► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[sergio afonso]

help on tyres - tkc80 / metzeler karoo T

Hi All,

I would like to know your opinion on tyres

Were I live, (Portimao-Algarve-Portugal) it is faster getting the metzeler karoo T tyres (2days),and the continetal tkc80 (2/3 weeks).

Are the "tkc80" much better than the "karoo t"

I'm thinking on buying the karooT now, and the tkc80 next time, and I´ll order them with time.

For every one who as not read my 1st post - (wlcome/introduction) this tyres are for a f650gs and f800gs.

Thanks

 

[sijohnston]

Hi All,

I would like to know your opinion on tyres

Were I live, (Portimao-Algarve-Portugal) it is faster getting the metzeler karoo T tyres (2days),and the continetal tkc80 (2/3 weeks).

Are the "tkc80" much better than the "karoo t"

I'm thinking on buying the karooT now, and the tkc80 next time, and I´ll order them with time.

For every one who as not read my 1st post - (wlcome/introduction) this tyres are for a f650gs and f800gs.

Thanks

After Battlewings, Tourances and now TKC's as of a week ago, the TKC's are a good option if you're planning on going wandering off the roads. They're also great on the roads, even if you have to be a little more careful in the wet. I'm learning that tyres are all about personal preference. Have never tried the Karoo's so can't say...

 

[MikeP]

Sergio,

Are the Karoo's the T2? These are Metzler equivalent to the TKC 80.

I don't know how they will feel on a F650 but I have used TKC's for about 28,000 miles on my 1150GSA and Karoo T2's for the last 2,000 miles.

They are very similar in feel except that they wear quicker (I put that down to the extra cuts in the tread blocks generating more heat).

I got three pairs very, very cheap. Once the ones I have fitted are in need of replacement, I'll go back to TKC's (because they wear better and I have a set already waiting to use).

In short, if the Karoo is the T2 and it's significantly cheaper as well as being more readily available, I'd be happy to use them again.

 

[frogger]

Can't comment on the Karoo's but the TKC are awesome tyres. I've done a 1000 miles on mine and they have been fantastic in dry, wet, off road, everywhere.

 

[jarax]

rim options?

Original F800 GS rims (BEHR) are too soft. Does anyone tried alternative rims? Is tehere any aftermarket option?

 

[bingbong]

www.central-wheel.co.uk
These are the only people I have found so far that will rebuild your wheels with whatever you want. They use exel and morad rims as far as I know. They are in the UK near Birmingham I think. Cost is around 5-600 uk pounds

 

[gbreffitt]

If TKC 80's are the all round tyre to go for, who supplies them the cheapest (UK)?

 

[sergio afonso]

Thank You all for the reply, I chose to buy the tkc's, but will have to wait, I think I'll get them until friday.

I'll post the amount that they will cost me, but at the moment I don´t know.

I think that the prices in the UK are lower as its a bigger market. In Portugal Continental does not sell as many tyres as they do in the UK.

But we never know.

 

[david a hall]

you have made the right choice, is portimao where the cook the freshly caught sardines on charcoal on the harbour front, went ther once thougt it was fab

 

[sergio afonso]

you have made the right choice, is portimao where the cook the freshly caught sardines on charcoal on the harbour front, went ther once thougt it was fab

Yes, it used to be like that, but it isn´t any more, the few boats that still go fishing had to move to the other side of the river, and the restaurants went to a new buildind. Now we have expensive frozen sardines on chrcoal.

 

[david a hall]

thats progress i guess!!! what a shame, i recond you could convert anyone to liking fish if they ate there.

 

[santrix]

Used TKCs on big trip this summer .... ace... Used a Karoo rear, more skittish in the wet, not as much grip in the dry, off road, better.. if you do more road and dusty trails than of road mud/rugged go TKC. Seeing as though the 800GS is never going to be an off road godlike machine (lets face it it's handy, but not THAT handy) id say TKCs are the way.

 

[gbreffitt]

Conti TKC's

Hi, could you advise me on what TKC's I need to buy? I can see that my Battlewings are 90/90 - 21 54v Front and 150/70 - 17 69v Rear. All I know is that I need a 21" front and a 17" rear. There seems to be quite a choice (see below). What price should I expect to pay? Anyone had a cheap deal? Thanks


Size Pattern Front/Rear
4.60 17 68P TT Conti TKC80 R
120/90 17 64S TT Conti TKC80 R
130/80 17 65S TT Conti TKC80 R
130/80 17 65T TL Conti TKC80 R
140/80 17 69Q TT Conti TKC80 R
150/70 B17 69Q TL Conti TKC80 R

2.75 21 52S TT Conti TKC80 F
3.00 21 51S TT Conti TKC80 F
80/90 21 48S TT Conti TKC80 F
90/90 21 54S TT Conti TKC80 F
90/90 21 54T TL Conti TKC80 F

 

[twisticles]

As per the manual, the recommendations from BMW are:

Front: Continental Twinduro TKC80, 90/90-21 M/C TL (54Q)
Rear: Continental Twinduro TKC80, 150/70 B17 M/C TL (69Q)

However, that front tyre is not manufacturered yet, go for the 90/90 54T model at present (and in the future I would imagine...its rating is higher? )

You should note that these tyres are rated Q (160km/h or 99mp/h) instead of V but can be used if "the permissable top speed is indicated by readily visible means (e.g. sticker affixed in the rider's field of vision)".

In reality the front end can get a bit light above 85mph so you're not likely so slog it more than 100mph, are you?

For all your future tyre questions, try: http://f800riders.org/HoW/showentry.php?e=26

 

[frogger]

I have the H rated TKC which is rated to 112mph on the front of my 800GS and have had it up to close that speed without worries.

 

[twisticles]

I have the H rated TKC which is rated to 112mph on the front of my 800GS and have had it up to close that speed without worries.

I'd be interested to know where to procure those then...I have searched high and low and can't find a 90/90 21" 54H TKC80s anywhere.

Tourances, Karoos, Enduro 3, Heidenau, Diztanzia, Scorpions, TrailMax, Conti Escapes and TrailAttacks all available in 54H but can't find TKC80s with that rating anywhere

And 'H' is rated to 120mph...are you sure you don't have 54S on your bike? Those are rated to 112mph...

Out of interest, what do you have on the rear? the 150/70 B17 69Q is still only rated to 99mph...

 

[frogger]

I'd be interested to know where to procure those then...I have searched high and low and can't find a 90/90 21" 54H TKC80s anywhere.

Sorry, just checked, mine is the 3.00-21 M/C 51S and is rated to 'H112mph' and got it from North Oxford BMW about a month ago

Yep, my rear is the standard Q rated tyre

 

[Tim Cullis]

Bahnstormers changed the tyres on my F650GS when new and fitted
front: TKC80 TL 110/80 B19 59Q (same as the R1200GS/GSA)
rear: TKC80 TL 140/80 17 69Q

I'd prefer if the rear was 150/70 17 as this is the 1200GS/GSA size. What's the ramifications if I were to go with it?

Although there was still some life left I fitted a new set at 6,900 miles before doing the Moroccan 'wet boots tour'.

Tim

 

[gbreffitt]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Twisticles. I can see I need the TT type (Tubed Type) now, not the TL (Tubeless).
Whats the right money to pay for a pair? £140?

 

[twisticles]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Twisticles. I can see I need the TT type (Tubed Type) now, not the TL (Tubeless).
Whats the right money to pay for a pair? £140?

Not true about the TT/TL issue. Conti rate all their TL tyres for use with tubes, as long as the tube is the right size.