YBR 125 on snow
 

Hi there,
I'm retiring my Guzzi winter hack from regular duty, and I am considering an YBR 125 as my new winter ride. 10 bhp and a pretty good reputation for being a strong runner is in my opinion an OK starting point. 18" wheels also gives a few winter tyre options.

Has anyone been riding the YBR on snow/ice? If so, on which tyres?

Thanks!

I haven't ridden your model bike , but I ride all winter on ice and snow with my XT6's and have tried a pile of tires for ice use. Shrinko 700's have been some of my best ones as were the 244's. I liked IRC TR8 front but my favorite is Pirreli 486 MX hard scorpion pro's.http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/mo..._hard_486.html For the cold, softer tire that get poor wear mileage are the best.

I also like to increase grip by taking a cutter and putting hundreds of cuts in the tread blocks at all different angles so there is thousands of biting edges, as in the picture below. This tire was by far the best but it was some oem version that I have yet to find anywhere.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/854/x6ni.jpg

I have never ridden a YBR125 on snow but my XR125L is the best bike I have ever used on the white stuff, light weight and little power make it very manageable, I think any knobbly tyre with lowered pressure in the rear will be fine.

Only a couple knobby tires that I've tried have been any good in snow and ice. D606 and T63's were absolutely dangerous, even at 5-8psi. K270's were also not very good , too hard but better when snipped.I can't remember the other one I tried, I believe it was a Sahara 3, was also very slippery. It takes a certain softer compound that doesn't get hard(thus slippery) in the cold. Low pressure is a must no matter the tire.
Lighter bikes will probably help in one way(less tippy or top heavyness) but worse in another as far as putting down pressure on the tire , but easier to go through stuff.

Thanks guys. I have used Mitas/Trelleborg Army Special previously (they are made from a softer, winter adapted compund), but I cannot get them in the right size for the YBR. As winters over here are pretty cold, I'd need as soft compound as I can get. That cutter tip was great, thanks JJ!

Trelleborg is really good, your rim is to wide?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8EgkK9c0xo

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/mak...til-1674293397

https://kevinscyclenortonma.wordpres...orcycle-tires/

I've heard about those Army Specials being some of the best winter tires.


Studded tires are a PITA when the road gets bare, I much prefer sipped tires over studded for mixed roads. I'll run a row or 2 of studs along the edge tread blocks so if the bike starts to tip they then grab , but upright and mild corners nothing but rubber touches. I don't even consider going around corners fast enough that I have to lean. I do keep 1 bike fully studded for the days it is snowing.:mchappy:

No, the Army Specials only come in 17/18 rear and 21 front, while the YBR is 18 front/rear but too narrow for the Army Special, it seems.