More Road Oriented Tyres

[Mr Nick]

Despite recently replacing the front Pirelli Scorp MT90 and the rear still being good, I'm toying with getting a set of more road oriented rubber for Katie for the summer week(s). Ideally, I'd love to have another set of Anakees (2 or 3) but there isn't the option of them - front yes, rear no. The 150/70 18 is not a hugely common size.
I'm not looking at full road as that would be pretty silly looking on a 990; just something with a bit more rubber. I'm not hugely taken with the MT90s yet but perhaps some more miles will help that along: just spoiled with the Anakee 2s I suppose.

With the sizes I'm working with, the choices are a little limited but the main contenders I have in mind so far are:

Conti Trail Attack 2
Pirelli Scorp Trail

The considered verdict of the masses would be appreciated.  

[2112]

The Pirelli Scorpion Trail were O/E fitment on my former Guzzi Stelvio. These are very grippy tyres with excellent wet & dry feel and very quick turn in (but not drop in). They were way too soft for the heavy Guzzi which ate rears at around 2,500 miles and the front wore 'funny', again probably the weight of the lardy girl ? They would be a decent choice as the much lighter KTM would probably give them an easier time. My mate had the Conti's on his Varadero and didn't like them in the wet as they were a bit 'numb' and not the most grippy (think big slides on the gas), plenty of grip in the dry though. Again, on a much heavier bike than the KTM.
That 18" rear really does bugger up the choices of tyres  

[Mr Nick]

I'd read your writeup on the Pirellis and I'm wondering how they'd fare on a lighter bike as well: I'm hoping someone of this parish has tried them on a Dl of any persuasion. Mind you, the MT90s don't appear to last anywhere near half Anakee mileages either. I might just have to accept that I'm not going to get 5k and still look new...

I've seen a couple of reports that the Contis aren't the best in the wet but people tend to report poor performance more often than good so I was, again, looking for some real people, whose opinions matter. The local riding school have TA2s on a couple of DLs but that might be a cost/anticipated wear equation rather than what I'm after: they do go out in all weathers but they're hardly getting ragged.

[2112]

The other option is to have the rear wheel laced with a 17" rim, not a cheap option but it opens up a whole new world of tyre choice ?

Back to the Pirelli's, I think they are O/E on the new Triumph 800 trailies, may be worth having a search of the Trumpet forums for some feedback. I'd guess the 800 Tigger will be about the same weight as the KTM and the off-road version has a 21" front wheel.

[mjc506]

aye, get a set of SM wheels

[Mr Nick]

And chop bits out of the side stand so it doesn't fall over and the centre stand so I can still use it......

Nah, maybe not. But thanks for stopping by: don't let me keep you.....  

[Mr Nick]

I've come back to this question again now that there's daylight on the horizon....

I'd had a look at a couple of fitted prices and the Contis are coming in around £190 a pair and the Dunlop Trailmaxes are about £230. Reviews suggest the Dunlops don't last that well but give excellent grip.

Maybe I need to revisit the Pirelli option again & see where they sit in the spectrum: I'm hoping nearer the Conti than Dunlop in which case they might yet get a shot.

[mr_diver]

Heidenau do a dual sport bike tyre like anakee/tourance along side the k60 scout.  The scout comes in the 990's sizes. Maybe the dual sport option they do will too?
Ill have a look and see what I can find.

[mr_diver]

OK they are called the K76 dual sport but only have a front fitments for the KTM 990

http://www.reifenwerk-heidenau.de/modules/reifenliste/view.php?point=2&rtyp=10&PHPSESSID=s64cf93d2v43n6fhe4kstqhdg7&profil=113&pic=101

[Mr Nick]

Cheers mate: fronts are easy to get; it's that extra inch on the rear that's the prob.

[Mr Nick]

Guess what: I finally made a decision.....    



Pirelli Scorpion Trails fitted while she was off the road getting her rectifier replaced.

About 80 miles in they feel different to what came off. The front I took off was only a few months old so it's not just an old v's new difference.

There's plenty grip (now that they're scrubbed in a bit anyway - few wheelspin moments to begin with) but the front definitely seems to fall into a corner more noticably than the MT90s. It'll take a few more miles to get used to it.

Wonder how long they'll last....

[2112]

It'll be interesting to see how well they last on the nimble KTM, plenty of grip though. A good choice for it I think