Hi all,
just thought I'd drop a line in to say I've bought some of the above having had a chat with Uncle Ricky regarding the Army Specials and Glyn at Trelleborg (went with Glyn's advice after all Rick!) Anyway, thanks to both for their time explaining the differences between the two options.

The plan is to fit the tyres and then give them a bloody good hiding all the way to Italy and back for a week starting 17 July, doing as many trails as my old bones can stand. No doubt, there will be photos to follow and hopefully a bit of a report on how they faired.

......mind you it won't be particulalrly technical!

cheers
Lairyboy

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They look similar to the to
the Tkc tyres
Don't forget the toll charge on the autostrad is the same has a car

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Mods, Oxford heated grips, Givi Rack and top box, Stage 2 DNA filter and top, 02 sensor eliminator, Metal Mule taller screen, Seat hump trimmed off, .KEVS FUEL MOD (THE 1ST ONE FOR THE TENERE) , Extra fuse box, 12volt plug in socket, Zumo550 sat nav, , Barkbusters


What Bill Clinton REALLY said to Monica Lewinsky was: "Sack my cook"

Sadly Bike now sold 11/6/11

Yeah that's what I thought but apparently the TKCs are 50/50 whereas Glyn reckons the Mitas are more like 80/20 off/on road....... he's seen them in use at the BMW Off Road school in Wales on the heavier GS800's and thoroughly recommended them...........I'll give them a go and see what happens!

As for toll roads.......we ain't doing any of them, I know they get you where you want to be quickly but I'd die of boredom.......D roads in France absolutely rock....no idea what they are in Italy but we'll find em'

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Just out of intrest why were the E09's recommended over the army specials?

I think it wasn't anything in particular, although Glyn at trelleborg may be able to expand on the reasons. He was so impressed with the Mitas on the GS800s that I thought I'd give them a go.

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well ther are two of us going to morocco in sept on the 09`s so i think we`ll be letting you all know if they do the distance aswell

I wouldn't say the TKC80 is a 50/50 tire; more a 80/20 on/off-road tire. In mud they wont get you anywhere. On the road they hold out fine in the twisties: good enough to touch tarmac with the footpegs.

I currently run Metzeler Karoo's of which I would say they are 50/50 indeed. On tarmac they offer enough grip but are unstable (especially the rear) at speed and at lean angle. Knowing that I do most of my riding on tarmac during commuting with an occasional unpaved road, they now have to come off after less then 1000kms and I'll go back to Metzeler Enduro 3. Had those before and they offer great grip and stability under all circumstances. Compared to the TKC's a bit better on road and a bit less off-road. The rear won't last much longer then 6000kms though.

HJ

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Yeah, I aggree about TKCs not being great in mud but to be honest I've found them to be fine in all other circumstances which is maybe more of a reflection on my style of riding!

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Right then,
just got back from my little trip (over 2k miles) from Cheshire, through France and onto Mount Jafferau in Italy (close to Salbertrand, down Turin way). Did just about every road you can think of and every trail we could squeeze in, including the 'assult' on Mount Jafferau.

There's no other way to put this but......THE TYRES WERE 'KIN SUPERB.

Once they were worn in (about 100 miles) they gripped in corners with me and the bike lent over chasing my mates on their KTM 690s and GS800's without any dramas and once off road, coped with dry fast, stony tracks, wet ones with mud and stony/rocky ascents/decents on the mountain tracks.

Even blasted all the way from Dover to Cheshire on motorways to get home and they still have plenty of life left in them.

Buy some, you'll love 'em!!

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I shall be watching with interest, although your findings will come a bit too late for me!

I've got a pair on at the moment as a 'tester' to see if they are viable for a 2500 mile trip to the HUMM and back (leaving on the 23rd). I've done about 1200 miles so far, and there's still plenty of tread left for off-roading, so I know they'll at least get me there and through the event, just need to see now if they'll get me home legally . Should do - I need to measure the tread depth, but there's more than half of the original 12mm left.

Pretty similar trip/distances to you, so I expect you'll be fine.