Is it me?

[Stevie4scoops]

I took my 390 Enduro R green laning yesterday with a friend on a 300 EXC but fell off twice on what I thought would have been easy lanes.

In the mud, the front tyre has no grip, gives no confidence and is like riding on ice.

When I did the India trip on a Himmy 450, the tyres were what others considered nothing special but I didn't fall off there and some of what we rode on was extreme.

Is it me or are the standard tyres on these bikes rubbish for light muddy lanes?

 

[landmarkjohn]

Wet grass and muddy lanes can be very slippy. It does sound like you need a more aggressive tyre on the front. Try a Michelin Tracker.

It's always a trade between road comfort grip and off road. What tyre is on the front? I know the 690R comes with Mitas E07 which wouldn't be that grippy on wet mud.

Still at least you fulfilled the role of giving your mate a laugh by falling off, an important part of off road IME

 

[Udders]

Stabilisers?

 

[richh]

As above.

Wet grass and mud, although it looks harmless is a killer.

Unless you have an aggressive tyre with good block spacing they just pack up and you have slicks.

Anything vaguely dual purpose will have no chance.

 

[squibb34]

Tyre pressures too high for off road conditions maybe? I'm not sure what KTM recommend - AI says 18-25 psi, but I would have thought the lower figure might risk rim /tyre carcass damage.

The nuisance factor with a grime covered bike is reinflating them for the road.

 

[HxH]

Sometimes using a road bike tyre or even a tyre that's compound is for more suited for some green lanes and mud etc. is not suitable for fast road riding.
Consider using heavy blocked tyres on your enduro styled bike for better grip, less chance of side wall damage with sharp rock n stones found on some green lanes.

 

[g00ner]

Wet grass - green ice. Knobblies will struggle on that

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Thanks for all your replies. I think the Himmy 450 and what it did without me falling off in India made me complacent.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I took my 390 Enduro R green laning yesterday with a friend on a 300 EXC but fell off twice on what I thought would have been easy lanes.

In the mud, the front tyre has no grip, gives no confidence and is like riding on ice.

When I did the India trip on a Himmy 450, the tyres were what others considered nothing special but I didn't fall off there and some of what we rode on was extreme.

Is it me or are the standard tyres on these bikes rubbish for light muddy lanes?

Did you laugh though ?

300 2T EXC - lightweight @ 100kg with top class suspension, lots of instant & usable power…..on Good knobbly tyres

No contest with you on a heavier road derived 4T with 60:40 tyres (road:trail) with less power

There’s the problem on wet winter lanes

 

[Eastmidsbiker]

As JB says, these are 50/50 tyres (Karoo 4's) and the suspension is relatively basic (it's their Apex road range). Mud is always going to be a challenge.

A combination of better technique & knobbly tyres will make life easier. If you are feeling flush the WP Pro suspension ups the game a bit more.

 

[landmarkjohn]

I had one of those days yesterday. Unknown trail. Worn tyres. Too much tyre pressure. Slippy wet muddy grassy rocky incline. Add it all up and you end up with this:


I must invest in one of those little battery compressors to pressure down and up and give myself a fighting chance. Thats my excuse and I’m sticking to it

And the really funny bit is I was bidding on a KTM 690 R in the auction last week but my guardian angel intervened and I didn't get it!

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

I had one of those days yesterday. Unknown trail. Worn tyres. Too much tyre pressure. Slippy wet muddy grassy rocky incline. Add it all up and you end up with this:
View attachment 550248View attachment 550249View attachment 550250

I must invest in one of those little battery compressors to pressure down and up and give myself a fighting chance. Thats my excuse and I’m sticking to it

And the really funny bit is I was bidding on a KTM 690 R in the auction last week but my guardian angel intervened and I didn't get it!

You’d be better off on that terrain with a 690.
Better suspension (the CRF doesn’t have any), better engine and the same wet weight.

 

[Jockser]

You look well doing your Superman pose there John