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  #1  
Old 28 Apr 2004
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Michelin Desert Mileage?
How long will a pair of Mich Deserts last on my XR650L, if I was to ride only on tarmac?

I have heard conflicting reports that they will either:

1) Be completely useless within four autoroute minutes... OR
2) Prove to outlast the bike, being made from some sort of rubbery titamium alloy.

Who has personal experience then? How do they wear? When did they start to feel really 'orrible?

I ask because I bought a pair today.

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  #2  
Old 28 Apr 2004
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Hi POB
The deserts are brilliant tires - on a track. They last for ever (5-7k rear, 10k+ front) and it's nearly inpossible to seriousely damage them. I'm afraid they are not a good choice on tarmac. They're too hard and they have a tendency to slide in each corner. This is getting a lot worser if the tarmac's wet, that's like riding on egs... Additionaly the rear of the bike starts to sway like hell at ca 110kmh (depending on presure, age and tarmac), but maybe taht's better on your XR650 than it is with KTM's. I had them fitted on my last Oz trip and the rear tyre lasted for more than 5kkm including the hardest pist I've ever ridden. Brilliant in sand and gravel but difficult to ride on tarmac.

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  #3  
Old 28 Apr 2004
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POB,
I have used several sets on Cagiva/Ducati Elefant 900's I have gotten 3500 miles out of the rears and they wear fairly square. The front had to be replaced at the same mileage as it did not wear evenly. I don't like the fronts and have switched to Dunlop 606's. I also am presently using TKC 80's (Continentals) as they work on pavement, much better handling. I am not known for my mileage and usually replace early. So you might get a lot more out of them, especially given the XR.
Allen.
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Old 29 Apr 2004
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Hi Pob
I have the same thoughts as Kudi. He seems to have the same experience with the deserts as I have on my Xr 600.
Great tyres if you are willing to put up with bad grip on tarmac in the wet. The km's range is the same as I get aswell. Another plus point is the fact they are so strong you can ride them long after all the nobs have worn away in the centre which is a pluss point for travelling.

Andy


[This message has been edited by andygray (edited 28 April 2004).]
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Old 29 Apr 2004
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Generally excellent news then. I was looking for, above all else, a robust tyre that would avoid punctures and damage. Good grip on piste / sand was another requirement. The distance you guys have been getting (I assume it's kms) should be nearly enough for Tunisia > Turkey.

The riding on tarmac comment was hypothetical, as two of the things I am trying to escape from with my trip are tarmac and rain. Hopefully the road abilities of the Deserts will not be much of an issue. If I come up against rain and tarmac, it will be time for a tea break - unlikely in the Middle East and Egypt in summer!

I'm still surprised at the size of the rear - and they claim it's a 140! I think I will have to chop off the chainguard mountings (did you have to do that on your XR600 Andy?), but I'm not bothered about that.

I will change the almost-worn Avon Distanzias I have now in Genoa, and have some TKC80's sent to Istanbul for when I arrive. In the meantime, I will use the Deserts for what they were designed for; pootling through the dunes at 15mph, falling off every 10m.

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Old 29 Apr 2004
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Yes, mileage was km. You bought the right tyres, I can confirm, they're made for creeping through sand falling down every 2 minutes... my record is 5 times in 2 hours ;-) Nevertheless, if you expect difficult pists don't miss to fit heavy duty inner tubes and tube stopers for long sandy parts on less tyre pressure.
Enjoy your trip, sounds like a challenge!
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Old 29 Apr 2004
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Yes they sure are big, width and hight. Love em. The only problem I have is jiggling the wheel in past the disc and chain gaurd but it does fit. Oh, and changing them with 8" tyre levers calls for determination.
Enjoy the sand you lucky sod.
Andy
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Old 5 May 2004
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Old 13 May 2004
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These tyres are good, I got 11000 k,s from the rear on a ktm with some very hard fast riding unloaded on rocks and lots of sand, they do get get a bit slippery in the wet on the tar ,but oil on the west africian roads are a problem as well.
The last 1000 k,s was done 2 up on the KTM , rode really easy and bit boring.
In west africa Toni Togo has mich deserts for 99000 cfa in Lome- Togo, along with a goo selection of KTM spares. Need any info Mail me.


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  #10  
Old 19 Jun 2005
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Used Mich Deserts for 26,000km London-Cape Town via both west & East Africa & I swear by them.
My wife and I were both on KTM's ... over the whole distance had only 2 punctures between us!! - both because I hadn't put in a rim lock on the front tyre so when I reduced the pressure for soft sand the tyre rotated on the rim tearing the tube valve.
Only downside is that the front wears a bit fast on tarmac when you are loaded - I found the best combination was a Desert on rear and Metzler Karoo on front (not quite as good in deep sand but acceptable). The rear got great mileage ... at least 12,000km.
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