► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[snowlife_9999]

I just finished a 7,800 km ride down the Rocky Mountains on some Heidenau K60s. They took me safely through every kind of terrain out there. Here's the report I promised:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10302027&postcount=87

David

This k60, by all reports is a great 50/50 tire. But there is a new tire coming/out
http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=63

looks a little harder cut that the tourance, the tire sizes are correct for the 800gs.
Now I am a little split b/w the k60's and the 705 for my next set . Maybe a 705 front, k60 rear.

 

[Ferret55]

650GS Tyres

If I were to buy a 650, I would only ever use it on the road. What would be the best pure road tyres? The fitments seem to be very limited: Avon Distanzia and Avon Azaro are the only ones I have been able to find so far. I used to run my 1200GS on Bridgestone BT 020 /021s, which I was very happy with.

 

[old-man-andy]

Bike Magazine did a review a few months back of big-trailie tyres using a 1200GS so results should be comparable to the 650GS. 'Fraid I can't remember the results but I'll have a look over the weekend.............if I remember

 

[Sooty09]

We fitted Pilot road 2 front & rear on my wifes bike. She likes them, but I find the bike steers a bit too quick for my liking. So far they have covered 3500 miles and they are looking like new. I still prefer Avon Storms for feel on my Versys, I dont think Avon do a 19" front so it would have to be a Storm rear and an Avon Azura front.

 

[old-man-andy]

Found the review (Sept 08).

Conti Road Attack weren't rated very highly, Michelin Pilot Road were better, Metzeler Roadtec Z6 better still, Avon Storm ST (rear)/Azaro ST (front) better again, with Bridgestone BT021 (rear)/BT020 (front) just bettering the Avons.

They also tested TKCs which were only 1 second slower than the fastest on the 2.2 mile Bruntingthorpe track

I ran BT020s on my Triumph TT600 followed by Storm STs - I preferred the STs, slightly more confidence inspiring in the wet.

Mate of mine with an 1150GS is now running BT021/BT020 after more chunky style tyres - he rates the Bridgstones.

I've got Battlewings on my 650 which are great in the dry but the rear is somewhat twitchy in the wet!!

HTH

Andy

 

[Maxxx]

TKC 80's + mousse or slime on F800?

Is anyone running Conti TKC 80's with mousses or filled with slime?

Pro's & Con's?

Is the speed limitation that real if I'm seldom going to be topping 80mph?

Advice appeciated.

Cheers

Maxxx

 

[BurtieBoy]

Hi, I run mousses on my KTM640 and I reckon this maybe the limit for a mousse - the power in the 800 may wear the mousse out quickly cause it to degrade. Also if a mousse gets hot it can get quite a bit softer.

You may also need to check on the legality of the mousse on the road. I do very little road work on my mousses.

I'd proabably go with slime if I was going to do road mileage as well - plus slime is alot cheaper.

 

[Argonaught]

Hi, I've been riding TCK80's with slime on my 800GS for the last 18 months now, 95% on the road. Riding at all speeds & for around 6000 miles in all now.

No problems to report whatsoever. Apart from 3 points

 

[divelandy]

Numpty question altert

I've not used this stuff, so my ignorance will show:

How do you know when your innnertube is shagged by too many punctures which have been sealed with slime?
- does the green color mark the outside of the innertube?
- does this show on the outside of the tyre so you can keep track?

 

[Dave Ett]

How about tyre balls?

http://www.dirtbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/Tire_Balls.html

Or these tube eliminators:

http://www.nuetech.com/index.shtml

 

[Maxxx]

How about tyre balls?

http://www.dirtbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/Tire_Balls.html

Or these tube eliminators:

http://www.nuetech.com/index.shtml

The tyre balls say they aren't approved for highway use and you need to stay off paved roads so those are ruled out.

The second product looks interesting - I can't see anything on their site about speed rating though - would be very interested to know if anyone on here has ever used it before?

 

[D6]

The tyre balls say they aren't approved for highway use and you need to stay off paved roads so those are ruled out.

The second product looks interesting - I can't see anything on their site about speed rating though - would be very interested to know if anyone on here has ever used it before?

theres a thread on thumpertalk about em

 

[Maxxx]

I've not used this stuff, so my ignorance will show:

How do you know when your innnertube is shagged by too many punctures which have been sealed with slime?

The tyre eventually goes flat ........but it takes quite a punnishing before doing so (or it was a biiiig hole)

- does the green color mark the outside of the innertube?

Nope - not really - by the time you rip the tube out you'd probably just throw it away.

- does this show on the outside of the tyre so you can keep track?

Not at all - all happens inside the tube - I've taken a tube out before that was riddled with all sorts of shrapnel - tacks from horses shoes, fair size hardwood splinters, a few pieces of barbed wire - none of which spoiled my day - eventually killed the tyre with a sidewall rip on a sharp stone.

It's just that I've only used slime in trail bike tyres before - the bike never went on paved roads and never really got up sustained high speeds which is why I'm asking the question related to the F800's.

 

[Maxxx]

Thanks!

theres a thread on thumpertalk about em

I've just signed up so that I can read the thread(s) - from what I've read they really justify closer inspection - I've emailed the company directly to ask about speed rating though as no-one seems to mention this anywhere - what peeves me off just a tad is that they are $99 dollars per tyre in the USA and £99 per tyre from a local distributor .......if I do decide to go for them I think it's going to have to be an import job!

Still like to know if any fellow tossers have already tried them out and if they are OK on highways at speed.

 

[Dave Ett]

I think you'll find that the import cost will very closely match the UK price once you've added in the shipping. The pound is so weak against the dollar right now it's hardly worth doing for the sake of a tenner.

Plus, if it does go wrong you can return it to the dealer, not throw it away / ship it back to the states.

Ridemx.com in Stratford upon Avon sell them - was in there yesterday.

 

[fireman]

Is anyone running Conti TKC 80's with mousses or filled with slime?

Pro's & Con's?

Is the speed limitation that real if I'm seldom going to be topping 80mph?

Advice appeciated.

Cheers

Maxxx

I have done several trips off road in morocco, the alps and the pyrenees on a range of bikes ( ktm 640 adv, xr650, africa twin) and always used slime. never had a problem at 80+ speeds.
what i would say is that we take the condition of our tyres seriously so also bear in mind the inner tube. spend a few extra quid and have ultra heavy duty and renew them when you replace the tyres ,afterall they are rubber and breakdown in time, more so when running on lower pressures.
enjoy your riding!!!

 

[BurtieBoy]

Are mousses OK for road use? On the box my latest mousse came in it did say not for highway use !!!!

 

[maddaddy]

No expert but..

Are mousses OK for road use? On the box my latest mousse came in it did say not for highway use !!!!

Isn't mousse specific for off road or off road racing?

 

[chrisjk]

I am pretty sure a reputable fitter would not fit mousses to the 800. They wouldn't last very long and they could be dangerous. Same for ultra heavy tubes. These things are for lighter bikes and non-highway use. Sure, you can fit them yourself (well maybe not the mousses unless you have 6 tyre irons and three strong friends ) but the results probably wouldn't please you if you want to ride the highway at anything like high speeds.

 

[fireman]

I am pretty sure a reputable fitter would not fit mousses to the 800. They wouldn't last very long and they could be dangerous. Same for ultra heavy tubes. These things are for lighter bikes and non-highway use. Sure, you can fit them yourself (well maybe not the mousses unless you have 6 tyre irons and three strong friends ) but the results probably wouldn't please you if you want to ride the highway at anything like high speeds.

Intresting you say ultra heavy tubes are not recommended! can i ask why?

if it has the correct pressure on the highway they are no different than standard tubes. the advantage is that if you go on hard pack or gravel you can drop the pressure without the risk of compression punctures also for those who have not perfected the art of tyre changing ! your less likely to pinch the tube when doing so.

Just my experiance. if you know of a safety concern then please let me know
cheers