ADV Riding an FJR / Tire Selection

[mmonroe]

I like a bunch of you, hang on the ADV forum. I really want to get an ADV style bike but have been making the FJR do a fairly good job on the lighter stuff. Being in North Carolina, I spend a good bit of time in the Smokies, Pisgah, etc.

I have been running the PR2's and overall love them. I can push them fast and hard on the curves on the mountain roads, however, they are lacking on muddy roads and gravel.

Has anyone ever tried to put a semi-ADV style tire on an FJR? Something that is still tubeless yet would have better manors on hard packed roads with gravel, dirt and occasion mud?

When I bought the FJR, I promised myself I was going to ride the piss out of it some rain, shine, heat, cold.. No reason to let some country forest roads slow things down.

 

[johnny80s]

I am interested to see how this thread progresses. Definitely post some pics of you off-roading your FJR.

Good Luck

 

[SockMonkey]

Leaving aside that the FJR's suspension isn't designed for much more than bumpy and mildly potholed tarmac at the worst, you might give the Pirelli Scorpion Sync a look. There are a few bike manufacturers that are using this tire for their 95/5 bikes (95% on-road/5% off-road) such as Buell (XB12X Uly) and Benelli (TREX) (I think Moto Guzzi is also using these on the Stelvio..?). The good news is that the Scorpion Syncs come in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 sizes...

 

[SockMonkey]

Leaving aside that the FJR's suspension isn't designed for much more than bumpy and mildly potholed tarmac at the worst, you might give the Pirelli Scorpion Sync a look. There are a few bike manufacturers that are using this tire for their 95/5 bikes (95% on-road/5% off-road) such as Buell (XB12X Uly) and Benelli (TREX) (I think Moto Guzzi is also using these on the Stelvio..?). The good news is that the Scorpion Syncs come in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 sizes...

Excellent..! 3 posts in, and straight to NEPRT!!! :yahoo:

 

[Fred W]

In light of the "dark side" thread, why not mount some BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A's?

 

[2WheelTiger]

Personal opinion, but the Sync doesn't seem to have an open tread design. I think the Michelin PR2 would be better in low traction situations.

 

[Bungie]

Had a set of those on my truck. The blow wet wooly monkey dick in the snow!

Maybe they ought to come out with some snow-terrains

 

[HotRodZilla]

Have you looked at the Dunlop D616? They are a "high performance" tire, but have a blocky tread pattern. Dunlop claims great grip and Buell puts them on the Ulysses...Maybe worth a look. Here's a pair: D616

 

[MojaveFJR]

You are nuckin futs dude.

I took my feej off road twice and neither time was fun. One was a rock/gravel covered road where I was just happy to have a place to turn it around and get back on pavement. Sound of those little rocks smackin my fairing were not making me happy and the other was going to Dome Rock up and down some rutted/rooted hills that thankful for my mild off roading skills got us out of there two up even. NOPE. Feej stays on the pavement anymore. Picked up an R 1200 GS and F650GS for the dual sporting roles.

If that fat pig of a feej goes down in the dirt you are going to play hell getting her back up.

Good luck and have fun with it.

 

[Fred W]

Had a set of those on my truck. The blow wet wooly monkey dick in the snow!

mud

Pronunciation: \ˈməd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mudde, probably from Middle Low German
Date: 14th century
1: a slimy sticky mixture of solid material with a liquid and especially water ; especially : soft wet earth

 

snow

Pronunciation: \ˈsnō\
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English snāw; akin to Old High German snēo snow, Latin niv-, nix, Greek nipha (accusative)
Date: before 12th century
1: precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C)

Yep, just as I suspected. They really are different.

Maybe they ought to come out with some snow-terrains

Ummm... They do.

 

[Bungie]

Ummm... They do.

Betcha the blow wet wooly monkey dick in the mud.

 

[Fred W]

Betcha the blow wet wooly monkey dick in the mud.

I bet your right!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I really want to get an ADV style bike Has anyone ever tried to put a semi-ADV style tire on an FJR? Something that is still tubeless yet would have better manors on hard packed roads with gravel, dirt and occasion mud?

Tires are important -- but, they're no 'Jedi Light Saber'...! Things like: weight, location of weight, handlebar leverage, and steering geometry all conspire against the FJR off-roader.

The FJR -- she be like a 'pig on ice' in mud.

mud

Pronunciation: \ˈməd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mudde, probably from Middle Low German
Date: 14th century
1: a slimy sticky mixture of solid material with a liquid and especially water ; especially : soft wet earth

 

snow

Pronunciation: \ˈsnō\
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English snāw; akin to Old High German snēo snow, Latin niv-, nix, Greek nipha (accusative)
Date: before 12th century
1: precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C)

The Eskimo have (something-like) 100 words for snow -- there are many different kinds -- traction is sometimes elusive.

Mud, OTOH, is almost always bad -- unless, you have the proper equipment and are looking for fun....