TKC80 on a vara

[Boris]

I see from another thread that Africajim has fitted TKC80s on his trusty steed. Jim being a bit quick on the road will no doubt have given them a good test so what are they like Jim?

[richie]

I tried them on a 800GS a couple of weeks ago, I was not hanging around and they were fantastic. The 800 is a lighter bike but probably as fast as the vara in any circumstance except mototways...

[Warthog]

Are they at the right speed rating for these bikes?

I seem to recall that there was a hoo-haa about them being OEM on 1150 GS ADVs because they were not speed rated for the GS top speed (not that one would dream of speeding, naturally).

Didn't stop me fitting them: they are a very good tyre. Shame they don't last that long!

[Rubberchicken]

I've got them on the GS now. Always had them on the NX, too. But I have to say the extra 50 kg on the GS is noticeable, and not in a good way. Solo it's ok, but especially 2 up (which I never did on the NX) it becomes a bit of a camel. Doubly so if the tyre pressure is a few psi off.

I suspect it has something to do with tyre shape, these are a lot less round than the ones on the NX used to be, and cornering past the edge of the knobs is, shall we say, an interesting experience.

[africajim]

Scrubbed in today Boris! Well, on the tar the front seems a bit vague and it doesn't seem too keen to turn in? Saying that, it still allows the pegs to touch down on tar! Dry use so far, but happy enough, strange how when you pull up to junctions, at a certain speed the visor rattles due to the knobbles vibrating on the road! LOL!
Offroad they dig BIG ruts in hardcore tracks on the throttle! In soft stuff they dig faster than your average garden mole! Too much right hand would bury the back wheel in no time!
Confession time, while trying a couple of powerslides I felt quite scared, I believe this is from my off a couple of weeks ago, hopefully in time I'll regain my confidence.
I think the tyre circumference may be more with the size of the knobbles as the bike doesn't seem so keen to lift the front wheel on the throttle? This will improve with wear! (Or bigger handfuls of throttle!)
Over all, yes, happy with them, impressd by the road holding characteristics, and as for the aesthetics,,,, DAMN! Check these pics out!





Check out this ass!

[AckAckFlack]

Scrubbed in today Boris! Well, on the tar the front seems a bit vague and it doesn't seem too keen to turn in? Saying that, it still allows the pegs to touch down on tar! Dry use so far, but happy enough, strange how when you pull up to junctions, at a certain speed the visor rattles due to the knobbles vibrating on the road! LOL!
Offroad they dig BIG ruts in hardcore tracks on the throttle! In soft stuff they dig faster than your average garden mole! Too much right hand would bury the back wheel in no time!
Confession time, while trying a couple of powerslides I felt quite scared, I believe this is from my off a couple of weeks ago, hopefully in time I'll regain my confidence.
I think the tyre circumference may be more with the size of the knobbles as the bike doesn't seem so keen to lift the front wheel on the throttle? This will improve with wear! (Or bigger handfuls of throttle!)
Over all, yes, happy with them, impressd by the road holding characteristics, and as for the aesthetics,,,, DAMN! Check these pics out!





Check out this ass!

Look fantastic Jim - Amazing how they can transform a look of a bike. If you didn't know that it weighed about 40stone you would think it was made for the rough stuff.
Just ordered some for the Africa Twin - but seeing yours makes me think that this will be the next on the list for the Vara

[africajim]

Cheers Ack ack, damn, they look sexy!
I had a feeling they would, as long as it's not detrimental to me enjoying the bike on tar I'll be happy. I've kept my Anakees to fit later if necessary!

[Steve T]

When I saw it at Willies yesterday, I thought then that you'd be planning on doing some ploughing with them fitted

Now you must remember that we'll only be doing 25mph round Galloway next weekend .

Steve T

[AckAckFlack]

Cheers Ack ack, damn, they look sexy!
I had a feeling they would, as long as it's not detrimental to me enjoying the bike on tar I'll be happy. I've kept my Anakees to fit later if necessary!

It was this picture on the OneWheelDrive

that started me thinking

[africajim]

Ack ack, that pic is good, food for thought for sure, but battering the alloy rim with a boulder? A bit much for me!

SteveT, the front washing out spooked me the last trip we had! The Tiger was the same on the Stella and I believe TKC's could have made all the difference to the Tiger. As I've a bit of savings I decided to spend some on the TKC's for the Vara.
I know the speed limit on the outing next week will be between 15 and 25mph, (BORDC forestry access was 15mph) but if the front starts to slide at 15mph you'll not catch a big lump like a Varadero, it's going down!
Problem is, ok the front has more grip but so has the back! If the back takes a sudden hold while sliding you have a greater risk of high siding! It's all down to offroad experience, hope I've got it! LOL!

P.S.
SteveT, you haven't mentioned where the pics were taken yet? It's within 10k's of Elgin