Your ending statement really hit home for me as a new “adventure” rider. ‘Buy the right tire for YOUR adventure’. Now I don’t feel like my street tires discount my adventure bike since I do about 80/20 street to dirt. Excellent video.
Yup! Best piece of advice is always going to be to fit what you need for what you're doing. Nothing wrong with 80-20 tires either. I've done cross-country trips with 80-20 and 50-50 tires and planned each trip accordingly
@@SuzukiC41 I regret getting a 80/20 because my experience is that I reach the tyres limits off road all the time but rarely when on road so think it best to bias more towards off road where you need to performance most
I’ve deem ADV riding for a year and this is by far the best tire summary I’ve ever seen. Am a little impatient with UA-cam for not having shown me your channel earlier!
My first tire was an Shinko 705 and I mostly rode on the highway so I switched to a Metzeler Tourance. It only took one short trip on dirt for me to realize I wanted my Shinko back 😂
I did around 7,000 miles over most of the western US this summer, only about 500 miles of that off-road on a pair of Shinko 804/805, riding my R1200GS Very fully loaded. I chose these because I had planned some VERY demanding off-road portions of the ride and felt based on many comments out there that the 804/805 combination would be good enough for road work and a real asset in the off-road - this turned out to be the case and the perfect choice. Considering my nearly 600lb GS + 230lb me + 70lb of luggage, say 900lbs on the 804/805 combo, both pressured to 32/30psi respectively - I, simply put, had the best most comfortable ADV ride I've ever had! Road noise initially was surprisingly good (subtle but pleasant), handling was Very surprisingly good at speed with tires giving lots of indication when they were at adhesion limits in high-speed corners... The rubber compound once warm was quite sticky, performed reasonably well in Very intense rain (3hrs of torrential rain at 80+ mph thru Wyoming). Off road was marvelous with only the slightest extra drift sideways, accelerating thru corners but very acceptable and easy to handle. My only real complaints were speed rating of only 99mph which I occasionally exceeded while passing a grumpy senior citizen out in the middle of nowhere who was determined not to let me pass - I clicked 110mph and did pass, keeping speed high till he was a 1000 meters behind... People can be so funny sometimes... Felt a little nervous once I exceeded 100, briefly imagining my entrails dangling from the speed limit sign down the way... Yikes! The other annoyance with these came when the front had worn enough to cup pretty bad, by then progressively causing more and more uncomfortable noise and vibration until I simply could NOT take it anymore - stopped over in Spokane, WA and got the front replaced (still with about 30% or it's life left) with a Shinko 705 (all they happened to have that day in my GS size)... Overall I'd have to say without reservation that the 804/805 is the Best value in a more off-road oriented ADV tire! I might also add that I installed "Ride-On" sealent in both tires to Ride-On spec for off-road use. This produced superb smoothness and produced a little extra insurance against a puncture ruining my fast ride sections - highly recommend this addition to my fellow ADV riders! (I did also have a professional grade tire plug kit and electric pump with me at all times, tucked in nicely right next to my first aid kit with additional field triage kit since I rode the entire nearly 8,000 miles solo, much of it outside of cell range and some of it without GPS signal)...
I had the Heidenau Scout K60 on my GS Adventure. They wore like steel and were good both on the road and off. One thing to note, the front tire howled like a hunting beagle chasing a rabbit at highway speed 60-80 mph
I ran the tkc70, 70/30 tire, for the first half of my world ride (europe, middle east and asia to australia) and did really well both on road and offroad. They only fall short a lot when you hit deep sand or mud, but I was able to do 40k kilometers on them. I switched to the karoo 3 and they are simply amazing in sand and mud! Can't speak for the mileage yet as don't have so much mileage on them yet.
Hi Bret. I really like your ADV focus videos. I'd love to see a video about how to load, strap, and balance a bike and also how you and a passenger get on and off a fully loaded bike.
I found happiness with the Mitas E07s however I took a set of Shinko 804-805s with me to the Dempster and found them surprisingly good. The Shinkos cost me less then $200 shipped to my door. The K60s are great for high mileages but lack in traction because of the center bar.
ive watched so many of your videos. combined with your in depth knowledge of the topics and the quality / spunky of the video production im shocked you dont have way more followers and viewers
I've been running 804/805 Shinko's for 2 years 50,000 miles and counting. I'm getting 10k on a front and 5k on the back with 60/40 riding. They handle just as well on pavement as the 705s but are better off road. I've ridden over 75,000 miles on 705s. They need to stagger the rear blocks for more lateral stability and they'd be perfect. They cost less than half the other tires you showed. Less than $300 a pair. I've owned all of them and will use the Shinko's until I either die or they quit making them. The ONLY disadvantage to the Shinko's are all the smartass comments from BMW riders about them, STINKOS, CHEAPOS, etc. Current bike 2016, Tiger 800XCa - Frisco, Colorado.
Mark Jacobs I've got an F800GS and on the 2nd set of tires I decided to try the 805's. Loved them, except the quality from factory left a bit to be desired. (Kind of oblong [out of round] on the rear). Third set was the 705's (currently on the bike). Love them! I don't know if I'll stray from shinko ever. And the price!... Works for me!
That was a really great explanation thanks so much. I'm new to adventure and there is a lot of sand here. I went in the wrong direction after stock to the 705
Laurie Berg, keep watching and spreading the word. It sounds like Jim is going another way with the rider skills segments. You will find me here and at the school doing what I do. Hope to see you at the school someday.
Michelin Pilot 4 Trail - excellent for 90/10 riding . . . an amazing tire. For some “adventure” bikes a Pilot 4 Trail front and a Pilot 4 GT rear will work - but off pavement isn’t what they’re designed to do.
Ive tried the k60 and shinko 804/805 on my scrambler. The k60 squares off really fast and cost twice as much as the Shinkos. I was a big k60 fan...until I tried the shinkos. In my case the shinko wears more evenly and the rear lasts just as long. The front k60 wears like iron but still way cheaper to go with the shinko and they perform just as well in all conditions.
Riding gravel and forest roads on Pilot Road 5 on R1200GS this whole summer after starting my motocross training. Sure I have limited turning capacity and I won't be able to get anywhere when the surface is wet yet I'm really aware how bad it might end up and pay alot of attention to what I'm doing. And yeah, I had dropped the bike alot. Gonna buy some Pirelli Dakar starting next year season in spring and just have a blast enjoying that difference in traction :)
So you can balance tyre aggressiveness with skill level - that must be why I keep using the Dunlop 606 front & rear. Thanks for the awesome explanation, appreciate it.
Excellent description of major tire types and their application. Appreciate your informative videos. Am looking to go less aggressive than D606 on my 640 ADV.
Depending on size availability, I was thinking of Big Block or Motoz Tractionator Adventure H/T as an alternative. Really depends on how gnarly the off road riding sections will be this year in the Sierra Nevada.
I run K60s. IMO weight of the big adv bike makes up in some ways for lack of knobs off road riding straight.Important thing to me on dirt are side knobs for cornering. That’s talking about dry stuff not greasy mud.
Bret, great advice. Any possibility of a more in-depth video on the tires YOU use for different riding conditions/trips/terrain? I often see you on what look like mainly street tires but you're off-road in the videos. Perhaps some tips on traversing off-road with such tires without large knobbies, etc.? I ride an adventure bike but also (mainly) use it for commuting on tarmac and can't switch back and forth between tires all the time. I know there are no tires that do everything perfectly, but perhaps some tips from you about your preferences might help. Just a thought. Great channel!!!
For those of us running tubes in adv tires, it would be very helpful to comment on how stiff the sidewalls are as in which ones will be a major PIA to service trail side w/ small hand tools 100 mi from the nearest shop.
It depends on the size. Tread pattern differ according to the tire size. On the bigger ADV bikes, with the 150 rear section, it's not a choice you get to make.
U left out the best adventure offroad oriented tire : dunlop d606 (rear only). And the all round best adventure tire which sticks to.the pavement like glue (better even than less aggressive tread tires) and works very decent offroad also : continental tkc80
Nice video I just came across your channel . I'm new to the Dual Sport world. I road off road all my life .With a back injury no longer competition. My wife said you need to ride so I chose a Xr650l set up really nice . I wondered what those charging wires were on my XR you answered my question.Racing off road and ISDE is a little different than packing tents and tools. Dual Sporting is A new world that I am quickly falling in love with. Thanks for the info. God Bless """RIDE ON"""
Great video. I've recently subscribed to your channel and it's found your videos quite useful and entertaining. I was originally looking very hard at getting the Karoo 3 but after some research ran across the Avon Trekriders. The karoos looked a little more aggressive than what I was wanting and the Trekrders follow the same vein of design but leans a little more towards the tarmac. I've been thoroughly pleased with the Trekriders on hard surfaces and surprised at how well they perform on dirt roads and some of the softer singletrack type terrain. They are newer to Market and you don't hear too much about them. Though being marketed as 50/50 tires are probably closer to 70/30 but for my riding purposes they work really well.
Nice jacket, and the contrasting cap looks good too. I’m a little disappointed in my K60 Scouts because of the centre line being unbroken. Otherwise they’re a great tire, but they don’t give enough grip in wet off-road environments. I might try Mitas next, or maybe Shinko
If there is a "subject" subject to being the origin of a world war, it is precisely: TIRES! Excellent, the initiative to use the "weapon" of the armistice, in this "subject" so sensitive! I think everyone understood well, PEACE BROS!
I was just thinking about shopping for new rubber, so this is a timely video. Thank you!. I have the K60 scout on the rear right now, but I think I should go a little more aggressive as I plan to learn how to ride in sand this spring. All the off road trails around my home are soft sand.
great vid as always! when my streets wear out i'll be getting some tkc80s for my tranny and start tearing up the Pyrenees :) Love your presentation and editing, would love to see some hands on mechanic type videos - repairing a tyre/inner tube in the middle of a dirt road, fork seals, and other servicing stuff related to adventure bikes :) looking forward to the next vid!
Awesome video. The closing message is really important - be honest with yourself. I think I'm gonna go with 90/10 for my next set of tires. I don't really go into wet mud at all. It's mostly loose gravel and dry soil in the mountains. The only thing I'm having doubts with is puncture resistance -- that has to do with the compound used and not the tread pattern, right? Or is it both - it's the compound, but manufacturers tend to use a more hard-wearing compound for the off-road biased model?
Remember off road tyres have stiff sidewalls to deal with rough terrain. road based tyres have softer sidewalls for better road cornering. If soft compounds are used for off road tyres chunks of rubber can get ripped off by stones and rocks
Please be aware that the K60 is designed to be used with it's matching front. That solid center strip tends to hydroplane. This is (supposedly) mitigated by following in the "clear" path created by the front tire
tire compound matters quite a bit. heidenaus use a harder compound and, for how i ride, they're a scary when wet and when cold. less aggressive riders, heidenaus work fine.
Ron Thompson the TKC80 is still the tire most are measured against. Good performer overall but still a premium. It was the only choice for years. (For many bikes)
I have a question maybe even a review/explanation video.... tubed vs tubeless tyres (unless its already been done and ive missed it)....im moving away from sport bikes and im currently (18/8/19) looking at buying an Africa Twin. Now most of my riding is going on street, trips and tours etc...firstly round the UK but then maybe further afield. And i will be taking loaded panniers and the wife quite a bit.... i know there are better "touring" bikes but i like the look of the ADV bike! The Honda has tubed tyres. I've heard they run hotter on street, harder to fix punctures and my main concern, which is why i hit UA-cam and the trusted MOTOTREK comments section, ive heard that IF you pick up a nail for example and 70mph, a tubeless tyre can handle punctures better. When a tubed tyre takes a nail at 70 mph, the tube can deflate instantly, collapsing the tyre with it. A tubeless tyre can capture the nail (screw, or pointy road debris of your choice) in the tyre’s thick main layer, sealing around the intruder to keep the air inside, It doesn’t always work out that way, but a tubeless tyre gives you better odds of experiencing a slow deflation that gives you a chance to get off the road safely, instead of sudden and total deflation. Any advice greatly appreciated... 🇬🇧✌
Hi Bret, any chance you can explain or give recommendations about when is safe to exchange your tires? I have different opinions with friends about when is the right time to get new tires!
Hi Bret Can you recommend an all round Tyre for a Yamaha super tenere that carry's heavy loads e.g large panniers and wife , an 80/20 or 70/30 Tyre I have the Mitas EO7 awesome Tyre and have 10000km on them ,they are just a bit to noisy on the road Thanks MR DJ
Paolo Concina the Mita e-07 is as quiet as they get for true dirt worthy tires go. One you move to the street focused tires they all quiet down nicely. Even the K60 makes more noise than the e-07. Many riders love the Michelin Anakee 3 (they turn a little slow for my taste but are a good tire... on the budget side the Shinko 705 do well
TOP! One question: I have a CB 500X (2019). The original rear tire needs to be replaced. Can I replace only the rear tire... Or must I replace both front and rear? I must add that I am considering changing the tire reference.
Just to let you know that the Karoo 3, in spite of their agressive look, are 70% road tire and only 30% off road. Been riding those tires for 7000km on my DR650 and they do great on tarmac and just ok off road. Lateral traction just plain sucks (no side blocks). They do ok in sand and dirt. Not that good in mud either...
François LeBlanc thanks for the feedback. On a DR you have much more aggressive DS tires than the big bikes. Lucky for us with 150’s and bigger we do have more options than ever.
Bret Tkacs , absolutely true ! Been using K60's on my Super Ténéré, they are great on road, real peg grinders. But could use a better tire offroad, not enough grip. Have you tried Motoz tires ? The tractionator Adventure looks like the holy graal for the big adv bikes !!!
@@monchitoscalecrawling5035 I was very fortunate on my set, I got about 12000km's , mainly tar, with about 15km out of 100 being dirt I had the Shinko 805's on
I just bought a 2013 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and it came with Michelin Anakee 3 tires. There is only 6000 km's on that but I'm looking for a tires that can do a bit more off road then those. My boyfriend has a KLR 650 with the K60 Scout tires, would that be a good choice for the V-Strom? Thanks.
For what it worth, the Heidenau K60 Scout is the best all-round 50% on-road 50% off-road tyre available. It will also outlast any of the others. Good luck with your new bike.
What's your opinion on the TKC80's? I have been running these for years and I'm really happy with grip, both on pavement and offroad. My rear does not seem to last more than 4000 km (2500 miles) though.
Great performance on pavement, good performance on dirt, horrible life span and expensive. If money or mileage are not not an issue it is a great tire and still the benchmark others compare against.
Money aside. who can be bothered or has the time to change their tyres every 4,000kms? I have better things to do.. I'd burn through a rear every 2 months if only got 4000kms out of them. I'm way too lazy for that effort...
I will be riding from the continental US mid-west up to Alaska this summer (12K miles) - going through the Yukon and up to Prudhoe bay and back. I'm not going to be in dirt very much at all, but on a LOT of their gravel roads. What tire would you recommend for a first time adventure rider on my '12 V-Strom DL650?
Scott Lane for a very high mileage tire with modest performance in dirt and street the K60 scout is still the tire to beat. Great touring tire and better in the dirt that the average street bias ADV tire. I like the Mita E07 for better performance off road at less cost it also offers a shorter life span (similar to the average street tire)
The best adventure videos on UA-cam. I have a question, IO recently changes from touring to adventure and bought a Versys 300x, I changed the stock tires to new Shimko 705 and now at speeds over 100ks the bikes feel like it weaves, I have also checked the front and rear alignment and all is OK, the dealer has no clue, would you have a suggestion as to why? your input is appreciated.
Another excellent and informative video, Bret. Can you elaborate a little further on how to evaluate the wear on a 50-50 and more aggressive tire? I have a tire that has done about 7500kms and the knobs are getting rounded off on the rear. You mentioned that this will reduce the traction. Even though the treads are still very deep, is this tire done or close to being done? I do only gravel roads (though some forest service roads are steep and poorly graded here in BC).
Hello Bret here is a question for you, I own a super tenere 1200 which weighs 260Kg, i have just bought a set of Metzeler Karoo streets the load rating is 325Kg if I fit all 3 Kappa panniers and myself with out the wife ,its all ready way over that limit or can you please explain regards Paolo
Because a visor (bill) looks cool, and APPEARANCE is what Adv Riding is ALL about, hahaha! Seriously though, it helps to block the sun, and offers some "roost" protection from other riders, especially if they're aggressive and you're running a goggles, or glasses, set-up instead of a shield.
Bret Tkacs I did! Thanks. That clarified things a lot. Could you include location info in your videos? Some of those locations look really amazing, but I don't know where they are. I'd love to ride those roads but don't know how to find them. That's a decent video idea BTW. I spend hours in google maps trying to find roads that *may* be open or *may* be gravel. If there was an easier way to find a local gravel road, that would really help. Thanks again!
This is a great video thanks! Wish I'd seen it before I changed my tyres. I don't understand why Revzilla and Fort9 says Karoo 3 are 70/30. I ordered them and when I received them I knew right away damn! Too aggressive for my riding. But I'm using them anyways and they are nice only a bit hard initially and bike feels heavy at low speeds - could it be a tyre pressure issue? Any tips on tyre pressure for Karoo 3 on a Honda Africa Twin?
your pressures sound ideal for daily riding so I don't think your slow turn in is related. You can drop as low as the mid 20's up front to the mid 30's, the rear I would keep between the mid 30's to no more than max. I was unable to locate a recommended pressure for that tire on that bike on the Michelin site. You may ask them for those numbers and then experiment by raising 10% then lowering 10% to see how that feels. Lowering the pressure will warm the tires faster and may be preferred as the sidewalls of the off-road focused tires can be much stiffer than street focused tires. the K60 is notorious for this whereas the TKC80 has very soft sidewalls. a stiff sidewall is good for protecting the rim while running lower pressures.
Advantages and disadvantages to both. Tubeless can be fixed easily on the trail with a plug kit and some sort of air pump without removing the wheel. Unless you put in some sort of gash in the tire, the air loss when you incur a puncture will usually be more gradual in nature. Tube tires, on the other hand will deflate quickly (think front tire deflation in two seconds at 60mph), and you will need to remove the wheel and either patch the hole, if you have the supplies, or use a spare tube, if you brought one. Advantages to tubes are that they can be aired down a lot more for off road riding, without fear of pinch flats. One thing to be mindful of is that there is a limit on how low you can go with bigger ADV bikes, before there is an increased risk of bending wheels on sharp edged trail gremlins. I'm sure there are videos out there cautioning on this very thing. Also, while there are some models that have both spoked wheels and tubeless tires (my Super Tenere is one of those), spoked rims usually will be of the tubed variety, and cast aluminum will be In the end, it will boil down to your bike choice, as very few bikes (if any) of the same model will offer the choice of both. For me, tubeless tires and shaft drive steered me to the Yamaha and were major factors in the decision, which I don't regret, three years after. You could talk to the next rider, and the 50lbs weight penalty I took for these options would have been deal breakers for them.
Your ending statement really hit home for me as a new “adventure” rider. ‘Buy the right tire for YOUR adventure’. Now I don’t feel like my street tires discount my adventure bike since I do about 80/20 street to dirt. Excellent video.
Yup! Best piece of advice is always going to be to fit what you need for what you're doing. Nothing wrong with 80-20 tires either. I've done cross-country trips with 80-20 and 50-50 tires and planned each trip accordingly
@@SuzukiC41 I regret getting a 80/20 because my experience is that I reach the tyres limits off road all the time but rarely when on road so think it best to bias more towards off road where you need to performance most
I’ve deem ADV riding for a year and this is by far the best tire summary I’ve ever seen. Am a little impatient with UA-cam for not having shown me your channel earlier!
My first tire was an Shinko 705 and I mostly rode on the highway so I switched to a Metzeler Tourance. It only took one short trip on dirt for me to realize I wanted my Shinko back 😂
I did around 7,000 miles over most of the western US this summer, only about 500 miles of that off-road on a pair of Shinko 804/805, riding my R1200GS Very fully loaded. I chose these because I had planned some VERY demanding off-road portions of the ride and felt based on many comments out there that the 804/805 combination would be good enough for road work and a real asset in the off-road - this turned out to be the case and the perfect choice. Considering my nearly 600lb GS + 230lb me + 70lb of luggage, say 900lbs on the 804/805 combo, both pressured to 32/30psi respectively - I, simply put, had the best most comfortable ADV ride I've ever had! Road noise initially was surprisingly good (subtle but pleasant), handling was Very surprisingly good at speed with tires giving lots of indication when they were at adhesion limits in high-speed corners... The rubber compound once warm was quite sticky, performed reasonably well in Very intense rain (3hrs of torrential rain at 80+ mph thru Wyoming). Off road was marvelous with only the slightest extra drift sideways, accelerating thru corners but very acceptable and easy to handle. My only real complaints were speed rating of only 99mph which I occasionally exceeded while passing a grumpy senior citizen out in the middle of nowhere who was determined not to let me pass - I clicked 110mph and did pass, keeping speed high till he was a 1000 meters behind... People can be so funny sometimes... Felt a little nervous once I exceeded 100, briefly imagining my entrails dangling from the speed limit sign down the way... Yikes! The other annoyance with these came when the front had worn enough to cup pretty bad, by then progressively causing more and more uncomfortable noise and vibration until I simply could NOT take it anymore - stopped over in Spokane, WA and got the front replaced (still with about 30% or it's life left) with a Shinko 705 (all they happened to have that day in my GS size)... Overall I'd have to say without reservation that the 804/805 is the Best value in a more off-road oriented ADV tire! I might also add that I installed "Ride-On" sealent in both tires to Ride-On spec for off-road use. This produced superb smoothness and produced a little extra insurance against a puncture ruining my fast ride sections - highly recommend this addition to my fellow ADV riders! (I did also have a professional grade tire plug kit and electric pump with me at all times, tucked in nicely right next to my first aid kit with additional field triage kit since I rode the entire nearly 8,000 miles solo, much of it outside of cell range and some of it without GPS signal)...
Wish! Nice read.
You should write a blog about your adventure trip.
Using the Karoo 3 now for 4-5 years for snow ride, love it.
You're really straight to the point in the videos ive seen no fluff great advice thanks keep it up
I had the Heidenau Scout K60 on my GS Adventure. They wore like steel and were good both on the road and off. One thing to note, the front tire howled like a hunting beagle chasing a rabbit at highway speed 60-80 mph
I bought my 2015 GSA used , and I have Anakee 3 now. This spring I will have Conti TKC 70. Thank’s , you helped me here 🙌.
I ran the tkc70, 70/30 tire, for the first half of my world ride (europe, middle east and asia to australia) and did really well both on road and offroad. They only fall short a lot when you hit deep sand or mud, but I was able to do 40k kilometers on them. I switched to the karoo 3 and they are simply amazing in sand and mud! Can't speak for the mileage yet as don't have so much mileage on them yet.
Hi Bret. I really like your ADV focus videos. I'd love to see a video about how to load, strap, and balance a bike and also how you and a passenger get on and off a fully loaded bike.
good idea
Best ADV oriented tire explainer video i have yet seen on UA-cam. Good thoughts on riding style, wear etc etc.
Thanks!
I found happiness with the Mitas E07s however I took a set of Shinko 804-805s with me to the Dempster and found them surprisingly good. The Shinkos cost me less then $200 shipped to my door. The K60s are great for high mileages but lack in traction because of the center bar.
Great. We run Shinko 705's on the producer-cameraman's bike and love them.
Another terrific video. Explaining the plain facts about tires and tire selection are tremendously appreciated. Keep them coming.
ive watched so many of your videos. combined with your in depth knowledge of the topics and the quality / spunky of the video production im shocked you dont have way more followers and viewers
I've been running 804/805 Shinko's for 2 years 50,000 miles and counting. I'm getting 10k on a front and 5k on the back with 60/40 riding. They handle just as well on pavement as the 705s but are better off road. I've ridden over 75,000 miles on 705s. They need to stagger the rear blocks for more lateral stability and they'd be perfect. They cost less than half the other tires you showed. Less than $300 a pair. I've owned all of them and will use the Shinko's until I either die or they quit making them. The ONLY disadvantage to the Shinko's are all the smartass comments from BMW riders about them, STINKOS, CHEAPOS, etc. Current bike 2016, Tiger 800XCa - Frisco, Colorado.
Mark Jacobs
I've got an F800GS and on the 2nd set of tires I decided to try the 805's. Loved them, except the quality from factory left a bit to be desired. (Kind of oblong [out of round] on the rear). Third set was the 705's (currently on the bike). Love them! I don't know if I'll stray from shinko ever. And the price!... Works for me!
Mark Jacobs km in
I've never seen a bike service area like that in my life. Didn't know they existed!
You’re simply the best! Thank you so much for all the advice.you’re n°1 with explanation, video, fun. Never boring.
This is bloody brilliant! Thank you Bret for the informative videos :)
Great info Bret. Just about to change my front tyre for another Avon Trailrider, got 16,000 miles from it and 11,500 from the rear.👍☘
A very clear an comprehensible explanation .. Thanks. Best regards from Germany
Thanks, Elends
Is it only me who believes this is best channel for moto enthusiasts?
That was a really great explanation thanks so much. I'm new to adventure and there is a lot of sand here. I went in the wrong direction after stock to the 705
Another great video Brent. Found you through ARR podcasts. The more I ride and practice the better my Bridgestone 502's work🙂
Laurie Berg, keep watching and spreading the word.
It sounds like Jim is going another way with the rider skills segments. You will find me here and at the school doing what I do.
Hope to see you at the school someday.
Michelin Pilot 4 Trail - excellent for 90/10 riding . . . an amazing tire. For some “adventure” bikes a Pilot 4 Trail front and a Pilot 4 GT rear will work - but off pavement isn’t what they’re designed to do.
Ive tried the k60 and shinko 804/805 on my scrambler. The k60 squares off really fast and cost twice as much as the Shinkos. I was a big k60 fan...until I tried the shinkos. In my case the shinko wears more evenly and the rear lasts just as long. The front k60 wears like iron but still way cheaper to go with the shinko and they perform just as well in all conditions.
This is a great channel. Underrated
Riding gravel and forest roads on Pilot Road 5 on R1200GS this whole summer after starting my motocross training. Sure I have limited turning capacity and I won't be able to get anywhere when the surface is wet yet I'm really aware how bad it might end up and pay alot of attention to what I'm doing. And yeah, I had dropped the bike alot.
Gonna buy some Pirelli Dakar starting next year season in spring and just have a blast enjoying that difference in traction :)
Bret, love your videos! Would love to see a video for changing tires on the field!
I do want to do a remake of that video for mototrek, its been many years.
So you can balance tyre aggressiveness with skill level - that must be why I keep using the Dunlop 606 front & rear.
Thanks for the awesome explanation, appreciate it.
The 606 lasts beyond 5 years!!!
Excellent description of major tire types and their application. Appreciate your informative videos. Am looking to go less aggressive than D606 on my 640 ADV.
osimnod I like the 606. I ran that on the front of my F800GS several tips on Mexico paired with aTKC80 or Kenda Big Block
Depending on size availability, I was thinking of Big Block or Motoz Tractionator Adventure H/T as an alternative. Really depends on how gnarly the off road riding sections will be this year in the Sierra Nevada.
You're killin' it! This is fantastic.
Wow well done as usual. Very well explained. That's it one of my favorite you tube channels!
I run K60s. IMO weight of the big adv bike makes up in some ways for lack of knobs off road riding straight.Important thing to me on dirt are side knobs for cornering. That’s talking about dry stuff not greasy mud.
PaulXT1200Z when it’s dry even the 90/10 Street /dirt work fine
Such a great channel. Thanks for your work.
Always excellent. You are top in your field.
Bret, great advice. Any possibility of a more in-depth video on the tires YOU use for different riding conditions/trips/terrain? I often see you on what look like mainly street tires but you're off-road in the videos. Perhaps some tips on traversing off-road with such tires without large knobbies, etc.? I ride an adventure bike but also (mainly) use it for commuting on tarmac and can't switch back and forth between tires all the time. I know there are no tires that do everything perfectly, but perhaps some tips from you about your preferences might help. Just a thought. Great channel!!!
Yes, Manan! Stay tuned! New tire video coming this week!
@@MOTOTREK Really? What timing! Haha. Thank you.
ua-cam.com/video/YnEcI3F_pqE/v-deo.html
Great description of the first tire.....Dunlop!
For those of us running tubes in adv tires, it would be very helpful to comment on how stiff the sidewalls are as in which ones will be a major PIA to service trail side w/ small hand tools 100 mi from the nearest shop.
Another great video! Too bad you aren't on the east coast. Would love to attend one of your classes.
I always find it interesting that you guys choose the Heidenau k60 with the centerline. To me, the Heidenau without the centerline is better 🤷
It depends on the size. Tread pattern differ according to the tire size. On the bigger ADV bikes, with the 150 rear section, it's not a choice you get to make.
Excellent information, thankyou from 🇦🇺
The Shinkos really are incredible value and performing tyre in my experience...again great vlog👍
Good video. I'm riding Mitas e13 front and e09 rear. Wonderful. Even on pavement
Good choice!
U left out the best adventure offroad oriented tire : dunlop d606 (rear only). And the all round best adventure tire which sticks to.the pavement like glue (better even than less aggressive tread tires) and works very decent offroad also : continental tkc80
Nice video I just came across your channel . I'm new to the Dual Sport world. I road off road all my life .With a back injury no longer competition. My wife said you need to ride so I chose a Xr650l set up really nice . I wondered what those charging wires were on my XR you answered my question.Racing off road and ISDE is a little different than packing tents and tools. Dual Sporting is A new world that I am quickly falling in love with. Thanks for the info. God Bless """RIDE ON"""
Welcome, Eaglerider!
Great video. I've recently subscribed to your channel and it's found your videos quite useful and entertaining.
I was originally looking very hard at getting the Karoo 3 but after some research ran across the Avon Trekriders. The karoos looked a little more aggressive than what I was wanting and the Trekrders follow the same vein of design but leans a little more towards the tarmac. I've been thoroughly pleased with the Trekriders on hard surfaces and surprised at how well they perform on dirt roads and some of the softer singletrack type terrain. They are newer to Market and you don't hear too much about them. Though being marketed as 50/50 tires are probably closer to 70/30 but for my riding purposes they work really well.
Nice jacket, and the contrasting cap looks good too.
I’m a little disappointed in my K60 Scouts because of the centre line being unbroken. Otherwise they’re a great tire, but they don’t give enough grip in wet off-road environments. I might try Mitas next, or maybe Shinko
Ronan Rogers you might look at the Mefo super Enduro too...
Ronan Rogers yes I had to match the cap to my pants
Ronan Rogers mitas is a shit . I’m used k-60 too. Yes it’s not for swamp but it’s not bad on wet road
Below 140 the Heidenau doesn't have that centre bar. I have just bought a set for my old Transalp...
If there is a "subject" subject to being the origin of a world war, it is precisely: TIRES! Excellent, the initiative to use the "weapon" of the armistice, in this "subject" so sensitive! I think everyone understood well, PEACE BROS!
I was just thinking about shopping for new rubber, so this is a timely video. Thank you!. I have the K60 scout on the rear right now, but I think I should go a little more aggressive as I plan to learn how to ride in sand this spring. All the off road trails around my home are soft sand.
outty77 the K60 does OK but more paddle will help,
I might try the good old, venerable TKC 80's
Thanks ! Keep up the good work and videos.
K60 have different tired tread depending on the size, 130/80/17 is much more "off" than 150/70/17 , even though not specialised.
Metzeler Tourance are great 80/20 balance for my ‘05 GS mit Öhlins.
Great job of putting out the good info.
Thanks, Douglas
great vid as always! when my streets wear out i'll be getting some tkc80s for my tranny and start tearing up the Pyrenees :) Love your presentation and editing, would love to see some hands on mechanic type videos - repairing a tyre/inner tube in the middle of a dirt road, fork seals, and other servicing stuff related to adventure bikes :) looking forward to the next vid!
Thanks for the suggestions, Ed.
Excellent video. Thank you.
Awesome video. The closing message is really important - be honest with yourself. I think I'm gonna go with 90/10 for my next set of tires. I don't really go into wet mud at all. It's mostly loose gravel and dry soil in the mountains. The only thing I'm having doubts with is puncture resistance -- that has to do with the compound used and not the tread pattern, right? Or is it both - it's the compound, but manufacturers tend to use a more hard-wearing compound for the off-road biased model?
Remember off road tyres have stiff sidewalls to deal with rough terrain. road based tyres have softer sidewalls for better road cornering. If soft compounds are used for off road tyres chunks of rubber can get ripped off by stones and rocks
Great advice, helped a lot!
Please be aware that the K60 is designed to be used with it's matching front. That solid center strip tends to hydroplane. This is (supposedly) mitigated by following in the "clear" path created by the front tire
Norsefalconer where did you hear this? I've read the website and press literature and that has never been mentioned
Ty Bret i’ve learned a lot
tire compound matters quite a bit. heidenaus use a harder compound and, for how i ride, they're a scary when wet and when cold. less aggressive riders, heidenaus work fine.
Same. I think they are death traps for the way I ride.
You didn't mention the TKC80, I find it great on and off road on my heavy KTM 990.
Ron Thompson the TKC80 is still the tire most are measured against. Good performer overall but still a premium. It was the only choice for years. (For many bikes)
Good video. Keep them coming
After extensive research, chemical analysis and a few shamanic rituals, I ended up choosing the Shinko 805:804
jajaja!.... I feel you bro!
What is the best 50-50, currently using mitas e07 +
I have a question maybe even a review/explanation video.... tubed vs tubeless tyres (unless its already been done and ive missed it)....im moving away from sport bikes and im currently (18/8/19) looking at buying an Africa Twin. Now most of my riding is going on street, trips and tours etc...firstly round the UK but then maybe further afield. And i will be taking loaded panniers and the wife quite a bit.... i know there are better "touring" bikes but i like the look of the ADV bike! The Honda has tubed tyres. I've heard they run hotter on street, harder to fix punctures and my main concern, which is why i hit UA-cam and the trusted MOTOTREK comments section, ive heard that IF you pick up a nail for example and 70mph, a tubeless tyre can handle punctures better. When a tubed tyre takes a nail at 70 mph, the tube can deflate instantly, collapsing the tyre with it. A tubeless tyre can capture the nail (screw, or pointy road debris of your choice) in the tyre’s thick main layer, sealing around the intruder to keep the air inside, It doesn’t always work out that way, but a tubeless tyre gives you better odds of experiencing a slow deflation that gives you a chance to get off the road safely, instead of sudden and total deflation. Any advice greatly appreciated... 🇬🇧✌
Perfect explaining!
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it, Louis.
Hi Bret, any chance you can explain or give recommendations about when is safe to exchange your tires? I have different opinions with friends about when is the right time to get new tires!
Hi. Thank you for video. Can aggressive tire (metzeller tourance) give vobbling on my handlbar on low speed (less than 100 km/h) ?
Hi Bret
Can you recommend an all round Tyre for a Yamaha super tenere that carry's heavy loads e.g large panniers and wife , an 80/20 or 70/30 Tyre I have the Mitas EO7 awesome Tyre and have 10000km on them ,they are just a bit to noisy on the road
Thanks
MR DJ
Paolo Concina the Mita e-07 is as quiet as they get for true dirt worthy tires go. One you move to the street focused tires they all quiet down nicely. Even the K60 makes more noise than the e-07.
Many riders love the Michelin Anakee 3 (they turn a little slow for my taste but are a good tire... on the budget side the Shinko 705 do well
Would have been awesome if you’d list the tires you show in the video in it’s description.
TOP!
One question:
I have a CB 500X (2019). The original rear tire needs to be replaced. Can I replace only the rear tire... Or must I replace both front and rear?
I must add that I am considering changing the tire reference.
Just to let you know that the Karoo 3, in spite of their agressive look, are 70% road tire and only 30% off road. Been riding those tires for 7000km on my DR650 and they do great on tarmac and just ok off road. Lateral traction just plain sucks (no side blocks). They do ok in sand and dirt. Not that good in mud either...
François LeBlanc thanks for the feedback. On a DR you have much more aggressive DS tires than the big bikes. Lucky for us with 150’s and bigger we do have more options than ever.
Bret Tkacs , absolutely true ! Been using K60's on my Super Ténéré, they are great on road, real peg grinders. But could use a better tire offroad, not enough grip. Have you tried Motoz tires ? The tractionator Adventure looks like the holy graal for the big adv bikes !!!
Can the GS1150R rim be mounted on a GS1200 Adv K51 motorbike? Is it the same size?
Thank you
Great video as always man. I had the shinko's on my KTM 990, Best tyres ever
Hi. I also have a 990. What shinkos are you using and how many miles you get on the rear tire. Thanks
@@monchitoscalecrawling5035 I was very fortunate on my set, I got about 12000km's , mainly tar, with about 15km out of 100 being dirt
I had the Shinko 805's on
I just bought a 2013 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and it came with Michelin Anakee 3 tires. There is only 6000 km's on that but I'm looking for a tires that can do a bit more off road then those. My boyfriend has a KLR 650 with the K60 Scout tires, would that be a good choice for the V-Strom? Thanks.
Congrats on the new bike, Tracey!
Sorry but we can't endorse any particular tire brand :(
For what it worth, the Heidenau K60 Scout is the best all-round 50% on-road 50% off-road tyre available. It will also outlast any of the others. Good luck with your new bike.
Just bought a 2017 honda africa twin. Mainly road use, any recommendations please?
I wonder Karoo Street. Do you have plan to review karoo street?
Is there any familiar with ASPIRA TERRENO ???
I would love to know you guys think of the new Pirelli Rally STR?
mungo75 I haven’t tried that one yet
Bret Tkacs Thanks for the reply Bret. I hope you guys do at some point, a lot of good things being said about it on different forums.
@6:45 you want us to buy the Karoo 3 right... getting the Karoo 3 then
BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX ADVENTURECROSS AX41 the best!
What's your opinion on the TKC80's? I have been running these for years and I'm really happy with grip, both on pavement and offroad. My rear does not seem to last more than 4000 km (2500 miles) though.
Torbjørn Kristoffersen and the anakee wild..
Great performance on pavement, good performance on dirt, horrible life span and expensive. If money or mileage are not not an issue it is a great tire and still the benchmark others compare against.
Christiano Marlboro I only know what you know about the Anakee Wild. That is one of the few tires I haven't been able to try out.
then it´s time to ;)
Money aside. who can be bothered or has the time to change their tyres every 4,000kms? I have better things to do.. I'd burn through a rear every 2 months if only got 4000kms out of them. I'm way too lazy for that effort...
Dude great video but whats that on your head??
the coolest hat ever ;-)
I will be riding from the continental US mid-west up to Alaska this summer (12K miles) - going through the Yukon and up to Prudhoe bay and back. I'm not going to be in dirt very much at all, but on a LOT of their gravel roads. What tire would you recommend for a first time adventure rider on my '12 V-Strom DL650?
Scott Lane for a very high mileage tire with modest performance in dirt and street the K60 scout is still the tire to beat. Great touring tire and better in the dirt that the average street bias ADV tire.
I like the Mita E07 for better performance off road at less cost it also offers a shorter life span (similar to the average street tire)
I killed a k60 scout on the road in 600 miles on a dr650 at intermediate track day pace.
The best adventure videos on UA-cam. I have a question, IO recently changes from touring to adventure and bought a Versys 300x, I changed the stock tires to new Shimko 705 and now at speeds over 100ks the bikes feel like it weaves, I have also checked the front and rear alignment and all is OK, the dealer has no clue, would you have a suggestion as to why? your input is appreciated.
It could simply be the change in tyre design. It is not uncommon for different brand to feel that different.
Great video.. do you have any videos about motorcycle boots or reviews on your channel??
Pura Vida
Evandre Molina we have one boot review but no selection reviews yet.
Just wondering if anyone “sipes” the Heidenau for better center strip wear and rain adhesion?
Another excellent and informative video, Bret. Can you elaborate a little further on how to evaluate the wear on a 50-50 and more aggressive tire? I have a tire that has done about 7500kms and the knobs are getting rounded off on the rear. You mentioned that this will reduce the traction. Even though the treads are still very deep, is this tire done or close to being done? I do only gravel roads (though some forest service roads are steep and poorly graded here in BC).
motonut ua-cam.com/video/7GWw99mbScU/v-deo.html
Does this answer your question OK?
Thank you sir. I guess I'll be shopping for a new tire. 😀
Great video’s Bret! Have you done a vid about how to decide if using Tubeless vs Tubes? Thanks again for all the great advice for us newbies.
Hello Bret here is a question for you, I own a super tenere 1200 which weighs 260Kg, i have just bought a set of Metzeler Karoo streets the load rating is 325Kg if I fit all 3 Kappa panniers and myself with out the wife ,its all ready way over that limit or can you please explain regards Paolo
That is per tire
Why blur the model of dunlop tire yet have all the model names of the others?
We put the wrong name during the edit and blurred it on UA-cam after uploading.
Dunlop what? You didn't mention the model...
Thank you. I'd love a helmet video. Adv riders seem to wear a helmet with a bill. I don't know why.
Glenn Crowe it is in the works.
Bret Tkacs Thanks!
Because a visor (bill) looks cool, and APPEARANCE is what Adv Riding is ALL about, hahaha! Seriously though, it helps to block the sun, and offers some "roost" protection from other riders, especially if they're aggressive and you're running a goggles, or glasses, set-up instead of a shield.
I'm hoping you liked that last video... It was for you ;-)
Bret Tkacs I did! Thanks. That clarified things a lot.
Could you include location info in your videos? Some of those locations look really amazing, but I don't know where they are. I'd love to ride those roads but don't know how to find them.
That's a decent video idea BTW. I spend hours in google maps trying to find roads that *may* be open or *may* be gravel. If there was an easier way to find a local gravel road, that would really help.
Thanks again!
This is a great video thanks! Wish I'd seen it before I changed my tyres. I don't understand why Revzilla and Fort9 says Karoo 3 are 70/30. I ordered them and when I received them I knew right away damn! Too aggressive for my riding. But I'm using them anyways and they are nice only a bit hard initially and bike feels heavy at low speeds - could it be a tyre pressure issue? Any tips on tyre pressure for Karoo 3 on a Honda Africa Twin?
Sachin Wadhwani what pressures are you running?
So I'm running 29 psi front and 36psi rear for now
So what do you think?
your pressures sound ideal for daily riding so I don't think your slow turn in is related. You can drop as low as the mid 20's up front to the mid 30's, the rear I would keep between the mid 30's to no more than max.
I was unable to locate a recommended pressure for that tire on that bike on the Michelin site. You may ask them for those numbers and then experiment by raising 10% then lowering 10% to see how that feels.
Lowering the pressure will warm the tires faster and may be preferred as the sidewalls of the off-road focused tires can be much stiffer than street focused tires. the K60 is notorious for this whereas the TKC80 has very soft sidewalls.
a stiff sidewall is good for protecting the rim while running lower pressures.
Than you so much, really appreciate your response and tips
I am looking to get into adv and I from all of yalls experience, would you recommend A tube or tubeless tire.
Advantages and disadvantages to both. Tubeless can be fixed easily on the trail with a plug kit and some sort of air pump without removing the wheel. Unless you put in some sort of gash in the tire, the air loss when you incur a puncture will usually be more gradual in nature.
Tube tires, on the other hand will deflate quickly (think front tire deflation in two seconds at 60mph), and you will need to remove the wheel and either patch the hole, if you have the supplies, or use a spare tube, if you brought one. Advantages to tubes are that they can be aired down a lot more for off road riding, without fear of pinch flats.
One thing to be mindful of is that there is a limit on how low you can go with bigger ADV bikes, before there is an increased risk of bending wheels on sharp edged trail gremlins. I'm sure there are videos out there cautioning on this very thing.
Also, while there are some models that have both spoked wheels and tubeless tires (my Super Tenere is one of those), spoked rims usually will be of the tubed variety, and cast aluminum will be
In the end, it will boil down to your bike choice, as very few bikes (if any) of the same model will offer the choice of both.
For me, tubeless tires and shaft drive steered me to the Yamaha and were major factors in the decision, which I don't regret, three years after. You could talk to the next rider, and the 50lbs weight penalty I took for these options would have been deal breakers for them.
6 years later, what’s your thoughts on the Motoz family?
I thought Dunlop d606 was most aggressive dot tire
Montana White not for the big bore ADV bikes.
You're the Man!
Nice head, by the way.