B
ballisticexchris
Guest
This thread is cut/pasted and edited from my local District 37 thread I started a few years back. I figure to put it here in the Super Tenere forum in hopes that even one guy might read this and take heed. This is a serious thing that should NEVER EVER be done on any motorcycle that sees dirt. I'm not sharing this to start a nasty tire argument. This is a safety warning. Keep in mind this is not what tire to use but what not to use.
So I was all hyping up my new Kenda 90/10 tires that I have been doing pavement/fireroad blasts the last few rides. Was even thinking of doing the Pediatric Ride For Kids with them. DON'T DO IT!!!!! These are the most ill handling tire ever when doing any kind of sand washes, rocky/slippery hills, or pretty much anything other than pavement or smooth fireroad. I even dropped the pressure to 8psi front and 6psi rear. They still handled like crap.
I have a whole new respect (and at the same time bewildered) for the guys that ride these huge adventure bikes with this style tire. So after riding out to Old Willies grave at Landers, crashing hard twice (once at speed) and pulling a hamstring, the tires (and 15/45 gearing) came off and were replaced with real knobbies. No matter how good of a rider you think you are, it's only a matter of time before the front end steps out and you crash hard.
I figure this would be a good thread to start. Now you guys know where I'm coming from when I disagree on tire choices. For me it's minimum a full blown "big block style" knobby only for anything other than pavement. As far as lifespan, I can care less as long as it's a safe tire. There is nowhere in the United States that I can't get a tire delivered to spoon on as needed during a long trip.
Here it is ready to ride:
I somehow managed to make it here without crashing. I have ridden this area for years on knobby tires. My riding buddy told me my bike was weaving like a snake the whole way up:
Here is the outcome. No warning whatsoever. One second I'm standing up on the pegs centered on the bike letting it move under me in the sand wash. Next thing I know the front end tucks at over 40mph. I fly over the bars and do a rag doll across the desert. My leg went behind my head. I lifted my bike up with my one good leg and somehow managed to make it out with only one other fall. This is the worst crash I've had since desert racing in my early 40's. I actually went back to work the next day. I was limping around for over a month.
And yes I do a lot of tire testing. I have since given away the 90/10 tires and all my trials tires. Trials tires were a big fad 10 years ago. No longer. I'm back to good old knobby tires. Even on the street I know what to expect. I like the fact I can feel them moving under me with ample warning before I push them too far.
Something to think about is if 90/10 tires handle so bad offroad on a 325 lb Beta, how to you think you are going to do on a Super Tenere at twice the weight? I hope this post will help someone in making a smart decision when getting a set of tires.
When my OEM tires come off the Super Tenere will live it's life out on Knobbies for anything that put's me in the dirt. I figure I should be able to get the rear tires to last 2,500-4,000 miles and fronts 5,000-8,000 miles. I can live with that. Even if it means 90% street/10% dirt.
So I was all hyping up my new Kenda 90/10 tires that I have been doing pavement/fireroad blasts the last few rides. Was even thinking of doing the Pediatric Ride For Kids with them. DON'T DO IT!!!!! These are the most ill handling tire ever when doing any kind of sand washes, rocky/slippery hills, or pretty much anything other than pavement or smooth fireroad. I even dropped the pressure to 8psi front and 6psi rear. They still handled like crap.
I have a whole new respect (and at the same time bewildered) for the guys that ride these huge adventure bikes with this style tire. So after riding out to Old Willies grave at Landers, crashing hard twice (once at speed) and pulling a hamstring, the tires (and 15/45 gearing) came off and were replaced with real knobbies. No matter how good of a rider you think you are, it's only a matter of time before the front end steps out and you crash hard.
I figure this would be a good thread to start. Now you guys know where I'm coming from when I disagree on tire choices. For me it's minimum a full blown "big block style" knobby only for anything other than pavement. As far as lifespan, I can care less as long as it's a safe tire. There is nowhere in the United States that I can't get a tire delivered to spoon on as needed during a long trip.
Here it is ready to ride:
I somehow managed to make it here without crashing. I have ridden this area for years on knobby tires. My riding buddy told me my bike was weaving like a snake the whole way up:
Here is the outcome. No warning whatsoever. One second I'm standing up on the pegs centered on the bike letting it move under me in the sand wash. Next thing I know the front end tucks at over 40mph. I fly over the bars and do a rag doll across the desert. My leg went behind my head. I lifted my bike up with my one good leg and somehow managed to make it out with only one other fall. This is the worst crash I've had since desert racing in my early 40's. I actually went back to work the next day. I was limping around for over a month.
And yes I do a lot of tire testing. I have since given away the 90/10 tires and all my trials tires. Trials tires were a big fad 10 years ago. No longer. I'm back to good old knobby tires. Even on the street I know what to expect. I like the fact I can feel them moving under me with ample warning before I push them too far.
Something to think about is if 90/10 tires handle so bad offroad on a 325 lb Beta, how to you think you are going to do on a Super Tenere at twice the weight? I hope this post will help someone in making a smart decision when getting a set of tires.
When my OEM tires come off the Super Tenere will live it's life out on Knobbies for anything that put's me in the dirt. I figure I should be able to get the rear tires to last 2,500-4,000 miles and fronts 5,000-8,000 miles. I can live with that. Even if it means 90% street/10% dirt.