Wilsons Sandbox

I've been using ITZ's on my '03 KLR since I got it last June and have been happy with the performance. But after 4000 miles or so, the rear has almost no tread( tho the front still has plenty). I plan a cross-country road trip out west next summer and I want a "road" tire that'll last the entire trip - probably 5000 - 7000 miles. How about some recommendations. Tom Saranac Lake, NY _________________________________________________________________ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_112007 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sounds like you're getting into Tourance/Distanzia type of tire. Or the maybe the Gripster, but I don't know what will last 7k with a load. What's an ITZ? __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tom Dudones wrote: > > > I've been using ITZ's on my '03 KLR since I got it last June and have been happy with the performance. But after 4000 miles or so, the rear has almost no tread( tho the front still has plenty). I plan a cross-country road trip out west next summer and I want a "road" tire that'll last the entire trip - probably 5000 - 7000 miles. How about some recommendations. > > Tom > Saranac Lake, NY > _________________________________________________________________ > Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. > http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html? ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_112007 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

Ditto on what was mentioned. I run Avon Gripsters on my KLR and they do good. I've run them over 5000 with about 1/2 wear left on them but changed them out just to go do some trashy stuff that I needed knobbies for. I have a set of Avon Gripsters on it again as my main road tire. I run a tourance rear on my DLK and have over 7000 miles on it now with a good 1/2 to 1/3 life left. I run an Avon Distanza on the front of the DLK because I like the way the front turns in with it. Don't be afraid to mix tires as long as they're constructed about the same. Andy Chesley Jennings,La.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Arden Kysely" wrote: > > Sounds like you're getting into Tourance/Distanzia type of tire. Or > the maybe the Gripster, but I don't know what will last 7k with a > load. > > What's an ITZ? > > __Arden > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tom Dudones wrote: > > > > > > I've been using ITZ's on my '03 KLR since I got it last June and > have been happy with the performance. But after 4000 miles or so, > the rear has almost no tread( tho the front still has plenty). I > plan a cross-country road trip out west next summer and I want > a "road" tire that'll last the entire trip - probably 5000 - 7000 > miles. How about some recommendations. > > > > Tom > > Saranac Lake, NY > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. > > http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html? > ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_112007 > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > >

The wife and I ride Mefos here in Colorado and Utah. Last winter, we spent 3 months in Mexico & Central America. Fred at Arrowhead sold us Avon Gripsters. After 7400 miles, I think there is still another 3,000 miles left on them. When traveling with the wife, we did leave the kitchen sink behind but that was about it. We were loaded and the tires did just fine. We are planning on going back to Mexico/Central America in a year (for 6 months) and I will mount up the Gripsters again when we depart. They did fine in dirt too but remember their nickname is the slipster. In mud, they have no traction.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tom Dudones wrote: > > > I've been using ITZ's on my '03 KLR since I got it last June and have been happy with the performance. But after 4000 miles or so, the rear has almost no tread( tho the front still has plenty). I plan a cross-country road trip out west next summer and I want a "road" tire that'll last the entire trip - probably 5000 - 7000 miles. How about some recommendations. > > Tom > Saranac Lake, NY > _________________________________________________________________ > Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. > http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_112007 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Layton" wrote:

> > Good questions, Don. Here are a few I know about: > 1) http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/182/1 > 2) Ancra brand (although they don't have as many ratchet-style,

which I prefer) - here's one:

> http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43246 > 3) http://www.mrproducts.com/index.php?func=view&id=171&cookie=yes > > You get the idea. Don't need the big ole' 2" ones for the little

KLR - more for a Gold Wing. Good quality 1" straps (like above) are fine, especially with the front fork springs blocked with the 2x4 - you can cinch them down nice & tight. I don't even use the "soft loops" many companies offer (and included in my #1 above), because I just use the rubber-coated hooks right over the handlebars (watch out for cables & wires).

> > Hope that helps! > > Jeff Layton > Austin, TX > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Don Pendergraft > To: 'Jeff Layton' ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:42 AM > Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Loading Bikes into pickups. Was: Re:Got

me a NEW used Truck

> > > Great tips Jeff! Hey, what constitutes a quality strap? Can

someone provide a link to what would be considered a premium strap? I'm looking to upgrade.

> > Don+

Hello Don and Jeff, A little math to muddle your brain...the math is carry over from carrying aviation trash--otherwise known as combat cargo,etal. We strapped to 10X the pallet weight. 10x the pallet wt in straps strength. So how would that apply to the KLR... Your strap has a rated weight, and your bike is XX/lbs. Your bike under 2G's of force 'weighs' or exert 2x its normal static weight while it is under a 2g maneuver. Believeing you might have 2g's of force on the bike while hauling, you need to have at least 2x the weight of the bike in rated staps to hold it in. A huge bump in the road will exert more than 2 G's of force, or a violent swerve. For safety sake, I always stake my bikes down with 4x the weight of the bike. ie. bikes weighs 500#, use a minumim of #2000 of strap strength to hold it down. Remember, if you double strap the forks with two #600 straps on each side, you have #2400 of strap down force. It may sound like overkill to some, but money is precious for buying bikes, and straps are 'cheap' compared to a bike that self-launches from a trailer of pickup. I think I have ~16 of these things. A good way to keep them squared away is with a 5-gallon bucket. Collect both hooks and put them on the edge of the bucket, allowing the loose stuff to fall into the bucket. Put them in the bucket, left to right, take them out right to left. Similar to coiling a line on a boat. The tiedowns will never be tangled and always easy to grab a pair at a time--and easy to transport. After loading the bike-- Be sure to do something with the loose ends of the strap or it will beat you bike to death. I half hitch mine over and over again until there is less than 4" of strap remaining. the half hitch is easy to release and effective in holding the bike(s). One thing not mentioned here...take a moment, stop and QA the 'load'...be sure to check your load ~1 mile after you get going. It would be real embarrassing to launch the bike prematurely because it was not as secure as you first thought. revmaaatin. snow tomorrow--not likely to be a KLR day.