Tyres

[Tony177]

I'm going to be replacing the tyres on my XT600E soon.

Can anyone recomend the hardest wearing tyre for road use only. I have been using Trialwings and only get between 4500 and 5000 miles out of a rear tyre.

I am planning to ride off road and don't mind having to change the tyres before I do. Can anyone recomend the best tyres for wet muddy conditions

Thanks

Tony

[FredXTZ]

Hello Tony,

for road use only I would try something like Metzeler [the slickiest type], or maybe Michelin Anakee? The T66 lasts long on the road but is deadly on a wet street.
For wet muddy conditions I always use Michelin T63, which is also good in sand AND on road.

------------------
Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

[mbishop]

Tony

Also having an XT-E, I've had a similar experience with trailwings 4-5K max.

For road & non-muddy off roading (rocky trails etc) the Metzeler Enduro3 is better, the bad news is rear tyre life - 2000 miles! and it's bald

Offroad - (I do TRF runs most weekends) the Continental Twinduro is brill. Mine are rimlocked and can be run extremely low when muddy, but are also surprisingly good on the road and don't *seem* to wear at all. The Michelin T63's seem difficult to get hold of in the UK.


An excellent review site can be found at Klaus's main XT600.de site:
http://www.xt600.de/xt_reifenseiten/liste-unten.htm

Cheers
Bish

[Tony177]

Thanks for the replies.
Looks like the Anakee is the best for road use. Most of my riding so far has been on the road.

Bish
How do you get on with TRF runs. Their web sites say smaller bikes are more suitable. This has put me off going on TRF rides.


Thanks
Tony

[DAVSATO]

i contacted my local branch of TRF last year when i got my XT600E and the guy was helpful but did recommend a smaller, lighter bike that was more suited to the rough stuff, like a proper enduro 250/400. and decent road legal dirt tyres, too,not my worthy but not very moto-X like trailwings!

fair dos, i thought about it and hes right, how often would you like to have to pick up an XT?

before anyone harasses me about the XT being able to handle a bit of greenlaning, of course it is, but i got the impression the TRF is into it a bit more seriously than a bimble through the fields!

PS. if you dont believe me the MCN paper does a good off road guide every week, well worth a look if youre thinking about taking the plunge.

------------------
dave

[This message has been edited by DAVSATO (edited 24 April 2003).]

[This message has been edited by DAVSATO (edited 24 April 2003).]

[mbishop]

Tony et al

The XT-E greenlanes very well - much better than it's bulk would suggest! The key is to keep the power going on steep twisty climbs and conversely let engine braking take over on steep descents. I do trials on a Montesa Cota & I've managed to get the XT up/down all the greenlanes I've attempted in Cornwall & Devon - some are pretty severe.

My Recomendations for kitting out:

Bashplate - a heavy duty one as the XT is a bit low - David Lambeth does a brill CRD one.

Tyres - Conti Twinduro's or Mich T63's with Rimlocks & HD motocross tubes.

Gear Lever: Raise it on the spline & brakesnake it (mine's been bent double before).

Indicators/Mirrors: Ditch them or they will soon get 'removed' anyway.

Brakes: fit EBC 'race' sintered pads - the OE standard ones lasted me 1,000 miles! as the mud/grit chewed them up.

Carbs: Ensure that the breathers are moved up from their standard in-front of the swingarm position - the bike otherwise stalls once you hit 1ft + water.

Other than that, put Loctite on all nuts/bolts etc as the off-road judders loosen everything.
Being a tight Cornishman I haven't yet laid out for new sprockets, but once the OE ones are u/s I will drop the gearing a tad - a lower first gear would be better off road & wheelies easier to pull...

If anyone fancies a Devon or Cornwall greenlane sess one weekend, contact me & I'm sure I could sort something out - it's not as prolific as Derbyshire but it's just about the next best..

Cheers
Bish

[FredXTZ]

Hello Bish, I agree, but what is brakesnaking the gear lever?

------------------
Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

[mbishop]

Fred

A Brakesnake is a cable loop - Venhill make them (about GBP3) or you can knock them up with Mountain Bike brake cable. One end is fixed to something solid (I drilled a suitable hole in the bashplate for mine) and the cable looped through the gear lever (the flexing bit) with the loop terminated via a small cable terminator.

In theory it stops the gear lever being pulled out & backwards if the bike is dropped - or in my case, dug into a big rock step.

Cheers
Bish