Street tires: Am I selling out?

[imported_FEF]

I know this has come up before, but.....

I ride to work most every day it's not freezing. In the Portland Oregon area, that means sun, clouds, and rain. As much as I'd like to, I just don't see the dirt as often as I'd like.

I kinda feel bad at the thought of street tires on the bike. I havne't looked into the 10/90 tires, but maybe that will ease my reservations a bit.

If I'm spending 98% of my time (for the moment) on the street, is it so bad to consider something like a 1.5" lowering link and street tires?

while I'm thinking out loud, the idea of an SUV with street tires kinda makes me scratch my head. This is that same kind of feeling. Though, no one has second thoughts about Motard. HUMMmmmmmmmm

IS it so bad???

[JA7455]

No. If you ride mainly commuter miles it makes sense. I see jacked up p/u all the time that never go off road. Thay looks silly. Kenda does make a nice looking 10/90 tire. Check out at American Motorcycle Tire.com
JA

[Maniac]

Nothing wrong with street tires on a bike thats ridden on the street! More traction and longer life.

[Rainier_Tom]

I run street tires on my KLR and the only time my '01 Dodge Ram gets 4wd usage is when I come up my driveway

[mrfix]

Check out Metzler tourance tires, I commute all year in new england, they work really well on the road, are not usless on a dirt road and last about 10,000 miles. They are quiet and smooth on the road.

[Rico]

Sell out? no, you're buying in.

I have some 90/10 tires on my bike, Pirelli Scorpion S/T, and they still look somewhat dirt oriented (at least compared to slicks). And after running a couple sets, I've gotten used to them and have been pleasantly surprised to find that I can keep up with the big dogs just fine in the dirt.

[Tumbleweed]

Think of it as a change of shoes. For the city, hiking boots are not the most appropriate choice. I have a set of D606 for when I head to the dirt. Running a mixed set of Anakee front and Duro HF904 on the rear for my street riding.
The Distanza or Tourance will be my next set of city sneakers.

The SUV with street tires makes a lot of sense if that is where they are employed. It's the old station wagon of the 70's redone in typical American excess.

TW

[jebus]

on the other hand, most d/s tires these days do remarkably well on pavement, so, given the klr's, um, performance, you'll probably never run out of traction with a good 60/40 tire...also, how much of that grippy street tire's potential are you ever gonna use? on a 110 hp bike, sure, but on the klr it seems like a real waste of money, and a limiter, too, because even though you may rarely go off road, it's nice to be able to.

the other day, after tightening my chain, i got on the hiway before i realized that i'd forgotten to re-snug the axle nut (idiot, i know). i hauled it down as slow as i dared with a rack of cars behind me, about 30mph, and whupped it off into the ditch. managed to pull to a stop, leaned it up against the hillside, and tightened up the nut...could have gone bad in a lot of ways, and it certainly would have if my maxxis 6006 rear and k270 front hadn't stayed hooked into the sides of that ditch.

[barrett]

well I guess I love my klr to much to cut its manhood off. to answer your question yes your selling out. this is an amazing bike I have at least 10,000 on dirt with mine keep the oem if anything..

[Judjonzz]

+1, jebus. Most of my riding is on pavement. If I set out to spend the day on gravel in the coulees, I will probably be lucky to make 40% of my miles on dirt. My commute is a 60-mile freeway round-trip. On balance, I'd say 80 to 90 per cent of my KLR miles are off pavement. However my setup heavily favors dirt. Never anything less dirty than a K270, more often a D606.

Either tire allows me to get up the road with dispatch. The short sight lines in the coulees generally don't allow for extreme angles anyway; the guy who drags his pegs on those roads is going to become a hood ornament for a combine. maybe not the most miles, but definitely my best miles are off pavement. If I do find a sand road or a muddy horseback trail, I want my bike to handle it.

If you really just ride on the street, put on a set of 491 Elites. They handle as well as anything, and they wear like iron.

[MotoPhoto]

I put street tires on mine 1 1/2 years ago, so far no complaints.

[Biker Scout]

Kenda 761's on mine, and I'm still able to handle the occasional fire/dirt road just fine.
I commute 60+ miles per day, it's what I bought it for... the dirt is just extracurricular.
I like the ability to go anywhere, even if I don't exercise that option.

[mitch]

No harm there, only gains for your ride style. Also consider the Gripster. I rode a friends KLR that was lowered - forks were dropped & dogbones on the rear shock. I thought the handeling was more squirrly - didn't like it.

[mrfix]

Hell, it's your bike, do whatever you want with it. Who cares what the world thinks, the grins are on your face.

[Meat Wad]

Check out Michelin Sirac's, they are expensive but well worth it. Once i got use to them in the dirt(after a couple of wipe outs) they are great on the road, very smooth with excellent handling characteristics, really carve and i have over 10K on em, got to get new set soon.

[TommyKaw]

I have street tires on mine and love it..I'm like Jud i commute about 60 miles round trip alll year round.If you have some extra cash get another set of rims and put some serious knobbies and you'll sleep better at night. After that get the 685 kit and you'll have it all in one bike....Happy New Year, Tom

[SomeMook]

I gots ContiEscapes on my rig. They ain't bad on packed dirt roads. They are excellent in the rain. But they are shit when it gets muddy or I encounter loose dirt. But I have been using the bike for commuting and light fire-road excursions. Nothing too hairy. But most of my riding is done on the street.

[imported_NY-KLR-Joe]

I'm on my second set of Avon Distanzia's.
Excellent grip on the street.
Decent on dirt / gravel roads.
I'm getting decent mileage out of them too.
they suck in mudd or wet leaves

When I take them on crazy difficult trails I get slaps on the back from other riders for making the difficult trail on street tires.
d
Street tires off-road can be more challenging and make you a better rider in a way.

I am looking foward to trying a set of Mefo's or cheap Kenda 270's though.

[lionsbreath]

Run what makes sence to you. I would make sure to upgrade the brakes if you do that much street riding.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by NY-KLR-Joe

When I take them on crazy difficult trails I get slaps on the back from other riders for making the difficult trail on street tires.
d
Street tires off-road can be more challenging and make you a better rider in a way.

+1 on that! I've taken my bike through places where real dirtbikes had difficulty (Uwharrie N.F.), rode on a beach, and all kinds of stuff. Once you get used to the looseness (and the occasional crash) you can go anywhere and keep up pretty well.