Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 8:45 pm**

Jim writes:

> Hi Gang, > > I know this has been gone over several times, but I just

couldn't help

> myself. I am sitting here as I write this, looking at the

Dennis Kirk dirt

> bike catalog for tires. I have read on the list that the

following tires are

> good dual sport selections: Kenda 270, Pirelli MT21, and IRC

GP-1/GP-110.

> When looking at these tires and comparing the tread design with

tires like

> the: Avon Gripster, Michelin Sirac, Pirelli MT-70, and Dunlop's

Trailmax, the

> first group appears to be a severe knobby design. These don't

appear as if

> they would provide good road traction in the twisties or on wet

pavement.

> Meanwhile, the second group appears as if they would provide

good road

> handling on the street, but not much better performance than

the stock tires

> in the dirt. To be honest with ya'll, I'm confused. I spend

most of my time

> on the street commuting, touring, or searching for that

inviting trail to who

> knows where. Yet, when I find that trail, I tend to take even

some of the

> roughest ones because they usually go to the coolest places.

What do I need

> to put on my bike for the best performance in this scenario? I

lean my bike

> over quite a bit on the street, and I am a little concerned

about losing

> traction with the way the first set of knobbies look. Can you

guys/girls

> share your experience with me and educate me on the current

state of affairs

> for tires on the KLR? Thank you, please forgive my ignorance in

this matter,

> tires have always confused me. > > Jim Sherlock

In the "Old Days" they used to call all these tires "Universals" - which meant that they universally didn't work anywhere. I've tried a bunch of stuff and found nothing better at "all-around" than Avon AM-24 Gripsters. I liked the Avon AV33/AV34 combo, the Dunlop 604 (wears unevenly, tho), and the Pirelli MT80, but those are all way more money. Surprisingly, the Dunlop 750's that come stock are pretty good - they just arent long-lived (maybe 5K?). Since I ride 95% of my miles on pavement or forest roads, it doesn't make sense to me to run anything more aggessive tread-wise, plus I like to trust my tires when cornering on pavement and I've been real pleased with the Gripsters that way. Maybe the reason there's no clear consensus on the best "all around" tire is that there isn't any such thing - only choices for specific kinds of riding. Tom Bowman Atlanta A14 "Stella Kowalski"

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 9:02 pm**

And you can't beat the price. $30.00 dollars each. Poor Reggie Miller, if only he had not gone to school with Stu, where Stu totally traumatized and demoralized the young lad with his brutish behavior. Russel'r DSN_klr650@egroups.com; JSherlockHolmes@... Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR: Tires

>Hi Gang, >I know this has been gone over several times, but I just couldn't help >myself. I am sitting here as I write this, looking at the Dennis Kirk dirt >bike catalog for tires.

It's gonna be a compromise no matter which way you go Jim. Kenda 270's have been a good compromise for me. I think at speed on the highway they really aren't that bad, but for low speed tight corners, be careful, they will slide. On the dirt, they are so far ahead of the stock tires I think I'm on a different bike... CA Stu

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 9:59 pm**

At 10:40 PM -0400 6/20/2000, Karl Raupp wrote:

>I do most of my >mileage on the road but when I do go off road, I go OFF ROAD.

I can attest to this...this boy is the real deal. Mark B2 A2

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 10:02 pm**

Russell Scott wrote:

> And you can't beat the price. $30.00 dollars each. > > Poor Reggie Miller, if only he had not gone to school with Stu, where Stu > totally traumatized and demoralized the young lad with his brutish > behavior. > > Russel'r girlie-man body. Then maybe Shaq will let you play in his house. Lakers > are World Champs, and A.C. Green is the "real spirit" behind the Lakers. I > know from personal experience. But that's for "the rest of the story".

Wait a minute Russl'r you never finished the one where you were 'Mohammed Ali's cousin'........... Slide

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 10:05 pm**

At 6:31 PM -0700 6/20/2000, Stuart Mumford wrote:

>>Hi Gang, > >>I know this has been gone over several times, but I just couldn't help >>myself. I am sitting here as I write this, looking at the Dennis Kirk dirt >>bike catalog for tires. > > It's gonna be a compromise no matter which way you go Jim. Kenda 270's have >been a good compromise for me. I think at speed on the highway they really >aren't that bad, but for low speed tight corners, be careful, they will >slide. On the dirt, they are so far ahead of the stock tires I think I'm on >a different bike...

I'm really into Kendas too. I find they corner very well for me, they're stable at 100 mph indicated for long duration, they wear evenly as a set averaging 5,500 miles and they kick ass off-road. AND THEY'RE DIRT CHEAP! Mark (Kenda Evangelist) B2 A2

Posted: **Tue Jun 20, 2000 11:15 pm**

> I know this has been gone over several times, but I just couldn't help > myself. I am sitting here as I write this, looking at the Dennis Kirk dirt > bike catalog for tires. I have read on the list that the following tires

are

> good dual sport selections: Kenda 270, Pirelli MT21, and IRC GP-1/GP-110. > When looking at these tires and comparing the tread design with tires like > the: Avon Gripster, Michelin Sirac, Pirelli MT-70, and Dunlop's Trailmax,

the

> first group appears to be a severe knobby design. These don't appear as if > they would provide good road traction in the twisties or on wet pavement. > Meanwhile, the second group appears as if they would provide good road > handling on the street, but not much better performance than the stock

tires

> in the dirt. To be honest with ya'll, I'm confused

Jim, many of us keep two sets of tires (some have wheels) and do the best we can with rotating them. Example, I had a brand new set of Gripsters on the project DR when I arrived in Moab. I decided to go the full monty and put the most aggressive DOT's possible on it: K139's front K606's rear. This or MT21's is the combo I'll run if I don't anticipate anything over 500 mile trips to the offroad venue. In that case its Gripster time. I would advise narrowing it down to the groups you think will fit your style and then comparing the sidewall strength...there is a world of difference between the models... Kurt

Posted: **Wed Jun 21, 2000 9:36 am**

After loosing the stockers, I went with a kenda 270 on the rear, and a Dunlop D739 on the front (it was given to me). The front chunked up, predictably, and I replaced it with an IRC GP-1. It is doing very well, and I fully intend to replace the Kenda on the rear with a GP-1. The Kenda has done really well, all things considered. VERY slippery on the pavement at first, but doing better as it wears and hardens up (the technical term, right?). TALL side knobs helpful in soft conditions, but a serious handicap when trying to scrape a peg on the pavement. It sure will displace some soil, though! Looks like I'll get 2000-2500 hard miles out of the Kenda rear. Excellent choice considering the cost. The GP-1 looks like a great choice for me. I have conceeded that NO tire choice will overcome a 350+ pounds of bike, so deep sand and mud shoulf be avoided at all costs. My riding is (unfortunately) a lot of pavement, BUT I try to let the KLR show it's stuff in a proper setting...high speed/smooth gravel roads as often as possible. IF I were lucky enough to ride more off-road, I'm sure I'd be happy with Kendas on both ends...AND spend the money I saved over MT-21's on fork springs or something else. Lamar A17 (mismatched shoes)

Posted: **Wed Jun 21, 2000 10:56 am**

> >Hi Gang, > > >I know this has been gone over several times, but I just couldn't help > >myself. I am sitting here as I write this, looking at the Dennis Kirk

dirt

> >bike catalog for tires. > > It's gonna be a compromise no matter which way you go Jim. Kenda 270's

have

> been a good compromise for me. I think at speed on the highway they really > aren't that bad, but for low speed tight corners, be careful, they will > slide. On the dirt, they are so far ahead of the stock tires I think I'm

on

> a different bike... >

Once a set of IRC GP-1's get properly scuffed in, they provide pretty reasonable and predictable street traction. I think that the tread pattern is almost identical to the Kenda 270, but made from a different rubber. In loose sand I find them lacking though, and my next tires I will willingly sacrifice street traction for more dirt traction. I think you can get the Kendas in a wider size than the IRC's though. Jeff

Posted: **Wed Jun 21, 2000 11:09 am**

My bad! I said I was going with the IRC GP-1. WRONG!!! It's the GP-110. Sorry to mislead. Lamar

Posted: **Wed Jun 21, 2000 11:31 am**

Have you (or anyone else here) tried the K760's? I just got a set but haven't mounted them ... looks like they'll last about a week! Mark wrote:

> > > I'm really into Kendas too. I find they corner very well for me, > they're stable at 100 mph indicated for long duration, they wear > evenly as a set averaging 5,500 miles and they kick ass off-road. AND > THEY'RE DIRT CHEAP! > Mark (Kenda Evangelist) > B2 > A2 >

Wilsons Sandbox

[dsn_klr650] the dude that dropped his bike on the mt lasal loo

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires

[dsn_klr650] nklr: tires