TKC's first impressions

[Gecko]

I recently acquired a spare set of wheels shod with TKC's and today I put them on the bike and took it out for a run. Having never ridden on TKC's before I was a bit unsure what to expect. Conditions today were chilly but dry and I was well impressed with road holding and cornering on these tyres. They are very competent and I had no hesitation riding on my local roads in just the same way as on tourances.
I took a quick jaunt off road and up a local dirt track which was pretty muddy today after recent rain. I've been up this same little track many times on tourances .....what a difference I didn't dare going through a big mud hole as I wasn't really dressed for it and I was riding alone so the thought of a spill and no assistance on hand (or photographer...) won the day but on the wet slippery stuff these tyres were doing all I could want them to do.
Anyone hesitating trying these should take the plunge - they make you GS look like it has a testosterone overdose too

 

[stephenenglish]

TKC80 GRIPPY

Yes a FANTASTIC tyre. Use them all the time on & off road.
I don't get many miles out of them, but they are cheapish.
Will you be using them Easter weekend in the Netherlands?
Best regards
Stephen

 

[BLUE(UK)]

How many miles roughly on road??
Also...
How cheap??

 

[Cheesy Mike]

How many miles roughly on road??
Also...
How cheap??

No idea about mileage (but I'll tell you after I get my first set fitted this week )

Cost £126 ride in ride out from F&B in Sandbach.

Mike

 

[pragmatix]

My last rear did only 1950 miles, the one before did about 3500 and my first did 2700 the front is still Ok after about 9500.
The current one is on 950 and not showing much sign of wear but I have changed the rear shock as it was shot allowing the rear to spin up on most surfaces and the roads are dryer.


Pete A

 

[Gecko]

Re: TKC80 GRIPPY

Yes a FANTASTIC tyre. Use them all the time on & off road.
I don't get many miles out of them, but they are cheapish.
Will you be using them Easter weekend in the Netherlands?
Best regards
Stephen

Yup .....that was the main reaosn to get them fitted this weekend and try them out some first

 

[MrIFan]

Pete your rear shock must have been well shagged. I use TKC's all the time and have never had less than 6000 miles from a rear. That includes loads of continental motorway miles, 2 up, and with luggage.

What pressures are you running the rear at??




Mind you I do use them untill only one edge of the knobbles complies to the minimum tread depth

I also tend to wear fronts out slightly quicker than rears due to heavy use of the front brake on the twistys.

 

[pragmatix]

Pete your rear shock must have been well shagged. I use TKC's all the time and have never had less than 6000 miles from a rear. That includes loads of continental motorway miles, 2 up, and with luggage.
What pressures are you running the rear at??
Mind you I do use them untill only one edge of the knobbles complies to the minimum tread depth
I also tend to wear fronts out slightly quicker than rears due to heavy use of the front brake on the twistys.

6000 miles I never get that from a rear Tourances or Anakee,

Tyre milage is normally better when two up due to lack of slippage, and I went to slick in the middle and about 3mm at the edges

pressure is 35 psi

A bit more forward planing might save your front tyre wear and my rear wear

Pete A

 

[MrIFan]

But then where would the fun be??

 

[aspad]

question re brake disks and spare wheels

Hey Gecko,
Do you have any brake problems when swapping from one set of wheels to another. I have thought about getting a spare set of wheels shod with knobblies for the 12. I mentioned this recently amongst a group of GSers and someone said that MBW recommend you do not do this as it impact the efficiency of the brakes - due to different wear patterns on the disks

 

[Gecko]

Re: question re brake disks and spare wheels

Hey Gecko,
Do you have any brake problems when swapping from one set of wheels to another. I have thought about getting a spare set of wheels shod with knobblies for the 12. I mentioned this recently amongst a group of GSers and someone said that MBW recommend you do not do this as it impact the efficiency of the brakes - due to different wear patterns on the disks

When I first went out I did think the brakes were a bit weak but after a few tests and some hard braking just to bed them in a bit I can't say it felt any different to normal . I put it down to the fact that I had been cleaning the wheels and cleaned up the brake disc with brake cleaner just prior to final fitting. Braking was absolutely fine so if you can find yourself a spare set of wheels I'd recommend it. Swapping the wheels over only takes about half an hour . The only thing a found after having fitted the wheels and tightened everything up was that the speedo didn't work so closer inspection revealed that the 'speedo thing'was missing in the wheel hub. I just swapped it over from my other wheel and everything is fine. I have a rear wheel fitted with the ABS ring even though I have no ABS. the front doesn't have the ABS ring. I may look at removing this sometime but it's not a problem .