Hello to all, just joined and am happy to be here
I've just purchased an 08 DR650 and would like as much advice as possible.
The mods I'll be making are: DJ carb kit, airbox mod, Renazco seat, taller bars, windscreen(not sure which one), Pat Walsh luggage rack, Revpack luggage, skidplate, and some other small mods.
I'll be taking it across the USA in September along US Rt. 20. My goal is 300 miles a day with a 12 day trip window. I'm looking to replace the Trailwinngs with a 80% on 20% off tire. I've been doing lots of homework and would like some feedback on the following:
Kenda K761
Duro Median
Pirelli MT90 A/T
Thanks in advance, happy to be part of the gang

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Metzeler tourance! great!
greetings!

Hello from the land of the -50F windchill today. I have actualy had some good use out of the Duro's for the price, otherwise the Metzlers.

Over 500 pages .. some of it on tyres
the DR650 thread - ADVrider

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Frank, thanks for the heads up, I've been an inmate @ advrider and thumpertalk for some time now. I've looked through most all the threads and that's where i came up with my three choices. The Metzler's are great tires but are 4th on the list.

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

IRC GP110 (not GP1)
Mefo Explorer 99

Both tires get reasonable mileage and are good on-road.

LoneRider,
Yup, I looked at the GP110, it was a toss up to the Kenda's, I'll take another look at them, thought about the Mefo's but apparently the only person to import them is constantly out of stock. Know any pace I can get them?

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Lefty, the Trail Wings it came with are a great 80/20 tire imho. I rode these all over the Yukon, NWT to the arctic. They are passable on dirt just not mud. Reasonable wear (7,000 rear) and no flats in 25,000k. Stick with them unless your on single track. I ride with a Mitas e9 now, but I am using it as almost a pure ditch pig.
I had good luck with trailwings on dirt roads. Good choice of bike.

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To a man with imagination, a map is a window to adventure.
Sir Francis Chichester

I want to thank all those who offered their help on the tires thing, I've found the tires I thought I couldn't get, MEFO 99's. My Suzuki dealer found some and ordered them for me today. They weren't on the list as I thought it would take months to get them.

I'll let you all know how they hold up x-country.

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Thanks from another,
Patrick

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Don't have much more to say at present...

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Though Patrick surely knows his stuff, and I appreciate his words of wisdom, I gotta disagree a tiny bit about the Trailwings.

My 07 Vstrom650 came with them, and I never liked them. Had the same rubbers on an Africa Twin before, and didnt like them on that bike, either. And they seem to wear very quickly, too.

Felt actually much the same on both machines; unpredictable, especially in the wet, a bit like having "knobblies" on. Didnt impress in the dry, either, and the front started to shake more and more when a bit leaned over, as they wore down. I checked the air pressures many times (I normally do it 2-3 times a week) and even tried a bit different readings, but that did little to change the fundamental feeling.

Changed for Metzeler Z6's next, and Michelin Anakees after that, and boy does the Suzuki feel much better with both of these! The Z6's were just perfect for twisty roads, and very, very good to ride in the rain. Michelin may not be on quite that level (The Metz is a full-on street tyre) but it still suits my bike (and my way of riding, and where I ride) better than the original 'Stones.

The Anakees last (especially on the back) at least 2 times longer than the Trailwings have, AND they offer either more grip, or more confidence. I am able to use the back tyre's tread pattern completely on both sides (ok, maybe 1-2mm could be missing) even quite easily... something which I wouldnt have dared to try with those 'Stones (would feel Im going to crash!) The bike feels so much more stable & confidence-inspiring with the Metz or with the Michelins, than it did with the original tyres.

This is just how I felt. And Im talking street-riding now, never even tested them on the dirt properly. Surely someone with more offroad-experience might have a totally different opinion. I might sometime try the newer (Battlewing?) but the Trailwings Im done with, for my use there are so much better options available.

Bad news:
MEFO's out of stock, thought they had them, and didn't. They won't be in until late March.

Good news:
Ordered GP-110's almost half the price and I can get them anywhere I travel x-country.
Thanks LoneRider

Lefty

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Did you mean 'GP110', and not 'GP1'?

I love it, you guys just hi-jacked my thread, way cool

I bought the GP-110's that's what I meant...............

Thanks for the help

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08 DR650
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener