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TA XL650V best off road tyres? Pamir Hwy/Mongolia TA XL650V best off road tyres? Pamir Hwy/Mongolia
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It's going to be a long 300km...
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  #1  
Old 24 Feb 2014
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TA XL650V best off road tyres? Pamir Hwy/Mongolia
Hi all.

Looking for some tyres for a 2001 XL650V for the Pamir Hwy and Mongolia in June/July this year. Riding one up.

This will be my first bike of this type having always had Enduro/MX or sports bikes so my knowledge of these tyres is pretty minimal.

The bike currently has 130/80 17 and 90/90 21 Metz Tourances which look like they would be rubbish in the dirt. So the plan is to ride to Uzbekistan on the Tourances before switching just before hitting the Pamir Hwy.

I am almost set on Mitas E-07 and I am contemplating going to a 140/80 rear?

Love to hear some feedback. :confused1:

Cheers,

Tom
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Old 24 Feb 2014
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The Mitas E07 is a good allrounder, but not very good in the mud or slippery conditions. As for 130 vs 140- I found the 130 actually lasted longer, as it has a center ridge line which is missing on the wider tire. See picture below- fitted tire vs unfitted tire.





IMO: I prefer Michelin T63 in a 130. They won't last as long as an E07 on bitumen, but they're cheaper and two for the same price as one can go a long way. And they're much better in the rough.
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Old 24 Feb 2014
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Last year in Pamir on my Dominator I used Heidenau K60 Scout in the front and Mitas E09 on the rear.

They were great, we were two up...
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Old 25 Feb 2014
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Thanks for the feedback guys.

Both the E09 and T63 look like full knobby tyres, I can't imagine they last long on the bitumen? They must be a bit scarey on a wet road?
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Old 25 Feb 2014
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I used 1 set of Continental TKC80 on my XL700V Transalp from Blagovechensk to St Petersburgh via Mongolia, the Pamirs and Stans, no problems,good on the dirt as well as tar
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Old 25 Feb 2014
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The E09 are not as bad as durability.
My rear is not over yet after 7000 km.
I read about people who have passed 10000 km without problems.

On a trip like the one you're planning you need to compromise.

Personally I prefer having to be more careful on wet asphalt but having tyres suitable for the most difficult passages, than the other way.

If it rained the previous days, even the Kyzyl Art Pass can be very difficult with the wrong tyres...
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Old 25 Feb 2014
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I'm asking the same question elsewhere for my Black sea trip , i've had and really like TKC80s , tried EO9, EO7 but looking for another that can match the longevity of the TKCs
Phil
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Old 25 Feb 2014
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I think that the Mitas E07 is the best option because the price is much lower than the other brands...For durability the mitas have prove from other travellers that they last long especially for light bikes as the DRs or the XTs....Mitas is my choice for my trip also!

The only thing that i dont know is how much vibrates on road!!
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Last edited by zandesiro; 28 Feb 2014 at 06:42.
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Old 27 Feb 2014
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Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Does anyone know a tyre supplier in Bulgaria or Turkey? I know Bora does deliveries but I'm not sure where I will be staying and I won't be passing through that part of Turkey.

Motosapiens in Bulgaria can get heidenau but not Mitas...which is my preference.
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Old 28 Feb 2014
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Daze- You could telephone/email Bora and ask him if he would be willing to use the UTTDS (Unofficial Turkish Transport Delivery system) aka buses ! to send your tyres to a particular place in Turkey.
It's quick- reliable and a few $'s for the driver does the job.

Still, if coming from Greece, it would be a simple little detour to go via Ipsala, Kesan then turn Sth to Gallipoli - hop on ferry to Cardak then East about 130Kms to Bora and it saves having going through Istanbul.
If you are heading East, there is little in it and you keep going via Bursa.
IMHO the better route if needing to get tyres from Bora- you get them fitted and balanced properly and it removes the uncertainty of 'have they arrived/where are my tyres?' bit! and you get to meet a nice man too!

(or if coming from Bulgaria, then I'd go Edirne- Havsa- Kesan etc.)
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Old 28 Feb 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Squily View Post
I found the 130 actually lasted longer, as it has a center ridge line which is missing on the wider tire.
Squilly- this is odd- I wonder which model you have? Here is a view of my 140 rear (Heidenaus K60's) with the reinforced center. (The moto was having a lie down as the thin air was getting to her!):
Last edited by Bertrand; 2 Mar 2016 at 16:16.
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Old 28 Feb 2014
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Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Squilly- this is odd- I wonder which model you have? Here is a view of my 140 rear (Heidenaus K60's) with the reinforced center. (The moto was having a lie down as the thin air was getting to her!):
Not Heidenhau- Mitas E07 as in the photograph- Look at the one on the left vs the one on the bike and see how the center-ridge differs.

I can't comment on Heidenhau- never used them before.
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Old 28 Feb 2014
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Sorry Squily I misread your post
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Old 1 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Daze- You could telephone/email Bora and ask him if he would be willing to use the UTTDS (Unofficial Turkish Transport Delivery system) aka buses ! to send your tyres to a particular place in Turkey.
It's quick- reliable and a few $'s for the driver does the job.

Still, if coming from Greece, it would be a simple little detour to go via Ipsala, Kesan then turn Sth to Gallipoli - hop on ferry to Cardak then East about 130Kms to Bora and it saves having going through Istanbul.
If you are heading East, there is little in it and you keep going via Bursa.
IMHO the better route if needing to get tyres from Bora- you get them fitted and balanced properly and it removes the uncertainty of 'have they arrived/where are my tyres?' bit! and you get to meet a nice man too!

(or if coming from Bulgaria, then I'd go Edirne- Havsa- Kesan etc.)
Thanks Bertrand, unfortunately Istanbul has been nominated as the meeting place for 4-5 of us that are all travelling on to Iran and the stans so I have no option but to go that way.

I think I will most likely get the K60's at Motosapiens in Bulgaria and get them fitted there, I just don't like the new tread pattern with the solid centre rather than blocks across the width of the tyre. I can't see how they would get the same traction.
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Old 1 Mar 2014
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There is Greek store that sell Mitas is in Thessaloniki....The motocamp is 600 kilometers away....Bulgaria is E.U. now so you can send them to motocamp without costum problems...
I dont know how much is th cost to send them in the motocamp you have to talk to them...

Here is a link MItas.

Hope to help!
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