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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 26 Aug 2007
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ive used heidenau k60 enduros so far, they stick like glue to dry roads (had my pillions foot scraping around a round about lol) its a job to loose them in the wet and off road there a fairly competent trail tyre! shame the rears only last about 3-4000km!
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  #2  
Old 17 Jan 2008
BDG BDG is offline
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Can't comment on RTW stuff, but the best combination of tyres i've used for a couple of weeks in Morocco on road, off road, everything from rocks to playing in the big dunes on an XR650R is a Dunlop D908RR rear, with a Pirelli MT21 front.

Works well on and off road and lasts. Good all round compromise for me.

Michelin Deserts dodgy on road, especially if wet, though great off road.

The Dunlop D908RR front is horrible on the road, makes the bike very unstable at speed.

Pirelli MT21 rear wears faster off road than the Dunlop D908RR.

(Michelin T63 on mates bike work pretty good but front not as good as the MT21).

Because the riding is more of 'a mad thrash for a couple of weeks' rather than RTW, off road performance has been higher than ultimate longevity.



Also used TKC80's on a KTM 950 on and off road in Europe and very pleased with them.
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  #3  
Old 17 Jan 2008
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I use the Heidenau "Catspaw' trail
Quote:
Originally Posted by fuggie View Post
ive used heidenau k60 enduros so far, they stick like glue to dry roads (had my pillions foot scraping around a round about lol) its a job to loose them in the wet and off road there a fairly competent trail tyre! shame the rears only last about 3-4000km!
Like you I LOVE the Heidenau in the DRY....... sticks like Snot to a Hanky!
in the wet, on my XT600 and me weighing 140Kg and not an inexperienced loony, I find them a little, well, 'uneasy', they aren't what I call dangerous, but I wouldn't want to push em too far.....

Off Road, Rocks, gravel, Dry Tracks Excellent 10/10

Off Road, Mud, grass, slippy stuff 7/10

Off Road,Dry, Plowed field, sandy about a foot deep ( Don't ask) 4/10

On Road, Dry 11/10

On Road, Wet, 6/10


Martyn
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  #4  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Em and Hame's Avatar
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Thumbs up Heidenau K60's
Chris,

I'm on my 4th set of Heidenau K60's now. 2-up on a '95 BM R1100GS throughout the Australian outback and South America. For me they're the best comprimise for off-road / on-road and durability. A great travel tyre.

For the BM size at least, the front (100/90-19) is actually a rear, therefore you have to turn it around. I get around 17,000kms to a rear and well over 20,000kms from a front. Well recommended.

Hamish
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  #5  
Old 20 Feb 2008
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Talking Pirelli Scorpians
I'm on my third set of Pirelli Scorpians on a KTM 950 Adventure. This is a great choice for this bike if you like to ride canyons with sport-bikes and go explore forest roads and two tracks. Good choice KTM. That's what this bike was designed for. I get about 5000 miles out of a set. Not a tire I'd use for long Xcountry pavement though.
I'm going to the Sierra Madre, Mexico and will start with fresh Dunlop D908RR rear and D606 front. We're trying to stay on dirt/sand/mud/rock all the way down and then slab it back when the tires are toast. I'll update in May.
GrayWolf
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  #6  
Old 10 Mar 2008
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Thumbs up TKC80 tyres in winter with metal studs
R100GS. I've put some car type metal winter studs in the inner rows of knobs (every other knobbly so not too many studs), not the outer rows. Improves performance in packed snow, ice & frost. Studs are short enough not to affect performance on bare tarmac, still good in wet & dry conditions. The tyre rubber is soft enough to let the metal studs project enough when needed. Cheers, ekr43
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