apology to the list

[nzarelli]

hey folks, in the faq sheet it says to mount a front distanzia tire backwards,anybody know why?

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "nzarelli" wrote:

> > hey folks, > in the faq sheet it says to mount a front distanzia tire > backwards,anybody know why? >

nz- If you type distanzia in the search block, (at least the block that is available while viewing on the web) you will be taken to many messages/discussion about the distanzia. From memory, the front tire give a better wear and offroad traction when reversed. (no experience here, cough, with a this tire.) Looking at the tread pattern and the arrow shown in this picture, (cut and paste the entire link) enlarge the pic, you can see the installation arrow- http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/29/393/5301/ITEM/Avon-AM43- Distanzia-Dual-Sport-Front-Tire.aspx? SiteID=CSE_GBase_393&WT.mc_ID=80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=5 301 and, based on experience from farm tractors, the 'V' in the tire pattern gives you better performance 'pulling' on the rear when installed as per the manufactures suggestion; ans with the pattern reversed on the front tire, gives you better braking characteristics in loose conditions--particularly going down hill. (You are forcing the 'V' pattern into a snow plow type usage. You see this same suggestion on pedal-mountain-bikes; they suggest tire rotation of the same pattern is reversed for the the front tire. That said; No deeper than the tread pattern is as compared to a farm tractor tire, ie 2+ inches, I personally doubt that it makes much difference; shrug. At least at my aged, red-neck skill levels, cough. On a wet road, I think I would want the tread pattern installed as the tire manufacturer has suggested so as to push the water away (at least to my understanding--and would stand corrected if others offer a 'better' explanation'...which brings to mind, I seem to get wet more often than I used too. shrug. Perhaps I just laugh at the wx now, or, have lost my mind. aka as being all wet. On the other hand, if you are riding in a dry climate, I would follow list wisdom.... Determine what your 90% riding environment is going to be, and install the tires for that climate/condition. Tell us how you like them. revmaaatin. Who has a fresh set of D607's installed and awaiting my bidding as per the manufactures suggestion....

[Lars Lemberg]

rev, As I understand the V tread pattern performance, (tractor, motorcycle, whatever) they are mounted so they "self-clean" in muddy conditions. That means the V points in the direction of traction so mud can slide off the V and provide a fresh bite in more mud. If reversed, the inside of the V would immediately fill with mud and create a slick tire with no tread. Mounting the motorcycle front tire "backwards" allows this cleaning action to occur when braking. Lars in VA, where it's been 70F and the KLR already needs another oil change! YAY! Soylent Green A20 That said; No deeper than the tread pattern is as compared to a farm tractor tire, ie 2+ inches, I personally doubt that it makes much difference; shrug. At least at my aged, red-neck skill levels, cough. On a wet road, I think I would want the tread pattern installed as the tire manufacturer has suggested so as to push the water away (at least to my understanding--and would stand corrected if others offer a 'better' explanation' [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bogdan Swider]

> > > > rev, > As I understand the V tread pattern performance, (tractor, motorcycle, > whatever) they are mounted so they "self-clean" in muddy conditions. > > That said; No deeper than the tread pattern is as compared to a farm > tractor tire, ie 2+ inches, I personally doubt that it makes much > difference; shrug. At least at my aged, red-neck skill levels, > cough. On a wet road, I think I would want the tread pattern > installed as the tire manufacturer has suggested so as to push the

water away What you say makes sense, Lars. I did run a Distanzia front reversed with no problems. The Distanzia name is a misnomer. I experienced fewer miles (6K miles, front and rear) than with Avon s Gripsters, my favorite pavement tires for the klr. ( 7K rear and 12K front) The Gripsters are barely adequate off pavement especially irritating on gravel; I did do the White Rim near Moab on them FWIW. I don t understand how Distanzias can be sold as dual sport tires. I also noticed no improvement on pavement with the Distancias over the Gripsters. Therefore I see no reason to buy a set. Does it come through that I m not a fan of Distanzias? At least they cost significantly more than Gripsters. Bogdan, who did ride a bit yesterday (40 Fahrenheit) on his current cocktail, a Gripster front and Kenda 270 rear. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Lars Lemberg]

Bogdan, Interesting comment. I currently have Gripsters front and rear and like them very much. I don't seem to notice a problem on gravel roads. (I've only had the originals, a set of Mefo Explorers, and these Gripsters.) Granted, my riding style is very conservative acceleration and speed, probably 90 percent pavement and the rest gravel and dirt roads, so I in no way push the KLR or its tires anywhere near any limits of performance. I tried some single track in the George Washington National Forest (with the original tires) and it was not what I considered a fun ride, so I don't take the KLR down trails like that on purpose. I did accidentally get off the beaten path in Michigan's Upper Peninsula last August, and wound up doing about forty miles of ATV/snow mobile trail on the Gripsters. The terrain was varied; rocky, rutted, soft sand, large water filled mud holes. I got through it OK, and never thought "I wish I had different tires". I did often think "you're an idiot for being way out here all alone." Lars

>The Gripsters are barely adequate off pavement especially irritating on gravel; I did do the White Rim near Moab on them FWIW.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Harry Seifert]

Hey Fred, Isn't the KLR an incurable virus................at least it was 'til you started providing the Arrowhead cure.

> [Original Message] > From: Fred Hink > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>; Spike55 > Date: 2/13/2009 4:56:42 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Apology to the List > > I am very careful about who I let in this list. I have to approve each

new member and there are many that I don't let subscribe because they just don't look right. Yahoo has many ways of catching viruses etc and there has never been a virus spread on this list that I know of. I have put in many hours keeping this list spam free but this last episode was an honest mistake. Let's move on.

> > Fred > List Admin. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Spike55 > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 5:47 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Apology to the List > > > In these times of spam, identity theft, scams, spyware, 'worms', > viruses, I'm always concerned by unsolicited e-mail. It may look > legit but if you touch it, BAM! > > It also concerns me how easy it appears to be to 'mine' a forum's > contributor list for their e-mail addresses. I guess you can put a > yahoo, gmail, comcast, verizon, etc behind anyone's 'handle' and > probably get to them, eventully. > > In the future, 'I'll call you.' 'Don't call me.' > > Don > R100, A6F > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Lawrence Borgens" > wrote: > > > > Dear KLR_DSN List, > > > > > > > > I sincerely apologize if you were "spammed" by our recent > newsletter, "Trail > > Tips - February 2009". > > > > > > > > I have been involved in motorcycling for over 30 years and a member > of this > > list for nearly a year now. During this time I have found the > members to be > > a wealth of knowledge and information about motorcycling, dual > sport and > > adventure riding. Occasionally I have even been able to add a tid- > bit here > > and there myself. > > > > > > > > Our newsletters are designed to be a benefit to the dual sport and > adventure > > riding communities. If you find that our newsletter is not what > you are > > looking for then please click the link to unsubscribe from our list > as I > > have no desire to waste your time. > > > > > > > > Again, I apologize if you were spammed by our recent newsletter. > > > > > > > > Happy Trails! > > > > > > > > Lawrence Borgens > > Founder > > > > cid:image002.jpg@... > > > > Family Off-Road Adventures > > > > > > > > "Fun on Two Wheels!" > > > > AMA Charter #: 8058 > > > > AMA District 36 Dual Sport Liaison > > > > > > lawrence@... > > 209.649.3633 > > > > 209.939.0628 (fax) > > PO Box 8633 > > > > Stockton, CA 95208 > > > > http://www.familyoffroadadventures.com/> > www.familyoffroadadventures.com > > > > ======================================================== > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Lars Lemberg" wrote:

> > rev, > As I understand the V tread pattern performance, (tractor,

motorcycle, whatever) they are mounted so they "self-clean" in muddy conditions. That means the V points in the direction of traction so mud can slide off the V and provide a fresh bite in more mud. If reversed, the inside of the V would immediately fill with mud and create a slick tire with no tread. Mounting the motorcycle front tire "backwards" allows this cleaning action to occur when braking.

> > Lars in VA, where it's been 70F and the KLR already needs another

oil change! YAY!

> Soylent Green A20 >

Ah, Lars, You also win the gold star for rev's faded memory--the old self cleaning tire trick! The best traction would occur with tread perpendicular to the direction of travel, with little or no cleaning action (at least in theory). So they select a less than optimum tire pattern for average tire conditions; such as some tires are better for rain/wet conditions. Some tires won't make some riders happy, no matter what their performance or price. shurg. What is nice; some have more than one bike, and can choose the bike best suited for those conditions. Me, the bike I am riding the most right now is the Suburban. grin. I will defer to your explanation of the reversed front pattern--as I still look at it with great suspicion, considering the tread depth of the tire in question and my own skill level. Now, back large wheeled vehicles with V shaped treads like tractors, or specifically, combines: combines often mount the tires on backwards, giving them more traction to back out of a muddy situation, rather than driving in to far to back out or bogging down in soft fields. Yeah, another worthless bit of cross-over trivia while I watch the ice melt in the frozen Dakotas. revmaaatin.