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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 Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 16 Jun 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beddhist
Michelin Anakee 90/90-21 & 130/80-17 on Suzi DR650SE, road use only, mixed use, some with luggage, some commuting.

Rear about 15500 km. bald on 1/3 of circumference, about 2mm left on the remainder, not sure why, didn't lock up the wheel that much. One puncture.

Front 17000km, 1-2mm left. One puncture (small wood splinter).

Both replaced with Mitas E07, 110 Euro for both.
Have now done the loop GB-Scandinavia-Baltics to Germany, plus some other trips, mostly loaded heavily. I'm very happy with the Mitas, good grip on the road, wet or dry. Haven't really done any mudplugging, only dry gravel. My skills are probably more limiting than the tyres there...

Rear has been replaced after 22000km, front is still fitted after 20000km, will probably last another 2-5000.

Tried fitting them to my R100GS, but couldn't get a tubeless version, despite Mitas web site listing one. Go figure...
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  #2  
Old 30 Jun 2006
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Bike - CCM 600, Tyres - Pirelli MT21

Quick 2000 mile trip to Alps and back including riding 10 or so of the mountain passes in the Grenoble area. Tyres just about new when I left. Front still ok (about half worn) but rear totally shot. Upside - great wet grip for a knobbly - I did just about 600 wet miles in one day with no "moments".
Interestingly the front knobbles have worn evenly whereas all my Michelin Desert front knobbles have worn into a kind of wedge shape.

Some of the other MT21 reports quote much higher milages but I'm not hard on tyres and I'm not sure how I could extend what I got by much.
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  #3  
Old 16 Jul 2006
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Trailmax

The Dunlop Trailmax tyres on my KLE500 lasted 1,500 miles! Felt appalling when they got hot something akin to getting a flat (which I did). I spent about half an hour off-road on them and they seemed OK, but couldn't really test them as they obviously didn't last long enough. Would not recommend them, except for weekend off-road enthusiasts. 1/10

Currently trying Avon Distanzias which certainly look up to the job. Haven't taken them on a long run yet, so nothing to report yet.

Update: Just put 2,500 miles on my Avon Distanzias and they look fine. Felt pretty good too and handled alpine mountain passes and German hail storms with great ease. They are a little vibby though, but that can be ignored. 7/10
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  #4  
Old 4 Nov 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beddhist
Rear has been replaced after 22000km, front is still fitted after 20000km, will probably last another 2-5000.
OK, have gone through another Mitas tyre, rear lasted again more than 20000km, front 29000km.

Unfortunately, due to a stuff-up by the Turkish dealer I now have a Metzeler Tourance. Looks more like a road tyre to me and the bike oversteers a little, which I don't like. My friend Mesut assures me that this tyre should last even longer. Time will tell...
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Old 4 Jul 2007
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Im using Metzeler Sahara 3's on my XT600E.

Good grip on dry roads but they do feel rather "buzzy".

They feel slippy and dont give me any confidence in the wet though.

Were very good on muddy fields, firetrack and gravel.

For road only there is no point, for dirt biast though, the TCK80's are better.
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  #6  
Old 4 Jul 2007
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Anakee ft/rr, good road tires
Tourance ft/rr, good road tires, long lasting
Scorpion ST ft/rr, good road tires
MT60 rr, a road tire, mileage sux
Levorin Dunas rr, a road tire, mileage sux
TKC80 ft/rr, great all-round tires, ft is long lasting
Mefo Explorer99 rr, reasonably long lasting, good all-round tire
Kenda 270 rr, mileage sux, don't like the feel
MT21 ft, good on and off road, low mileage
D606 rr, good on and off road, low mileage
Trail Wing (big bike design) ft/rr, good road tires
Trail Wing (midsize bike design) ft/rr, good road tires, resonably long lasting
IRC GP110 ft/rr, reasonably long lasting, inexpensive, my favorites all-round tires
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Old 5 Jul 2007
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I have Trailwings TW301 and TW302 fitted to one of our bikes and I don't see what warrants all the negative publicity. Why "Deathwings". They last longer then MT21's I've been told, they are comfortable on paved roads, they do their job on gravel. Their pattern is not too different to the factory fitted IRC TR8 tyres specificed for our XR250's with a fairly good "knobbliness". Yes they aren't Deserts but hey, we are on small ligth bikes and only going at low speeds.

I just feel for their price they are definelty value for money...feel free to sling insults and correct me in my ways!!!

I have Mitas EO7's fitted to the other bike. Very good on road dry and wet but will be useless in mud as tread to close together although not tested that yet.
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Old 12 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Rider View Post
IRC GP110 ft/rr, reasonably long lasting, inexpensive, my favorites all-round tires
Bob, there were some worn GP110s on my '00 DR650 when I first got it and I replaced them before I could really give them a valid trial. How do they do in sand and loose gravel? So far, I've been very happy with the D606s we have on the bikes now for a heavier offroad emphasis, but think the GP110 would be a better all-around tire. Would you be happy with them on places like the sandy bottom areas on the White Rim? Thanks!
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  #9  
Old 10 Aug 2007
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tt600r tyres

bridgestone bt 45 =tarmac wet/dry great,wet mud/grass crap,hardpack/gravel ok.
bridgestone gritty=tarmac crap,mud/wet grass good,gravel/hardpack ok.
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Old 10 Aug 2007
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On my R80gs I used Avon Distanzia's for my 06 trip to follow the Dakar, front was well worn and the back had done 9500miles and less than half worn when I noticed cracking around the blocks (believe there was a bad batch). Not over keen on wet roads but still using distanzia's, on the trip I was carrying a fair bit of gear and I am well overweight! pavement/gravel roads only has I am not prepared to wrestle the bar-steward offroad. The names Ede, not Peter-hansel.
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