► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[twisticles]

I found the stock battlewings pretty good in wet and dry myself, no complaints.

Not good in the mud though, so switched to TKC80s for a while.

 

[Tim Cullis]

I agree with Fanum's one-liner. I only ride on knobblies and have done more than 100,000 miles on 1200GS, 1200GSA and now the 650GS on TKC80s. I was scraping the pegs recently touring in the Pyrenees on the F650GS with full luggage on fabulous twisties yet still not a sign of loss of adhesion.

The bike performed well on the offroad sections, 50+ miles on the first day, a bit less the second. Didn't come close to dropping it. Though when you're at the top of a rubble-filled chute you wish the first gear was lower to slow you down more easily.

Tim

 

[kalli]

Tim...
Does the front end not wobble in windy conditions using the TKC? especially in headwind?
I am running them on my DRZ and if it is really windy I have to slide as much forward as I can to minimize the wobbling. But it is much lighter bike than the 800 GS
I am still very pleased with them and will probably buy a set for my 800 GS in the near future.

 

[ZZ10]

I have changed the front tyre now from Battlewing(which I felt was not good in rain) to Dunlop Trailmax

http://www.dunlop-tires.com/dunlop_...on_off_road/on_off_road/trailmax_radial_d607/

it made a big difference on dry roads , they will probably also work much better in rain.

 

[BM_donator]

I have changed the front tyre now from Battlewing(which I felt was not good in rain) to Dunlop Trailmax

http://www.dunlop-tires.com/dunlop_...on_off_road/on_off_road/trailmax_radial_d607/

it made a big difference on dry roads , they will probably also work much better in rain.

I assume you have the 650 - the Dunlop site doesn't show a 21" front wheel size?

Anyone changed to a non-Battlewing road-biased tyre on the 800 yet?
I've got about 500m left on my front tyre now (the rear still looks new!)

 

[ZZ10]

I assume you have the 650 - the Dunlop site doesn't show a 21" front wheel size?

No 800, Dunlop have size 21" of D607, the site seems to not be updated in some parts

F: Trailmax D 607 F* 90/90-21 M/C 54H TL 2.25

 

[BM_donator]

No 800, Dunlop have size 21" of D607, the site seems to not be updated in some parts

F: Trailmax D 607 F* 90/90-21 M/C 54H TL 2.25

Thanks ZZ10 - I'll google around and try and find some in the UK. Most reports I read seem to show the Dunlop as the best road tyre - I find the Battlewings a little skittish when wet. I'm loathe to change the rear though as it doesn't seem to have worn at all

 

[ZZ10]

Thanks ZZ10 - I'll google around and try and find some in the UK. Most reports I read seem to show the Dunlop as the best road tyre - I find the Battlewings a little skittish when wet. I'm loathe to change the rear though as it doesn't seem to have work at all

I have changed to Dunlop 607 in front and still have Battlewing rear as it is not worn out yet, works great but no driving in rain with that setup yet, still D607 is far better in rain as I have used them before, Battlewing in front works bad in rain, I will soon change to 607 rear as the right size is available.

 

[BM_donator]

I have changed to Dunlop 607 in front and still have Battlewing rear as it is not worn out yet, works great but no driving in rain with that setup yet, still D607 is far better in rain as I have used them before, Battlewing in front works bad in rain, I will soon change to 607 rear as the right size is available.

Thnaks again ZZ10. I found a UK supplier - Busters were £30 cheaper than elsewhere so I've ordered a pair. No online stock availability info though so I'll have to wait and see when delivery is scheduled.

 

[BM_donator]

No 800, Dunlop have size 21" of D607, the site seems to not be updated in some parts

F: Trailmax D 607 F* 90/90-21 M/C 54H TL 2.25

Just one other question; the tyre rating you give is TL - this is tubeless. I know tubeless continental tyres are ok with tubes, but has anyone confirmed this with Dunlop or a tyre supplier?

 

[ZZ10]

I know tubeless continental tyres are ok with tubes, but has anyone confirmed this with Dunlop or a tyre supplier?

No but I have used at least 2 front and 2 rear D607 tyres with tubes without problems, my tyre dealer would have for sure told me if there where any problems.

 

[BM_donator]

No but I have used at least 2 front and 2 rear D607 tyres with tubes without problems, my tyre dealer would have for sure told me if there where any problems.

Found the following info deep in the Dunlop website - as you say it looks like we're OK;

TUBE TYPE RIMS
Not all cast wheels are suitable for tubeless tyre fitment without an inner tube.
For tube type rims always fit a correctly-sized Dunlop inner tube, even if the tyre is marked as tubeless.
With a correctly-sized inner tube fitted, a tubeless non-radial tyre may be fitted to a tube-type wheel.
Consult the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide for radial tyres that are approved for fitment with a correctly-sized Dunlop inner tube on tube type rims.
TUBELESS RIMS
Only wheels that carry the words "Tubeless" or "Tubeless Tyre Applicable" can be fitted with tubeless tyres and without inner tubes.
Do not fit tube type tyres and without inner tubes on tubeless wheels.
INNER TUBES
Inner tubes are a crucial part of the tube type wheel assembly. They should be treated with respect.

When fitting a new tyre on a rim that requires an inner tube, a new inner tube should be fitted at the same time. Old inner tubes become stretched and if an old inner tube is fitted with a new tyre it can crease and fail due to thinning of the inner tube rubber.
Always replace damaged inner tubes.
After fitting a new inner tube, or a new tyre and a new inner tube, deflate and reinflate the tyre after seating. This is to prevent inner tube wrinkles.
Inspect the rim band and consult a motorcycle dealer for correct rim band replacement if required.
Always check the size markings on the inner tube to ensure that the tyre size appears on the inner tube.
Do not fit inner tubes in radial motorcycle tyres in order to effect a permanent puncture repair. (also see EMERGENCY "GET YOU HOME" REPAIRS below)
Do not fit radial tyres and inner tubes on tube type rims unless approved by Dunlop Tyres.

 

[BM_donator]

Unfortunately, Dunlop cannot confirm - I received this email response....

Hi Geoff,

Dunlop has tested and approved the D607 on many bikes with tubed-type rims as long as the correctly sized inner tube is used.

What we haven't approved yet is the fitment of the D607 on the F800GS. This may follow at the next annual round of testing that occurs every spring, but until we have tested the tyre on the bike I cannot confirm its suitability.

Kind regards

Bryn Phillips
Sales & Product Support Manager, Motorcycle Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd [email protected]

I think I can only surmise that it probably is OK, but until Dunlop do their own tests, nothing will be warranted.

 

[ZZ10]

I think I can only surmise that it probably is OK, but until Dunlop do their own tests, nothing will be warranted.

Is use D607 front and I have not noticed any problem.

 

[sijohnston]

I had my first puncture on Sat. Screen started flapping and then the headstock felt like it was about to fall apart. BMW roadside assistance pitched up 30 mins later and took the bike to my home 70 miles away. The rear is now decorated with a big old nail. The Tourances had 7000 miles on them and about another 1000 left, but I think I'll just bin them and will be re-shod with TKC's tomorrow. I wasn't too impressed with the Tourances in the wet and would say that they were just ok on the 800. On the upside, they do have good longevity although the front was feeling it.

 

[frogger]

TKC pressures

What sort of pressures do you guys run your TKC's on the road and then in the dirt?

 

[Chris G]

standard pressures for me, off road- standard too unless you end up in the sh*t, then you could drop a little

 

[twisticles]

32/36psi or 2.2/2.5bar is the stock/recommended pressure. But I like a firm tyre and when fully loaded have even been up to 36/42 with no problems at speed or on gravel trails.

 

[VAL. H.]

32/36psi or 2.2/2.5bar is the stock/recommended pressure. But I like a firm tyre and when fully loaded have even been up to 36/42 with no problems at speed or on gravel trails.

If this helps at all, We ride a 1200 gs and a 650gs single. The 650 twin is I'm told about 10Kg heavier than the 650 single.

IMHO (two years and 25000+ miles all weather riding on TKC's) the standard pressures are way too high for TKC's, even on a small bike.

I keep the fronts at; 27psi and the rears at 33psi for normal road use.

When carrying luggage or passengers I up the pressures to; 32psi front and 38psi rear on both bikes.

My reason for the same pressures is that the bikes seem to be happiest this way. The harder you have the TKC's the greater the tendency they have to walk in the bends (start to lose grip), and the more flighty they feel in the wet.

Off road I would drop the pressures again by up to 5psi in each (some people run the rears at about 15psi when its wet and muddy) Most of my off roding is very gentle (I'm a bit of a wooce off road) and only in the dry if I can help it, so often I leave the pressures as they are.

Yesterday we did a 100+ mile high speed A road dash two up on the 650. I didn't add any air to the tyres, just road it as is. We had no incidents or scares related to the TKC's in any way. I even got my right foot down in one of the bends.

Didn't tell her on the back though


Val.

PS: If it helps I get 14000 mls from the front and 11000mls from the rear.

 

[frogger]

Did my tyre pressures a couple of days ago and found they were pumped to 38psi front and 45psi rear! Must have been done at the dealer during the 600 mile service as I have never pumped these tyres. Not that I can honestly say I ever noticed the tyre wondering or anything, they have been spot on and will hopefully be even better from now on

I would recommend checking your tyre pressures if you haven't done so, don't trust the dealer!