Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > BMW Tech
BMW Tech BMW Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to BMW riders only.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

25 years of HU Events


Destination ANYWHERE...
Adventure EVERYWHERE!



Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #2  
Old 25 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
K60

To be honest, the new "Made in Korea" TKC80s are more to the crap side.

Doing Central-America my TKC80 rear was worn in less than 6000km, front maybe did around 10 000. With their thin and soft walls they pick up punctures like there's no tomorrow and they're hard to repair since the ultra-soft walls don't put much counterpressure on the repair plug to keep it properly sealed for a longer term.

Heidenau K60 seems to be the best pick for boxer GS in tubeless if you want some worthy loose surface grip while wanting them to last on tar roads.

They come in smaller width though: 100/90 front and 140/80 rear but it's within R850/1100/1150/1200GS rim spec that allows +/-1 size width variation on Behr cross-spoke tubless rims. I know they got too popular so Heidenau has plans making them in the original 110/150 width sizes, not sure if they've started distributing them yet or not. Do your homework on this matter.

K60s are amazingly durable for a knobby type of a tire. I get around 25 - 30 000km out of front and 13 - 20 000km from rear depending on the "hard-handness" on the throttle grip. And that's 2-up with full gear!

Their walls is almost twice the thickness of TKC80, and considerably harder - hard as hell in fact. I've done over 100 000km on K60s, half on gravel roads and I've never picked up a puncture on a healthy K60 tire! I rode 2000km from Iran to the middle of Turkey on K60 basically on textile (no rubber left), and I still didn't get any puncture.

Cons: as on any knobby type of tire - you got to be more careful on the wet tarmac and steep curves. Also although the max speed is rated to 160km/h (100mph) it's only for single rider on a light bike. With full gear loaded bike I'd say maximum allowed speed is around 130-140km/h max, doing more than that all day will cause the rear tire to overheat and starting to crack (been there done that - I wrote to Heidenau about this, sent those shocking pictures and I heard they changed the K60 rubber mixture some time after that, but it didn't improved that much, so the max speed rating is still below for fully loaded bikes). So keep your speeds low crossing that fast European autbahn on the way to third-world where the speeds are low anyway.

Anyways, I maybe too biased towards the K60s (and currently crying, since I can't get them in Americas), but they are definately a type of tires to seriously consider for a typical African/Asian/Australian/South-American dirt&tar road fusion abusing under torquey R1xx0GSes that eats those other wannabe DualSport tires too well if you're hard on that throttle.

Ride safe, Margus

Last edited by Margus; 25 Jun 2009 at 21:19.
Reply With Quote
 


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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
95 BMW R1100GS died dareon BMW Tech 12 21 Dec 2009 16:00
R1100GS - Talk to me about it *Touring Ted* BMW Tech 17 19 Nov 2007 17:27
Footwear - what do you recommend? Alexlebrit Equipping the Overland Vehicle 6 16 Aug 2007 08:26
Can anyone recommend a 4x4 driving Course CornishDaddy Equipping the Overland Vehicle 7 29 Nov 2006 04:39
KTM 640 ADV R or BMW R1100GS G. Kennedy Which Bike? 4 4 Aug 2004 12:51

 
 

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

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
Ecuador June 13-15
Bulgaria Mini: June 27-29
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Aug 14-17
Romania: Aug 22-24
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
New York: October 9-12 NEW!
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

2026 Confirmed Dates:
(get your holidays booked!)

Virginia: April 23-26
Queensland: May 1-4
CanWest: July 9-12

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

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.

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 Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)

Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.


 

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!

Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books



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 00:49.