My KTM 690 Adventure

**Night Falcon** · 26th October 2011, 20:45

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

The 90/90/21, 130/90/18 and 130/90/17 are "R" rated - 170kph.

makes sence I suppose...don't they use the MT21 on the KTM rally bikes...Marc & Cyril would be riding fairly close to that speed fairly regularly one would imagine.....

Originally Posted by vegeman

159Kph on the gravel road out to ruakokapatuna, wairarapa...yee hah

Team Vegman Dakar 2012??

**richyrich** · 26th October 2011, 21:02

i use full on knobbies(dot rated ). would rather have the braking and cornering .i don't use rimlock on the front and one on the rear opossite side of the rim to the valve,looking at getting a tubliss setup if i can find a cheap shipping soarce.
the tkc 80s that came on my 690r were woefull in the gravel

**Night Falcon** · 26th October 2011, 21:13

Originally Posted by richyrich

i use full on knobbies(dot rated ). would rather have the braking and cornering .i don't use rimlock on the front and one on the rear opossite side of the rim to the valve,looking at getting a tubliss setup if i can find a cheap shipping soarce.
the tkc 80s that came on my 690r were woefull in the gravel

Yeah I'm definately leaning towards knobs on the front at my next change....how well do they last? I found the TKC ok but the 690 shreaded it in no time so wont be getting another one any time soon....quite like the K60 scout I'm using at the moment though.

**.chris** · 26th October 2011, 22:44

I love my Metzler Karoo 2's on the front end of my 690
Last time I ran one of these.

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Now I am running one of these Karoo 2 - T, which I reckon is even better than the previous one.

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**vegeman** · 27th October 2011, 09:26

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

makes sence I suppose...don't they use the MT21 on the KTM rally bikes...Marc & Cyril would be riding fairly close to that speed fairly regularly one would imagine.....

Team Vegman Dakar 2012??

I think that besides the KTM works riders having super human strength, they have steering dampers to assist with that shake....which I have considered for that kind of thing....maybe that can be another bling peice for the future

As for Dakar, probably not... BUT am thinking about going over the the Aussie Safari and doing the adventure tour which runs in parallell or immediately after. It would be a great way to do the 5 day event, experience it all, and see if a more serious commitment or desire remains. This way you can blast along, but if you want to switch down to non-race mode and have a cuppa...then its all good.

**vegeman** · 27th October 2011, 09:30

Originally Posted by richyrich

the tkc 80s that came on my 690r were woefull in the gravel

I recall my TKC80's weren't too bad on my XR..but then again, it hardly ever hit the same speed as the might 690arrrrgh

**vegeman** · 27th October 2011, 12:31

Originally Posted by .chris

I love my Metzler Karoo 2's on the front end of my 690
Last time I ran one of these.

Now I am running one of these Karoo 2 - T, which I reckon is even better than the previous one.

Tire choices hurt my brain...why do you like these, what else have to you had. I'll need a replacement read soon as the E07 'finally wearing". NF, has gone with hedianau which look pretty darn good. I've liked the wear of the E07, and their performance has been pretty good (its only been its wet weather performance on the tar thats scared me once or twice) but getting 2 - 3 times the wear compared to my old stable of TKC80's...I can cope.

Once I get some more commission or find some cash...I'm going to de-lace my 17" rims and buy a new set of 21 and 18's and re-lace them up. I'll have one set that is 90% dirt, 10% road and go with the more dirt centric road leagal knobblies...and the other set will be 60% road - 40% dirt such as the Anakees or something like that.

**dmc** · 27th October 2011, 18:35

Originally Posted by vegeman

I recall my TKC80's weren't too bad on my XR..but then again, it hardly ever hit the same speed as the might 690arrrrgh

I hear that TKC's can handle speeds in excess of the 690

Not as agressive as some of the other options mentioned but for a knobbly they do a good job of most things.

**.chris** · 27th October 2011, 21:49

Originally Posted by vegeman

Tire choices hurt my brain...why do you like these, what else have to you had. I'll need a replacement read soon as the E07 'finally wearing". NF, has gone with hedianau which look pretty darn good. I've liked the wear of the E07, and their performance has been pretty good (its only been its wet weather performance on the tar thats scared me once or twice) but getting 2 - 3 times the wear compared to my old stable of TKC80's...I can cope.

Once I get some more commission or find some cash...I'm going to de-lace my 17" rims and buy a new set of 21 and 18's and re-lace them up. I'll have one set that is 90% dirt, 10% road and go with the more dirt centric road leagal knobblies...and the other set will be 60% road - 40% dirt such as the Anakees or something like that.

I think I like them for the nice stability on the road/cornering while still having nobbs big enough to feel ok in the dirt. It probably just suits my ride style, I am guessing a TKC80 front would be similar.
I have also run, Sahara 3 to worn out (good road bias/irrelveant due to unavailabity in nz), then a karoo2, then a mt 21 (trademe special), which I did not like much (too buzzy), then a older Karoo which was very offroady and about as buzzy as the MT21, then onto the Karoo2 t, which I reckon is that nice mix between the roady type (sahara3/e07/scout etc) and a proper dirt bike tire.

**vegeman** · 28th October 2011, 15:14

Originally Posted by .chris

I think I like them for the nice stability on the road/cornering while still having nobbs big enough to feel ok in the dirt. It probably just suits my ride style, I am guessing a TKC80 front would be similar.
I have also run, Sahara 3 to worn out (good road bias/irrelveant due to unavailabity in nz), then a karoo2, then a mt 21 (trademe special), which I did not like much (too buzzy), then a older Karoo which was very offroady and about as buzzy as the MT21, then onto the Karoo2 t, which I reckon is that nice mix between the roady type (sahara3/e07/scout etc) and a proper dirt bike tire.

thanks for that...its nice to see that you have had a selection to compare, and all on the same machine...

At the moment, I feel like taking the MT21 off and going back to a more road stable tyre...but dollars are tight again after the spend up on new boots, and helmet (yes, Shoe DS hornet...nice)

**Night Falcon** · 28th October 2011, 15:58

Originally Posted by vegeman

.......At the moment, I feel like taking the MT21 off and going back to a more road stable tyre...but dollars are tight again after the spend up on new boots, and helmet (yes, Shoe DS hornet...nice)

A mans just gotta have the right gear when riding his 690

**Waihou Thumper** · 28th October 2011, 17:40

MT21 Rallycross? For the ride, these are cheap, under $250 for a pair....The guys went to the Sth Island with MT21's 990's, and a Tenere....
Lasted for the ride, over two weeks, ditched them and rode home on their dual purpose tyres....Well worth it I would say...Gonna chuck a couple on the Husky....