Street-Legal Knobbies...

I am putting my TT600 (the Yamaha variety) on the road (currently only rec
regged), and want some advice on the best dual-purpose tyre around.

I will be commuting daily (not too worried about ride smoothness) and
blasting some trails on the weekend (mainly dry, sandy, gravel). I know
there's no tyre to do both jobs well, but I am really not serious enough of
a rider to warrant two sets of wheels.

Does anyone have any positive experiences to share? I was hoping to get
something a little more agressive than a trailwing, but have it last for
more than 100Ks on the black stuff....

 

MT40/60/70
http://www.pirellimoto.com/en_96/tires/template_categorie.jhtml?catid=96

cheers
pete

 

Micho Baja, 140/80-18

Mick Chester

 

Maxxis C6006
(http://www.tiresunlimited.com/images/Maxxis tires/Maxxis M6006.jpg)
is bloody brilliant, and cheap to boot (around $130 from memory). I
was running it on the rear and a Metzler Karoo
(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=2890&department=647&Division=6#)
on the front. The Karoo is a quite agressive road legal knobby but
still gives good grip on the tar, though it is a little bit noisy. The
Maxxis wore out fast once I started flogging it on tar (extended
periods of 130kph between Bourke/Walgett) but even so it still lasted
around 3,500kms and had more life left in it when I chucked it for a
Pirelli MT21 (http://www.accwhse.com/photos/pirelli_mt21_tire_rr.gif).
The MT21 is another road legal knobby, superb on the dirt but as it's
biased 90% dirt 10% tar I'm not expecting it to last long on tarmac
runs. The Karoo front still has plenty of life left in it, but I've
heard the rears fall to peices in short order.

 

My new bike has a pair of 37-year-old Yokohama knobbies on it, that
have done 2,000mi.

Do Yokohama even make motorcycle tyres any more?


BTH

 

In aus.motorcycles on 28 Nov 2004 17:08:19 -0800

alas no - their Sprints were a wonderful tyre for the Devil, quite
sticky and handled very nicely indeed.

I think they sold all their molds and such to Shinko in the late 90s.

Zebee

 

Thanks to all who replied. You've certainly given me some food for
thought...

 

Can anyone tell me where to get Maxxis tyres in Melbourne?

 

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I ended up opting for something more
dirt oriented and picked up a set of Pirelli MT21s on special.

Let's see how long they last on the black stuff, and if I can indeed keep
the rubber-side-down when it starts to rain...

 

The few Shinko tyres I've tried have been quite satisfactory, if that
proves anything... *shrug*


BTH

 

In aus.motorcycles on 29 Nov 2004 13:11:28 -0800

I've not tried any that were "sporting", but their touring tyres have
been reliable and longwearing. Grip has been fine, wet or dry.

I've got two gripes with them - one is they are large, their 110/90 is
more like a 120/90. With the Shinko on the back, the centrestand can't
lift the rear tyre off the ground.

The other is that the fronts I tried scalloped something awful. I suspect
I wasn't keeping the tyre pressures high enough, but even so.

I consider them a good value for money tyre for a high mileage rider.

Zebee

 

Wheredoyageddit?

G

 

In aus.motorcycles on 1 Dec 2004 08:50:35 +1100

Used to be everyone had them, now they are harder. I got the rear I'm
using now from Chivos. London Trading used to be the wholesaler, dunno
if they still are.

Any tyre place should be able to find 'em.

Zebee

 

So they should last even longer.

Postman Pat