 which it should be perfect for.

I want to get the Kenda to try out next on the 165 but nobody has an 18 in stock.
 
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