GS and KTM pro's and con's?

[boboneleg]

I'm talking about Trail/Offroad tyres and as you've got a couple of KTM's obviously you'll know the sizes, but If I recall rightly, the 950 originally took a 140/80x18 inch and I think the 990 now takes a 150/70, but when the 950 first came out, the only tyre available was the Pirelli Scorpion, and that was only available in the necessary size in the countries where the bike was sold, hence the mate I was with had to have a new rear flown into Northern Canada and again in Australia, neither exactly third world but the bike wasn't then available there. Even now I think you'd have trouble in Asia or anywhere in Africa.

The 140/80 x17 for the Africa Twin isn't that common around the world either though a 130 will do fine, or alternatively, when I had my rear wheel rebuilt I went up a half inch on the rim size to allow a 150/70 to fit. Plenty of those to be found around the world thanks to the popularity of BMW's

The 950 ADV has always used a 150/70x18 and you can get Metzeler Karoo and TKC's in this size, I know as I have both. You can also use a 140 section Dunlop D980RR on the rim with no problems (done that as well) but the 950SE uses a 140 and you cannot put a 150 on it.

I've finished on this subject now as we are hi-jacking the guys thread, tyres cause more opinions than anything else I reckon apart from oil

[Magnum PI]

Having rode a 950 adv s when they first came out , brilll only thing to let it down is fuel consumption compaired to my 2000 @t on a bike tour round wales that a side the only bike that could have replaced the iconic xrv750 . Did not like the 990 compaired to the 950 though too snatchy ,

[piguglyshandydrinker]

thats the thing paul they can do it but theres nothing in reserve and you always have this nagging feeling your pushing it a bit to hard.

You might.

My Alp spent 30mins flat out on the Autobahn the other year on the way to Romania, revs sat at the redline, 109 mph (sat nav) trying to keep a TDM9, CBR6 & ZZR11 in sight (I failed....).

Fired up the next day - ran like a sowing machine

3 weeks earlier she was whisking us 2-up down to Greece, massively overloaded

After 60,000 nothing bar a couple of bulbs have failed, re-spoked rear wheel (too much weight going to Greece?) & she still runs sweet as a nut

Phil

[Chad]

You might.

My Alp spent 30mins flat out on the Autobahn the other year on the way to Romania, revs sat at the redline, 109 mph (sat nav) trying to keep a TDM9, CBR6 & ZZR11 in sight (I failed....).

Fired up the next day - ran like a sowing machine

3 weeks earlier she was whisking us 2-up down to Greece, massively overloaded

After 60,000 nothing bar a couple of bulbs have failed, re-spoked rear wheel (too much weight going to Greece?) & she still runs sweet as a nut

Phil

but you sir are almost as mechanicly unsympathetic as vader the bike only runs because its cacking itself that you might attack it with the mobile disk cutter