Tyre advice - KTM Supermoto

[Devil]

Hi peoples,

Finally got myself a supermoto with the intention of being able to chuck other tyres on when I feel like it and start learning dirt/gravel road riding.

Existing tyre sizes are 120/70R17 and 160/60R17.

So far the best tyre options seems to be the Pirelli MT60 RS
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/content/catalogueViewEntry.aspx?profilePK=all&entryPK=2164

I also understand you can get Avon Distanzia's in that size.
Can anyone provide any feedback on these tyres?
I wont be looking at a different set of rims for this bike. I'll live with the 17" front as i'm a 99% sealed road rider (but looking to change that!).

Any other tyres suggestions welcome.

[Morcs]

Id suggest having 2 sets of tyres. Dirt tyres are quite cheap, and when you know you are going to do adventure (or even dirt) riding, then you can get them changed for that weekend or whatever.

Otherwise, if you like to ride quickly on the road then Id suggest a hard but grippy compound - like dunlops gpr100s.

[Devil]

Yep, will have two sets, comes with BT090's as standard.
But not looking at going offroad, just gravel/dirt and if they turn out to be a reasonable road tyre I might stick with them. Those Pirelli's are supposedly a "supermoto" compound, with extra sticky and lots of lean. Sounds like they wont last too long!

[Badcat]

Yep, will have two sets, comes with BT090's as standard.
But not looking at going offroad, just gravel/dirt and if they turn out to be a reasonable road tyre I might stick with them. Those Pirelli's are supposedly a "supermoto" compound, with extra sticky and lots of lean. Sounds like they wont last too long!

yep - i had MT60 RS on my KTM 640 supermoto - and i couldn't find a better tyre.
they are excellent wet and dry - and they lasted ok for me.
def. try them.

ken

[Devil]

yep - i had MT60 RS on my KTM 640 supermoto - and i couldn't find a better tyre.
they are excellent wet and dry - and they lasted ok for me.
def. try them.

ken

Awesome, cheers. Pretty good on the road then?
I'll have to hurry up and sell the Triumph so I can change the rubber. Would make more sense having something like the MT60's in winter, than BT090's!

[White trash]

Metzeler also do a dedicated Super Moto tyre.

[Devil]

Cheers. Theirs is a bit too track focused though.

[Badcat]

Awesome, cheers. Pretty good on the road then?
I'll have to hurry up and sell the Triumph so I can change the rubber. Would make more sense having something like the MT60's in winter, than BT090's!

yep - brilliant and when they let go - they did very slowly with lots of warning...
i used to ride on wet roads on purpose with those tyres - it was the most fun!

k

[XF650]

Mitas do EO7's that might fit your rims, at half the price of those Pirelli's.
Have seen EO7's fitted to motard wheels on a couple of DRZ400 SM's & owner's thought they were a great compromise.
Interestingly, on one the front was fitted with reversed direction, to steer better in the loose stuff.

[Quasievil]

I have Distanzias on my KLR as I do 80% road and 20% off road, I find them fucken brilliant on road for high speed corning (yes the KLR can go fast you fuckheads) and they are ver y capable off road also, I will be buying another set, if I keep the bike long enough.
You wont have a problem, but can you get them in your size ???

[Quasievil]

Mitas do EO7's that might fit your rims, at half the price of those Pirelli's.
Have seen EO7's fitted to motard wheels on a couple of DRZ400 SM's & owner's thought they were a great compromise.
Interestingly, on one the front was fitted with reversed direction, to steer better in the loose stuff.

Eeeek, dont think much of the profile on those, would be like cornering on a tractor tyre

[Devil]

I have Distanzias on my KLR as I do 80% road and 20% off road, I find them fucken brilliant on road for high speed corning (yes the KLR can go fast you fuckheads) and they are ver y capable off road also, I will be buying another set, if I keep the bike long enough.
You wont have a problem, but can you get them in your size ???

They do a Distanzia Supermoto in my sizes, 120 and 160. But who stocks Avons? Are they reasonably priced?
Hrm, dilemma, Pirelli or Avon...

http://www.motostrano.com/avdisuti.html

[Badcat]

They do a Distanzia Supermoto in my sizes, 120 and 160. But who stocks Avons? Are they reasonably priced?
Hrm, dilemma, Pirelli or Avon...

http://www.motostrano.com/avdisuti.html

kerry at motohaus has these - i have a set on my 500 street tracker.
they are good - but i prefer the pirelli - they WILL be a lot cheaper though - i would say..
k

[Quasievil]

They do a Distanzia Supermoto in my sizes, 120 and 160. But who stocks Avons? Are they reasonably priced?
Hrm, dilemma, Pirelli or Avon...

http://www.motostrano.com/avdisuti.html


I paid $350 for a set, and they are great, cant fault them in any way.

[Devil]

I paid $350 for a set, and they are great, cant fault them in any way.

Wow, thats cheap.
The pirelli's look like the race wets i have sitting in the garage... they're the right size too...

[Devil]

'treads just quoted me $450 for the Pirelli's fitted.

[Badcat]

'treads just quoted me $450 for the Pirelli's fitted.

i would estimate that the pirellis would last roughly HALF as long as the avons though...

K

[Devil]

Hrm. Catch 22. I do require the stickiness on the road so I may just have to put up with the mileage...

[Badcat]

Hrm. Catch 22. I do require the stickiness on the road so I may just have to put up with the mileage...

yeah - go on.
i have never had tyres that made me happier than those pirellis.
you won't regret it.
k

[Quasievil]

lol, I dont recall the Avons being slippy, but if you got lots of money go for the pirellis.

[Devil]

Getting me a quote for the Avon Distanzia Supermoto's now.

[Dazza]

Getting me a quote for the Avon Distanzia Supermoto's now.Mate just put the Pirelli supermotard tyre on his 950 (180) & was $450 for the rear unfitted, ouch, so is looks like it's Z6's for him front & rear, my Super Duke handles the gravel nice on Z6's aslong as it hasn't been graded recently :eek5:.I Just used to runroad tyres on my Duke II as 98% was on the tar !!! I thought they'd last longer than on my then Mille, NOT !!!!

[SeppoDave]

There are quite a few road tyres made in 160/60-17 size. I would lean more toward sitcky than long-lasting. I went with Metzeler M1s. I used to have them on my old SV650. Not bad for track days, and they should last a little longer on the motard because it weighs 50-60kgs less.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2627459170_81a961a090_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2626641715_441bd5dd04_b.jpg

Dave

[Devil]

I've already got sticky tarmac tyres. I'm after stuff that'll do dirt/gravel roads...

[SeppoDave]

Ah.

Nothing does both very well. How about a set of dirt wheels to swap out? One of the reasons I bought the KTM was because they were offering an extra set of wheels. It's like two bikes!!

Dave

[NordieBoy]

Ah.

Nothing does both very well.

Pirelli MT60 Corsa?

[Gremlin]

I'm gonna bump an old thread, coz devil needs a slap upside the head.

You dolt... I ran a raceattack rear tyre on my zx10, all completely road set up, and did several kilometres of gravel (about 10-20km). It handled it fine. It just depends what you want to do... grip for me was really only necessary into corners (urrr... when people know the whole story they generally look a little wide eyed, call me nuts, and walk off :Oops:)

ok, the tyre only lasted 1500km, and the Mt Eden boys looked at me a little odd when I had to replace it... I think they displayed it for a while :sweatdrop

[Motardman]

Pilot Power on the rear and Pilot Power 2CT on the front, awesome combination in the wet or dry, really predictable slides in the wet too.....I love it me :laugh: