Karoo 3

[Dirt_Dad]

See...it' not just me. 2K kmts is only 60% of the life I achieved. Makes me look like a tire nanny.

 

[trikepilot]

so... the Karoo3 lasts about the same as a BigBlock (within a few percentage points) and costs something approaching twice the BigBlock?

That's an easy choice for a "disposable tire." Now I just gotta get a tire changer!

 

[snakebitten]

I got almost 4000 out of the Karoo 3. And can get 2500 out of a BB.

Not because I show great mercy. Just the opposite. I'm not taking em off until they are declared dead. Tarmac dead. Really dead.

And all of em seem to fight for life those last couple of millimeters.

 

[snakebitten]

Or put another way, the last 3rd of their life they are no longer a 60-40 or 50-50 dirt tire. Instead, they become 80-20 or 90-10 street tires.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Instead, they become 80-20 or 90-10 street tires.

Well the K3 isn't a very good one of those. Based how how I was able to break it free on dry pavement on Saturday I'd rank it fairly low as a 90/10 tire.

 

[trikepilot]

Ooops... K's ≠ miles.

Still, that's not many miles for a $220 tire.

 

[snakebitten]

Yea, my only real gripe for the Karoo. I had some fantastic days in Colorado on that set. Might have clouded my judgment a bit. But $220 is a premium. It didn't stand out enough for a repeat set.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

But $220 is a premium. It didn't stand out enough for a repeat set.

Agreed. For my normal riding conditions these tires really provided no benefit. I'm going to strap the front K3 to the bike and take it home with me. I'm having it removed because of a warning Checkswrecks gave me about mixing high grip rear tires with bias or low grip fronts. I might use it again if I ever put on another highly dirt oriented rear, but chances are it will waste away in my tire stockpile.

There is no doubt in my mind I will never purchase another K3 for a Tenere. Too expensive, too short a life, too little benefit for my riding style and normal conditions. K3 experiment over.

 

[Juan Valderrama]

For me, I am thinking on going k60s

See, the problem is that I have ridden the K3 off road half of its life and still they wear off like chuck.

It's a shame, K3s only sin is that they do not last a penny.


Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

 

[Juan Valderrama]

Today K3 are about 4000 kmts, with some 1500 kmts of off road, debris, dirt.

Originally they have 11 mm height blocks, now front is at 7mm and rear is 5 mm in the center

Sides are still at 11-10 mm.

They still grab well on tarmac, obviously , and for now, on mud and off road is OK, but rear is just getting useless.

Rear will be replaced about 1000 kmts more. Not sure about replacement tire.

And still I have the impression that they wear off faster on dirt.

This is the rear:

This is the front:

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

 

[_AF]

Hi all,
Reading the is thread, I am not clear now whether or not the K3 is a good 50/50 tire. I need a tire that will do all as best as possible. I ride even in Motocross tracks, for the sake to training. Some can be clear cut a say if yes or if no?

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

I can say, that K3 is 50/50. Before I finished two sets of K60 and I'm sure, that K3 is better in off road. The only problem is, it goes out very fast after speed 130 km/h.
First set of K3 I changed after 10K km. The rear tire could stay for 2K km more.

With K3

 

[Juan Valderrama]

Last night I was talking to a Scottish guy who is visiting Colombia on his journey from Argentina to Alaska.

He rides hard his Daisy (a tiger 800) with some 60 kilograms of luggage and gear. Also the guy, and ex UK comando, is a big pal.

Guess what? He had K3 for about 10.000 kmts. He run the tire at 40 psi on tarmac and some 38 to 35 on dirt. He claimed that normally he did not lower the preassure.

In the following thread the ride rs claim to run K3 on a higher that expected psi. The go even to 45 psi rear, and they DO NOT complain about low kmts.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=924046
Heidenau K60 vs. Karoo 3: A Side-By-Side Comparison


Maybe the tire benefits from a higher psi rate. However, with the super tenere' limited OEM rear shock preload I guess is too bumpy for a 85 kilograms guy to pour 40 psi.

I will try this out with my new set.

Anybody has any opinion about running the K3s on a higher pressure?

Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.