Morocco: Tire Recommendations

[mikeTR]

Does anyone have experience with both of these tires?

What are your recommendations?

Thanks.

Hi

I have used both the K60 and the E-07 on my bike as well as the TKC's. I also rode from the UK to Morocco, around and back again last year, so here are some of my thoughts

• 
  I think the K60 rear is a great dual purpose tyre.
• I found the off road capability of the K60 is impaired when you get to the center tread, but this probably gives it far more road mileage.
• The E-07 is better on the trails and my tyre of choice for the UK trial riding.
• I choose the E-07 to ride to Morocco and around.
• It got me there and back with no problems
• I used the Dakar version of the E-07 which is 5 ply instead of 4 ply (I think?) for the standard E-07
• This extra side wall strength meant I was able to ride after a puncture to a convenient place to fix circa 10 miles away (a UK ride, not Morocco)
• I have heard that Michelin deserts are good, but don't have any experience of them.
• I was on a lighter bike (a F650, not a 1200) so don't know how that would effect it

If I were to go again - I would choose the K60 because the the wider knobble's on the E-07 are noisy on the road, and become irritating, also the very thing that makes them better for UK trails.
Even though I went to ride the trails in Morocco, I didn't find anything that the K60 wouldn't have handled and it would have been smoother on the roads, and the reality is still a lot of road mileage even for on piste ride

Hope this helps and gives you some things to think about, reality is either tyre would be fine - so don't stress about it, just go and enjoy the ride

This is the K60 fitted

This is the E-07 - after riding to, around and back to Morocco - circa 3500 miles


Rear

Front

Type of riding

 

[M1Tanker]

I will be departing from the Frankfurt area. I would like to be able to manage 160kph while in Germany. Given that my buddy I'm traveling with is riding a R1200RT with his wife that is reasonable.

With that said that just might define what tire I use for the trip. The R1200RT will probably stay on the roads. I suppose I could stick with my Tourances, but I think I may pursue the K60s. They may allow for higher road (tarmac) speeds and a little more capability on piste than the Tourances.

mikeTR, Thank you very much for the feedback and the photos. If I were to go alone or with someone equipped with a more off-road capable bike I might pursue the E-07s. Thanks again.

 

[Fanum]

Back in 2007 Araspitfire rode on his 1200GS from holland to morocco and back and did a ten day tour with lots of off road on TKC's without any problems.

And many others have done the same.

However, Wayne (Stromfulltrator here) went through a rear TKC80 in 8 days on his V strom (we fitted it brand new as we left Marrakech)
Road tyres to get to Marrakech

Brand spanking new, parked in Abdul's car park half an hour after fitting

Checking it over and counting the number of blocks left 4 days in......

And a week later......

Mind you, he did ride like a cock



I've ridden UK>Morocco>Uk twice on TKCs and had no problems....just don't keep the rear spinning up all the time on rock

 

[Tim Cullis]

I would like to be able to manage 160kph while in Germany. Given that my buddy I'm traveling with is riding a R1200RT with his wife that is reasonable.

With the heat build up, no knobbly tyre will survive extended periods at 160kph, in fact some aren't even rated that high. I strongly suggest you ride down on road tyres with fresh knobblies strapped to the bike, or arrange for tyres to be shipped to a hotel in Algeciras (or wherever) for you to pick up.

 

[M1Tanker]

Tim,

Thanks for the sage advice.

I appreciate it.