Hi all

I have a 10k kms trip planned for the summer (lap of the Baltic) on my Husqvarna 701. Got to ride from the UK to Lubeck (Germany) on pavement, TET half way up Sweden, then Norway (pavement), Finland TET, then pavement from Estonia home.

I have limited time so would like a tyre that will do the whole distance and my priority is grip, rather than pavement manners (within reason). I have some TKC80s I like (used them lots in Africa, so don’t know what they are like in the wet/mud) but only on pavement in the UK. Don’t think they’ll do the distance though?

Someone recommended Anakee Wilds - anyone used them? If so what mileage did you get?

From the reading i’ve done so far I am concerned that they, the Pirelli MT60 and the Mitas E-09 might also struggle on mileage?

Mitas E-07 might do better but at what cost on the wet TET sections?

What would you fit and why?

Cheers
Andy

I’ve used Hiedenau K60 Scouts for years due to their longevity, they would easily last those miles. However, off road, I only use them on dry, rocky trails as they’re no good for mud. I’m looking forward to trying out the new K60 Rangers, the reviews are favourable towards good all round traction, if that’s coupled with a tyre that lasts half as long as the Scout then it’s a yes from me.

One option is to get a good mud tyre, I’m sure most would last to Estonia, then stick on a pair of cheap tyres for the leg home.

Plenty of choice for tyres these days, sounds like a great trip - enjoy.

Another vote for K60's. Work well on snow and gravel for sure. Mud I'd say it's as good as any unless you go for competition tyres that really won't last the distance.

Andy

Any reason why you don't want to do the Baltic sections of the TET?

Anyway, you're welcome in Estonia of course, but here's a tip - there is a ferry from Helsinki to Travemünde that will save you a lot of pavement miles.

https://www.finnlines.com/ferry-trip...inki-timetable

In Tallinn, Motodepoo has a good selection of tires in stock, and a large workshop where you can usually get them mounted quickly: https://motodepoo.ee/kulu-ja-varuosa...hvid-ja-veljed

Thanks all, that’s helpful.

Would love to do them too. Unfortunately I am working on a time budget (I only have 31 days for the trip) and have never been to Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania. So i decided to spend my first time focused on exploring some of the cities - Tallinn, Tartu, Riga and Vilnius, picking up some of the recommended roads between them. I only have 5-6 days for this bit of the trip and figured this was the right compromise. I also enjoy a balance of off road and scenic pavement - i’d just like to get a feel for the countryside.

Sound sensible? Always open to challenge if there’s a better way! If it is ok maybe i could show you my proposed route and get your suggestions?

Yeah, absolutely.

5-6 days for the lot is a bit ambitious. My preliminary recommendations would be:

1) Tallinn has the best medieval city core, with Vilnius second and Riga third. If you've seen Tallinn Old Town, you probably don't need to spend much time in Riga or Vilnius. (Riga has a couple good Art Deco districts that are very worthwhile if you're an architecture buff.) Send me a PM when you're in Tallinn, I'll take you on some of the great roads around the north coast.

2) Tartu has a great scene and vibe, it's a student town of just the right size. There's some excellent riding in South Estonia. If you want a good asphalt detour that eventually takes you to the Latvian border, I'd do road 141 past the Aviation Museum > 115 Old Postal Road and the Road Museum > 71 Kanepi-Otepää > 175 Pühajärve-Puka. This was part of my old Sunday morning circle and you end up right on the highway to Valga.
Here's a map: https://goo.gl/maps/KYL9XJ41Zmk6mbCJ9

3) In North Latvia, I'd suggest that once you hit Valmiera, you veer off through Gauja National Park towards Cesis and Sigulda (especially the latter - there is a cable car over a gorge, an alpine slide, Turaida castle, etc.).

4) South of Riga, check out the Kirkilai observation towers near Birzhai (which has a big craft brewery tradition, apparently). I'd aim for Kaunas rather than Vilnius - it was the interwar capital, has cool architecture and nightlife, and is much less of a detour to the Polish border. But if you've got time, then check out the forests and hills around Anykschiai and then Ignalina, where they have a decommissioned Chernobyl-type nuclear power plant (where the HBO series was filmed) but also lots of lovely connected lakes and canoe rentals.

Great information, thanks AnTyx. Really looking forward to my visit (like many not been on a decent trip since 2019). Have pm’d you a map link - appreciate your help.

Your inbox is maxed out so I'll copy it here

Hey,

Okay, I added some stuff to your map.

In EE, I basically gave you a whole alternate road... The one you drew got updated as well with one particular section in the north that's known locally as a bikers' road, and then further south you swing to the other side of the highway and go through some lakes.

The eastern alternate road is actually the "old" road to Tartu, and it starts with some country roads including a stretch that was actually a reserve Soviet bomber airstrip. Then it takes you through Järva-Jaani where there is a sanctuary (museum-scrapyard) of interesting old vehicles. Then it goes dead east, and the last section before lake Peipus - Tudulinna-Rannapungerja - is probably the best set of curves I've seen in Estonia. Then you go down a nice scenic road by the lake coast, past a nobleman's folly castle (very pretty and popular for weddings and the like), and into Tartu. The endpoint is the highest point in Tartu, a cool old ruin. It's safe to leave your bike there - it's right across the street from the Supreme Court.

South from Tartu, that's roughly what I described in my post, and joins up with your route just before the border.

In North Latvia, it's what I described - the national park around Cesis-Sigulda. I added the Riga Motor Museum, it's a very good one for cars and bikes. And it terminates in the Art Nouveau district. If you're looking for a bed in Riga, I added the Central Hostel as a point - it's cheap and decent, with secure courtyard parking.

From Riga, I got you started at the dam of the Riga Hydroelectric plant that you can ride across. Then to Kirkilai and from there to Anuksciai, and down to Trakai Castle, then into Vilnius. Again if you need a decent hostel, the Fortuna Hostel has secure parking and is right outside the Old Town gates - I've stayed there myself as well.

Amazing, thanks so much again AnTyx. Sounds brilliant.

If you’re ever visiting the UK (or South Africa) and I can return the favour, let me know.

(Off to sort my inbox now - i hadn’t realised)

Hey Antyx, great info. I travelled the Baltics 3 years ago on my bike and enjoyed it so much that I'll return this Summer to show my wifey around - but this time in my micro bus. So I'll incorporate some of your tips for sure.

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

In case anyone else wants to see the route information AnTyx kindly shared with me, here's a link that anyone should be able to view (or download).

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...d3&usp=sharing

Tyre life is heavily dependent upon how you ride. I did Southern Spain through Morocco, Mauritania and down to Dakar, a little bit of touring around Senegal then all the way back to the UK on one set of TKC80s, and that was using a BMW 1200GSA. I was solo and aware I was a long way from home, so being a good boy with my riding style.

I reckon that was 9,500km. Front still had life, rear was borderline legal.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Hello

Just the KMs that someone esle did is useless to you.
Only the relations in KMs of different tyres by the same rider can give you an idea what you might get out of a tyre.
How many KM did last the TCK80s on your bike and riding style?

sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

Hi Sushi

I used maybe half a rear TKC80 on a two week trip in South Africa the last time I was out (maybe 2.000kms?), riding a mixture of gravel and pavement (30/70?). My sense was that actually it was the faster pavement riding that wore the tyre hardest. I was up against it time wise one day and had to do a few hundred km at 120 kmph - never went quicker than this.

I am not an aggressive rider on or off road, but I am pushing 110kgs which I guess wears the tyre harder.

On the basis of that experience i would not have expected to get more than 5kms on the rear.

Hello

If you expect 5k km on a TCK80, I don't think a similar 50/50 tyre will last you 10k km.

On my RTW I had several sets of TCK80, average front 15-16 k km and rear 8-9 k km.
But that are my numbers on a XT660Z in really RTW mode, doing all to last the tyre as long as possible.
Ones I had instead of 130/80-17 a TCK80 in 140/80-21 that lastet 30-50% more than with the smaller size.

My longest lasting combo was front TCK80 90/90-21 rear K60scout 140/80-21, around 18 k km with turning the front tyre half way, russia tarmac and mongolia tracks.

K60scout is my favorite tyre on longdistance tarmac, duable on dry tracks, no fun on mud.

My advice, take the tyre with the desired traction and change halfway on the trip, it's in europe anyway.

sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere