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

[Tazz]

Had a wee surf & found THIS thread on ADV forum. Check out the 1000cc grass track vid.

Chur! I chewed through a bit of that last night but skipped over the videos for some reason (usually it is the other way around ). Some interesting side cars in that first one.

The harder and rockier the surface, the better.
The only issue with them is they're quite a bit taller than a normal rear. Equivalent to gearing up a tooth on the front.
I run the rear at anything from 18 to 8 psi on the TT350.

I've read a few posts of your thoughts on them and the bike is probably a good comparable weight to you machine. Was mildly worried about the lugs being chewed out worse than the states (where most writeups are from) on our roads, but for the most part anyone that has happened to badly has been running the pressures to low, otherwise some here and there is nothing serious.

Decision made Now just to sort the sizing from what is available.

[NordieBoy]

Decision made Now just to sort the sizing from what is available.

Sizing?

Well that's easy...

[Kaituna]

My NX 650 has a pirelli scorpion on the front and a D606 on the back. Perfect gravel road combo and surprisingly grippy on tight fast sealed twisty corners. The rear drifts predictably when really pushed. So far I am impressed with the wear on the rear. Not that the Dommy has that much power though? I am going to give a tkc 80 a go on the rear next.

[dino3310]

My NX . Not that the Dommy has that much power though? I am going to give a tkc 80 a go on the rear next.

not much power just a ton of torque

Sent from my GT-I9070 using Tapatalk 2

[Transalper]

My NX 650 has a pirelli scorpion ...

Unfortunately there are about a dozen different pirelli scopion tyre models out there, which ones do you have?
A bit like the Bridgstone Trailwing saga, there are many different Trailwing models, all completely different.

[dino3310]

My NX 650 has a pirelli scorpion on the front and a D606 on the back. Perfect gravel road combo and surprisingly grippy on tight fast sealed twisty corners. The rear drifts predictably when really pushed. So far I am impressed with the wear on the rear. Not that the Dommy has that much power though? I am going to give a tkc 80 a go on the rear next.

chuck the 606 0n the front and the mt90 on the rear... or nordies 705 on the rear

[10bikekid]

My NX 650 has a pirelli scorpion on the front and a D606 on the back. Perfect gravel road combo and surprisingly grippy on tight fast sealed twisty corners. The rear drifts predictably when really pushed. So far I am impressed with the wear on the rear. Not that the Dommy has that much power though? I am going to give a tkc 80 a go on the rear next.

chuck the 606 0n the front and the mt90 on the rear... or nordies 705 on the rear

Sounds about right, to much grip can be the enemy of fun on the Gravel, DR had Kenda Trackmaster on at one stage it was a bullet but unfortunately went strait like one to, 606's are looser and better and the KTM is hilarious with the smooth Mt90's
Note the practice marks

[george formby]

Sounds about right, to much grip can be the enemy of fun on the Gravel, DR had Kenda Trackmaster on at one stage it was a bullet but unfortunately went strait like one to, 606's are looser and better and the KTM is hilarious with the smooth Mt90's
Note the practice marks

I really wanted MT90's for the DT but could not get a matching pair. MT90 front has given me huge confidence on the TDM riding gravel, not quite that lurid but not far off. Orsome on wet tarseal, too.

[10bikekid]

I really wanted MT90's for the DT but could not get a matching pair. MT90 front has given me huge confidence on the TDM riding gravel, not quite that lurid but not far off. Orsome on wet tarseal, too.

Agree completely with your findings they punch well above their weight (lack of aggressive knobs), in discussion with fellow adventurers we think its the stability as they don't move much on the tread (I know that's a plus on a bigger bike anyway)

Lurid 100+ hp can do that when you really only need 40

[george formby]

Agree completely with your findings they punch well above their weight (lack of aggressive knobs), in discussion with fellow adventurers we think its the stability as they don't move much on the tread (I know that's a plus on a bigger bike anyway)

Lurid 100+ hp can do that when you really only need 40

Yeah, cheap, too. I've had the TDM front start to wander on tar seal at the edge of the tread, you can feel movement at slower speeds, like in hairpins. Still stickin, just talkin, though. Talks at higher speeds as well "Oy! Settle down".
My theory in gravel, baring in mind the relatively flat profile, with a big bike is that the fairly toothy edge of the tread grips well when you come off the brakes into the corner, the weight of the bike is pushing the tire onto hard pack & it bites, no knobs flexing & letting go. Add throttle, laugh.
Tenacious would be my word for it.
That was my theory with the skinny rear on the DT as stated earlier & it sure does dig in.

The TDM has more weight (lots) & considerably less power, suspension ect than the KTM but will try to get it's bum in front at a moments inattention. Thought about TKC 80's but I don't have the testicular fortitude to make them work on a 250kg bike.

Oh, the joys of wanting to ride everywhere.

[10bikekid]

Yeah, cheap, too. I've had the TDM front start to wander on tar seal at the edge of the tread, you can feel movement at slower speeds, like in hairpins. Still stickin, just talkin, though. Talks at higher speeds as well "Oy! Settle down".
My theory in gravel, baring in mind the relatively flat profile, with a big bike is that the fairly toothy edge of the tread grips well when you come off the brakes into the corner, the weight of the bike is pushing the tire onto hard pack & it bites, no knobs flexing & letting go. Add throttle, laugh.
Tenacious would be my word for it.
That was my theory with the skinny rear on the DT as stated earlier & it sure does dig in.

The TDM has more weight (lots) & considerably less power, suspension ect than the KTM but will try to get it's bum in front at a moments inattention. Thought about TKC 80's but I don't have the testicular fortitude to make them work on a 250kg bike.

Oh, the joys of wanting to ride everywhere.

Weirdly sometimes a bit of weight helps in the gravel, its a fine line but if you strike the balance your in,

One thing I will say having tried more aggressive fronts on the bigger bikes, as speed goes up the flex is noticeable and on the occasion or two when I've had to brake in the gravel from around 160ks was glad to be on the MT90's as the front stays strait and true, on lighter bike I think a 606 or TKC would not be as stressed, and as I said on the DRBIG the Trackmasters were awesome and no doubt producing pretty good point to point times but less fun, on the Bigger bike you'd probable tear the tread of them and Die

TDM is good do it all bike, but everything has to be respected and kept within its design parameter, KTMADV was first built for Daker then adapted for the road and feels like a big crazy dirt bike which is both good and bad and after a few days in the saddle you wish it was a bit softer

PS, think the American 1/2 miles bike tires are very similair looking to the MT90 so must be on to something there

[gpcustom]

Anyone used kenda big block tyres

[10bikekid]

Anyone used kenda big block tyres

Used a front, IMHO to flexy for a big twin, TKC would be better if you need soft surface grip on a dirt tanker, But is now on MY RMX250 and works a treat, solid as a rock

Probably good for any single cylinder adventure bike

Had just descended that but thought it wise not to try getting back up

[george formby]

Used a front, IMHO to flexy for a big twin, TKC would be better if you need soft surface grip on a dirt tanker, But is now on MY RMX250 and works a treat, solid as a rock

Probably good for any single cylinder adventure bike

Had just descended that but thought it wise not to try getting back up

You would have to scream it's little titties off at a bajillion mph. Be fun, though.

Re the TDM. It's remarkably stately on the gravel, no chatter over corrugations, no bad habits & tons of torque at low revs. Which used to catch me out. Riding the DT & TDM back to back my technique is getting more betterer. I'm now happy stood up with me goolies over the TDM's tank, weight as far forward as is comfortable. The occasional glance at the speedo often surprises me. Very nearly seen the Olde Worlde ton on gravel & still in a state of grace.
Does not like getting airborne.
It now has T30's on it so will report on there gravel ability..........
Just to keep the thread on track, soz.

[10bikekid]

You would have to scream it's little titties off at a bajillion mph. Be fun, though.

Re the TDM. It's remarkably stately on the gravel, no chatter over corrugations, no bad habits & tons of torque at low revs. Which used to catch me out. Riding the DT & TDM back to back my technique is getting more betterer. I'm now happy stood up with me goolies over the TDM's tank, weight as far forward as is comfortable. The occasional glance at the speedo often surprises me. Very nearly seen the Olde Worlde ton on gravel & still in a state of grace.
Does not like getting airborne.
It now has T30's on it so will report on there gravel ability..........
Just to keep the thread on track, soz.

We could chat over here without disturbing the peace http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...dventure-twins