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

[10bikekid]

Change of plan, Trying Kenda K784 instead of TKC80 will report back after weekend gravel and sand ride (weather permiting )

Am surprised with off road grip Big Block Kenda front give and KTM is now ridable in soft sand without the risk of crashing at any moment

Also good on road in regard to side grip, but surprisingly poor upright grip when squeezing twin disks hard on tar and not super smooth like MT90 was on the motorways

Compromise as usual, will know if keeping on after 600k Coramandel ride this weekend but see a Karoo 3 in my future

[10bikekid]

Not sure how they'd go on a "heavier" bike though...

Only ever used them off road on 250/290F, its the front I like as bike steers real well in all conditions

[Night Falcon]

Have just clocked up 6195 k's on the MT21 front so thought I report back on how its performed on the 690.

Not being a member of the tire preservation society the poor old MT21 has not had an easy time over its 6195 klm life; so its fair to say its now pretty much done. I should also add that I think I checked the tire pressures on it at least once during its life...or at least I meant too .... and that 12 month WOF intervals are excellent for increasing the service life of a tire



As I'd hoped the MT21 was a solid performer on sand, gravel, dirt tracks and shingle river beds in both wet and dry conditions. I found the steering far more "positive" on these surfaces than with any of the previous dual sport tires I've tried (MT90, E07, Kenda 270) but this may be true of any Knobby by comparison though. Where it was less impressive was in mud and wet grass where I got stuck on number of occasions having steered into trouble...it had little grip on wet grass (but what does) and wanted to plough through mud (but then none of my previous tires would have faired any better).

The MT21 is the first knobby I've fitted on the front of the 690 and I was a little anxious about how much road handling I'd be surrendering to get better grip on the loose stuff. For me, the level of grip on sealed roads was the pressing question when going for a 20/80% dual sport tire. I mean those ratios can be a little frightening for the unlearned, for instance, are they saying its 80% no good on the road...yikes! As it turned out though the MT21 was more than happy cruising along at highway speeds albeit with some additional vibration through the bars -which may have been a problem for long haul expeditions but didn't worry me scooting around The Bay.

Cornering took a little getting used to on tar seal as it just didn't feel right leaning over a 160kg adventure bike into tight left handers with a virtual motorcross tire on the front wheel. I eventually overcame my anxiety of sliding under a truck and found the MT21 more than up to the job. I should point out at this stage that I'm no corner demon when it comes to lean angles; my tires end their life with tread much like a Spanish monk who has heaps of hair on the side of his head and none on the top as opposed to the Sholin monk who has no hair at all .


Probably the main noticeable difference was felt just as you came to a stop with the front brake on- you felt a juddering through the front end which I assume was down to the space between the knobs - once rolling though all was sweet. One curiosity was the wear pattern on the centre of the tire. The MT21 has 2 knobs side by side with a single knob between them; the double knobs wore completely off while the single knob looks like its good for another 6000K? Maybe down to tire pressures I think...18psi is maybe too low for road use

Probably the best endorsement you can give a tire is to order another one of the same; suffice it to say I will be ordering another MT21 front from Cycle treads this week....and it so happens they are on special again for $88.00

[Box'a'bits]

Good, they are back in stock. They were waiting on more last time I looked (and I need another now). Because they are a non directional tyre, its good to spin them around every now & then, to even wear on the tread blocks. I use them all the time on Gus. Cheap, good grip on seal, not bad off road.

[manakau.KTM]

Bugger. I've just shod the 640 front and rear and probably paid full retail. My last m21 rear wore down pretty fast and I got sick of faceplants with the old front (I think it was a mt66) when I was in mud or deep gravel. Just have to grin and bear the vibes

[gav24]

I've just bought another pair of new t63's for the dr650.
Cycle treads have these on offer for a bit less than most others of this type, (80 / 20), so that's usually good enough reason for me -cheapskate!
I really rate these on the dr as they allow me to do a few organised trail rides whilst the rear is reasonably fresh, and its always good to embarrass the serious mx guys by cruising past on the long flat sections with the indicators on! Love the road gearing, whilst they're tapped out in top and I'm just hooking into 5th
Anyway, I get about 3000kms of pretty hard use from a rear and another 1500 to 2000 from the front.
Just checking in and sharing, springs coming....

[Fern]

I wore Mefo Explorers on my DRZ400 from UK to Tajikistan, this was 13000kms. Was expecting more but they were badly squared from the hot desert roads in Iran and Turkey, but enough chunck for the 10% off road or shit road that I rode.

The front lasted 16000kms, with plenty left on it, probably due to the weight of the luggage meaning the front wheel barely touched the ground.

These are similar treads to K60 Heidenaus.

The overlanders on bigger bikes I met, especially F800GS's, Africa Twins etc did really well on Mitas and Heidenau, and very badly on TCKs.

[Night Falcon]

The overlanders on bigger bikes I met, especially F800GS's, Africa Twins etc did really well on Mitas and Heidenau, and very badly on TCKs.

I like the look of the TKC, but agree totally they don't wear well. If they were priced according to their life span (Like the T63) they'd be a better option for me

[pete-blen]

I'm trying a set of Michelin AC10 on the 250...
Bit more knobbly than I usely run,,
But at $200 a set..give them a try...

[Gremlin]

For the big bikes, the popular combo is a TKC front and K60 rear. Don't expect to be going anywhere you want in mud/clay etc. K60 doesn't like with it's solid centre strip (in 150).

Going to get interesting as well. Michelin Anakee Wild is being released as well as the Metzeler Karoo 3. Not going to offer magical life however.

[Fern]

the problem with the TCKs wasn't wear but constant punctures. It seems they are shrapnel magnets, they don't seem to fling the debis away.

I did the mileage without a single puncture. That said I have got goop in very strong inner tubes.

[Gremlin]

the problem with the TCKs wasn't wear but constant punctures.

TKC has a soft carcass. Always advise the heavy bikes not to air down too far, as you're going to risk the rims.

K60 have an incredibly stiff carcass.

[dino3310]

i had the pressure down on the last tkc front after an offroad stint and forgot to pressure up for the ride home on the seal.... bad mistake it chewed the F out of it, the AC10s been my front tire of choice for the XR since then(3 years) bit lighter than the big beemers though

[.chris]

Just put a fresh Karoo3 on the KTM, looks pretty good, pretty wide gaps in the pattern and deeper than I had guessed from only seeing photos online.
Looks like it will suit my riding pretty well, and last a fair while. I do love the Karoo2(T)'s (my usual front tire choice) but figured I will give the new kid on the block a try.

[Devil]

Whatchoo running on the rear, Chris? And whats a Karoo 3 worth?
Currently got a set of AC10's on, but i'll be heading back to something mroe road friendly soon.
Quite impressed with wear of the TKC's that I had, and the performance on road too. No puncture issues.