OK so the Bandit has gone and I’m picking up an 05 F650GS Dakar over the weekend.
Now the Tires on it at the moment are just about road legal so I’ll be changing them straight away but can’t make up my mind on which way to go.
Now the bike will be mainly used for the daily commute, 60 ish miles a day, but at weekends I will be doing the odd lane and at Christmas I was thinking of doing a treasure hunt organised on a Land Rover forum I belong to on it. This will be on and around Salisbury plain and won’t be too gruelling.
So the decision is do I go for something Like the Continental TKC80 or do I go for a more road/trail based tire like the Michalin Anakee or Sirac?
My advice would be if you really want to do some semi-serious laning, especially in winter, go for the TKCs. They are well mannered on the road for knobblies - quick to turn but you’ll get used to them in a few miles - but also perform great on the dirt, very confidence inspiring!
I use them on the 1200 ever since I did Off Road Skills and have spent many a fun day on Salisbury Plain. I’d never go back to a road/trail tyre unless I was doing some serious road mileage and knew I wasn’t going off the beaten track at the end of it.
They wear down a bit quicker than road tyres, but then they’re quite a bit cheaper too so it all works out about the same.
Erm, no, sorry. I found TKCs hard to source locally so I get them from RoundAndBlack (very cheap and they do pair deals) and fit them myself. They are actually quite easy to fit as the TKCs are very flexible - you don’t even need tyre levers to get them on the rims!
I guess that if you took them (with suitable notice) to any motorcycle dealership that has a workshop they could fit them for you for a modest fee - it’s not exactly the hardest job in the world. Just remind them that you have tubes!
Inmoto sourced and fitted my TKC80s, google them they’re in Croydon. They’re a KTM and Aprillia dealer.
I switched from Metzler Sahara 3s to these about a thousand miles ago. They’re no good over 80 on my bike as they start to weave. I don’t much trust them in the wet, and I wouldn’t want to stop in hurry with them. Now they’re looking very flatfooted, and I probably won’t get 4k out of the rear.
On the plus, I have grip in mud instead of sliding. :w00t: If you are struggling on wet grass and mud then these are for you; otherwise there is little improvement in gravel and dry dirt than a normal DS tyre.
Worth fitting just to see the difference, then judge for yourself. I am still not sure whether I will go with them again.
I’ll probably be at Borough Market tomorrow if you want a look.
Agree with Martins comments - They’re not speed tyres - I get a little wobble at about 80/85 as well but I just cope with it, it’s not bad. Also the mileage - that’s what I meant by wearing down quick but being cheaper.
Would still recommend them for you as UK lanes can get very muddy and slippery in places, especially if you’re thinking of going out to play with Landys at Christmas!
I had TKC’s when I had my Africa Twin - they were great - however as has been said they’re not to confidence inspiring in the wet.
Salisbury is fine for a bike like the your new one if you’re running on the TKCs - I found they ‘walk’ a bit on corners on the road though and move a bit on raised road surfaces - it’s just the feedback you get from them. They do wear quick though.
However I know someone who runs them on a Honda Varadero and loves them on road - so I suppose it’s a personal choice thing.
Looking ahead if your doing more road mileage take a look at Anakee 2’s - for road use they are amazing - even in the wet - just check the chicken strips on my Varadero when I’m next at Borough! Okay for gravel too but not for serious off road stuff or mud
Personally, I don’t find them bad at all in the wet considering that they’re really knobblies. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough, or perhaps it’s just the sheer weight of the adventure holding it down
As another update, the TKC80 rear lasted just under 3000 miles. I replaced it with a Metzler Sahara 3 which should be good for 6-7000miles (has done 5500 so far). The TKC fronts I think would last 3 times the length of the TKC rears.
Interestingly I kept the original TKC80 front with the new Metzler, which worked out quite well. Plenty of directional grip plus long wearing at the back - happy days Good on the road, fine on the gravel, fine as one can be in the sand.
I think I’ll be joining the “knobbly up front, hard as you can find on the rear” club.
