dan's au #12 carnarvon, wa, and blow holes!

[Darren Clark]

Ran down to my local Kawasaki shop and picked up a new rear tire, A Dunlop K750 (stock replacement) it was $139.99!!!! I bought the same tire from them last year for less than $60.00. I was going to pass on it, but I ran over some metal (extension ladder across and all over the freeway) this morning on the way to work and tore a huge chunk of rubber out of my tire and needed a replacement ASAP. They quoted ~$200 for the tire and to change it. I bought the tire and a tube and skipped the install. I was dreading the tire swap from some of the stories I heard here, but it only took 30 minutes. Didn't even mess up the original tube. I ended up using some big work clamps from Home Depot to break the bead, and slimed up the new tire's bead with dish soap to get it on. Never again will I pay to have somebody else do a tire on my bike. I'm also going to order a spare set of tires and tubes to keep at home just in case of another emergency, I know I'll use them one way or another. Then I'm not at the mercy of the dealer again Darren Clark 2004 KLR-650 (12,500 Miles, and on 3rd rear tire)

[Jim]

The question begs to be asked: Why would you want to spend that kind of money for a tire that only lasts 3000 miles? (I got 2800 out of my original). There are many alternatives that will outlast that. In fact, I used to get more than that out of full knobbies on my XR600! My Avon Distanzas (under $100 each) have 3000 miles on them with hardly any signs of wear. There are quite a few dual purpose 50/50 tires that will last much more than 3000 miles for far less than $100. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Darren Clark wrote: > > Ran down to my local Kawasaki shop and picked up a new rear tire, A > Dunlop K750 (stock replacement) it was $139.99!!!! I bought the same > tire from them last year for less than $60.00. I was going to pass on > it, but I ran over some metal (extension ladder across and all over > the freeway) this morning on the way to work and tore a huge chunk of > rubber out of my tire and needed a replacement ASAP. They quoted ~$200 > for the tire and to change it. I bought the tire and a tube and skipped > the install. I was dreading the tire swap from some of the stories I > heard here, but it only took 30 minutes. Didn't even mess up the > original tube. I ended up using some big work clamps from Home > Depot to break the bead, and slimed up the new tire's bead with dish > soap to get it on. Never again will I pay to have somebody else do a > tire on my bike. > > I'm also going to order a spare set of tires and tubes to keep at home > just in case of another emergency, I know I'll use them one way or > another. Then I'm not at the mercy of the dealer again > > Darren Clark > 2004 KLR-650 (12,500 Miles, and on 3rd rear tire) >

[jokerloco9@aol.com]

My original rear tire on my 2006 KLR has just over 5500 miles on it, may make it to 6000 miles at best. 99% street riding, and I weigh 260. The guys that get 2500 miles out of them must be real thrashers! Jeff A20 ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim]

I don't know how you did it, my riding was(is) 99% street, and the little dirt I do is graded dirt roads. No "roosting" to chew up the tire. The front tire was still looking great. At 2800 miles it wasn't completely bald, but it was low enough that I didn't dare to do any dirt riding with it. I tried one or two mild trails when I first got the bike and quickly decided it was too heavy (and I'm too out of shape) for anything serious. The original tire was also useless in almost every type of terrain- it did nothing well. It had poor traction in the rain, poor traction in the dirt, and was only fair on dry roads. My Avons are actually better in dry, packed dirt (graded roads) than the stocker! Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, jokerloco9@... wrote: > > My original rear tire on my 2006 KLR has just over 5500 miles on it, may > make it to 6000 miles at best. 99% street riding, and I weigh 260. The guys > that get 2500 miles out of them must be real thrashers! > > Jeff A20 > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[kestrelfal]

ronayers.com/K750/front,38.69/rear,44.71 Fred

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Darren Clark wrote: > > Ran down to my local Kawasaki shop and picked up a new rear tire, A > Dunlop K750 (stock replacement) it was $139.99!!!! I bought the same > tire from them last year for less than $60.00. I was going to pass on > it, but I ran over some metal (extension ladder across and all over > the freeway) this morning on the way to work and tore a huge chunk of > rubber out of my tire and needed a replacement ASAP. They quoted ~$200 > for the tire and to change it. I bought the tire and a tube and skipped > the install. I was dreading the tire swap from some of the stories I > heard here, but it only took 30 minutes. Didn't even mess up the > original tube. I ended up using some big work clamps from Home > Depot to break the bead, and slimed up the new tire's bead with dish > soap to get it on. Never again will I pay to have somebody else do a > tire on my bike. > > I'm also going to order a spare set of tires and tubes to keep at home > just in case of another emergency, I know I'll use them one way or > another. Then I'm not at the mercy of the dealer again > > Darren Clark > 2004 KLR-650 (12,500 Miles, and on 3rd rear tire) >

[Darren Clark]

Jim, I've got over 6000 miles on each rear tire, first front lasted 10K. Jim wrote:

>The question begs to be asked: Why would you want to spend that kind >of money for a tire that only lasts 3000 miles? (I got 2800 out of my >original). There are many alternatives that will outlast that. In >fact, I used to get more than that out of full knobbies on my XR600! >My Avon Distanzas (under $100 each) have 3000 miles on them with >hardly any signs of wear. There are quite a few dual purpose 50/50 >tires that will last much more than 3000 miles for far less than $100. > >Jim > > >--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Darren Clark wrote: > > >>Ran down to my local Kawasaki shop and picked up a new rear tire, A >>Dunlop K750 (stock replacement) it was $139.99!!!! I bought the same >>tire from them last year for less than $60.00. I was going to pass on >>it, but I ran over some metal (extension ladder across and all over >>the freeway) this morning on the way to work and tore a huge chunk of >>rubber out of my tire and needed a replacement ASAP. They quoted ~$200 >>for the tire and to change it. I bought the tire and a tube and skipped >>the install. I was dreading the tire swap from some of the stories I >>heard here, but it only took 30 minutes. Didn't even mess up the >>original tube. I ended up using some big work clamps from Home >>Depot to break the bead, and slimed up the new tire's bead with dish >>soap to get it on. Never again will I pay to have somebody else do a >>tire on my bike. >> >>I'm also going to order a spare set of tires and tubes to keep at home >>just in case of another emergency, I know I'll use them one way or >>another. Then I'm not at the mercy of the dealer again >> >>Darren Clark >>2004 KLR-650 (12,500 Miles, and on 3rd rear tire) >> >> >> > > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Darren Clark SNIP

> I'm also going to order a spare set of tires and tubes to keep at

home

> just in case of another emergency, I know I'll use them one way or > another. Then I'm not at the mercy of the dealer again > > Darren Clark > 2004 KLR-650 (12,500 Miles, and on 3rd rear tire)

Hello Darren, Glad you hit the obstacle and did not suffer an injury. Could you describe the incident/your reaction in more detail? Did the tire go flat, or was it just 'damaged' beyond safe use? Give yourself a gold star for breaking the spare-tire-code! You likely live where things are reasonable accessible, and spares can be bought easily, but keeping the favorite tire/tube is a good idea. Where I live in SD, accessibility is through UPS and FedEx or you drive 100-250 miles, but always call to see if it is available. etc. Pan B calls for keeping that old spare for a backup (if you have the room). I have been using K270 tires for 3y now and always keep at least one front, and one back as a spare. An order from Fred, Chaparral, and Rocky Mt. ATV, and for some tire places, the freight is paid when the order is $XX. RMATV was $100, SW Moto tires (?) is free freight when you buy 2 tires, etc. Orders from Arrowhead (Fred - which seems to always be the fastest in the business) are usually 2 days away! (Disclaimer: The usual--I send them money, they send me farkle, they will do the same for you.) Many on the list find that the front to rear wear ratio is one front tire for every two tires you wear out (YMMV, etal.) so you can plan accordingly. Our lister friend, Jeff Saline suggests that 90% of the flats occur in the last 10% of the tire wear. It can be prudent to change early. revmaaatin. who knows there is a 'price' you pay for immediate accessibility, and joy in living what is described as remoteness, but not always on the same day. I have had both, I'll take the remoteness... 911 Careflight, Aberdeen, SD under gloomy skies (all day)

[Douglas Bouley]

Amazing how tire life varies so much. Very much an individual thing. My stock rear was probably ready for changing at around 5k. Has around 6K on it now. Front looks good for at least 8k. 100% road use, of which maybe 65% is high-speed freeway commuting. Jeff Saline's comments about tire life are germane: had I changed the rear a bit sooner, I might have been spared at least one of the two flats I've had in it in the past 1k miles. FWIW, I found the k750 to be quite a good road tire, especially at 36 psi rear, 32 PSI front (I'm heavy). Ran it in some pretty bad conditions -- torrential rain, standing water, snow, high wind, etc. (not all at once!). I found the handling and stability to be consistent and reassuring. As others have said, they are scary (in my road rider hands, at least) on anything other than pavement. If purchased at a decent price, I would run them again for road work with no hesitation. I'm going to a Kenda K270 rear this time around only because I want to try a little more non-highway riding this summer. I expect I may miss the k750 during rush hour, at least at first. doug in dc - ymmv: no, really! And yhmv, too (h= handling) Darren Clark wrote:

> Jim, > I've got over 6000 miles on each rear tire, first front lasted 10K. > > >

[Darren Clark]

>Glad you hit the obstacle and did not suffer an injury. Could you >describe the incident/your reaction in more detail? Did the tire go >flat, or was it just 'damaged' beyond safe use? > > >

Some Bozo didn't do a good job of securing his extension ladder on his pickup, and it came off a few cars in front of me at about 75 MPH. I didn't notice the ladder at first, but I did notice all the cages swerving around. So I immediately started slowing down. After the parting of the cages I saw the busted up ladder sliding around the freeway with no way to avoid it. I stood up on the pegs a bit and leaned back, aiming for the most perpendicular path over the ladder. And it worked, I pulled over to thank God, and to collect myself for a couple of minutes. It wasn't till after I got to work that I saw the massive chunk missing from the rear tire, It was damaged beyond safe use, but it was also my only was home, so I took side roads to the dealer and the rest of the way home.

>Give yourself a gold star for breaking the spare-tire-code! You >likely live where things are reasonable accessible, and spares can be >bought easily, but keeping the favorite tire/tube is a good idea. >Where I live in SD, accessibility is through UPS and FedEx or you >drive 100-250 miles, but always call to see if it is available. etc. >Pan B calls for keeping that old spare for a backup (if you have the >room). > > >

Nothing is really close to me (by Michigan standards, SD it might be considered next door!). Closest store it 20 miles, closest bike shop is 30. But UPS is always on my porch! Items like tires will always have to be replaced, so keeping spares around is a good idea. I just wish I would have done it earlier. Darren Clark 2004 KLR-650 Fowlerville, MI [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Dan Paulsen]

Been in Carnarvon a week and enjoyed the rest in this quiet town, nice place, stayed in the motel unit of the backpacker @ $385.AUD The upcoming video of the blowholes show action! Here's the pics: http://tinyurl.com/yokl8z http://community.webshots.com/user/danodemotoman http://photos.yahoo.com/danodemotoman http://photos.yahoo.com/dannypaulsen Dan Paulsen Graham WA COG 2877, AMA, NMA, BRC Dirt, dual sport, adventure touring, sport touring..... Yo Ho, Yo Ho, It's a Biker's Life For Me! ____________________________________________________________________________________You snooze, you lose. Get messages ASAP with AutoCheck in the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_html.html