Heidenau K60's on F800GS two up

[Northstar Beemer]

In 2009 I rode from Chicago to Deadhorse - carried TCK 80s on the back and swapped road rubber for the TCKs at Watson Lake for the 3000 or so miles of gravel we rode.

Total trip milage was 11,400 miles - so a lot of highway miles. I'm going back again - could a new pair of Heidenau K60s handle whole trip mounted on a 1200GS?

'Sure would be easier than strapping tires to the back of my bike again!

[Ceri JC]

On the subject of tyre pressures. I'm no expert, what has worked for me in general:

• Use your initial value as the recommendations from the tyre manufacturer, rather than the bike/car itself.
• If you're carrying a pillion and/or heavy luggage, increase the rear tyre pressure by about 3-4 PSI and the front by about 2 PSI.
• You don't need to drop pressures in dirt anywhere near as much as people make out, unless you're racing or riding trials.

People who ride with me offroad are usually staggered by how high I tend to run my tyre pressures. I very often run road pressures the whole time on a DS bike. Sometimes I'll drop to 26/30, or even 24/28, if I'm riding offroad for protracted periods and reinflate it later, but generally, it's high. My reasons for this are:
1. A significantly under-inflated tyre on the road is far more of a liability than one that is over-inflated offroad.
2. I like to have "something in reserve". I like to know that if I get stuck, or am really struggling on a trail, I can drop the pressure and get more grip. To quote the old adage, I tend to run them "As high as possible, as low as necessary."
3. I don't have rim locks on my GS; I've never run tyre pressures low enough on it to warrant them.

YMMV.

[Loutre]

another one posting about the boxer in the // universe in 24h? what's wrong guys? Don't they accept you anymore in the boxer section?

[CrustyOldFart]

"You don't need to drop pressures in dirt anywhere near as much as people make out, unless you're racing or riding trials."

What ??!!!?? There's a lot of different kinds of dirt out there, and same kinds of dirt that behaves much differently depending on current moisture content. You may be right in many circumstances, but I try to avoid blanket statements like that.

I'm a new GS'er but been riding dirt pretty much my entire life. I think ideal situation for me will be to mount a compressor tucked away in my bike somewhere wired to the battery with quick connect air line (I saw a thread where someone did this) so I can adjust on the fly depending on condition. It is really incredible how lower pressure can help when riding in soft, loose dirt or mud or deep silt or sand. Of course gotta watch out for rocks when air is down, I've dinged up plenty of rims too.

and pinched tubes too; that always fun changing a tube in the middle of the desert somewhere.

[vtbob]

Originally Posted by Northstar Beemer

In 2009 I rode from Chicago to Deadhorse - carried TCK 80s on the back and swapped road rubber for the TCKs at Watson Lake for the 3000 or so miles of gravel we rode.

Total trip milage was 11,400 miles - so a lot of highway miles. I'm going back again - could a new pair of Heidenau K60s handle whole trip mounted on a 1200GS?

'Sure would be easier than strapping tires to the back of my bike again!

Yes but it will be close on the rear tire on the return trip

ps there are 3 or 4 places that will sell you new K60 in fairbanks and anchorage. when we were there last summer my friend had a set put on his GSA in anchorage with no notice we just stopped by. However, with my luck, I would call ahead a week or two and buy them so they will be there.

ps I used K60 for our whole trip on my F650GS, over 12000 miles on them, rear 1/3 left front not 1/2 worn out. This with a pretty good load and traveling 75-85 across the plains. the heavier big gs will wear them faster though

[murph76]

this tyre is indestructible..............being lazy i never checked tyre pres. when i started riding again in spring - well i went all summer with no air pres. at all on these tyres and didnt notice it until in the fall some 2000 miles later when i checked it to air down for off road in smokie mtn area......................i about shit myself and my dad couldnt believe it..................surprised i didnt kill myself- oh well.