Tires for unpaved roads

[Enn]

Hi, guys. Anybody driving regularly on unpaved roads, on gravel? What tires do you use? I have PR2 on, but always when I leave the asphalt the bike becomes very unstable. So I wonder if there are any more universal tires suitable for it?

 

[Bungie]

You could put a full set of knobbies on and the bike would still be unstable on gravel.

Accept it and learn to ride it. I find that drifting helps

 

[Justin]

Maybe you have the wrong bike for your riding needs? :lol:

 

[jayke]

Love my Continental TKC 80's ..............on my KLR650

I don't think there is a suitable gravel tire for the FJR. As posted above, maybe it's time for a ADV bike or at least a second Dual Sport Bike.

Gravel can be tough to ride on even with Knobbies.

 

[Ignacio]

Hi, guys. Anybody driving regularly on unpaved roads, on gravel? What tires do you use? I have PR2 on, but always when I leave the asphalt the bike becomes very unstable. So I wonder if there are any more universal tires suitable for it?

Define regularly as a percentage of the time you ride? I spend about 5-10% of my time off paved roads on my FJR and live with PRx tires. Generally, if you go buy a tire that works off road--it's going to become sub optimal on road....and vice versa. Choose one or the other...not both.

Now, if you define regularly as 50% of your time on unpaved roads...then think about something like the TKC80. They appear to make sizes that would work on an FJR here and it's considered a 40/60 tire...meaning 40% on road and 60% off road. I'm planning to put a set on my Husqvarna TR650 that I'm planning to ride to Utah on paved roads, do the back country discovery route off road, then back home via mostly paved.

And if you do spend a significant amount of time off road then check out a dual sport forum like ADVrider.com for other tire suggestions.

 

[Canadian FJR]

Thanks for the link, I had no idea that the TKC80 came in those larger sizes. Enn, the BMW guys love these tires on the larger Adv Tourers. If you try them, please provide an update.

Canadian FJR

 

[Ignacio]

If you try them, please provide an update. Canadian FJR

Keep on on eye ADVrider or cafehusky.com then. I'm not going to do an update here on a tire I'm not going to ever use on an FJR.

 

[Canadian FJR]

"If you try them, please provide an update"

That was directed at Enn, the OP.

Canadian FJR

 

[Enn]

Many thanks for replies.Today I only ride 2% on unpaved as it does not feel comfortable enough, so I avoid them. Would probably ride some 10 % if it would not feel so damn lose. Had a feeling that it is mainly a tire issue, but can also well be the whole geometry and suspension thingy. For sure also skills. A dualsport like S10 can be a solution, I just do not ride enough to justify 2 bikes in the garage.

 

[kamal]

Enn.

Have you considered an 'all season' car tire for the rear? Not sure what you would put on the front?

Al.

 

[wheatonFJR]

It's really the bike's weight and geometry. No tire is ever going to make that off road experience anything but "loose". If yer looking for a "comfortable" off road bike...the FJR1300 may not be the first choice.

You will need to get used to "loose" on an FJR if you use it off road. If you can't afford a second bike...maybe you can afford renting an offroad bike and get used to that off road feel...then use that experience to get a better gauge on how to ride the FJR off road.

 

[Bungie]

I was being only a bit funny in my response, theirs a lot of truth in it though. LET the bike 'hunt'. Don't fight it. You'll enjoy it, and yourself, a lot more.

The tires, suspension, geometry and weight all conspire against you ever being 'comfortable' in gravel.

 

[Enn]

Ok, I guess it is to do with my weak English, but I did not mean off-road riding, just roads which have no asphalt cover, so to say dust-roads. TKC 80 is for sure too rough to be ridden on any normal roads. But thanks anyway for your comments

 

[Bungie]

Your english is fine Enn. Betterer than mine!

 

[mcatrophy]

Good advice above. No tyre will make the FJR "comfortable".

To add my thoughts, I've had no real off-road experience, but I have ridden mine on unsurfaced roads.

Wheaton's advice is the best, hold the bars loosely.

When I first went on loose-surfaced roads, I was very nervous, and held the bars too tightly. Having talked it over with more experienced riders, I loosened my grip, let the bike wriggle as it wanted. No rapid inputs (throttle, brakes, steering), think riding on a very slippery suffice. Now it's no longer a problem for me.

Just take it easy, be sensible, and trust the bike. And don't try to keep up with the real off-roaders. If anyone laughs at you for not keeping up, you don't want to be riding with them anyway .

 

[Mr Bill]

Hi, guys. Anybody driving regularly on unpaved roads, on gravel? What tires do you use? I have PR2 on, but always when I leave the asphalt the bike becomes very unstable. So I wonder if there are any more universal tires suitable for it?

I don't see it as a tire problem as much as a weight issue. The FJR is a pig and takes a good long time to stop in the dirt.

Knobbies work by spinning them up and you can do the same rear tire spinning easy on the FJR. Like everyone else said keep loose and learn what happens when you spin the rear because that is what you use to control your corners in the dirt.

Oh and lower the tire pressure to the minimum in the book and try to loose weight

 

[clocklaw]

Many thanks for replies.Today I only ride 2% on unpaved as it does not feel comfortable enough, so I avoid them. Would probably ride some 10 % if it would not feel so damn lose. Had a feeling that it is mainly a tire issue, but can also well be the whole geometry and suspension thingy. For sure also skills. A dualsport like S10 can be a solution, I just do not ride enough to justify 2 bikes in the garage.

Enn, just to let you know, I know of several former FJR riders that purchased the S10.....they indicate that it is more than a suitable replacement for the FJR......close to the quality on pavement and 100 times better off pavement. I have wanted an S10 for a while, and had more than one tell me that if I buy it I would never ride the FJR again.

 

[ajpagosa]

Hi, guys. Anybody driving regularly on unpaved roads, on gravel? What tires do you use? I have PR2 on, but always when I leave the asphalt the bike becomes very unstable. So I wonder if there are any more universal tires suitable for it?

I live on a gravel road and have to ride gravel anywhere from 1/2 to 1 mile each time I go anywhere, first and last thing, every ride. Also there are a lot of other gravel stretches I have to take from time to time to get places. One trick is to stand up on the pegs, let the bike move around under you. Tilt the bike into corners but keep weight on the outside peg. After a while this becomes second nature and you can sit on the bike (except over washboard) shift your butt over onto the outside edge of the seat while turning. I would not get dirt oriented tires for the FJR. The Metzler Tourance is the standard on R1200GS BMW bikes, sort of 25/75 dirt/pavement. DO not know if they make it in FJR sizes. TKC would be far too aggressive for an FJR. I had the Tourances and now TKC's on my other bike (R1150GS Adv) believe me you do not want TKC's on the feejer. Rears go away very quick and they do not behave well for sporty riding on pavement.

 

[Mr Bill]

let the bike move around under you. Tilt the bike into corners but keep weight on the outside peg. After a while this becomes second nature and you can sit on the bike (except over washboard) shift your butt over onto the outside edge of the seat while turning. I would not get dirt oriented tires for the FJR.

We have a dirty expert! The bike wobbles all the time, but you don't usually feel it on the pavement. Let it move around under you.