Tyre choice for adventure riding? (Mixing road and off-road)

[Skyrich]

I had a set of Metzeler Tourances on my 1200GS - got 1200km out of the set. Replaced with TKZ80s for a trip down south - they were a lot more stable offroad and I had a lot more confidence on the bike. Got 7000km on the set (2 up, fully luggage). I have replaced them with another set as I prefer them offroad to the Metzelers.

Cheers
Rich

[terbang]

I see my Navigator has an 'Avon Distanzia' on the rear. Anyone have any views on them?

[rick27]

I reckon ya can't go past Dunlop 606 front and rear!

[Zukin]

Howdy

I recently put on a T63 tyre onto the rear of my DRZ.
What can I say!!

Brilliant

It is good on the road, not to noisey, and seems to hold the road well (even though the bike is underpowered), on the gravel it is fantastic, it works really good, again holding on, but will slide when you want it to
It was really good in the deep loose gravel, to me it seemed better than the MT21 on the loose gravel.

In the mud it performed well, getting me out of trouble on the odd occasion.

I havent tried it on the dry gravel yet, as it was wet when I put it on.

I also hope to get more than the 3500km out of the MT21, all for $125 cheaper than the MT21 too!

You can read about them and see the pattern here

Cheers Scott

[NordieBoy]

I also hope to get more than the 3500km out of the MT21, all for $125 cheaper than the MT21 too!

You can read about them and see the pattern here

Cheers Scott

Looks very similar to the Mitas E-09.
But probably more available

[warewolf]

all for $125 cheaper than the MT21 too!

You must've got ripped off for the MT21, or the T63 at a super-special price. RRP for the T63 is higher.

I'd try some of them, but they don't make them in sizes for 640. At least they offer Deserts and Bajas in the big size.

[Ronnie]

ive got mitas tires on my f650 and they are great on tar seal and on gravel.

[NordieBoy]

Which model Mitas?

[clint640]

You must've got ripped off for the MT21, or the T63 at a super-special price. RRP for the T63 is higher.

I'd try some of them, but they don't make them in sizes for 640. At least they offer Deserts and Bajas in the big size.

Hell yeah, I thought MT21's were around $160? So how much were the T63s & where did ya get em?

There is a 130-80-18 T63 listed which is std fitment for a 640, of course whether you can get them here is another story...

New tyre time for me at the mo, I think I'll stick with the TKC80 front, MT70 rear combo.

Cheers
Clint

[Zukin]

Hell yeah, I thought MT21's were around $160? So how much were the T63s & where did ya get em?

There is a 130-80-18 T63 listed which is std fitment for a 640, of course whether you can get them here is another story...

New tyre time for me at the mo, I think I'll stick with the TKC80 front, MT70 rear combo.

Cheers
Clint

I borught the T63 for $125 and the MT21 from memory cost me about $140

There are some 130-80-18's in stock at a shop in Napier with a retail price of $94
Damn they didnt have a 120-80-18 in stock, they had to get it in for me

Cheers Scott

[warewolf]

There is a 130-80-18 T63 listed which is std fitment for a 640

Ah, should have been more specific. The 640 Adventure takes a 140/80-18, equivalent of about a 5.60-18. The 640 Enduro takes the 130/80-18, which is about 5.10-18.

One of these days I will have to check the differences in geometry and gearing between the two bikes, as reconfiguring my bike to suit the smaller tyre size may be worthwhile. When I ran the Kenda K270 5.10-18 it shortened the gearing way too much, the bike was revving its tits off. Handling-wise was a moot point because the K270 walked badly and slid everywhere.

Probably will try either the Michelin Baja or Desert first, since I hear good things about them. Leading up to events like the Aussie Safari they can be hard to get, as the racers snap them up. The Desert looks very much like a T63 so maybe they decided not to overlap the sizes?

I also happen to have one of these sitting in the garage, in case I want to play in the snot.

[warewolf]

I borught the T63 for $125 and the MT21 from memory cost me about $140

That's just a tad different to what you wrote before:

all for $125 cheaper than the MT21 too!

unless we mis-read that? $15 cheaper is a bit more realistic than $125 cheaper... but would not be refused!

[clint640]

Ah, should have been more specific. The 640 Adventure takes a 140/80-18, equivalent of about a 5.60-18. The 640 Enduro takes the 130/80-18, which is about 5.10-18.

One of these days I will have to check the differences in geometry and gearing between the two bikes,

I don't think that there is any difference. The adv probably got specced with the fatter rubber cos they're a bit more porky & more likely to be used loaded up.

I've run a 140 MT90 with good results, but they're a little too 'road' for me, & my 'roadrace' tyres are 140 BT45 bridgestones. I'd fit a 140 wide MT70 if they existed.

The width difference between 2 140s of different brands or models could easily be as much as the step between a 130 & a 140 of the same type from what I've seen of actual vs quoted tyre sizes anyway...

Cheers
Clint

[Wolf]

That's just a tad different to what you wrote before:unless we mis-read that? $15 cheaper is a bit more realistic than $125 cheaper... but would not be refused!

Looking at his post, I think he omitted an all-important comma or a hyphen:

"all for $125, cheaper than the MT21 too!"

"all for $125 - cheaper than the MT21 too!"

could really do with a comma after MT21, as well - but that wouldn't have affected our comprehension of the sentence.

[Zukin]

Looking at his post, I think he omitted an all-important comma or a hyphen:

"all for $125, cheaper than the MT21 too!"

"all for $125 - cheaper than the MT21 too!"

could really do with a comma after MT21, as well - but that wouldn't have affected our comprehension of the sentence.

Bling to that man
You were right, it should of had a comma there
I was wondering why you guys thought that!!!
Now I know