You can do it ... the two Norwegians on X-Challenges I rode with last year did the western BAM and then Old Summer Road on Mefo Super Explorers (basically same tyre).

Obviously a more aggressive tyre is considerably more confidence inspiring, and I would always prefer a long lasting full knobbly for that part of the world.

Michelin Desert, or else Mitas E09 Dakar if you're on a budget.

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Colebatch, do the Michelin Desert or Mitas last 5000km? They don't wear out too fast on the road?

I was a little bit concerned about having the repair a flat tire with a rear desert, they are so hard, I am not sure I can manage to dismount the tire by myself.

Colbatch, I red that you tired mousse on the Eastern BAM and they didn't last the whole trip. What do you think about other alternatives like T-lock systems or Tubliss?

I get about 6000 km out of Michelin Deserts (riding a 650cc bike aggressively off road) so you should too - just dont ride on the highways too much. The Desert front in particular is a bit squidgy on asphalt when it is new. You can fit them in Irkutsk, or do what I did last year and pick tyres up in Irkutsk and fit them in Zhigalovo, after the asphalt has ended.

I would reckon you will get 8000 out of an E-09 Dakar.

Both are very stiff rear. The Desert has 5 or 4 ply construction (depending if you go for the older (5 ply) classic model or the newer slightly softer "Desert Race" model designed for the modern 450cc Dakar bikes (4 ply). I tried both last year on legs of 6000 km each, and both lasted the distance. The Mitas is 4 ply (Make sure you get the Dakar model, with the yellow stripe) also. (standard E-09 is only 3 ply and too soft). That makes it very stiff and tough as well, but slightly harder to fit / repair flats. Dont let that put you off tho. You dont want to be fixing flat tyres daily on the BAM. Get a stiff tyre.

For what its worth, in 4 trips across Eurasia on them, I have never had to repair a flat on a Desert rear. Because they have never got one. Thats the upside to tough stiff tyres.

As for tubliss or t-lock, never tried them. The 950 that did the BAM this year I believe was using tubliss, but seemed to have to stop a hell of a lot to pump it up. Not sure its worth it. I never had a flat on the BAM just by using good tyres and not deflating too much. I run about 1.6-1.7 bar there. Any less and you do start to increase flat tyre risk

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Myself and a friend did Magadan, OSR, western BAM, then down to Ulan Bator and across Mongolia running Michelin Deserts on 690's.
They were new on at Magadan and lasted until Barnaul (bit bald by then), excellent tyres with 4mm tubes, only had one front flat with them.
We did have good weather so lasted really well, i'd recommend them.

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Mark
www.bamriders.com

Yeah I reckon thats probably getting close to 9000 km ... about 3000 past what I would recommend ... no wonder a bit bald by then.

Still... you dont need that much traction in Mongolia.

Zimi, you can certainly get more KM out of them as Harry has pointed out, if you run them with low tread ... I have just suggested mileage for them with still good healthy tread for offroading

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Good guess 9181kms!
Mongolia was no problem on the bald tyres, although I did fall over twice in the last river crossing on the northern route near the Tsaangur border crossing.
I blamed it on the blad tyres and not my lack of riding skills!
But they were great tyres, will be using them again.

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Mark
www.bamriders.com

I'm going to do this trip in 2015 now..... I was really being optimistic thinking I could save enough money before April. If the BAM has to be ridden in July, leaving any later would be rushing. And I hate to rush...

When I travel, I like to have the money to actually enjoy myself instead of penny pinching every single day.

I think I'll do a trip around eastern Europe in 2014 and test out my rebuilt bike...


I'll still be following this thread with great enthusiasm and gathering intersest for 2015

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

well you see ... I've done this before

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I'd substitute "considerably more confidence inspiring" with "mandatory" if the weather turns bad.

This year, as we know, there was big water/mud. You "can" do anything, with enough time and friends to drag you out of holes (assuming your clutch holds:confused1. I really wouldn't want to ride a road biased tyre like a k60 on what I did this summer.

As we've seen with Ladas overtaking 950 ktms and Transalps failing, in bad weather, only a light bike with good suspension/tyres will make it without it becoming an epic.

IMHO: Avoid Pirelli mt21: They wear far far too fast. Go for the Desert.

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