Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > KTM Tech
KTM Tech KTM Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to KTM riders only.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12 Feb 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 349
Tyre time!!!!

Sorry to drag this old one up again but its time for new tyres!

I'm happy to select the off road tyre for the job (i.e. I've got shit loads of part worn nobblies clogging up my garage), but this year I think it'll mainly be road miles (and I keep leaving all my part worn road tyres at trail heads all over the world, so I've no idea what most of them were!) .

Any ideas or thoughts for an '03 640 adventure?


Dave

(C'mon Ian you know you've got a list on your wall...)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 13 Feb 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
My favourite allround tyre for my LC4 is the Continental Twinduro. I've found these hardwearing, good on sealed roads and adequate on tracks of varying difficulty.

FWIW I've also fitted some very heavy duty Michelin inner tubes. These I bought from Edmondson Racing in Staffordshire (great service).

Cheers.


[This message has been edited by Ian (edited 13 February 2006).]
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14 Feb 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 349
Cheers Ian,

I knew you'd come up with the goods, I'll be buying next week for a quick trip to the pyrenees in May, talking of which I feel another post coming on..

once again, CHEERS!!

Dave

Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14 Feb 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
We were in the Pyrenees last July.

I fitted MT21s.

They worked fine on the tracks but the tracks were mainly rocky and dry (at the time), and on top of that there was a lot of roadwork involved riding there and back. The end result was that they were badly worn after around 2000 miles.

If I did the same again (in the 'dry' season)I'd fit Conti Twinduros.

For the trip we used a roadbook from http://perso.wanadoo.fr/vibraction/index.htm

Well worth it IMHO - great trails.

I no longer have the roadbook.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 14 Feb 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the netherlands
Posts: 266
Just spend 2 weeks in Marocco early januari, for serious offroad gotta go with a set of Michelin Baja's!

They hold really well in sand/rocky terrain, another favorite would the mich desert but just too expensive i reckon.


Some Maroc pics here http://www.ktm-adventure.nl/maroc06/




[This message has been edited by gozell (edited 14 February 2006).]
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 15 Feb 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 349
Ian,

Great news, you just answered my post on another thread! What kind of standard were the tracks? I'm heading down there with a mate on a dommie and a loaded KTM. I'm not up for anything too drastic. Trails are good, true off roading is bad!!

What cost were the roadbooks? and how many Kms did they have on them. I had a quick look at the website, but my french isnt too hot!

Cheers,

Dave

Just Babel fished the site and it looks excellent. I think I might move over there permenently!!! Just one thing. The route descriptions give a percentage of 'authorized tracks'. Whats all that about?

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 14 February 2006).]
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 15 Feb 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
Hi,

The tracks were all passable in a 4x4.

They were straightforward, generally wide, often rocky, with just a few mildly difficult bits. Varying gradients. Great scenery.

No major effort was required i.e. no need to dismount and push. This was with a light luggage load.

We were one 640LC4-E, one 640Adv and one BMW R1150GS. The BMW rider dropped out after a few days (can't remember why - little or no off-tarmac experience? The need to conserve the bike for his onward trip to Africa?) after a heroic effort.

The route was more or less from the Med to the Atlantic sides, with just the first few kms in France, the rest in Spain.

I'd allow some time to do the whole lot - we got as far as the Andorra region in 4 or 5 days but then we weren't rushing.

Bad part was a mad rush to catch the ferry home from Roscoff. If I did the trip again, I'd arrive and depart mainland Europe from one of the ports in northern Spain.

If you ride from say, Santander, to the Med to start the trail ride, the sealed road on the French side (not the motorway) is a great ride in itself.

I recall the cost of the roadbook was around 70 to 80 Euros. Well worth it IMHO. It came in a book which we cut up into a rollchart. You'll need some sort of holder for it (I have an RB-TT) and an accurate tripmeter that reads in km. There were also GPS points in the roadbook that were helpful when we got lost. I also found using the roadbook took some familiarisation (despite having used other ones, but in a different format, in the past).

You can find some pics of the trip on Geoff van de Merwe's website.

Cheers,

Ian.

PS Perhaps this reply belongs in the route planning or Europe forums.

[This message has been edited by Ian (edited 15 February 2006).]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 15 Feb 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 349
One final question...

Which route did you do?

Oh Yes, Sorry about the topic changes... I seem to have led it all a bit off track....

Dave
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 16 Feb 2006
Ian Ian is offline
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 443
I think it was the 'Traverse' (number 5) in Vibraction's list. But we didn't have time to do it all. The tracks, whilst wide were often twisty, not like some long straight desert piste.

Cheers.

[This message has been edited by Ian (edited 15 February 2006).]
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 21 Feb 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: bizovac, croatia
Posts: 240
Quote:
Originally posted by davidlomax:
Sorry to drag this old one up again but its time for new tyres!
Any ideas or thoughts for an '03 640 adventure?
Michelin T63, fantastic on asphalt, very good on all sorts of terrains, faster wearing than TKC 80 but better grip on wet and slipery road.
Regards,
AnteK

__________________
AnteK
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:36.