Dirt_Dad said:
............. I was secretly hoping they would improve the traction enough that I could lift the front end over ruts and holes when approaching at speed. Clearly that ain't gonna happen.
I can visualize getting the front light with throttle and body posture. It looks and feels awesome in my mind. But in real life, the technique just doesn't work nearly as well. And it ain't the K60 failing me, because a knobby won't do it for me either. It's just too much mass up front with this bike.
Only takes a few minutes each time I get off road to adjust the ambitious mental expectation to the reality version. And it's not as disappointing as it sounds. It's just a different kind of challenge.
In the Dakar, it's not hard to imagine how fun it must be to be strapped into one of those desert buggies and catching air over the dunes. But those guys riding in those HUGE diesel trucks are raising hell too. It's just a different technique. Necessary because of the physics of their mass.
Blasting on the Tenere off-road is not like anything I have ever done before. It's a much different technique that requires me to dial in an extra measure of margin-of-error. Fat old man margin-of-error not withstanding.
I enjoy the heck out of it with the K60 or the Karoo or the 80/20 tires. (Gonna try a Big Block next) But no tire can deliver my vision version. I'm just a hopeless dreamer.
Of course you, DDad, already know all this. You have way more dirt miles on S10's than I do.
It's kinda funny. The K60 is actually my favorite street tire. Since its the best street tire I am willing to put on my bike now.
Hoping the Karoo3 or Anakee Wild can beat it off road. (they should) Maybe they can become my favorite street tire?