Motard tires? Insert your opinion here:

[Beauregard]

What are the best motard tires? I'm using Metzler M-1s right now, and as we all know, they don't work in the gravel, sand, or dirt. I'm looking for a soft compound with some light knobbie action in 17".

[hooliganrider]

Originally posted by Beauregard
What are the best motard tires? I'm using Metzler M-1s right now, and as we all know, they don't work in the gravel, sand, or dirt. I'm looking for a soft compound with some light knobbie action in 17".

try the MT-60's i think that's what Andrew has on his KTM

[thump]

I use these (http://www.pirellimoto.com/tires/catalogo/scheda.asp?ID=144)

I like 'em a lot!!

[JoeBar]

Take a look a what Jason has to say about his MT60's (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=451704#post451704)

[thump]

Also look here (http://www.monomaniacs.nl/mm/ttt/tires/index.htm) for tire reviews from monomaniacs.nl

[Beauregard]

Right on. It looks like the MT-60's are the deal. Thanks for the help. Any chance a bunch of Motarded riders meeting for a ride somwhere this coming weekend?

[thump]

Originally posted by Beauregard
Right on. It looks like the MT-60's are the deal. Thanks for the help. Any chance a bunch of Motarded riders meeting for a ride somwhere this coming weekend?


Maybe Sunday morning- I rode Summit / Highland / Eureka last Sunday and loved it.

Maybe something like that.

[thump]

Originally posted by Beauregard
Right on. It looks like the MT-60's are the deal. Thanks for the help. Any chance a bunch of Motarded riders meeting for a ride somwhere this coming weekend?

You can get MT60s from Moore & Sons on East Cliff in Santa Cruz, they usually have them in stock.

Or for a slightly better price go see Greg or Doug at Santa Clara Cycle Accessories on El Camino in Sunnyvale. They'll give you a dirt bike stand and wrench to take your wheels off in their parking lot and just charge for mount & balance.

The best price I've seen online is here (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/department.asp?department=647&manufacturer=3&Division=6) so make sure you ask for this or better.

But they're distributed by Rocky-Tucker or whatever that company's name is so if you already have a favourite dealer or tire fitter they should be able to get them for you in a couple of days.

[Beauregard]

I'm into it.

[illsender]

Avon rains. The DOT rains last longer. i got 2500 miles out of an already thrashed one. Any slicks. Avon just came out with a good tire i forget the number but its on my bike and i love it. ok for dirt but what do you expect for a street tire.

[thump]

Originally posted by illsender
Avon rains. The DOT rains last longer. i got 2500 miles out of an already thrashed one. Any slicks. Avon just came out with a good tire i forget the number but its on my bike and i love it. ok for dirt but what do you expect for a street tire.


Are you on 17"s?

[red929]

Originally posted by Thump
Maybe Sunday morning- I rode Summit / Highland / Eureka last Sunday and loved it.

Maybe something like that.

Hey Beau,

thats the route I took on my 929 that I told you about,...17 miles of dirt and gravelly road all the way to Mt Madonna!!!!! I definitely recommend it though!:teeth

[Beauregard]

Hey red929 girl, you're the one who gave me the route!

[illsender]

Originally posted by Thump
Are you on 17"s?

Its the only way. Although i am poor and don't have them for the 500 yet.

[Max Smiley]

there are 21/18 tires and race classes too.

good thing for me cuz I don't believe the 230 swingarm allows for more than a 110 tire! :wow :p with the avons it's going to be like riding a bicycle I think but I'm looking forward to the experience.

as far as best moto tire, I don't know anything but keep reading about all the best time is made up on the street parts not the dirt parts so tire choice more street. couldn't imagine an M1 on the dirt at speed though. you crazy! :loco :twofinger (oh wait a minute, I did go off roading turn 5 t-hill, LOL! did not dump it. there. lalalala)

[illsender]

for 21/18 wheels i run metzler me33 lazer up front and avon gripster rear. For Stockton, very little dirt, i'm switching to the Dunlop 501 rear 120/80/18

[slrosa]

Go to www.swmototires.com for the best deal on MT60's that I have seen. No tax - no shipping and they are great to deal with.

[thump]

Originally posted by slrosa
Go to www.swmototires.com for the best deal on MT60's that I have seen. No tax - no shipping and they are great to deal with.

Cool, thanks :thumbup

[Beauregard]

Right on. Thanks for the link, my local shop WE ALL RIDE is gonna hate me for the prices i ask them to match.

[vtr996]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by slrosa
Go to www.swmototires.com for the best deal on MT60's that I have seen. No tax - no shipping and they are great to deal with.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I second that on Southwest Moto tires. I bought tires from them a month ago for the first time. I believe the free shipping is only if you buy 2 or more tires. So just buy two rear tires since they go out so fast.

[thump]

Originally posted by Beauregard
Right on. Thanks for the link, my local shop WE ALL RIDE is gonna hate me for the prices i ask them to match.


I'm with him.

I would rather give my local shop the chance to match the prices, pay them to mount and balance and get my oil / filters / chains / sprockets and stuff from them at the same time than hassle with the mail order.

I'm sick to death of being short shipped or waiting for weeks for mail order stuff that was supposed to be 'in stock'.

If they locals won't match or come close, well, I guess I'll be shopping around.

I don't mean to open up the local shop versus web seller thing all over again, but I like having the local shop there. so I'll support it when theres only a small price difference.

[Beauregard]

I'm with you Andrew. I love having the web as a resource but prefer to give my local shop the business. My pitch usually is to print the check-out page (which includes shipping charges and item description), take it to my local shop and straight up ask them "how close can you come to this?"

I get one of two responses from retailers using this approach.

1. "Get out of here."
2. (More often) "I can come this close..."

[thump]

Originally posted by Beauregard
I'm with you Andrew. I love having the web as a resource but prefer to give my local shop the business. My pitch usually is to print the check-out page (which includes shipping charges and item description), take it to my local shop and straight up ask them "how close can you come to this?"

I get one of two responses from retailers using this approach.

1. "Get out of here."
2. (More often) "I can come this close..."

It sometimes helps to have an armful of other stuff that you're going to buy anyway so the business gets to see that it's what you have and the stuff you want them to match on and not just the piece of paper.

I do 10-12k miles a year on my bike which adds up to -

4 oil changes (oil, gaskets etc)
coolant flushes, water wetter, air filter oil, loctite etc.
6 rear tires
3 front tires
wheel balancing and truing (spokes, baby!)
new goggles / lenses / tearoffs every couple of months
headlight and tailight bulbs (thumper, baby!)
chain and sprockets
boots, gloves 'n shit
muffler packing- but you don't bother with that, do you Beau :laughing

Any other upgrades and crap I decide I can't do without :teeth

So if a shop looks after me, I'm cool and they get my regular business.

[Beauregard]

What is this thing you speak of "muffler packing?"

My PIPES are unpacked,out of the box, and on the bike!

You should hear my TLR

LOUDER THAN BOMBS