"All-Terrain" Tires...

[ormgott]

One thing I really wish is for some tires for those of us that don't like to just stick to paved roads.
Back in my early days of scootering about I rode a Lambretta 125, probably a '60s model. It had not only aggressive tread allowing for exploring on or off road, it even came with a spare you could change exactly like a car! Granting the obvious differences, it would be nice to find some tires better suited for gravel and dirt roads. I'm seriously considering the darkside route, as Kitsune's rear is pretty much done. (I did pass 13,000 miles on the original, so I guess that's not bad. )
Any constructive thoughts would be welcome, including latest ct's available.

[MacDoc]

I do a fair bit of back road gravel road and once even a stream bed ( not intentional ) with the 650.

It's never gonna do mud or sand but I found the Metzler's the best all around - wicked in the twisties and decent on gravel/dirt.

I suspect you simply will not a find an 80/20 or 70/30 in the Burgman size and the life span on pavement would be horrid. The low c of g actually makes the Burgman handle okay - it's te suspension that sucks -

Been doing a fair bit of dirt and forest track riding on the KLR650 here
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/sh ... ond-season
and while I miss the Burgie in the twisties I was cruising over washboard today that would have had my fillings out in the Burgman. Klr barely noticed.
Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum in rides. Metzler has a 80/20 for the KLR and that will likely be my next set here.
Have fresh Metz's waiting at home on the Exec - looking forward to them as the original rubber sucked - previous owner ( newbie rider ) squared them up and too much tread left to not use them.

[ormgott]

I'll have to take a look at the Metzlers when I get a chance. With the original rubber I actually had a near instant laydown on grass, and it was sideways on a slant. Naturally topside ended up downhill! Lift was fun.

[ormgott]

Ah, well. Guess the conspicuous absence of responses is the answer to the question
Maybe the Metz Wintec. ( Or maybe darkside... Still looking through posts for the best.


BTW Thanks MacDoc for your input! Enjoy the ride

[trkcpa]

( Or maybe darkside...

I have to ride on gravel either direction from my house for 1/2 to 1 mile. I have a car tire on my wheel. It does not seem to make a difference one way or the other. The problem I have is with the front wheel--it seems to want to wash out when I get in loose gravel shortly after the grader has come through.

Just a thought. I am somewhat interested in the results. If you find something, let us know. tom

[ormgott]

Hi Tom,
I have about 200' of gravel drive at home (steep) so I feel for you! Unfortunately in all my rooting around the forums it appears that nobody has front tire "tricks". I'd seriously consider spare wheels set up to swap out for ride requirements, but...
What CT are you running?

[MacDoc]

Your best friend is practice.
I purposefully search out some gravel and dirt tracks to take the Burgman on so I know when I have to I can handle it.

Braking is very different and yes the front wanders but that's the norm on that surface and you have to stay loose, use rear brake and throttle for direction and stability.

The Burgman is heavy but the weight is down low unlike the KLR650 I'm riding in Australia for the winter.
You may get so laughs from the latest posts
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/sh ... ond-season

Ended up under KLR, head pointing down hill - anyways - my taking the Burgman on dirt and gravel stood me well transitioning here and it will be vice versa......but you have to practice and not find out how the Burgman handles in rainstorm in a construction zone on gravel with traffic around.....or dodging the idiot that got you onto the shoulder
Most of all you have to be comfortable with the rear brake

Get on the dirt and gravel and practice...

Falling on grass is easy - if you touch the front brake with the wheel turned at all down you go.

You will, over time, relax and build confidence
....even got caught in a stream bed and had to call on some old scrambling skills to get the Burgman back up the trail. Was surprised how well it performed

[ormgott]

MacDoc - Beautiful photos of your explorations, esp some of the bird shots!
Congrats on the interesting rides, too!

[trkcpa]

Ormgott, I am running the Nexen on the rear. I am running OEM or close on the front. It does get kind of squirrelly on the front. I have to keep it to about 30 mph. tom

[ormgott]

[quote="trkcpa"] It does get kind of squirrelly on the front. I have to keep it to about 30 mph.

I hope you mean on gravel/dirt!

How's the Nexen working out for you?

[trkcpa]

Yes, definitely on the gravel. I get all the way up to 45 mph on I-35

The Nexen is working out well. I have used it on a lot of twisties as well as on the Interstates. The only thing that I see about it is that it takes just a little bit more effort to lean it. tom

[ormgott]

Decisions, decisions... Put Kitsune up on the stand today, wheel comes off this weekend! I think it comes down to a Metz FF Wintec or CT. Coin toss time

[ormgott]

Finally had time to get my tire on. Final choice: Darkside, with the Potenza. My favorite tire place gave me an all-up price of $112.00 ( minus balance as they aren't set up for MC tires). Luckily I have one. They said they didn't have any difficuly with the install. After checking pressures and going with the commonly stated 40psi I took Kitsune out for a spin. Frankly, I didn't even notice a change in handling I will definitely run at least 200 miles for scrub-off just to be sure of traction, but at this point I'm definitely pleased with both handling and comfort. Thanks to all for both pros and cons on the Darksiding subject!

[ormgott]

Now if I only had spare wheels... There is a type of racing called motograss in Europe. I can buy a nice knobby off-road ct that fits the Burgy and have it shipped, but from what I've read it wouldn't hold up on the road for any length of time. They have even smaller sizes, so for trail riding (not the modern zooming along, just 5-10 mph) I would probably be able to equip the front as well! Ah well, maybe later...

[ErikDK]

A search on http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s ... 5&weiter=0 yields 92 different tires in size 165/60-14

[Dave_J]

A search on http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?s ... 5&weiter=0 yields 92 different tires in size 165/60-14

Erik,thats over there. On this side of the pond there is only about 4 to 5. That I know, the only car in the USA with a 165/65 14 was the Honda Insite.

[ormgott]

Yep! That's why I'd have to have it shipped, but I've purchased internationally before, so no biggie Big problem is price of extra wheels Ouch!

[Dave_J]

Keep an eye on Coparts.com . You can buy a wrecked Burgman for sometimes $200 and get a whole lot more than just wheels. But sometimes they go for $1000 wrecked. ????

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.htm ... lete=AN650

[ormgott]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!

[ErikDK]

A person with a (perceived) need of several rear wheels with different tires could get a car rim adapter hub made.
This is a 15" rim for a BMW R1200 RT, (sorry the other images were to large for this site).
Since the Burgman wheels are made of a special aluminum-lead-concrete alloy, it probably won't weigh more than standard.


Car Tire Adapter Hubs for BMW R1200 Motorcycles

[Croxford]

You may want to look in to Heindenau scooter tires... they do make all season and winter tires for scooters and motorcycles. A quick look at their web site showed the K66 coming in a 120/70 15 for the front. Unfortunately the stock 160/60 14 rear isn't listed but there is a 150/70 14...

http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/productsnew_b.html


JC

[Dave_J]

The 150/70 14 is a very good fit. It will also bring the speedo error a bit closer to true speed.

[ormgott]

A person with a (perceived) need of several rear wheels with different tires could get a car rim adapter hub made.
This is a 15" rim for a BMW R1200 RT, (sorry the other images were to large for this site).
Since the Burgman wheels are made of a special aluminum-lead-concrete alloy, it probably won't weigh more than standard.


Car Tire Adapter Hubs for BMW R1200 Motorcycles

Interesting! One of my complaints about modern scoots is that I miss my old Lambretta's spare tire that went on like a car wheel! I'll definitely look into whether that system would be functional
(and safe ) on the Burgman.

[Croxford]

You may want to look in to Heindenau scooter tires... they do make all season and winter tires for scooters and motorcycles. A quick look at their web site showed the K66 coming in a 120/70 15 for the front. Unfortunately the stock 160/60 14 rear isn't listed but there is a 150/70 14...

http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/productsnew_b.html


JC

I thought I should add that the K66 tires are advertised as "An all-weather, all-roads tire with great traction in the wet."



JC

[Dave_J]

I'd try that one. We get a bit of weather up here in the Great NorthWet.