[dirt2street]

Put a few miles on the bike today. I started out at 6000 feet (~1800m) in elevation (Santa Fe, NM) and road up to 9200 feet (2800m) Pajarito Mountain above Los Alamos. The Norden power delivery is linear and predictable but its has plenty of power when you need it.

I adjusted the suspension to the sport settings and it was a little too stiff on some of the rough sections of the road. I was also able to take it on some dirt roads and some softer surfaces. Needless to say the tires are very limited in the soft muck. I did discover that the front brakes need to be delicately applied in the dirt. The stopping power is pretty impressive compared to my Husky TX300I.

 

[gixxxer]

Great job and great places!!!

 

[Black99s]

Don't want to start a tyre thread but, I agree with your tyre comment re muck.
I've ordered TPMS with my 901 and to install the tyres have to be dismounted.
Contemplating having the dealer replace them. Looked at the Mitas E-12/E-13 Rally Star but the rear is only available in a 140. Might fall back on the TKC-80.
Your thoughts?

 

[dirt2street]

Don't want to try a tyre thread but, I agree with your tyre comment re muck.
I've ordered TPMS with my 901 and to install the tyres have to be dismounted.
Contemplating having the dealer replace them. Looked at the Mitas E-12/E-13 Rally Star but the rear is only available in a 140. Might fall back on the TKC-80.
Your thoughts?

I am new to adventure bikes so I will have to do some research. I do like the idea of installing the TPMS. That's on the list for me.

 

[JudeB]

Put a few miles on the bike today. I started out at 6000 feet (~1800m) in elevation (Santa Fe, NM) and road up to 9200 feet (2800m) Pajarito Mountain above Los Alamos. The Norden power delivery is linear and predictable but its has plenty of power when you need it.

I adjusted the suspension to the sport settings and it was a little too stiff on some of the rough sections of the road. I was also able to take it on some dirt roads and some softer surfaces. Needless to say the tires are very limited in the soft muck. I did discover that the front brakes need to be delicately applied in the dirt. The stopping power is pretty impressive compared to my Husky TX300I. View attachment 270
View attachment 269
View attachment 268
View attachment 267

Awesome pics. Haven’t had a chance to get my bike off road too much, but as for the street, they really seem to handle the curves up Palomar Mountain really nice.

 

[Newbium]

Great looking bike, and great pics. I live about 40 minutes south of SF, so we're practically neighbors.

As part of your tire research, you might consider taking a hard look at the Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires. I have them on my KTM 1290, and have ridden about 7k miles on them so far. They still have quite a bit of life in them, although I'll replace the rear this spring/summer before we head up to the WYBDR. I've ridden these tires on the hwy, through pouring rain and light snow, through sand and mud on the NVBDR this part November, and just about everything inbetween. These tires have surprised the heck out of me and I plan to continue using them for the foreseeable future. They are not as dirt/mud worthy as a real knobbie tire, but they run a close 2nd. IMHO they are a great all around tire.

Enjoy your new ride. Perhaps we'll run into each other at some point (figuratively, not literally😁).

 

[dirt2street]

Great looking bike, and great pics. I live about 40 minutes south of SF, so we're practically neighbors.

As part of your tire research, you might consider taking a hard look at the Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires. I have them on my KTM 1290, and have ridden about 7k miles on them so far. They still have quite a bit of life in them, although I'll replace the rear this spring/summer before we head up to the WYBDR. I've ridden these tires on the hwy, through pouring rain and light snow, through sand and mud on the NVBDR this part November, and just about everything inbetween. These tires have surprised the heck out of me and I plan to continue using them for the foreseeable future. They are not as dirt/mud worthy as a real knobbie tire, but they run a close 2nd. IMHO they are a great all around tire.

Enjoy your new ride. Perhaps we'll run into each other at some point (figuratively, not literally😁).

Thanks for the info. I will check the Dunlop's out.

And I will keep an eye out for a 1290.

 

[xabadu]

Great looking bike, and great pics. I live about 40 minutes south of SF, so we're practically neighbors.

As part of your tire research, you might consider taking a hard look at the Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires. I have them on my KTM 1290, and have ridden about 7k miles on them so far. They still have quite a bit of life in them, although I'll replace the rear this spring/summer before we head up to the WYBDR. I've ridden these tires on the hwy, through pouring rain and light snow, through sand and mud on the NVBDR this part November, and just about everything inbetween. These tires have surprised the heck out of me and I plan to continue using them for the foreseeable future. They are not as dirt/mud worthy as a real knobbie tire, but they run a close 2nd. IMHO they are a great all around tire.

Enjoy your new ride. Perhaps we'll run into each other at some point (figuratively, not literally😁).

Have you owned TKC-80s, and if so, how would you compare?

 

[Newbium]

Have you owned TKC-80s, and if so, how would you compare?

I've used the TKC80s on my Husky 701 Enduro, but not on my KTM. I liked the TKC80s on the 701, but they didn't last long. I now have the Mitas E-07s on the Husky. I haven't noticed much of a difference between the TKC and the Mitas off road, but the Mitas seem to ride slightly better on road, and they are wearing well. I have also used the TKC80s on a 2015 Tenere I had. Same issue, short life span. I suspect the experience on my KTM with TKC80s would mirror what I experienced on the Tenere, with the exception of the tire shredding potential of the KTM accelerating the wear. BTW...Most of my riding tends to be a 50/50 mix of off and on road, with the on road portion being super slabbing to get to an off road place I want to ride (BDR, single track, desert, etc).

Don't get me wrong, I think the TKC80s are a great tire overall, with the exception of their wear rate. And for me that's a deal breaker since I don't want to be swapping tires on an extended adventure ride to Alaska or elsewhere.

 

[Black99s]

Have you owned TKC-80s, and if so, how would you compare?

TKC80s are a light tire. Don't air down the front or you will bend rims off-road. They handle well on the road and on dirt / gravel. Inspire confidence. OK in mud. I got ~5,500km out of the rear and ~10,000km from the fronts. I might have them put on my 901 by the dealer on delivery.
Comparatively the Mitas E-10 has similar knob profile a heavier carcass - the rear lasted ~6500km. Really depends how sharp the rocks are - tyre life can get really short if you spin it up and roost corners.
The TKC front has a more squared off profile than the Mitas E-10 - the Mitas rolls into corners nicer.
On my Africa Twin over 40,000km on the rear I've gone through two-TKC80's, two-Mitas E10, two-Mitas E-07+ and I'm currently on a set of Michelin Anakee Wild which I like.
Longest lasting for me is the Mitas E-10 front and E-07+ rear with the caveat the E07 can slide in mud if you are rough on the throttle as it's more a block pattern than knob.
Worst tires IMHO for newbs with poor throttle and clutch control in mud and wet grass are the ones with full centre rib - like the Heidenau K60 - they last a long time on a ride to Alaska though.
I still think the best 50/50 tyre is the Mitas E07 front and rear (not the plus). A mate got ~20,000km out of a set on his Africa Twin.

 

[Newbium]

TKC80s are a light tire. Don't air down the front or you will bend rims off-road. They handle well on the road and on dirt / gravel. Inspire confidence. OK in mud. I got ~5,500km out of the rear and ~10,000km from the fronts. I might have them put on my 901 by the dealer on delivery.
Comparatively the Mitas E-10 rear has similar knob profile a heavier carcass and and lasted ~6500km. Really depends how sharp the rocks are - tyre life can get really short if you spin it up and roost corners.
The TKC front has a more squared off profile than the Mitas E-10 which I find rolls into corners nicer.
On my Africa Twin over 40,000km on the rear I've gone through two-TKC80's, two-Mitas E10, two-Mitas E-07+ and I'm currently on a set of Michelin Anakee Wild which I like.
Longest lasting for me is the Mitas E-10 front and E-07+ rear with the caveat the E07 can slide in mud if you are rough on the throttle as it's more a block pattern than knob.
Worst tires IMHO for newbs with poor throttle and clutch control in mud and wet grass are the ones with full centre rib - like the Heidenau K60 - they last a long time on a ride to Alaska though.
I still think the best 50/50 tyre is the Mitas E07 front and rear (not the plus). A mate got ~20,000km out of a set on his Africa Twin.

Good info, thanks. I also agree with your assessment of the Heidenau. I used the Heidi K60s on my 2013 trip to Alaska. They lasted a long time, but they were real sketchy on sand and the muddy Haul Road. I didn't like them at all.

 

[xabadu]

Let me see if I can maybe decipher:
TKC-80: dry tarmac: great; wet tarmac: great; dry dirt: great; mud: great; wear: bad
Mitas E-10 (front) E-07+(rear): dry tarmac: good; wet tarmac: good; dry dirt: good; mud: good; wear: decent
Heidenau K60: dry tarmac: good; wet tarmac: fair; dry dirt: bad; mud: bad; wear: great
Dunlop Trailmax Mission: ???

For reference, I rode from New York City to Alaska (also in 2013) on a GSA. Used TKC-80s (2 rear & 1 front) on the way there (loved them, but agree lifespan was poor), and Heidenau K60s (1 set) on the way back (felt uninspired and sketchy pretty much the entire time). Have a 901 reserved and trying to figure out which tires to swap to that will perform most like the TKC-80s with a bit better lifespan. I'm willing to sacrifice some (but not a ton) performance for lifespan. Any input would be appreciated!

I might move this convo to a separate thread to try and figure this out.

 

[Black99s]

xabadu you can learn some things here 2020 Adventure Tire Shootout Results | 25 Top Performing ADV / Dual Sport Tires | ChapMoto.com

 

[xabadu]

xabadu you can learn some things here 2020 Adventure Tire Shootout Results | 25 Top Performing ADV / Dual Sport Tires | ChapMoto.com

Great article! Thanks for the share. I haven't been staying on top of this stuff like I should be.

 

[wardog327]

Good article on tires for sure. Great looking Pic's..

 

[Roald]

+1 Dunlop Trailmax