So i expect this to turn into a Never Ending Pointless Recurring Thread (like we have over on the FJR Forum), but what is the thoughts on tires for the bike? I'm leaning to something with a bit more of a knobby than the factory fitment...
Tire Thread...Let me be the first...
- Thread starter AVGeek
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Hi, I had a look round a few months ago at tyre options and it seemed a little limited, could be that I need to look at more specialist places. Usually I'm only buying road tyres so it was all new to me. Stock tyres seem to have ok reviews but not sure what people are running for major off roading.AVGeek said:
I am planning on going with the Proven Continental TKC 80.
I have been running on my VSTROM the Shinko 705 Bias. These have been good for me, but I think the radial version is proven to be a bit better.
I too want the aggressive look, and not the street tire look. I figure with a new house and a new baby I will only be doing 3-5000 miles a year which is one set of TKC's a year.
I have been running on my VSTROM the Shinko 705 Bias. These have been good for me, but I think the radial version is proven to be a bit better.
I too want the aggressive look, and not the street tire look. I figure with a new house and a new baby I will only be doing 3-5000 miles a year which is one set of TKC's a year.
In truth, my raven beauty will likely be more of a sport tourer on road much more than off road bike. I'll likely wind up going with the Tourance Exp. But if someone at the docks drops one of the bikes 
, I may be first in line to buy the wheels ;D and keep an extra set mounted with some TKC 80s or sumpin like them.
doctorj
, I may be first in line to buy the wheels ;D and keep an extra set mounted with some TKC 80s or sumpin like them.doctorj
doctorj, i am sure we all would want that in a perfect world. HAHA!!! I am curious to know how much this would set you back when you get the chance!!
Most of my riding will be on the slab so I will run Avon Distanzias when the factory tires wear out. They have performed very well on my KLR. Quiet, great on wet pavement, peg dragging traction. Speaking of traction I left lots of rubber on the Blue Ridge Parkway this week. ;D
as a surprise it POURED here in SEATTLE!!!! I am jealous!!!
I'm leaning more toward the TKC-80s as well. I'm hoping to hit more of the fire roads/desert trails here in the Southwest, and secondary roads of questionable condition.
The TKC's and the Karoos are the main choices if you want to go with something that can handle serious dirt.
Lots of folks love the TKC's, but they're damn expensive, short-lived, and, to my hands, make the bike feel awfully tipsy at corner entry. When I get my bike, it will be tough to give up the sweet pavement handling you get with something like Battle Wings or Tourances for a little more dirt capability that you won't need unless you have mud or sand on the agenda. We'lll see.
- Mark
Lots of folks love the TKC's, but they're damn expensive, short-lived, and, to my hands, make the bike feel awfully tipsy at corner entry. When I get my bike, it will be tough to give up the sweet pavement handling you get with something like Battle Wings or Tourances for a little more dirt capability that you won't need unless you have mud or sand on the agenda. We'lll see.
- Mark
Mark,markjenn said:
I thought the opposite was true from what I have read. Am I wrong in this thinking? I thought the stability and overall feel was good for a tire like this on paved roads.
I did know the tires didn't last long at all. I am just really excited to have an aggressive look on this bike. For me this is different than normal to want look over function. Hmm!!!
I tried TKC's once on my Strom and adjusted to them over time, but at least on this bike, they gave it a very aggressive turn-in - that's what I mean by "tipsy" - the bike always felt like it wanted to continue dropping into the turn and you had to apply a little outside bar pressure to stop it. I got used to it and did plenty of very aggressive pavement cornering on them, so they're good tires and I would never call them unstable, but when I went back to Trailwings/Battlewings and Tourances, my sweet handling bike came right back.HoebSTer said:
You don't get something for nothing. TKC's are much better dirt tires, but just as slicks are the optimal tire for completely smooth/clean asphalt at the racetrack, tires like Tourances I think are the optimal pavement tire for bikes like the GS and S10..... until you get them into sand, mud, or loose rock.
- Mark
I don't know what tires will be fitted , but I'm hoping for Tourance EXP's....loved them on my GS. I had Battlewings before and dint like them one bit. The Anakee's would be my second choice. I felt the EXP's were the best all around tire for my type of riding. I was able to play around a bit in the dirt and they were superb on the tarmac. This is all based on my GS so I'm going to have to see if the Super 10 is much different
Even though there have been good and bad reports on the SHINKO E705 Bias tires, I have had ok luck with them for the price on my VSTROM. I think the radials are doing ok now as an updated version.
Jeff
Jeff
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The sad reality of living on the eastern side of Maryland outside Washington DC is a distinct lack of any unpaved roads (closest I know of are 170 miles west, or about 80 miles north east). TKCs are great but tend to have a really short lifespan (2-3 months) in the 110 mile R/T daily commute world I live in.
On the other hand, when I get the chance to play off pavement, (couple times a month) I don't want to compromise too much. ;D I have had extremely good results with Heidenau K 60 tires on my 800 GS. The last set went 19,793 miles, and still had plenty of tread left. Pics at post 13 on the 800 riders forum - http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/52600-Looking-for-Aggressive-Tire-Options
These tires can be a bit of a challenge to find, but if you are patient, I think you'll find them to be the best-wearing, best handling 50/50 tire on the market. The 150 size is particularly problematic to source, so I have been running the 140/80 on the 800 GS, and expect to end up doing the same with the S10.
I've bought these tires from Heindl Engineering (in Ohio): http://www.heindlengineering.com/Online_Store/heidenau_tires.htm
and Basin Motorcycle Works (in Colorado): http://www.basinmotorcycleworks.com/
Given the somewhat higher weight of the S10, I don't expect the K 60s to last quite as long as my last set on the 800 GS, but I'm looking forward to testing this theory at length. ;D
Chris
On the other hand, when I get the chance to play off pavement, (couple times a month) I don't want to compromise too much. ;D I have had extremely good results with Heidenau K 60 tires on my 800 GS. The last set went 19,793 miles, and still had plenty of tread left. Pics at post 13 on the 800 riders forum - http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/52600-Looking-for-Aggressive-Tire-Options
These tires can be a bit of a challenge to find, but if you are patient, I think you'll find them to be the best-wearing, best handling 50/50 tire on the market. The 150 size is particularly problematic to source, so I have been running the 140/80 on the 800 GS, and expect to end up doing the same with the S10.
I've bought these tires from Heindl Engineering (in Ohio): http://www.heindlengineering.com/Online_Store/heidenau_tires.htm
and Basin Motorcycle Works (in Colorado): http://www.basinmotorcycleworks.com/
Given the somewhat higher weight of the S10, I don't expect the K 60s to last quite as long as my last set on the 800 GS, but I'm looking forward to testing this theory at length. ;D
Chris
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What, 19,000 miles on a set of knobbies on a GS800? That is incredible! I am lucky to get 5000 miles on any tire and that is on a Strom. I would be expecting maybe 4000 - 4500 on my S10 when I get it. Maybe I need to look into these K60s.
How is the grip on the road?
I assume it must be a big compromise to get that kind of mileage on a knobby.
How is the grip on the road?
I assume it must be a big compromise to get that kind of mileage on a knobby.
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I think the road grip is great - better than the D606s I had on my KLR. ;D To be fair, the 606s on my KLR had about 6K miles on them and still had plenty of tread left when the engine blew up. Even with an aftermarket (Cogent Dynamics) rear shock, I could easily drag the pegs, centerstand, and now and then, even the Happy Trails panniers with those tires. (Twisty bit of road on the way to Manic 5 and the Trans Lab).
The 140 turns in a bit quicker than the 150; I was tentative initially, but after the first 4K on the tires, scraping the centerstand, sidestand, or pegs on the 800 GS is not unusual. Wet traction has been fine, but I am quite conservative in wet road conditions. If I spent time in serious mud or sand, a 606 or TKC 80 front would be preferable.
First heard of these tires while following several South African forums. From what I've seen and read, if a bike, tire, or equipment get thumbs up there, it will do great here. The riding conditions in both South Africa and Australia seem to be dual sport test beds made in heaven.
Chris
The 140 turns in a bit quicker than the 150; I was tentative initially, but after the first 4K on the tires, scraping the centerstand, sidestand, or pegs on the 800 GS is not unusual. Wet traction has been fine, but I am quite conservative in wet road conditions. If I spent time in serious mud or sand, a 606 or TKC 80 front would be preferable.
First heard of these tires while following several South African forums. From what I've seen and read, if a bike, tire, or equipment get thumbs up there, it will do great here. The riding conditions in both South Africa and Australia seem to be dual sport test beds made in heaven.
Chris
I'm still scatching my head 20,000 miles. Thanks for the link as I will be looking further into these tires.
Planning a 3-4 week tour and these tires sound prfect.
Planning a 3-4 week tour and these tires sound prfect.
EricV
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Warning - old post revival.
After reading a ton on this forum and ADV about tires that would do dirt and pavement, and last for more than 4-6k, I started searching for some Heidenau tires in our sizes and making some calls. I found a couple of dealers that had ONE 150/70B-17 left, but not a 110/80B-19 to go with it, then pinged several dealers from here http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/dealersnew.html.
Ended up at http://www.emototires.com/ and they not only had them in stock, but were cheaper too! Bonus, shipping was half of the other shop in Tucson that had just a rear. Jose, ( the internet sales dude), was great to deal with and he shipped the tires the same day I ordered, emailed me a tracking # and the tires showed up the next day! Pretty good service.
So if you want to order these now, instead of waiting for the next shipment to arrive in July, you might want to give them a call. Just a satisfied customer, no vested interest.
These tires look pretty nice and if they last like others have said, I'll be pretty happy for my mixed use. Heck, even my wife got excited and wet after checking the Heidenau tires out. :-\ Now she wants some for her baby GS.
After reading a ton on this forum and ADV about tires that would do dirt and pavement, and last for more than 4-6k, I started searching for some Heidenau tires in our sizes and making some calls. I found a couple of dealers that had ONE 150/70B-17 left, but not a 110/80B-19 to go with it, then pinged several dealers from here http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/dealersnew.html.
Ended up at http://www.emototires.com/ and they not only had them in stock, but were cheaper too! Bonus, shipping was half of the other shop in Tucson that had just a rear. Jose, ( the internet sales dude), was great to deal with and he shipped the tires the same day I ordered, emailed me a tracking # and the tires showed up the next day! Pretty good service.
So if you want to order these now, instead of waiting for the next shipment to arrive in July, you might want to give them a call. Just a satisfied customer, no vested interest.
These tires look pretty nice and if they last like others have said, I'll be pretty happy for my mixed use. Heck, even my wife got excited and wet after checking the Heidenau tires out.
:-\ Now she wants some for her baby GS.
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EricV
Thank's for the info they do look great!!!!
Thank's for the info they do look great!!!!
This is there old style tire, the newer one has more of a solid center rib.EricV said:Warning - old post revival.
After reading a ton on this forum and ADV about tires that would do dirt and pavement, and last for more than 4-6k, I started searching for some Heidenau tires in our sizes and making some calls. I found a couple of dealers that had ONE 150/70B-17 left, but not a 110/80B-19 to go with it, then pinged several dealers from here http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/dealersnew.html.
Ended up at http://www.emototires.com/ and they not only had them in stock, but were cheaper too! Bonus, shipping was half of the other shop in Tucson that had just a rear. Jose, ( the internet sales dude), was great to deal with and he shipped the tires the same day I ordered, emailed me a tracking # and the tires showed up the next day! Pretty good service.
So if you want to order these now, instead of waiting for the next shipment to arrive in July, you might want to give them a call. Just a satisfied customer, no vested interest.
These tires look pretty nice and if they last like others have said, I'll be pretty happy for my mixed use. Heck, even my wife got excited and wet after checking the Heidenau tires out.