It wasn't until I wore down my K270s and put on a set of Pirelli
Scorpion A/Ts in preparation for a trip to Deal's Gap/Tail of the Dragon
that I learned how much fun a KLR could really be on back roads - even
in the rain. K270s are versatile and long lasting but I'm sure that trip
and all the others I've taken on the back roads of NC and Virginia
wouldn't have been half as fun with the K270s.
Mike A18
-----Original Message-----
From:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of revmaaatin
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 10:27 PM
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Tires
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro
ups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:
>
> --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro
ups.com, "scottbtorell"
wrote:
> >
> > Let's talk tires...
> >
> > Lookig for some opinions on various brands
> >
> > I do 80 street & 20 dirt
> >
> > I'll do country roads, side streets, a few highways but mostly
> > everything under 70MPH
> >
> > I have 2300 miles on the 06KLR650 stockers and lovin the bike!
> >
> > A few guys are running 606's and they claim great dirt and good
street
> > as well.
> >
> > I'm in Texas near Houston so I need a good buy on some tires and
> > mounting.
> >
> > Thanks for any help!
> >
>
> If you want to save some money, are not a scratcher on the street,
and want a tire that
> delivers good mileage and decent offroad performance, the Kenda
k270 is what you want.,
> or else the Cheng Shin 858. These tires will both outlast their
more expensive
> competition. The D606 is the best tire in its class, but won't last
as long as the first two.
> You probably don't need quite that aggressive a tire.
>
Just to build on what Judd is suggesting;
You will only ride to the level/environment that your bike is
properly equipped to ride in. If you do buy a tire that is more
50/50 (K270) rather than what some suggest as a 80/20, you will ride
more confidently in those 20% situations, the more difficult
situations, and in all likelihood, you will go looking for more
gravel and fire roads. All that said, many believe the K270 is
inadequate for wet roads--but I contend, that wet conditions require
all of to pay an extreme attention to what we are doing, and never
expect 'a-lot' from any motorcycle tire in wet conditions. On such
days, a cage might be a better choice (if we have any prior
planning/choice in the matter), if a chage is not an option, then
slow down, way down....
All things considered, I would love to have a 2d KLR with 'great'
street tires, and one with K270's. Some have gone so far as to buy a
second set of wheels so that they can make that change and only have
one bike.
Our friend Jeff Saline has correctly suggested that using a tire like
the K270 is its own self-regulating speed-control. We [on the k270
tire] ride faster in the gravel/fire road/prairie section lines, and
a little slower in the SD Black Hills canyons, but still fast enough
to give the proper thrills.
One last freebe:
It is rumored that meditation on which tires, which oil, and which
chain lube, often leads to what some consider is a 'cultish' or even
an addictive nature of the KLR. YMMV. and you have been warned....
revmaaatin. 4th straight set of K270's, and a full set on the shelf
in reserve (cultish twitch-twitch).
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