N Boer maak n plan ag Lekka Duel .

I am so glad I have never had to change a tyre whilst out and about. its hard enough doing it at home. I have also had to give in a couple of times with road tyres and nip down the local bike mechanic and even then he struggled.

never knew about knobblies being easier to change but it makes sense as I have only ever struggled with road tyres.

wearing gloves saves bust knuckles

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Ride On :tenere:Camel 2008XT660Z
harvey mushman did it in the dirt Uma 1994 TT250R

[quote=uberthumper;166764]TKCs... Mitas E-09's are cheaper, last longer and work just as well if not better off-road. Try a pair and tell me if you still feel an urge to try TKCs. . . /quote]

There is reason people keep banging on about TKC's and its the fact they perform for most of us. 70 to 90 percent on road and the remainder off. We would all like to do more off road but bar living in Scandanavia or Africa ts almost impossible. Yes Mitas make some great tyres and the E09 stand out but at the end off the daty you need something to grab the tarmac in both wet and dry conditions. The TKC will do that very well IMO.


We all want to be individual but when the swell of opinionm points in a certain direction . . .

Everyone is diferent and has thier own ideas. But don't be affraid to change.

Good luck.

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DickyC

Gun Metal Grey 2014 XT660Z
'Advice is sought by someone who knows the answer but doesn't like it'

'The adsence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously'

I've changed the Siracs without a problem, but you absolutely must ride around for a few mins with them just about flat. This will both break the bead and warm them up for removal. It may also wreck your inner tube (if it's not already had it) though..

If you have it, squirt some WD or liquid soap into the flat tyre rim to help it slip off..

As said before: practice, practice, practice, practice and practice some more!!

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No center stand needed


If you want a very easy tire take a Heidenau K60. The front you can almost change without tools.

********

The reason people bang on about TKCs are because they are the well known choice for a 50:50 knobbly (and were probably the only choice for many years), and frankly people are quite unimaginative sometimes.

Don't be afraid to change

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I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

I work in IT..... being afraid of change is how you survive.

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>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

But Pepsi, heat is your friend when it comes to fixing motorbike flats!

1. Tyre is softer, thus easier to remove and replace.
2. It doesn't hurt as much when you bang your knuckles/jam your fingers.
3. You drink more water, which flushes stale alcohol out onto the roadside.
4. The tube is more flexible, making it bit easier to shove in, so to speak.

Fixing a road-type-tyre flat on the Tenere rear is unpleasant with 'toolkit' levers due to that safety lip. I've only had one - but it was a blowout due to a rock fracturing the tyre in the middle of the tread. So I had to remove the tyre completely, patch it as best I could, then see to the tube.
I wobbled the last 300km to home freezing my arse off at 60km/h hoping the rough tyre repair worked, which it did. Physio tape over multiple tube patches: highly recommended.

So the old motto of use your toolkit in the garage when it comes to tyres is a good one, as everyone has said.

Btw, I carry a small backup hand pump sometimes, but usually only CO2 bottles and adapter. Saves a lot of time and effort.

At work, flats are frequent and annoying. I think I have four patches on my front h/d tube. Practice, practice, enforced practice!

What I can add to this discussion is this. MotionPro bead breaker levers are simply amazing and worth their weight in gold, both in the workshop and out on the trail. And K60 Scouts are a bit of a ****** to get on and off (rear), not helped by the mat black finish on many of the XT wheels. The hardest part by far has been getting them to seat correctly after figment.

Everyone worries about the removal or breaking the bead. I fitted a Pirelli Scrorpion MT90 at the back and could break the bead by using 2 long tyre levers against each other.
But seating the tyre was not accomplished at more than 5 bar. So I had to loosen it again and douse with soapy water before inflating again to almost 5 bar before it slipped over the last lip to seat. Doubt if my tyre pump or CO2 cartridges would have done that next to the road. So also lubricate well before seating !

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2014 XT660Z - Barrett pipe, DNA stage1.5, Barkbuster hand guards and handlebars, Pivot pegs, Teknik suspension, Guard-it engine protector combo, B&B rear rack, Trax topbox.