Wilsons Sandbox

On Tue, Nov 28, 2006 at 04:35:07AM -0000, eddiebmauri wrote:

> Hi to all.... I seek advice, please. > I need new tires and am comparing the > Avon Gripster vs. the Avon Distanzias. > I use my KLR as a daily commuter and ride > 95% highway - street, with some light dirt roads, > no gravel nor mud, but I do ride in the rain > and wet roads at times. > Which would you all suggest for my particular > riding? Gripster or Distanzias?

Either will work well. The Distanzia is better on wet pavement, the Gripster is (a little) better on wet dirt, both are awful if it's muddy. The Gripster is a *lot* cheaper, enough that its slightly shorter lifetime still leaves it a better deal. Another option in the same price range is the Kenda 761 which is about as good on the street, better in the dirt, but much softer and so won't last as long. See if you can get the tube-type Gripsters, not the tubeless; either will work with a tube but the tube-type Gripsters are a lot easier to mount than any of the others (tubeless Gripster, Distanzia, K761). Thor

On Nov 27, 2006, at 8:35 PM, eddiebmauri wrote:

> I use my KLR as a daily commuter and ride > 95% highway - street, with some light dirt roads, > no gravel nor mud, but I do ride in the rain > and wet roads at times.

That sounds like my riding pattern. I've been carless for about a year and we get plenty of rain here in the San Francisco area, so I end up riding in the wet pretty often. On my Gixxer I had Michelin Pilot Powers and loved them neutral handling and sticky like glue. I'd hoped to run the same tires on my new KLR, but they don't come in the right sizes. After Googling around a bit, people seem to be raving about the wet grip of the Michelin Anakee. I've only had mine for two days now, and haven't pushed them at all, but so far, so good. --mkb [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On 11/27/06 9:35 PM, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > > > > Hi to all.... I seek advice, please. > I need new tires and am comparing the > Avon Gripster vs. the Avon Distanzias. > I use my KLR as a daily commuter and ride > 95% highway - street, with some light dirt roads, > no gravel nor mud, but I do ride in the rain > and wet roads at times. > Which would you all suggest for my particular > riding? Gripster or Distanzias? > > Thanks. > Eddie > > > I ve been through several sets of > Gripsters and one set of Distanzias a misnomer as they don t last that long. > Didn t do many miles in the rain as I ride mostly in the Southwest US and > northern Mexico. The Distanzias cost more. The rear lasted about as long as a > Gripster and the front wore out quicker for some reason. They handle about > the same on pavement and the Gripsters better off pavement. I ll never buy > Distanzias again. > > Bogdan

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Is that the Scorpion A/T or S/T? I have the A/T and really like them in wet and dry riding, but with 4.5k miles and looking a little thin I'll be surprised if I get 5.5-6k miles out of them on 95% street riding. Mike A18 KLR650 tires page: [www.standoutnet.com/extras/mike/motorcy ... r650/tires] -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andy F Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:43 AM To: eddiebmauri Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Which Gripster? Tire Question I use pirelli scorpions, and have had very good luck with them, approx 10k rear, and same for front prob another5-8k on left on front and 500mil left in rear. I ride prob 65% highway and 35% gravel. Andy 02 KLR 650 A16 Reformed Harley Rider The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. - Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) test'; " type=text/css> ------------------------------------ Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/555 - Release Date: 11/27/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 11/28/2006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Andy F wrote:

> > Hi Michael, > > Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you. The weather here in Eastern Iowa has been

typical, 5 degrees in the morning and 35 degrees during the day. I have the Scorpion ST tires from Pirelli, I do like them a lot. Like I was saying about 10k on the rear, I would prob have gotten more out of the rear if I didn't ride so much gravel and not so hard on my right wrist. There is just something about a screaming thumper pulling away from a stop that gets me excited! Just wait until I put an open racing pipe on the old girl. You thought that Harleys were loud!!!!

> > Andy > 02 KLR 650 A16 > Reformed Harley Rider >

Reformed? I think not.

The only reason I can see to buy a BMW is the R1200GS. No one else is building a bike that combines the speed and comfort of my VFR750 on the freeway for long rides to exploration destinations and its great handling in the twisties with decent capabilities when the pavement ends. I wouldn't take it everywhere I'd take a KLR, but that's a limitation of the rider, not the bike (I've seen an 1150GS--a porker compared to the 1200--in places that many Listers wouldn't ride their KLRs) and the comfort/speed benefit would let me expand my hinterland without flogging my KLR or myself. I was mightily disappointed they didn't build an F800S this year, as that would be the perfect size for what I want to do. And where's Honda with the Africa Twin? A couple more BHP, spiffier plastic and 'new' suspension in an '08 KLR just isn't going to cut it for my dream machine, either. What's a rider to do? __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Don S wrote: > > BMWs are an acquired taste which I could not acquire despite seven years of ownership of an R100. They have their pluses although, I find Japanese bikes a lot easier to live with. My experience with my BMW was not particularly wonderful. I didn't like the ergonomics. In my opinion, BMW had it's day. There was a time that the relative smoothness and reliability of their opposed twins were it's main strengths. That was when rattling old Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons and Harleys were it's competition. Nowadays, with so many reliable, inexpensive bikes available, why pay such a premium for a BMW? I don't think a BMW does anything better than any Japanese bike other than drain your bank account and maybe puff up ones ego. > > > rosslindberg wrote: > I love my KLR dearly, but I just watched "The Long Way Round" 2 > times back to back, and am now looking at BWM's on E-Bay. Is this > normal? >