Everybody loves a Tire or Oil Thread. It is something everyone will have an opinion on!:innocent:

Oil and tyres
 

Yes, very true! Strange how oil and tyres are so bike specific.
I guess Rossi would express it very well.

Now a thread about fuel octane or whatever won't get wrapped up in the bike itself, but these two consumables.......

Ok, I'll jump in, how about Amsoil for my DR650?

Don't know if you're still looking for tires, but here's my experience. I just started the US portion of my trip. I've done 3,700 miles so far on my DR650, with Scorpion MT90 AT front and rear. I weigh about 200lbs, and luggage including the weight of the boxes is about 80lbs. I'd say my average speed has been around 60 mph. Lots of twisties down the eastern half of the country, and about 800 miles of long and boring straight line high speed drones. I definitely have not taken it easy in terms of acceleration and braking. The front has held up well and I see no reason to replace it. The center tread on the rear has about 2mm of rise left. (not sure if that is the proper term for it). It still looks good for road use, but I would not want to take it anywhere else. I have essentially no off-road experience with these tires, unless you consider hard-pack gravel off-road. On-road, these tires have been a blast and I couldn't have asked for more grip.

On another note, I had my bike jetted for sea-level, with the usual open-top airbox, DJ 155 main, fuel-air screw 2.5 turns out, Dyno jet needle 4th notch from the top, stock exhaust. I averaged 42 mpg across the country. The bike ran flawlessly, until just outside of Denver, Colorado at about 5,400ft. Air-fuel screw adjustments weren't enough to make it run well again, so I put the stock needle and jet back in, and it runs a hair lean at 5,400ft still.

Hope this info is helpful, or at least info to throw into the mix.

Jeff

Patrick,
I'm heading from Connecticut to Argentina. I'm in Salt Lake City, Utah at the moment and will be leaving here in a day or so. I had a blast in Colorado, and I'll be going back to the Southwest portion of the state as I head South. I made a simple website: Journey to the Bottom of the World Essentially none of my friends and family ride bikes, so the journal isn't too bike oriented, but I hope to contribute my experiences here or answer any inquiries. If you have a chance, take a look and let me know what you think. I haven't added the link as a signature line yet, figuring my newbie adventure would be a bore for some of the more hardened bikers. Btw, how did the IRC in the pic work out for you? I'm putting a TKC up front in Arizona, still undecided on the rear.

In regard to the original thread, the stock jetting with the air box opened at the top did pretty well up to 12,200ft. Any higher than that and I think I'll have to take the airbox cover off. Gas mileage went to %#!? at that altitude though, especially at highway speeds. (36mpg) With Stock jetting I usually get around 50 mph at moderate speeds. This may be common knowledge, but since I'm from Connecticut, I wasn't sure how altitude would affect the bike.

I have been searching many websites for the "ultimate and definitive" tire list...ha! ha!!..fat chance of that ...but I have seen some really interesting comment. I am presently looking for replacement rubber for the Dunlop Trailmax on my Africa Twin. I am going to ride 5000km's through Namibia in a few weeks time and I will have my 11yr old son pillion with me. Of the 5000km I will be doing around 1500 on tar the rest will be gravel roads with the odd patch of sand.
I have been looking at TKC's, Pirelli Scorpions, T63's etc etc...the list is unending. I then had a conversation with a gentleman from "Tours For Africa" a company here in South Africa that takes individuals adventure biking all over Africa and they do the occasional Cape to Cairo run. He is in the Adventure biking business has tons and years of experience...he swears by Anakee tires ...150's on the back 90's up front and he says you can go anywhere barring the worst "fesh-fesh". Looking at these tires they are quite "road" (as in tar) oriented so I am a little confused as I do not have much experience with Dual sporting. I have an XR650R that I ride off-road and that is a simple choice Dunlop D908RR agressive tire on the back and a resonable front MX tire and off you go.
I would appreciate any comments on the Anakees and or recomendations specifically for the Africa Twin. Thanks in advance

I just ordered this combo. Don't know how it will work out but you can't beat the prices!

Rear: Cheng Shin C858 5.10X17
Front: Kings Tire KT963 3.00X21