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Metzeler Tourance or Conti Escape? Metzeler Tourance or Conti Escape?
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 8 Oct 2012
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Metzeler Tourance or Conti Escape?
With my four year old Avon Distanzia rear tyre now perished to the point of MOT failure (I know, unbelieveable) I am in the market for a new rear tyre.

Am looking at Metzeler Tourance (£68) or Continental Escape for £62.

Tourance seems to be the established daddy of the touring tyre world, but I've never used them myself. Contis seem well liked but I've had a couple of rear TKC-80 failures that makes me suspicious.

Thoughts?

They are for an XT.

Matt
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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Depends entirely on where you're going to ride. Have you thought about Heidenau K60?
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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Grab your self some Heidenaus mate the K60 Scouts, they are the ducks nuts of the adventure riders bikes.

I am getting 25,000km out of a set and they perform very well in all th eterrain I have been through. Mind you the current set did get ripped to shreds in Mongolia, so I may not achieve the full 25k this time, but they have already done 15k and a lot of that was through Russia, Kazak, Kyrg and China before Mongolia, so they have my stamp of approval, for what that is worth

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Old 8 Oct 2012
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Should have said, almost exclusively for use on on tarmac. Occasional easy off-road.

Nice looking tyre, these Heidenau's, will have a look into it, see how much i can get 'em for.

Cheers,

Matt
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney View Post
Should have said, almost exclusively for use on on tarmac. Occasional easy off-road.
In that case I'd stick with Tourances as they'll last a little longer than Heidenau. OK off-road as long as you don't do too much riding in wet or muddy conditions.

heidenau | Search Results | muppix
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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OK, for ONLY road use, maybe try something else. These scouts have been tested in the wet, the twisties and the dirt and do the lot.

When they get towards the end of their life and maybe have a bit of squaring off, they are a bit noisy. I did the Stelvio at 22,00kms with some square off and they howled on every corner, shit I had fun, woke the natives LOL
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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One vote for K60´s from me also.
Just simply a great tire.
If you go for a long trip, get these tires.
For me rear tire lasted around 20k and front tire has now 26k and still good for few more thousands.
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Old 8 Oct 2012
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I have conti escapes on my Transalp. Best tyre I have fitted to the bike in over 100,000miles of riding it. They last ages - 15,000 from a rear, 20,000+ from a front, easy to fit being a proper tubeless design, cheap, wear evenly, excellent grip dry and wet, and best of all not overly sensitive to overbanding/white lines and stuff.

I had a couple of sets of tourances on the Transalp and while good new and having fab grip wet and dry, within a couple of thousand miles they seem to wear a bit square and then get very sensitive to overbanding and white lines. As they get very worn, the front tyre also gets noisy. A rear did last about 12K though, but the front not much more and was replaced at the same as the rears.

I have tourances as Original Equipment on my XT660R. Just 4,000miles on this bike but the tyres started the white line sensitivity thing at about 3K. When they need replacing I will be either fitting Conti Escapes or something a bit more off road oriented.

Trouble with opinions about tyres though, is that they are like arseholes: everyone has got one.
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Old 9 Oct 2012
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tyres.
If for road only then have a look at the Bridgestone BT023.
Much better manners than the Tourances I used to use and high mileage too.
Dave.
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Old 15 Oct 2012
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Many thanks for all the input folks. As it happens, I have decided to take my XT off the road for a rebuild and will go with either Conti Escapes or Heidenaus when its complete, depending on my wallet.

Cheers!

Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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Old 16 Oct 2012
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No to Tourance if any sand or loose gravel involved in your riding
Quote:
Originally Posted by muppix View Post
In that case I'd stick with Tourances as they'll last a little longer than Heidenau. OK off-road as long as you don't do too much riding in wet or muddy conditions.

heidenau | Search Results | muppix
or sand - 3 broken ribs
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