Continental Escapes

[V-Stromer]

Yes, another tyre thread.

Anyone here running Continental Escapes on a V-Strom, BMW GS, Honda Varadero etc? I know there is at least one person doing this as I recently saw a Varadero with these on it.

If so, you are presumably running 100/90-19 front and 140/80-17 rears as they are not available in the 110/80-19 and 150/70-17 sizes specified for these bikes.

How do you find them?

I'm looking for a tyre for my 650 Strom that fits in between the knobbly TKC80 and the Tourance/Anakee etc. A bit like the Metzeler Enduro 3s that I loved on my previous F650GS but which aren't available in anything like the right size to run on the V-Strom.

The Escapes have good feedback on international forums (in terms of their performance) and seem to suit the usage profile I envisage. However, the 'Net is full of "experts" who say that there is no problem running these tyres in 140 and 100 size on Stroms, GS's and Varaderos. But there are just as many "experts" warning against it, claiming it will upset handling to dangerous levels etc.

Who do you believe?

If you have personal experience in running these tyres on these bikes I would appreciate your comments.

[V-Stromer]

Been thinking more about my original post.

The 1000 V-Strom, 1150 and 1200 GS and Varadero all run the 150/70-17 and 110/80-19 tyre combo. The Triumph Tiger may run this size too- not sure.

All are heavier and more powerful bikes than the 650 V-Strom which also runs this tyre size combo. So does that suggest that the 650 V-Strom is a little bit "over-tyred" and wouldn't be all that affected by running the marginally narrower size?

What do you think?