Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
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Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Same as the title. I want to know what front tire you run, what you typically run on for terrain, and what you like about it. After some scary incidents tonight in mud, snow/ice, and wet pack sand I'm looking for something that will provide more directional stability offroad than the 603. I do ride alot on road as well so a long(ish) wearing tire is important too. Presently I have a Cheng Shin C858 50/50 tire on the rear and that has great traction, the front washes out too easily for my liking.
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
603 front, no probs but I will never have snow or ice to play with. Edit playing in mud ... need better tyre
Kenda K772 Carlsbad on the back, I like it seems a bit loose till you dial in the power then it grips
Dunlop Arrowmax GT 401 road tyres on 17" D-Tracker rims for on road play
Kenda K772 Carlsbad on the back, I like it seems a bit loose till you dial in the power then it grips
Dunlop Arrowmax GT 401 road tyres on 17" D-Tracker rims for on road play
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Still running the original front 603 at 4400 miles and it still looks 50% Not sure why. And I'm running the 606 on the back. Changed at 1925 miles. I'm heading to the Brand new Kenda K270 set I have at work, but I can assure you I will be going to 606 tires after that as long as they keep making them.
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Deej,
What tire pressures are you running? What speeds do you ride on the road? How much was off-road vs. on-road. I'm just a little past 2000 miles and my rear tire is almost down to the wear indiators. I have some new Kenda 270's waiting to go on. I ride mostly around town or with a passenger. Most of my miles are speeds above 50mph on gravle and paved roads.less than50miles or are true off-roading.
Back on topic... I generally match my tires. I've had instances in the past on sportbikes where I had a different rear and front tire heated up at different rates and nearly highsided the bike on the racetrack fighting a rear that was sliding all over the place for the first 3 or 4 laps. That being said... I think having a more aggressive rar on this type of bike isn't a bad idea... but yes, the stock 603's are not a great tire off-road. They actually seem to grip pretty well on-road which is probably why kawasaki chose it. Their lawyers are more concerned about on-road mishaps than off-road problems.
What tire pressures are you running? What speeds do you ride on the road? How much was off-road vs. on-road. I'm just a little past 2000 miles and my rear tire is almost down to the wear indiators. I have some new Kenda 270's waiting to go on. I ride mostly around town or with a passenger. Most of my miles are speeds above 50mph on gravle and paved roads.less than50miles or are true off-roading.
Back on topic... I generally match my tires. I've had instances in the past on sportbikes where I had a different rear and front tire heated up at different rates and nearly highsided the bike on the racetrack fighting a rear that was sliding all over the place for the first 3 or 4 laps. That being said... I think having a more aggressive rar on this type of bike isn't a bad idea... but yes, the stock 603's are not a great tire off-road. They actually seem to grip pretty well on-road which is probably why kawasaki chose it. Their lawyers are more concerned about on-road mishaps than off-road problems.
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
ORIGINAL: motoguy128
Deej,
What tire pressures are you running? What speeds do you ride on the road? How much was off-road vs. on-road. I'm just a little past 2000 miles and my rear tire is almost down to the wear indiators. I have some new Kenda 270's waiting to go on. I ride mostly around town or with a passenger. Most of my miles are speeds above 50mph on gravle and paved roads.less than50miles or are true off-roading.
Back on topic... I generally match my tires. I've had instances in the past on sportbikes where I had a different rear and front tire heated up at different rates and nearly highsided the bike on the racetrack fighting a rear that was sliding all over the place for the first 3 or 4 laps. That being said... I think having a more aggressive rar on this type of bike isn't a bad idea... but yes, the stock 603's are not a great tire off-road. They actually seem to grip pretty well on-road which is probably why kawasaki chose it. Their lawyers are more concerned about on-road mishaps than off-road problems.
Deej,
What tire pressures are you running? What speeds do you ride on the road? How much was off-road vs. on-road. I'm just a little past 2000 miles and my rear tire is almost down to the wear indiators. I have some new Kenda 270's waiting to go on. I ride mostly around town or with a passenger. Most of my miles are speeds above 50mph on gravle and paved roads.less than50miles or are true off-roading.
Back on topic... I generally match my tires. I've had instances in the past on sportbikes where I had a different rear and front tire heated up at different rates and nearly highsided the bike on the racetrack fighting a rear that was sliding all over the place for the first 3 or 4 laps. That being said... I think having a more aggressive rar on this type of bike isn't a bad idea... but yes, the stock 603's are not a great tire off-road. They actually seem to grip pretty well on-road which is probably why kawasaki chose it. Their lawyers are more concerned about on-road mishaps than off-road problems.
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Gonna be running the Kenda Trakmasters as soon as they aredelivered.
Need something more aggresiveover thestock rubber and have read some good off road reviews about the trakmasters. I ride street only to get to the dirt.
Dave
Need something more aggresiveover thestock rubber and have read some good off road reviews about the trakmasters. I ride street only to get to the dirt.
Dave
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Has anyone tried Michelin AC10's i fitted a pair last week they are a "full on" enduro tyre and about as close to a Motocross tyre for the road that you can buy. First impressions are really good, i have been chucking the bike into bends on the road at speeds i wouldn't dare on motocross tyres and they hang on really well with no noticeable tyre walk that you get with motocross tyres. On the mud and slop we have here in England at the moment (it always rains here 
) they are great, no front end weave and bags of rear end traction. A reasonable price here in the UK £72 for a pair which is about $140 at the current exchange rate (i think) if you spend a lot of time on and off road i would highly recommend a set, they are DOT marked and road legal here in the UK but i'm not sure about the rules in the US. I'll let you know how they wear.
Simon L
) they are great, no front end weave and bags of rear end traction. A reasonable price here in the UK £72 for a pair which is about $140 at the current exchange rate (i think) if you spend a lot of time on and off road i would highly recommend a set, they are DOT marked and road legal here in the UK but i'm not sure about the rules in the US. I'll let you know how they wear.Simon L
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
Thestock fronttire sucks off road. The stock tire always wanted to wash out on me. Here is an pic of the tire when I put it on last summer.
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RE: Who Runs What Front Tire, and Why?
FWIW, I'm running an Excella OF-219. I'd say it's about an 80% dirt tire. I'm running it with the same CS C858 that you have on the rear and I think it's a great combo. Sticks much better in the dirt, by far. Streets another matter. Until the 'glaze' wore off the tire, it felt like it was going to wash out on the pavement even during a gentle turn. After a 100 miles or so that feeling went away. I still take it easy on the street with it compared to the stock tire. I'm running around 20psi in front and back since I don't have rim locks and don't want to take a chance of them spinning.