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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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



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  #1  
Old 7 Aug 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
What bike are you riding? No ones even asked.



He seemed happy with the responses: everyone kept it general. Sure he would have come back with a response on what he rides (and where) if he felt it's relevant.

Or maybe not everybody's looking for a tech-wiz and folders full of data
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Squily
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Old 26 Aug 2014
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Hi,

My bike is an Xt600e,
Coming from a road bike background I was a little concerned about these 50/50 dual sport tyres. They sound 50% crap lol. So I put some Conti Trail attack 2 tires on it for 90% road use and got some second hand wheels for off-road (Michelin T63). I figured I could just change the wheels over for when I can go green Lane or trail riding. As I could do with a new back tyre I was wondering weather it was worth getting a 130 instead of a 120. I would like to go Round The World but responsibilities dictate I generally just go Round The Wales

Thanks for all your help/advice.
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Old 27 Aug 2014
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The Conti's are great road tires, should be great on your XT. Good choice. Are you using your 18" rear wheel for the Conti's? Still running the 21" front wheel? 130 rear?

If you really want the BEST road set up on your XT, I would go with WIDE 17" wheels front and rear. Then you can run proper Sports bike tires and pretend your riding IOM.

The T63's are not 50/50 tires ... should be quite good off road. In very deep mud you may want something even more aggressive. But generally very good, IMO, and even pretty good on dry roads, not so much on WET roads.

50/50 is something like a Kenda 270, Shinko 244, Heidenau K60 Scout, Bridgestone Trail Wing, Mefo and Mitas and many others. 50/50 tires can be quite good both ON and Off road. Good on easy dirt and gravel roads and mild trails too. NOT good in Mud. My Shinko 244 rear and T63 front works well for just about everything.

50/50's are great for travel due to how versatile they are and long lasting too.

For rain riding on pavement try Avon Distanzia, Michelin Anakee or Metzeler Tourance. You can get them in either 17" or 18" rear, 21" front. Great road tires on wet roads, IMO and a bit longer lasting than your Conti's.

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Old 27 Aug 2014
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I have an 03 XT600E, is it just a straight swap between the 17" and 18" wheels or do you have to do more mods and is it easy enough to do??

Wayne
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Old 27 Aug 2014
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Originally Posted by Lonerider View Post
I have an 03 XT600E, is it just a straight swap between the 17" and 18" wheels or do you have to do more mods and is it easy enough to do??

Wayne
The wheel came off an older bike, 3AJ I think, It's alloy rim and came with a 40 tooth sprocket.. not good with the stock 15t front sprocket! I popped on a 46T from J&S

The only other thing you might consider;; if you are struggling to put a foot down with a 17" wheel it will be even higher with an 18", but it will help a bit by getting an 80/18 instead of a 90/18 Tyre.

Other than that it just goes on OK.
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Old 27 Aug 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Are you using your 18" rear wheel for the Conti's? Still running the 21" front wheel? 130 rear?
Cont's are on the Stock steel wheels 120/90/21 front, 120/90/17 Rear.
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Old 27 Aug 2014
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post


He seemed happy with the responses: everyone kept it general. Sure he would have come back with a response on what he rides (and where) if he felt it's relevant.

Or maybe not everybody's looking for a tech-wiz and folders full of data

seemed a sensible question to me...
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