Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Yamaha Tech
Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30 May 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 126
Tyre help please XT600E

Hi Guys

The tyres I have on my 2002 XT600E are in need of replacement, first time for me on the XT.

The tyres I have on there are marked around the rim as follows

Front
Bridgestone Trail Wing -47
T8901
90/90 - 21
54S

Rear
Bridgestone Trail Wing - 48
T9001
120/90 - 17 M/C
64S

The questions I have are

Are my current tyres tubed or tubeless?
Do I have to replace like for like (tubed or tubeless) for my standard wheels and which is better?
I'm looking at the Continental TKC80, is this a good tyre for the XT?

The bike does on and off road in equal measure, and living in the rainy UK, off road can get wet and muddy.

All comments appreciated,

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30 May 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1,417
the xt run with tubes, you can use tubeless tires, but will need to use your're tube still.

Tkc80's gets a lot of nice words from every part on the internet. Havent tried'em myself tho'
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 30 May 2010
bacardi23's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: XXX<-Portugal->Azores->Santa Maria (island)
Posts: 1,544
I'm getting these!


I can get them for 148,20 € shipping included to my island in Portugal!

You can read more of the best tires that were test driven for a bike magazine called MOTORRAD.
Here is the link of the MOTORRAD one of the latest issues: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...twinner_en.pdf

Vando
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31 May 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 71
Guess its dependant on what off road you do. Boggy narly lanes to gravelly roads. If you a plugging in mud on trailwings you will know they dont inspire confidence and TKCs are better but still not overly great, although a really good tyre. A TKC rear with a more knobbly front will work wonders like an AC10 or MT21. But if your happy with a Total TKC style then give consideration to Mitas E07 I have one on the rear of my road wheels for my XR and surprised how much grip it gives. Trellesport sell them
Trellesport - Enduro Competiton MotorcycleTyres, Army Special Tyre

Last edited by Wide Phil; 31 May 2010 at 08:51. Reason: forgot the link
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31 May 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Bridgend, UK
Posts: 33
I took the BT45s off mine and fitted TKC80s front and rear. Found them to be great on all surfaces but I'm no expert in the mud. What I wanted to do with them they did well, just slightly noisier on the tarmac.

Bike was stolen last week and I'm still sulking about it. When I get my next one I'm fitting the same again.

Regards - Alastair.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31 May 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: sunny England
Posts: 790
bin the trailwings, they came on my XT and they are the worst tyres ive ever had on a bike. the newer "battlewings" my varadero came with were a little better but not by very much. they are also more expensve than some better tyres so dont bother.

ive got conti trail attacks on the varadero now, excellent, although i dont go offroad so i shouldve saved £20 getting ordinary road attacks, same tyre different tread pattern.
the XT has been supermoto'd with 17" wheels and dunlop sports tyres so its irrelevent whats on there now.
__________________
dave
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 31 May 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,656
TKC80s are great offroad but I find them scary in the wet on tarmac on anybike.

Metzeler Sahara 3 and Heindenau (spelling?) K60's are a little more road orientated but still work well in the rough stuff.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 8 Jun 2010
kentfallen's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bexhill, East Sussex, England, UK
Posts: 673
I fitted Michelin SIRAC's to both my XT6's. Well happy with the result. They are 70% tarmac 30% light trails.
__________________
Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 3 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Forest UK
Posts: 17
Conti Trail Attacks

Looks like I may have made the right choice by default. Was gonna order Avon Gripsters but they didn't have the rear tyre for my XT600E, so the Conti's seemed ok and they were relatively cheap. Bought from http://moto-tyres.co.uk/ for £99.30 the pair including Vat and shipping. Thanks for posting that report, it's not often I get it right!

================================================== =======

I'm getting these!


I can get them for 148,20 € shipping included to my island in Portugal!

You can read more of the best tires that were test driven for a bike magazine called MOTORRAD.
Here is the link of the MOTORRAD one of the latest issues: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...twinner_en.pdf

Vando [/quote]
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 4 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 168
I have the TKC 80 front and rear on my xt, very happy with them. Havent noticed anything yet on wet tarmac but I usually dont go over 80-90km/h on tarmac.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 4 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Forest UK
Posts: 17
Bergspre - TKC 80

Hi Berg,

Actually they are the tyres on my bike at the moment which I'm swapping over to Trail Attacks. Maybe it's me or maybe there is another problem with my bike? I find them very noisy on tarmac and they wallow a bit on the bends. Very good on the dirt though, but I'm not doing much of that at the moment.

They're going into store until I go down to Morocco next year.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 5 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: christchurch newzealand
Posts: 384
I use mitas e-07 and find them great on trail and road...
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 5 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Manchester UK
Posts: 235
Quote:
Originally Posted by ticker64 View Post
Hi Berg,

Actually they are the tyres on my bike at the moment which I'm swapping over to Trail Attacks. Maybe it's me or maybe there is another problem with my bike? I find them very noisy on tarmac and they wallow a bit on the bends. Very good on the dirt though, but I'm not doing much of that at the moment.

They're going into store until I go down to Morocco next year.

Tyre pressure. I found them to be very squirrely at first. Wasnt too happy. Tyre garage pumped them to 40 psi while I protested this was way over the manufacturers recommendations. They were right tho.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 5 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Forest UK
Posts: 17
Conti Trail Attacks Bruken

Quote:
Originally Posted by bruken View Post
Tyre pressure. I found them to be very squirrely at first. Wasnt too happy. Tyre garage pumped them to 40 psi while I protested this was way over the manufacturers recommendations. They were right tho.
You're absolutely right Bruken, though mine were more hedgehog than squirrely After I posted, I went down and checked my tyre pressures and they were a bit low so I pumped them up to the maximum they recommend for 2 up and they are vastly improved. Still a bit noisy but acceptable. As I've now bought these new tyres, even though the twinduros look new, (not long had the bike) I'm gonna fit them just to see the difference. Anyways, I guess the Twinduros would wear out pretty quick on the tarmac, eh?
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 17 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Forest UK
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by ticker64 View Post
Looks like I may have made the right choice by default. Was gonna order Avon Gripsters but they didn't have the rear tyre for my XT600E, so the Conti's seemed ok and they were relatively cheap. Bought from http://moto-tyres.co.uk/ for £99.30 the pair including Vat and shipping. Thanks for posting that report, it's not often I get it right!

================================================== =======

I'm getting these!


I can get them for 148,20 € shipping included to my island in Portugal!

You can read more of the best tires that were test driven for a bike magazine called MOTORRAD.
Here is the link of the MOTORRAD one of the latest issues: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...twinner_en.pdf

Vando
[/quote]


Vando, I got the same tyres as you and after they were fitted I noticed the tread patterns seemed to be going in the opposite direction to each other. The arrows are pointing in the direction of forward rotation, so that's ok. Is this normal? Doesn't seem to make logical sense. Perhaps you or someone can enlighten me? Thanks in advance.

nb. In your photograph it shows both patterns pointing the same way.
What do they look like on your bike?
Reply With Quote
Reply


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

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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Tyre sizes - XT600E ok with a 140 rear ? *Touring Ted* Yamaha Tech 10 22 Mar 2020 20:48
Which tyre sizes and rims - XT600E Motard martinovo Yamaha Tech 6 27 Dec 2014 19:22
XT600E what road tyre? Kennichi Yamaha Tech 10 7 Apr 2009 18:14
Tyre fitting - XT600E Big K Yamaha Tech 11 9 Jun 2008 22:30
Recommended tyre pressures on an XT600E loolah Yamaha Tech 4 10 Feb 2008 22:09

 
 

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 14:40.