Tires: but not the usual suspects

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1150R.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
MattPie
Lifer
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 1:09 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Valley Forge, PA

Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by MattPie »

I'm on the fence about a trip to Labrador, Canada this summer, which will involve a few hundred miles of gravel. Has anyone tried either of these dual-sport tires on the R1150R? The GS guys are talking about knobbies, but I can't find any in the right size.
- Pirelli MT-60 (http://www.us.pirelli.com/web/tyres-cat ... fault.page)
- Avon Distanzia (http://www.avonmoto.com/products/distanzia)

Both are available in 120/70R17 and 160/60R17 (but fit on a 5" rim). Of course, a friend of mine rode to Prudhoe Bay on a pair of half-bald Z6s, so maybe I'm over-thinking things. :)
Go Sabres!
User avatar
riceburner
Basic User
Posts: 3809
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:54 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Hiding in your blind spot....
Contact:

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by riceburner »

MattPie wrote:I'm on the fence about a trip to Labrador, Canada this summer, which will involve a few hundred miles of gravel. Has anyone tried either of these dual-sport tires on the R1150R? The GS guys are talking about knobbies, but I can't find any in the right size.
- Pirelli MT-60 (http://www.us.pirelli.com/web/tyres-cat ... fault.page)
- Avon Distanzia (http://www.avonmoto.com/products/distanzia)

Both are available in 120/70R17 and 160/60R17 (but fit on a 5" rim). Of course, a friend of mine rode to Prudhoe Bay on a pair of half-bald Z6s, so maybe I'm over-thinking things. :)

The Pirelli Scorpion is a good 3/4 road - 1/4 off-road tyre. Obviously not as grippy on the rough as proper knobblies, but far superior than knobblies on the majority of your journey.
Non quod, sed quomodo.

A Rockster Life
snelson200
Basic User
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Cypress, CA

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by snelson200 »

tt
Last edited by snelson200 on Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
snelson200
Basic User
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Cypress, CA

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by snelson200 »

tt
Last edited by snelson200 on Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
TicTac50
Lifer
Posts: 437
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:19 pm
Donating Member #: 586
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by TicTac50 »

MattPie wrote:I'm on the fence about a trip to Labrador, Canada.
For after BMWMOA Rally, I was thinking about Victoria and Vancouver, but the Labrador sounds pretty interesting.
Last week I met a KLR rider and he did mention his trip to Labrador, but somehow I did not connect the dots.
Now I have to give him a call.
MattPie. Please keep us posted about the trip and the tires.

Good Luck.
Lifetime Member #586
2002 R1150R
2004 R1150 ABS
2003 F650 CSA
PRESSING "1" FOR ENGLISH!
fj_pastor
Basic User
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:24 pm

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by fj_pastor »

I have run a set of Pirelli Scorpions Sinc and I am really happy with them for mixed use

Best regards
User avatar
MIXR
Basic User
Posts: 804
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 4:18 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Canberra, Downunder

Re: Tires: but not the usual suspects

Post by MIXR »

Matt - I've run two sets of Distanzias. Only managed around 7,000 kms out of each set. They are as good as most road tyres in the wet and dry. Handle very well, so no problem with the 'one size smaller' on the rear. The front also made my speedo run dead accurate for the first time. Compared against a GPS. same size as a road tyre, but obviously a different profile.

On the dirt - Very good. Bike handles much better. Doesn't slide around as much at speed. More grip at the front end, so it won't tuck-under as much as a road tyre does. Inspires confidence and faster travel. Not always a good thing! [-X

Wear - They tend to get very hot when ridden at high road speeds in hot temps. Probably the big blocks getting hot, hence the accelerated wear compared to road tyres. Keep the speeds reasonable, and they will last longer I suspect. They are also very soft when hot. Easy to puncture, and not much substance to the tyre carcass. Very thin. Again - Keep the speeds down and that will be less of a problem.

I liked them, and do a lot of dirt. I gave them up as I just couldn't get the life I needed on bigger trips with lots of tarmac and heavy loads. Worth a shot though for a one-off trip.

Cheers, Mick.
I ride an R1150GS Adventure with sidecar. IBA #39193
Post Reply