► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[Woooodentop]

Is the F658GSA a new model???

 

[Dean]

Is the F658GSA a new model???

Er Yes think its still marketed as new, got mine in 2008 (58)

Dean

 

[Gs-ell]

now then

got em on me 800gs, and would recommend to most.
they feel funky at first but you settle in with them, even fine whilst with pillion!

there are rumors of the rear wearing out quickly but i've not got that far with them yet.

they handled well off road too, gave me loads more confidence on greenlanes compared to the battlewings!!!!
hope it helps

 

[chad]

If you do this I will drag you offroad and make your shiny toy very dirty

you have been warned

 

[rockchunk]

not to a twin but recently to my 1150 very very weird at first not sure if they get better with use or if you just get used to them but i really like them now much more involving to ride i would recommend them if you are getting bored as you have to think a bit more about what your doing

 

[Goughie]

not to a twin but recently to my 1150 very very weird at first not sure if they get better with use or if you just get used to them but i really like them now much more involving to ride i would recommend them if you are getting bored as you have to think a bit more about what your doing

MMM. I had em on my 1150, they felt really wierd at first but were better when I dropped the pressures to 20 F 25R on advice from an 'expert' However, since most of my miles are on tarmac and I like to lean a bit, I'm now on Tourance EXP. Going off road this weekend to see if the Metz blurb is to be believed. They are brill on tarmac!

 

[maddaddy]

TKC is my tire

I dumped the wings after about 3000 miles and ride only TKC now.

Although I do a lot of commuting, I tend to get a lot of life out of TKC's if you keep your pressure right.

I'm somewhere around 10,000 miles on the front. It is just now starting to cup.
I got about 7,500 miles out of my rear and probably could have squeezed another 1000 before hitting the wear marks.

It seem that keeping the pressure higher is better for longevity. Low pressure will give the tire more "flex" which means more friction, which mean wears faster. Of course when I'm off road, I drop the pressure to suit the terrain.

Enjoy your TKC's

On dry pavement I can still drag pegs through the corners.

 

[Dean]

now then

got em on me 800gs, and would recommend to most.
they feel funky at first but you settle in with them, even fine whilst with pillion!

there are rumors of the rear wearing out quickly but i've not got that far with them yet.

they handled well off road too, gave me loads more confidence on greenlanes compared to the battlewings!!!!
hope it helps

Yes Gs-ell its a great help I'm definately going to give them a try, It's good to get feed back from the 800's
Thank you.

If you do this I will drag you offroad and make your shiny toy very dirty

you have been warned

Now your scaring me but i like it

not to a twin but recently to my 1150 very very weird at first not sure if they get better with use or if you just get used to them but i really like them now much more involving to ride i would recommend them if you are getting bored as you have to think a bit more about what your doing

I'm not bore i just crave adventure

MMM. I had em on my 1150, they felt really wierd at first but were better when I dropped the pressures to 20 F 25R on advice from an 'expert' However, since most of my miles are on tarmac and I like to lean a bit, I'm now on Tourance EXP. Going off road this weekend to see if the Metz blurb is to be believed. They are brill on tarmac!

Thats interesting i thgought you only dropped the pressure when you go on the soft stuff let me know what you think of the tourance off road, It is my second choice

I dumped the wings after about 3000 miles and ride only TKC now.

Although I do a lot of commuting, I tend to get a lot of life out of TKC's if you keep your pressure right.

I'm somewhere around 10,000 miles on the front. It is just now starting to cup.
I got about 7,500 miles out of my rear and probably could have squeezed another 1000 before hitting the wear marks.

It seem that keeping the pressure higher is better for longevity. Low pressure will give the tire more "flex" which means more friction, which mean wears faster. Of course when I'm off road, I drop the pressure to suit the terrain.

Enjoy your TKC's

On dry pavement I can still drag pegs through the corners.

Maddaddy, what pressure do you maintain? I dont have a problem with my Tombstones (on tarmac) but wouldnt go off with them!

its great feed back thankyou.

Dean

 

[tr5esu]

Hi all,

I am thinking of fitting the F800GS with a set of more off-road oriented tires than the TKC80 for winter trail riding. The TKC80 have been great so far but in the wet the front washes out a lot and the rear gets hardly any grip...

Looking at this thread I saw that possible options would be the MT-09 and the Michellin Desert. Does anyone have any experience with this tires? Are there any other options? The more off-road oriented while still legal the better!

If you have links of where to get them, even better!

Thanks!

Cheers.

 

[Klanky]

I like TK's, me.

If you give them some stick on tarmac they can be munched through in a couple of thousand miles quite easily.
I'm more than happy with their performance, but if I was going on a very long tarmac trip (say 2000 miles) i'd invest in more road-based rubber for that and stick the Tk's back on upon my return.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Mail order tyres

For mail order tyres at great prices, I have always found Busters to be very good.

http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/

Paul G

 

[Dean]

I like TK's, me.

If you give them some stick on tarmac they can be munched through in a couple of thousand miles quite easily.
I'm more than happy with their performance, but if I was going on a very long tarmac trip (say 2000 miles) i'd invest in more road-based rubber for that and stick the Tk's back on upon my return.

Thanks for the feed back klanky! What i read they seem to be one of the best knoblies on tarmac! valid point on the long tarmac trip. I want some off road fun with my shiny toy! So will go for them

For mail order tyres at great prices, I have always found Busters to be very good.

http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/

Paul G

Thanks for that the other Paul G, funny enough a good friend only yesterday suggested Busters as he also gets a discount there!

Dean

 

[sijohnston]

i get about 2500 out of a rear TKC, particularly in the summer months. fed up with dropping a new rear on frequently, but also wanted the versatility to be able to hit trails, boreens and whatever else, besides the tarmac. so, i've settled on the heidenau's, which to date, are pretty impressive and seem like they'll give great longevity.

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

heidis

good in between tyre ,, never let me down .

 

[fireman]

Hi all,

I am thinking of fitting the F800GS with a set of more off-road oriented tires than the TKC80 for winter trail riding. The TKC80 have been great so far but in the wet the front washes out a lot and the rear gets hardly any grip...

Looking at this thread I saw that possible options would be the MT-09 and the Michellin Desert. Does anyone have any experience with this tires? Are there any other options? The more off-road oriented while still legal the better!
If you have links of where to get them, even better!

Thanks!

Cheers.

Desert tyres are like they say "desert" Great on hard pack and sand, also have a very hard tyre wall. Beware on tarmac. very slippy in the wet and if you dont get them balanced a mare on the motorway. anything over 70mph and the bike weaves. as for the MT,s i have never used them so can not comment.

 

[Klanky]

Desert tyres are like they say "desert" Great on hard pack and sand, also have a very hard tyre wall. Beware on tarmac. very slippy in the wet and if you dont get them balanced a mare on the motorway. anything over 70mph and the bike weaves. as for the MT,s i have never used them so can not comment.

As always, Fireman, there's someone who will beg to differ.

I've found TK's to be nearly as good as bog-standard road tyres on tarmac roads, in fact they inspire more confidence in me than the original Battlewings that the bike came fitted with. I will certainly disagree with your comment about them being 'very slippy in the wet'.

[EDIT]

Argh, bollox. I've just realised that this thread has been merged and that your comments were not directly about TK's...which is what I thought I was discussing - on another thread regarding TK's...but the threads been merged...I need a lie down.

Apologies.

 

[tr5esu]

Desert tyres are like they say "desert" Great on hard pack and sand, also have a very hard tyre wall. Beware on tarmac. very slippy in the wet and if you dont get them balanced a mare on the motorway. anything over 70mph and the bike weaves. as for the MT,s i have never used them so can not comment.

Hi Fireman,

Thanks for the reply. Do you know how the Desert fair on mud? I feel the TKC80s are good on gravel but they are very slippery on mud.. the front washes out quite badly with the slightiest lean of the bike..


Cheers!

 

[GS Biker]

So the time has come to replace my battlewings with a new set of rubbers. As most of my riding in in the city with between 10 - 15% off road/dirt roads. I think I will go for Michelin Anakee, type1 front tyre & type 2 Rear. Anyone have another good idea with regard to the mentioned? Also any suggestions as to the best place to get these, was looking at http://www.nationalbiketyres.co.uk for a deal ?

Ta

 

[fireman]

Hi Fireman,

Thanks for the reply. Do you know how the Desert fair on mud? I feel the TKC80s are good on gravel but they are very slippery on mud.. the front washes out quite badly with the slightiest lean of the bike..


Cheers!

Seriously forget desert tyres unless your over in moroco or riding fire roads.

The best all rounders in my book are either the tkc80's or the metzeler karoo T the "T" is for touring as the compound is harder. they are also stamped M+S for mud and snow. as with any tyre off road the trick is to get the tyre to clean itself as quick as possible. When ever you can get the rear spinning.

If you have a bike with an 18" rear then there is no better tyre than the dunlop 908RR, it will cost you a bob or two but it has to be the top tyre for tarmac ,sand, gravel and looks realy aggresive.

 

[tr5esu]

Hi all!

Anyone knows a supplier of Metzeler Karoo tyres (not Karoo T) here in the UK?

Thanks!

Cheers