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

[NordieBoy]

I've just put a set of Vee Rubber VRM163 on the Massey Ferguson G/S so will see how they go.

Looks very TW42'ish.

Wonder what the compound is like compared to the "death wings".

[Motu]

Very much like the TW42,although the TW42 is a bit wider in the grooves,but that depends on size.I've just got another TW42 to match my K180 front - they are a great tyre on seal,gravel and hardpack....but shit in mud or anything slippery.They were the only tyre to cope with the power and weight of the XLV750 on seal,everything else was torn to shreds or let go....but they still gave good drive in gravel.

I wanted a tyre with a softer compound to match the K180,and the blocks are shallow,not cube shaped like a knob - this means they won't flex and bend when pushed hard.Be keen to see how they last - I ever got much over 4,000kms out of the TW42's.

[NordieBoy]

I wanted a tyre with a softer compound to match the K180,and the blocks are shallow,not cube shaped like a knob - this means they won't flex and bend when pushed hard.

That's what I liked about the Mitas e-07's. A nice soft compound and big strips of rubber, not knobs.
Use the compound to grip rather than just the knob edges.

[timg]

I tried the E07's on the recommendation of several folks who's opinions I respect, and I know a lot of folks rate these tyres. Unfortunately I did not like them on the Transalp. They were fine on the shingle when new, however once worn a bit the rear had no grip under power or braking. I ride so s l o w I make James May look qiuck! The lack of straight line grip in shingle may have something to do with the wide centre band in the tread pattern which when the tyre is 1/2 worn or so is exposed. The 140 wide E07 doesn't have it but the 120/90/17 & 130/80/17 do.

On the seal they provided plenty of grip, I even did a 'rider development day' at Levels on them.

There's no question regarding their longevity. I got 12230 km out of the front and the rear is about 2/3 worn at the same mileage. (I said I ride like a nana OK)

So why else didn't I like em? The rear tyre was a square profile when it went on and got even more squared off with wear. However the biggest annoyance was the vibration from them which on a realitively smooth V-twin (unlike Mr Hardly Developedsom's bikes) was really annoying on the seal. They were balanced when fitted, and again after about 2000km. I was going to put something more road orientated on like a Tourance, MT90 or E08 on until I happened to be on a ride with Shrek and saw the lack of grip he had with E08's on a minor river crossing.

On the SI Passes ride Triboy and Delphinus both had TKC80's that seemed to perform well in mixed riding so for the Brass Monkey I put a pair of TKC80's on. What a revelation they were. Great on the shingle through the Haka/Danseys/Blackforest etc & good on the seal in the wet or dry. 1027km for the weekend with no drama's over most kinds of roads I'm likely to encounter and they were a much smoother ride than the E07's.

If anybody wants an E07 130/80/17 with 4-5000 km wear left in it PM me and pick it up

Cheers.

[Transalper]

....

If anybody wants an E07 130/80/17 with 4-5000 km wear left in it PM me and pick it up

Cheers.

If you are giving it away and no one else wants it I will finish it off for you.
I have an oversize 140 E07 to try on the DR sometime. Theory being that the thing will sit with a more rounded profile and so cut through the shingle better.
Also as you say the 140 doesn't have that solid band in the center.

[timg]

If you are giving it away and no one else wants it I will finish it off for you.

Yep - free to a good home It's got your name on it. Give me a call some time when you're out this way or what ever. Cheers

[_Shrek_]

this Eo8 front has done 20226kms at 25-29psi
i'm not sure if you can see that the tread looked like it had lifted from the casing
the rear Eo8 i got 16000k & it still had 2mm left that was run at 34psi
bike weighs 239kgs me a petite 132.5kgs

good mileage but would only reconmend it be used on seal & by someone who does not push their bike hard

timg i would be keen to know what psi you were running

[timg]

timg i would be keen to know what psi you were running

I stick with the recommended pressures for my bike 29/29 and 29/33 two up or loaded.

[NordieBoy]

I stick with the recommended pressures for my bike 29/29 and 29/33 two up or loaded.

How many km's did you get out of the e-07's?

[timg]

How many km's did you get out of the e-07's?

See post 251

[Peril]

E09 on the rear at 2000ish Km's...does half worn sound bad?
I do have a heavy right hand off road mind you...

[JATZ]

I tried the E07's on the recommendation of several folks who's opinions I respect, and I know a lot of folks rate these tyres. Unfortunately I did not like them on the Transalp. They were fine on the shingle when new, however once worn a bit the rear had no grip under power or braking. I ride so s l o w I make James May look qiuck! The lack of straight line grip in shingle may have something to do with the wide centre band in the tread pattern which when the tyre is 1/2 worn or so is exposed. The 140 wide E07 doesn't have it but the 120/90/17 & 130/80/17 do.

On the seal they provided plenty of grip, I even did a 'rider development day' at Levels on them.

There's no question regarding their longevity. I got 12230 km out of the front and the rear is about 2/3 worn at the same mileage. (I said I ride like a nana OK)

So why else didn't I like em? The rear tyre was a square profile when it went on and got even more squared off with wear. However the biggest annoyance was the vibration from them which on a realitively smooth V-twin (unlike Mr Hardly Developedsom's bikes) was really annoying on the seal. They were balanced when fitted, and again after about 2000km. I was going to put something more road orientated on like a Tourance, MT90 or E08 on until I happened to be on a ride with Shrek and saw the lack of grip he had with E08's on a minor river crossing.



Cheers.

Interesting comments. I'm needing a set of rubber for the DR soon and was thinking of E-07's.
Might have to go back to the drawing board (or have another rum or 2) and think about it

[Quasievil]

Im running Avon Distanzia and bloody impressed, not expensive $350 a set and good off road (gravel) and on road, Im sold on them. Done 5000kms and bucket loads left.

[NordieBoy]

See post 251

231.

I was running 35psi in the rear and 32 front on seal and about 18f 20r on gravel and got 15000 out of the rear and it kept the grip right down to the bitter end.

[oldrider]

Interesting comments. I'm needing a set of rubber for the DR soon and was thinking of E-07's.
Might have to go back to the drawing board (or have another rum or 2) and think about it

It's personal, try them. (EO7's)

I had them on my 650 TransAlp and loved them but didn't wear them out because I sold the bike first.

Timg didn't like them on his T/A but then again you just might find they suit you on your bike.

I was not as fussy about the front as I was with the rear.

but Oddly enough the front was put on back to front (rotation) and I didn't notice at first. ( about 800km before I had a chance change it)

I thought it was better that way and didn't perform so well when it was correctly fitted.

IMHO Mitas EO7's are a bloody good all round tyre. Cheers John.