Tkc80 vs karoo 3

[thepom]

Anyone got any experience with the new karoo 3 versus tge tkc80 ?

[flashg]

Looks good. I was looking at the Enduro 3 sahara for the XT one day but can't seem to stop using the dunlop 606 (just love em)

[thepom]

Are they a good price ?

[flashg]

Are they a good price ?


Dunno was just looking on Metzeler website and think they look real good. I think the new ktm 690 comes out new with them or something like them. If price is a concern you wouldn't be looking at TKC80 tyres

[Woodman]

Are they a good price ?

I just put a set on the BMW last week. $4hundy. Haven't ridden far yet, but they look good.

[flashg]

I just put a set on the BMW last week. $4hundy. Haven't ridden far yet, but they look good.


That seems like a good price for a tyre that'll do everything well

[Oscar]

I've got the Karoo on me 950 at the moment.
It is priced about the same as the TKC and performs about the same...

[.chris]

I am running at Karoo3 21 front on my 690, has done about 10,000km so far and appears it will be good for another 8,000.

Gets my vote for a good 50/50 front tire, the knobs are quite wide spaced on the edges so it provides better grip in the slick stuff than you would expect. I will probably replace it with another.

[thepom]

Cheers Chris...think I ll get one for the back of the 690 when I,m done with the tractionater...

[.chris]

Cheers Chris...think I ll get one for the back of the 690 when I,m done with the tractionater...

Let me know how it goes, also source and $?

[thepom]

Mate of mine can get me a back tyre Karoo 3 for 240 bucks....

[flashg]

Mate of mine can get me a back tyre Karol 3 for 240 bucks....


$284. RRP for a karoo 3 Kenny on forbes & davies web site 130/17
Who is Karol ? At $240 she sounds cheap.

[Crisis management]

Anyone used the Karoo 3 in sand? I'm looking for new tyres for the R100 GS (the fat pig) and need to be able to negotiate beaches without digging a huge trench but don't want to go full knobbly, any comments?

[Waihou Thumper]

Anyone used the Karoo 3 in sand? I'm looking for new tyres for the R100 GS (the fat pig) and need to be able to negotiate beaches without digging a huge trench but don't want to go full knobbly, any comments?

Any tyre will do if you get off and push it? :)
Isn't it dependent on how hard you turn that right wrist?
Or perhaps just the weight of the fat pig....Be interested to find out for mine how and what you end up with..

[Crisis management]

I did fit Karoo 3's to the R100 and having survived one day of the Kaipara ride (lunched the starter and 220kgs of fat pig is not a pretty sight trying to be push started) I can report they seem to work.
They are a pit tippy on the seal but have good grip and once I get brave enough should be good for chicken strip demolition, with a full tank the front felt a bit like it wanted to push in corners on gravel and despite a couple of small slides always hooked up. Up on the pegs it hooked up nicely and the rear drifted controllably. Braking was ok, I felt I needed to allow a bit more space as it seemed to want to wash out if you locked the front where an MT21 will simply slide straight on gravel so generally the front needed to be thought about rather than just piling into a corner and rolling the throttle on.
Sand was great, it feels like a tyre designed for that, the rear hooks up well and once you get some speed on the front is rock solid, slow down and it buries the front with the usual results. I like them, it will be interesting to see how they work out long term because at $450 for a pair they need to last better than knobs.
Last thing, a bit noisier than T63 / MT21 combination on the seal but at least it drowns out the mechanical complaints from the gearbox!

[vegeman]

Last thing, a bit noisier than T63 / MT21 combination on the seal but at least it drowns out the mechanical complaints from the gearbox!

If I've read this correctly...I'm surprised that the karoo 3 is noisier than T63/MT21 combo?....interesting. Also looking at the shape and design of the tyre, I would suggest that the comparison would be more with a E07 or K60. I'd rather have the TKC80 front or MT21 front...than what this looks like. So perhaps try just the rear for now, and get a real knob for the front BUT, and like all tyre conversations, it's what you do, how hard you ride and general skill level.

[Oscar]

I've gone full circle - for the sort of riding I do, the only tyre combination that gives me confidence on my 950 is a TKC front and rear.
This is helped by the fact that the price of TKC's seem to have fallen.

If I wanted a set for slightly less adventurous riding, it would be a TKC on the front and a Pirelli Scorpion AT90 (standard tyre for a 950) on the back.

As Vegeman says it's all down to your skills and where yer riding...

[Crisis management]

I have looked at the Karoo as an option that was still more roady than a knob as I get sick of burning out knobs on the seal (compromises, I know...) but it's surprising when you see it in the flesh there are large gaps between the tread on the Karoo, lots of space to clear dirt out and allow the edges to bite. It's the large lumps with spaces between that give the noisy road riding but also give it great sand traction, I've not tried it in mud but talking to others that have it sounds like it performed ok.
Given that I'm riding a heavy bike and only expect mediocre off road performance I think the Karoo will do ok, I expect to do the Dusty Butt and the travel there and back via the likes of the 42nd Traverse comfortably. If I was running a lighter bike I would stick with the MT21 and T63 combination as I have always found that worked well but a quarter of a ton sitting on the same tread footprint can't really be expected to get the same mileage.

[Takataka]

My 690 had a Karoo 3 on the rear when I bought it 2 months ago. I suspect it had less than 1000 km on it and I have since done about 2000 km. I reckon it's got another 1000 still in it so approx 4000 km total life. I don't have anything to compare it to yet but to me it feels weird dropping in to corners on the road. It does hold on but does not feel confidence inspiring. Also once the centre knobs wear down to the centre groove you've got big wide knobs across the tire which don't have much sideways grip. I'm gonna try an E-09 next and see how that goes. Can get the E-09 for $190. I have a TKC80 on the front which seems ok. Not sure what to try there next..

[thepom]

I got 2700kms on my 690with a tkc80...karoo3 will be next...