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ATVs, Dirt Bikes and Schtuff For those of you who like to do it in the dirt |
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#1
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Mitas E-07
I burned up the stock rear tire on my KLR in a little over a thousand miles. I wanted a replacement that was a bit more street-friendly but would still give me decent grip off-road. The Mitas seemed to fit that bill. It's marketed as a 50/50 tire, but it looks to be less aggressive than either the K60 (which I didn't care for on my GS/A) or the TKC.
I mounted the rear using a simple stand and spoons. Even in the dead of winter, the tire spooned on relatively easily. Of note, there's no mark on the sidewall to align with the valve stem. I didn't remove the stock weight from the spokes, nor did I add any weights. At speeds up to 90mph, the tire did just fine with no balancing. Yes, it might be a bit smoother had I spent the time and added a few weights, but it isn't necessary. A week or so later we had a nice, sunny, warm day, so I put the front tire on (I went with the Dakar up front). Mother of God it's easier when it's warm out. Once again, there's no mark to put opposite of the valve stem, so I winged it. The tire mounted relatively easily...From rolling the bike on the lift to pulling the newly mounted tire & wheel off of the stand it took about an hour. Not bad for my second attempt. I decided to balance this one, and I'm glad I did. After a bunch of futzing around, then realizing there was a weight on one of the spokes, I finally got it. I put 12 1/8oz. weights and whatever the lead spoke weight (probably an ounce or two) on in order to get it. I can't help thinking that it would take much less if there was a "heavy spot mark". Oh well. I've got about 300 miles on just the rear, and 120 miles on the pair. Yesterday I hit a nice mixture of winding backroads and dirt/gravel. These tires flat-out kick ass. On the road (32/34psi) they never did wrong. No squirming, no ill behavior....Nothing other than strong, consistent grip. I could charge into corners as hard as I wanted, and the only thing holding me back was the deflection in the fork tubes. Off-road they were amazing. I never aired them down; I just transitioned smoothly. I forded a 50-foot wide, 1' deep stream that was nothing but smooth, round stones at the bottom with zero drama. Mud, gravel, and dirt were similarly drama-free. Sure, a Tourance or a Shinko 705 might be better on-road, but would never work as well off-road. Similarly, a 606 or a TKC would never do what I want on-road. These things are great.
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You might be a king or a lowly street sweeper, but sooner or later you dance with the reaper. Make Doof Clenas Fun Again (MDCFA) |
#2
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It's dirty.
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Stoney ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST. GFFG
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#3
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Dirt can be fun.
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April 13, 2016 -- The day Richard was speechless. May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift. May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift. May your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung, May you stay forever young! --Bob Dylan |
#4
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Dirt don't hurt.
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#5
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That is a good looking tire there Russ. I'm not sure about a Shinko outlasting any other tire however.
BOB
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"If you can easily ride the bike in tight circles while slowly moving down the street while wearing a tapered hat with a tassel, it's probably a Shriner addition" - HDF L.Ron Hoover Welcomes you to the First Church of Appliantology |
#6
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Odd there's no yeller dots. I took the time to note and mark the heavy spots on my wheels when I was doing the tires the first time. Oddly, only 1 of 4 was at the stem....
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Tim Ancient '79 FXS w/ probably about the same HP as a tractor Equally ancient '79 Massey Ferguson 255 Somewhat dilapidated, yet functional, Kubota L2500 '20 Branson 3620 '18 Ram 3500 Diesel '02 Wrangler X, 4" lift on 33 x 12.50s Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 Felt Nine 50 Killin' more bees than Monsanto . . |
#7
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There is a relatively fly yellow stripe.
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You might be a king or a lowly street sweeper, but sooner or later you dance with the reaper. Make Doof Clenas Fun Again (MDCFA) |
#8
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Russ is pretty fly for a white guy.
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"Every time I start thinking the world is all bad, then I start seeing some people out there having fun on motorcycles. It makes me take another look." -Steve McQueen |
#9
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He's into fishing?
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April 13, 2016 -- The day Richard was speechless. May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift. May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift. May your heart always be joyful, and may your song always be sung, May you stay forever young! --Bob Dylan |
#10
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That's just from some kid at the factory holding the crayon to check the runout.
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Tim Ancient '79 FXS w/ probably about the same HP as a tractor Equally ancient '79 Massey Ferguson 255 Somewhat dilapidated, yet functional, Kubota L2500 '20 Branson 3620 '18 Ram 3500 Diesel '02 Wrangler X, 4" lift on 33 x 12.50s Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 Felt Nine 50 Killin' more bees than Monsanto . . |
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