martin's visit and pictures-and still time to write

[A Chesley]

I've been on many dual sport rides and very few times have seen places a good rider on street tires could not make it unless it was really muddy. Look at all the people that do the Prudho bay thing on muddy roads with big street bikes and near slick tires. You have to figure out if you really do need knobbies or just want knobbies on a KLR650 that weights about 400 lbs full of gas. I really think lots of people get way more aggressive tires than they really need. I've run D606's , Kenda 270's, IRC GP1's and (heck can't remember the other 101 or something like that I think) plus the stock tires it came with and now on second set of Avon Gripsters which have let me go pretty much everywhere I want to go. Just have to cool the throttle when in the mud. But at 63 years old I try to stay out of the mud unless totally necessary. I've done multible trips in Big Bend and up to El Paso, the TAT Ark and Oklahoma a few times in both dry and muddy conditions with the Avons with no serious problems. Andrus Chesley Jennings, La. '00 KLR650 '02 R1150GSA < has seen a bit of mud also with mostly street tires

[dooden]

3.00x21 or 3.25x21 and 4.75(?)x17 and 5.10x17 I have the 3.25 & 5.10 on my bike with HD tubes of course. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Matt Smith" wrote: > > Ok, then what size kendas? I noticed they don't use the usual 90/90-21 > sizing on their site. > > Cheers, > > M. > > > On 4/13/06, Matt wrote: > > Something else I find interesting about the rear K-270 is that it has > > the highest load range of any other tire I've tried. Load range C vs. > > load range B. > > > > Matt > > > > > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[st1100john]

Have to agree about the Kenda 270s. Rode them in Alaska a couple of years ago which included riding the Dalton Highway (Haul Road). Then attended a meeting in Copper Canyon where I rode from DFW to Copper Canyon and back. Tires still have tread, although not much. Will buy them again. I'm over the 300 lb. mark with me and all my gear onboard. Take care, John

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dooden" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "C. Bebber" wrote: > > > > I picked up my first KLR (a used 2002) a couple weeks ago and I think > > the first thing I'm going to need to pick up are a couple new 50/50 > > tires. > > > > I've read the wheel/tires section of the FAQ but are some better than > > others? I've got IRC tires right now and I don't think they even > > lasted 3000 miles. > > > > Many thanks! > > > > Kenda K270's are a good 50/50 tire IMHO, cheap too. > > http://www.mindspring.com/~mssilverstein/motorcycles/klr650/tires/ind ex.html> > > See above link fo more info. > Dooden > A15 Green Ape >

[deadtvs]

How come the Karoos never get many votes? I've gone through the stock Dunlops, Duros, IRCs, and two sets of K270s, without feeling I'd found the "perfect" tire (I know, I never will!). So my most recent set are the Karoos. I've had the front on for about 1500 and the rear for about 500, and so far, I think they are my favorite. They're a bit more $$$ than the Kendas, but not that much, and the rear is a lot less scary on pavement than the K270, although I haven't had a chance to try it in the wet. In dirt, the rear hooks up about as well as the K270, and the front I think tracks a little better. So far I've been too cheap to try the Conti's, but if I end up disappointed with the Karoos (not likely), I might try them next. Anyway, for now, the Metzelers are my vote for #1 50/50 tire. FWIW, Dan

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "C. Bebber" wrote: > > > > I picked up my first KLR (a used 2002) a couple weeks ago and I think > > the first thing I'm going to need to pick up are a couple new 50/50 > > tires. > > > > I've read the wheel/tires section of the FAQ but are some better than > > others? I've got IRC tires right now and I don't think they even > > lasted 3000 miles. > > There are plenty of tires that perform OK, but if you care about cost and durability, there are > only three choices: > > Kenda k270 > Cheng Shin 858 > Dunlop D606 >

[Matt]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "deadtvs" wrote:

> > How come the Karoos never get many votes?

I thought Karoos were great. They just wore out too fast. Matt

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "deadtvs" wrote:

> > How come the Karoos never get many votes?

The Karoos may work ok when new, but expect about 2000 miles or less out of the rear. That works out to three to five times $60 compared to $35 one time. Plus mounting, your time or your money, take your choice. Like all Metzelers, overpriced and overrated.

[John Biccum]

The TKC80s are my favorite dual sport tire by far. IMHO they are the compromise tire that demands the least compromise. They seem to be great on the street and great in the dirt. I just read a couple of mails that said that they wear out fast, but that has not been my experience. I get about 4500-5000 miles to a rear and about 9K to a front. I have 7422 on the front now and it still not close to worn out, and that is with a big rotor on it. -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of closetwestie Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 8:53 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: What tires would you recommend? So I put out the same question on our local NW group and put the Cont. TKC80's on and drove into work today. I'm sold!!! Beats the hell out of the gripsters that I had on it over the winter, while nice these feel considerably more stable...even at speed. It will be a few weeks before I can play in the dirt so cant report on that, but I'm sure they will perform well there. They are steeper on price compared to some of the others, and as mentioned before might have a short lifespan. So far I'd buy them again. Don't think I'd replace them 4 times a year ($), but I was looking for a tire to get me thru the to the cold rain this fall and get me and my daughter out camping this summer. Any way as you can tell I'm recommending the TKC80's. Good Luck, Mike A12

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, wrote: > > > Another Hot "Don't buy!" Is the King 967. While it > does have incredible short conrnering ability at low > speed (it's an 82-20) it wobbles at high speed, and is > a constant wash in dirt and gravel. Scariest 5000 > miles I ever rode. I am running 606's right now, I am > loving the dirt, but break neck stuff on the street, > and they lock up at the slightest whim seeing as how > your on one knob most of the time. But there a hoot in > the dirt, thumpers a wheely machine right now. > --- Ronald Criswell wrote: > > > They wore too quick for me. > > > > Criswell > > > > On Apr 12, 2006, at 2:36 PM, ATO137528@... > > wrote: > > > > > The Kenda 270 is not a comfortable tire on > > pavement at all. The knobs > > > squirm all over the place, and it's downright > > frightening when leaning > > > hard. In the wet? No thanks. I've chunked knobs > > in gravel, too. A > > > usable tire if you only putter when you hafta' use > > some pavement. > > > Great in the dirt. Cheap, too. > > > > > > But if you want a GREAT tire and aren't afraid to > > pop the extra bucks, > > > get some Continental TKC-80's. Great on the > > pavement and great > > > anywhere off-road except mud and deep sand. Of > > course, if you want to > > > ride a 350+ pound KLR in mud or deep sand, well... > > You're in for a > > > bad > > > day regardless of your tire chice. > > > > > > I'm a few miles from buying my third set. > > > > > > Lamar > > > A14 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/ > > > klr650_data_search.html > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > > > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > > 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 > > > > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sean Brown > International Order of the KLR. > "yeh, unto the ride, the thumper, yeh, and it was good, and thine did rejoice" amen > matteeanne@... > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html 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

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Babin" wrote:

> Revmaaatin, How did they feel on the road at 60 mph? Did they feel > stable enough for a long asphalt drive? > > Brian >

Hi Brian, How does a Kenda 270 feel at 60? 60 is a speed I rarely stay at very long unless it is in the dirt/gravel. While riding on asphalt, 60 is only a transatory speed while accelecerating or decelerating, so I reckon its ok for me....(OK=fully satisfied) revmaaatin. who sometimes rides faster than his angel can fly

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dooden" wrote:

> > I have the 3.25 & 5.10 on my bike with HD tubes of course. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape >

IRT to the KENDA 270 tire: I knew Dooden was smart. Exactly the same size tire, tube, and brand I use. revmaaatin.

[Ron Moorhouse]

If its good enough for the Green Ape and The Rev, its good enough for me! revmaaatin wrote: --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dooden" wrote:

> > I have the 3.25 & 5.10 on my bike with HD tubes of course. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape >

IRT to the KENDA 270 tire: I knew Dooden was smart. Exactly the same size tire, tube, and brand I use. revmaaatin. Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html 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]