► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[Tim Cullis]

I've been riding exclusively on TKC80s for about 120,000 miles. Tyre life depends on how you ride. If you rip it everywhere with hard acceleration, harsh braking and long high-speed blasts you might only get 3000-4000 miles from a tyre.

Personally when touring I ride the bike quite gently with moderate acceleration and braking, and motorway sections at 70-80 mph. On the 650GS I have absolutely no problem getting 7000 miles from a rear. My 'record' on the 1200GSA was 9000 miles to Senegal and back.

Tim

 

[mystic]

I've been riding exclusively on TKC80s for about 120,000 miles. Tyre life depends on how you ride. If you rip it everywhere with hard acceleration, harsh braking and long high-speed blasts you might only get 3000-4000 miles from a tyre.

Personally when touring I ride the bike quite gently with moderate acceleration and braking, and motorway sections at 70-80 mph. On the 650GS I have absolutely no problem getting 7000 miles from a rear. My 'record' on the 1200GSA was 9000 miles to Senegal and back.

Tim

There speaks the voice of experience If I can manage 7K from a TKC rear through the Stans I'd be well happy!

The proof of the pudding is in the eating ....... time will tell.

Thanks Tim.

 

[Wookie]

Can anyone reccommend a good cheap website to buy a pair of TKCs?

Gonna fit them myself (might get them balanced afterwards) as i need to practice putting the tyres on and off.

Wookie

 

[Ghostrider]

Tyre Slime and vibrations

I have bought a bottle of Tyre Slime for the 800GS and reading the instructions it states that for high speed applications it may cause vibrations in the front wheel.
I want to use it as a puncture preventative prior to a road trip but wondered if any other riders have used Slime and had problems. For those who know about tyres is it best to put it in now or put it in when/if I get a puncture???

Any advice

 

[oblertone]

I've had ...

... Ultraseal in my bike tyres for the last 7 years; you can get some vibration immediately after application, but I've had nothing further after the first 50 yards

 

[Blobby]

... Ultraseal in my bike tyres for the last 7 years; you can get some vibration immediately after application, but I've had nothing further after the first 50 yards

Likewise, I use Ultraseal. Put it in now before you get a puncture. It can feel very odd for the first couple of miles but build up speed gradually and ride through the slight vibration then the goo stuff spreads itself out and the wheels become balanced again. Ultraseal is good stuff....but a tad hard to squeeze in through the tyre valve.

 

[thauma]

As already indicated Ultraseal doesn't cause vibration (or very little for the first few (ie. 100) yards. Personally I can't say I've noticed any vibration on my 1150 GSA, but I was told that if you put in too much then you will get significant vibration. So follow the instructions, and don't be tempted to put in that extra little bit.

 

[Ghostrider]

Thanks for the advice. All done took about 30 mins and went for a test ride and there doesn’t seen to be any vibrations.
GR

 

[Mr. Pete]

installation....

I waited for a nice warm day...put it slime...and went for a nice long ride.
I have ridden my KLR for 12,000 miles, all over the U.S., and have not ever noticed any vibration of any kind coming from the wheels. Now the 685cc conversion piston...that might be a different story!!
I just purchased a different tube sealer for my 800GS and am waiting for a nice warm day here, in upstate New York, to do the same.
The new stuff, ride-on, is made for high speed use. I drove my KLR pretty fast and did not notice anything.

If you are going out and looking for a new sealant...I probably would suggest Ride-ON.

My motto...anything to keep from getting a flat tire is a good thing!

 

[Eon]

Whats the best tyres for 50/50 use

Hello, I'm using bridgestone battlewings as they come standard fit on my new f650gs, I would like to fit a semi on/off road tyre, what do you think is best any ideas, I'm not a serious off road mud plugger just mild green lane/bit of rough stuff with a little mud if it comes along so not really interested in knobbies at this time.cheers

 

[Jaq]

I used tourances on my old 650 single...they were really good on and off road....

 

[shag]

If you not interested in knobbies i would just stick with what you have, they are ok for light off roading

 

[Wreford Miles]

TKC's as used on many 11XX's on and off road with geat success for years and you'd be suprised how well they grip on the road.

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

so not really interested in knoblies at this time.

That's a shame, Conti TKC80's are great

 

[Eon]

If you not interested in knobbies i would just stick with what you have, they are ok for light off roading

Thanks for that I've heard a few comments about just how good they are in the wet (road use) not experiance anything bad myself but a bit concerned when hard over, also the rear is easy spun in leafy lane stuff.

 

[Eon]

That's a shame, Conti TKC80's are great

What are they like on the road, as i about 15mile from Salisbury plain or 20 mile for bovington

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

What are they like on the road, as i about 15mile from Salisbury plain or 20 mile for bovington

I average around 12k miles per year, it's all I use, as do many on here

 

[johnboy]

hi Eon

I was out on Salisbury Plain and few other byways yesterday on the standard 800gs tyres - battlewings. They were absolutely fine for the conditions dry, stone and some times grass tracks with some ruts. So I would stick with them. However the TKCs make the bikes look good! Does anyone know what a reasonable price for TKCs would be for an 800gs and is it best to buy sperately and then get them fitted or does it make no difference?

 

[Eon]

That's a shame, Conti TKC80's are great

They look serious stuff any virabration on the road

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

hi Eon

I was out on Salisbury Plain and few other byways yesterday on the standard 800gs tyres - battlewings. They were absolutely fine for the conditions dry, stone and some times grass tracks with some ruts. So I would stick with them. However the TKCs make the bikes look good! Does anyone know what a reasonable price for TKCs would be for an 800gs and is it best to buy sperately and then get them fitted or does it make no difference?

I don't know what size your tyres are (without reading up) but I'd get a quote from your local tyre fitter first on how much they could supply and fit them for, then fit only, then look for them mail order, somewhere like Round and Black on ebay or Busters