OK... The final analysis...
As some of you will remember, before Fred left and the political stuff
nearly ruined this list I was complaining about head shake etc. after I
replaced my front tire on my red (fastest color) 2007 KLR650 with a Mefo.
Many speculated on the whys and many reported their successes and failures
with many tires and tire combinations they'd tried on their KLR's. I
listened and analyzed what I read and then made some decisions.
I decided to order new tires and did so. They came in and I was on the fence
which ones to actually put on my bike and which ones to hold in case I
didn't like the first ones.
I rode everyone else's dual sport bikes around here that would let me and
watched them ride mine and was quite sure I wanted an aggressive tread
design with huge knobs on it for our loose sand around here which is the
bane of the Florida rider.
Anyway... Long story short I ended up trying a Dunlop D606 on the front AND
rear and am so incredibly pleased that I doubt I'll change them until
they're fully worn out.
First... On the roads. They're a bit noisy on the straight sections of
asphalt but not nearly as loud as I thought they'd be. I'm running them
currently with 35lbs pressure in the rear and 32lbs in the front and other
than a slight high pitched whine at high speeds and a bit of vibration at
low speeds they're almost as good as the OEM tires which I really liked a
LOT on pavement. On turns they seem to be adequate but when I lean very far
into the turns I imagine that I can feel the bike walking sideways on the
knobs.
I doubt that's what's really happening but the feeling won't go away so I'll
just have to get used to it and be careful in the turns at high speeds.
Now for the dirt/sand performance. I'll say that I'm extremely pleased. Even
at the 35/32 inflation I can feel a huge difference over the factory OEM's.
The inclination of the front tire to "wash out" isn't nearly as pronounced
in sand, mud or other loose soils I encountered. Gravel is about the same as
the OEM tires.
Acceleration is very good and braking is pretty good. Turns inspire
confidence which is saying a LOT for such a short wheelbase, tall, and
ungainly a dual sport as the KLR. They track true and wander very little.
I'm pleased as punch and am through looking for the perfect tire for my KLR.
Next report will be at pressures around the 24/22 pound pressures.
OH... And thanks for everybody's input. It was very valuable and most of it
proved to be spot on.
$bob$
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gak!!! head shake? wobbles? new tire issue!!!
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