Hey, just checking the Trellesport web site again and they do a 110/80 19 E - 09 Dakar tubeless. Gwyn emailed to say its cross-ply so I could use it with the Heidi rear.
Timolgra - you said the E-09 were great off road but I have read one or two reviews that say they are very slippy on wet asphalt. What's your experience on the road with these on? I'm going to be riding up to Denmark on the highways before I hit the interior trails in Iceland, plus I will be doing two weeks on the Iceland ring-road with my g/f on the back. She is scared enough already without the prospect of me washing out on a greasy wet road. Do you think it would be more stable with a Heidi K60 on the back?
We will be sticking to 50/60mph max anyway with her on the back, but I want to be able to ride faster solo on the way up. I'm going to be loaded like a tank with all the camping gear for two, for a month and will be taking it very steady on the dirt, as I'll be alone.
I think you have done the Iceland trip...do you think I could get away with the Anakees or should I definitely go for the Heidi K60 rear and Mitas E-09 Dakar combo?
Sorry to ask so many questions... I'm trying to keep the costs down to what I really need, while making sure we minimise the drama while she is on the back. The main roads I want to get through solo are the F35, F26 and the F910 if you know them - provided I can through the rivers without drowning.
We did quite a lot of the unsurfaced roads which tend to be gravel, weather conditions will always play a part there. IMO you want a compromise, a real aggresive tyre will be useless to you most of the time.
The ride up through Denmark isn't too far, boring though on the motorway (when you're coming back and if you have time, follow the road down the west coast) ...really must finish my Iceland Ride Report
I used TKC80s on the 1150GS which were perfect, Ange used Heidenau's on her 650 Dakar which were also perfect, any other mild offroad tyre would also be fine.
The likelyhood of you washing out on a greasy wet road should be minimal...you have your girlfriend on the back!
What I'm getting at is you probably won't want to be riding fast, that's not what Iceland's about. Why would you? The scenery's so stunning you'll want to savour it, I promise
But you'll want the security of some grip if it gets squirrelly.
Yes, when I was there I could have got away with Anakees or Tourance etc. but why would I just want to 'get away' with it?
Play safe by choosing any mid offroad tyre and you'll be fine eg E09, TKC, Heidenau etc etc.....did I say
TKC80... over 12 years of riding big GSs on mixed surface trips lead me to that one conclusion
You on the other hand have more tyre choice with your bike.
Ange and I were talking about Iceland again this morning and would both love to go back, so have a ball you lucky gits
