AT Knobbly's

crotchrocket

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Been pondering some knobbly's for the Africa Twin, to do some lanes. I was after something a bit more focused than the TKC / Karoo 3's but still okay on tarmac with a big bike. People have suggested Goldentyre 723's, Mitas E-09 rear with a TKC 80 front and various other brands. But really I need something one of my local tyre fitters can source and fit. I'm thinking Dunlop D606 Front and D908 rear. I've also heard the Pirelli MT21 is a good front tyre, but don't really like to mix brands.

Anyone got any off road tyres on their AT ?

D606 is a 90/90 21 and the rear is a 140/80 18 which I think is fine.
 
This is a set of the Dunlop D908's :drool

The only reason for thinking the 606 up front, is that I hear the 908 is pretty squirrely on the tarmac.
 

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I've got Karoo 3's

Not enough experience yet to offer any advice.

The BMW Off Road and Africa Twin Off Road Schools use the Karoo 3
 
I've got Karoo 3's

Not enough experience yet to offer any advice.

The BMW Off Road and Africa Twin Off Road Schools use the Karoo 3

Please try harder, :D we want you view of on-road handling as much as off-road. Wet and dry weather road grip, noise and overall feel please. :hide :thumb
 
Please try harder, :D we want you view of on-road handling as much as off-road. Wet and dry weather road grip, noise and overall feel please. :hide :thumb

Ok then, you asked for it.

My Tyre Review for Metzeler Karoo 3 on Honda Africa Twin

First thing to note is the Karoo 3 tyre is a Tubeless Design. Which immediately causes a compromise, as the standard Africa Twin wheels are a Tubed Tyre design.

What I've learned is that Tubeless Tyres have a ribbed interior which can cause heat buildup on inner tubes and the potential for premature failure. So I covered my tubes and inside of the tyres with talcum-powder before fitment. This helps reduce friction, and makes the workshop smell better :D So just bear in mind you don't want high sustained speeds on these as it could cause issues with tube wear.

Having said that, I've rode these tyres enthusiastically on dry roads, and it keeps up with all the other adventure bikes (without going mental keeping max speeds around 90). All my mates were impressed with the dry road handling of the Africa Twin on these tyres, they are perfectly acceptable. I never got left behind, and at times my mates were trying to catch up with me! So overall feel and predictability are good, just remember the tyre side wall tread limitations and don't try to get your knee down.

However, when hot they just get eaten on the road. No squirrelling around as the knobs are big, but I lost a quarter of my tread depth on one spirited day out riding. So these tyres can't be dual compound, just soft all over. Which is good for getting decent grip, but wear rates are poor. 2,500 miles on a rear maybe? I don't know, maybe that's good? What would you rather have grip or no grip?

I've also been impressed on road in the wet, but just be sensible and again not going mental. I did have the traction control kill my power on a couple of spirited standing starts at traffic lights, but that was the bike defaulting to traction control level 3 on startup. It was spinning up the rear tyre in the wet.

Road noise is difficult one as I always wear earplugs, so I don't have an issue with Anakee 3 tyres either.

Off road I have limited experience as I've only been off-road once on my bike and once off-road on the BMW R1200GS with these tyres. They do slip about a lot in heavy mud, but what tyre doesn't? I'll keep trying on these until I get a reference point, then try something else I think.

Am I happy with these tyres on my bike. Yes.

Good Things - They fit the Africa Twin, Grip, Handling, Multi-use Tyre

Bad Things - Tubeless Design, Tread Wear Rate

Notes - Get a Rim Lock fitted at tyre change time
 

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Whilst the above is thorough.... :)

I have ordered the Motoz Tractionator Adventure Tyres, from Adventure Spec. Had trouble deciding on the MK1 or MK2 front, but went with the MK1 for now, as its better suited to road work and will wear slower.
 

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Has anyone tried Motoz Tractionator GPS or Mitas E07?
Heard mixed opinions on E07.
 
Warlord, thank you for your thorough review of the Karoo 3 on the African Twin. It’s been very helpful to me, as it may to others, who are thinking of getting these tyres. :thumb2

As for the tubless concern, I’ve been looking at the Outex option, but another option has been brought to my attention recently, the Bartubeless System. For roughly £250 your wheels are sent to Italy (through a well known wheel company in Birmingham), where they convert your wheels and then returned within a fortnight and are guaranteed for 5 years, so seriously considering this option as well.
 
Look good ! next day delivery from Adventure Spec for £7 !
 

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Yep pics when fitted a review please :)
 
I love the look of the Karoo 3s on the bike, but went for the more road orientated tyres for this AT with the conti TA2s on the last AT I fitted TKC80s

if the Karoo 3s were as good on road as the TA2s id have then on there by the weekend LOL
Rob
 
if the Karoo 3s were as good on road as the TA2s id have then on there by the weekend LOL
Rob

My view is... if a 50/50 tyre performs at only 80% of a road bias tyre in the dry. Is that enough to satisfy you on a normal day out?

Is it still within your riding style to not notice much difference and still feel acceptable.

Thats how I feel about the Karoo 3
 
Pic of my Motoz tyres with 2000 miles on now, mostly commuting. Im really impressed with them with grip in all conditions and very little wear.
 

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MT 21's front and rear
The rear will wear pretty quick but they are good
I always used MT21's on my HP2 and 950se amazing how you can throw the bike around on tarmac and pretty good off road :thumb
It's all about compound and the mitas and other cheap brands are poor/crap in the wet
You get what you pay for
 
I had Karoo 3s fitted to my R1200gs

Good bits

Grip well in the dry, no issues getting the GS over in roundabouts
Soaked up road surface issues, cats eyes etc

Not so good bits

Noise!, absolutley howled above 60 mph! really noticable

Wet grip, i never explored any limits of wet grip, they didnt inspire me to.
They may well grip really well, but i was never confident with them in the wet

That said they never squirmed or stepped out on damp / greasy roads , ( my trailriders have lol)

Thy are a 90 /10 tyre if i recall 90 offroad 10 onroad

hope this helps
 
Over 5000 miles on these Motoz Tractionator Adventure tyres now and given the mileage that’s about 95% road 5% off road. An incredible amount of miles when you consider the grip on all surfaces wet or dry. The front has of course cupped as they do (started about 3k) but rides fine for me. Time for a new front tyre soon but rear still had plenty. I should also note I do like to braaaap. So they haven’t had an easy life.
 

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Over 5000 miles on these Motoz Tractionator Adventure tyres now and given the mileage that’s about 95% road 5% off road. An incredible amount of miles when you consider the grip on all surfaces wet or dry. The front has of course cupped as they do (started about 3k) but rides fine for me. Time for a new front tyre soon but rear still had plenty. I should also note I do like to braaaap. So they haven’t had an easy life.

Can I how they are on the motorway and when speeds get silly? I see they are only rated to 99mph.. I'm nearly buying these but I like to max put my AT sometimes, obviously on private roads......
 


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