Putting some knobbies on my 1200 GS - limited options but like the TKC 80 etc. and the comparable Karoo. Anyone with experience with these two or the newer slightly more road oriented Karoo (T)??? Tread wear etc. road holding (road and dirt) by comparison to each other is what I am looking for.

Any comments or opinions would be appreciated.

Dean

I haven't tried the Karoo because I have been so happy with the TKC 80 on my F650GS Dakar.

I get between 7,000 - 8,000 km from the TKC 80 riding mainly 2 up, 70-80% on gravel & dirt roads.

They handle mud very well and are also very good on pavement.

Sorry I can't give you any direct comparison info but hope this helps a little.

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Bill Atchison
Red Deer, Alberta Canada
www.backroadexplorers.ca

Thanks for the info - I have heard a number of good things about the tkc80's.

The new version of the Karoo (T) "looks" to be a much closer match to the conti's than the more aggressive standard Karoo. So I am trying to decipher which one might be a bit better.

Of interest - here in Ontario they price out within 2 dollars of each other...

Thanks,

Hi guys the TKC80 are my favorite tires but I never had them on my GS , if of you hae trying on any big bike I will be curious to know if they vibrate too much for the passenger.

I have the Karoo "T" s on my F650GS... very nice in the dirt/gravel and good handling on the road too . I was looking for TKC's but they were nearly double the price $$$. I have about 1K on them and mostly blacktop commuting so far. I am sticking with the Metzlers as I have had a real good run with them before. If the price gets better I'd like to try the TKC's next year...

~Willy~

I've had the TKC's on for over 50 thou on my GS. It's a good compromise for tarmac and dirt roads, even performs well in rain. But back in Europe I prefer the Tourance. No dirtroads here :-(

What I copied from the bikers in Oz was to fit a TKC in front for sand & gravel and a Metzeler Toutance rear for better mileage. IMO an excellent combination. Unfortunately in Germany you are forced to fit the same brand front & rear :-(

Another tip I got in Oz was to turn the front TKC after 9 - 10,000 K's, before the knobbies show this saw-tooth wear which is tha cause for increasing vibrations. Turning the tyre in it's mid-life span gives you about 20,000 K's in front.

Hope this helps.
Hans

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Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

If that's the case, then personally I'd go for the TKC80's...

I've used both (that is the Karoo T version) in the last few months, and while the new Karoo is basically just Metzlers version of the TKC, I found the wear was more uniform on the front TKC (my current 6000+ mile Karoo now looks like a worn MX knobblie, with the alternate lugs flat, like a cog...)

I too found the Karoo not quite as confidence inspiring on the tarmac or dirt when new either, but it did settle down nicely on road (never quite trusted it on dusty trails mine you) and offered predictable handling. I didn't notice the noise particularly, but then I was on my XR650R!

I initially fitted TKC80's when I bought that bike last year, and on tarmac and dry dirt piste/trails, found them excellent, athough the rear was flat by 3000 miles, the front was still in reasonable shape, with more regular wear than the latest Karoo... I would add that this wear was from some pretty tough and spirited riding - twisty mountain roads and a lot of dirt road/trails, and on an XR650 which eats tyres - more gentle use should see more modest wear rates as others have stated...

If the price was significantly different, the then Metzlers are a worthwhile alternative, but for a couple of dollars more, I'd simply go for the TKCs...???

xxx

Have you looked at the Heidenau K60 or MEFO Explorer?
Dave.

read and weep..... everything you want to know about tyres for the GS over on the UKGSER website: GS Tyres FAQ - ::. UKGS'er.com .::

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...on the road to nowhere...

Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com

I have just put on a set of Karoo (t)'s onto my Tiger 955 after coming from Torances. To date I have only done ~ 1000km. I was nervous on them at first with 'blocks on a big bike'. A couple of weeks ago I did an off road course (great for confidence) and came home the long way some 4 hrs ride with good tar (very fast and winding roads) and high speed (80km/h) dirt roads. The bike handled very well on the dirt roads and well as on the training ride trails during the course. When I got home I was surprised when I checked the tyres and found the chicken strips were only 10mm from the edge of the rear tyre. The tyres did feel a slightly different with slight vibration at low speed (20km/h) but at higher speed they were great no vibration or additional noise that I could notice. I was looking at the TKC's at the time but price made the difference. At this early stage I am very happy with the Karoos

I can only comment on the TKC 80 which I have used on two trips from UK and S France to Morocco and back on a Honda Dominater and a 640 Adventure. An all round excellent tyre for an o/l trip. They grip well on tarmack when warm (be careful in the wet though) provide adequate levels of grip off road and are really TOUGH Tyres. I saw between 4,000 and 5,000 miles riding solo with light luggage on the above bikes. Expect between 5,000 and 8,000 miles on a GS (tubed tyres run cooler than tubed). NO Punctures!!

I cant say a bad word about these tyres, will be my first choice every time!

Kev

Er...PJ - according to your profile, you're hanging out in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

How the heck are you gonna get tires - of any kind?

Here in South Africa, I can't find TKC 80's. I'm going with what I can find, not necessarily what I want.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand