Metzeler Karoos Two up Touring!!

[Farmer Palmer]

I know that sounds bad but has anyone toured on these? The TKC 80s are good for my general road and farm use but last year I got stuck a couple of times in Iceland! The Karoos seem better on gravel and in mud but how many miles would they do two up with a heavy load and a light throttle? Has anyone had good experience of these?

I like the TKCs but after a short time on Karoos I can see the benifits offroad!

Any comments welcome!

Thanks Chris

 

[Mouse]

I use Karoos and love them for the offroad stuff but I don't think I'd like to do many road miles, especially two up. The road noise and vibration at 60mph is pretty extreme, I wouldn't really want to go any faster for any length of time.

I have to admit that as they've "worn in" they are much better on tarmac than my initial impression, but TKCs are far more suited to touring, I would have thought.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Better the Devil you know!

Yeah, I cannot fault the TKCs road manners and they last OK with me! I suppose you can't have it all ways!!

 

[JJ Crafford]

Yeah, I cannot fault the TKCs road manners and they last OK with me! I suppose you can't have it all ways!!

May I jump in. How many miles do you guys get on the tkc's? I only got 1700 on my rear when I still had the 1200, but that was only motorway speeds mostly with luggage.

 

[Mouse]

I only had one pair of TKCs and I think I got about 3000 from the rear. They're quite a soft tyre (which is why they are so good on tarmac despite the knobbles) so motorways and high speed riding will destroy them pretty quickly.

But the main factor is how you use the throttle, a gentle right hand will extend the life of any tyre by a huge amount

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Yeah, gently does it, I got to the Nordkapp and back but there wasn't much rear left and the front was notchy! (4000plus miles) usually 2 to 3000miles)