690 enduro tyres......yawn?

[DavidS]

My '14 690 came to me with part worn MT21's and they seem good enough on my mix of road and trail, including a bit of Sussex slurry/mud.
Some discussion on the KTM forum has got me looking at Michelin Anakee Wild or TKC80's but I'm not convinced about their winter off road grip.

The bike is also my main road bike so slghtly less knobbles wouldn't hurt but I wouldn't want to compromise trail (and grass riding at horse trials) grip. Around £60 to £100 would make the change an expensive mistake.

What thoughts do you guys have?

[johnnyboxer]

MT21 are a good compromise
Ran them for years on my XChallenge
690's and the like are heavy bikes, so the stiffer sidewalls of the MT21 suit it at 20 psi
Stick with them

[bowber]

As Johnny said just stick with them, they are a reasonable tyre for what you're doing and are the only tyre my brother in law has used on his XT for years and he's never had a problem with grip on them.

Steve

[Heavyboned]

Michelin T63 tyres are pretty good, and have yet (!!) to have a puncture......

[DavidS]

Thanks guys.
I have been running mine at 15psi and they've been fine. Apparently they have standard tubes and slime.
It didn't help that the sag set by the previous owner was 28mm, not 80mm so it was as stiff as a sports bike. Great on road but horribly hoppy and uncontrollable on lumpy lanes.
They handle well enough at 70 although the front can twitch on rapid overtakes - adds to the entertainment factor and frightens the driver you are overtaking witless as you shake past.

Saves me buying a new front as well so double bonus.

[Magnon]

I use MT 21 front and Mitas E-09 rear on my 690.The E-09 is very long lasting with plenty of grip on and off road. Avoid the Dakar version as it is probably a bit too hard wearing.

[DavidS]

I use MT 21 front and Mitas E-09 rear on my 690.The E-09 is very long lasting with plenty of grip on and off road. Avoid the Dakar version as it is probably a bit too hard wearing.

Thanks, I'll have a look.
And at the other suggestion.

[DavidS]

That E09 looks interesting.
It says 20 off 80 on road but it looks much better for road than the MT21.
How hard is it? I detested the Mitas Co2. Felt like a concrete ring.
I loved the 754 Xtreme on my WR450 and 400EXC but way too dodgy on road.

[Grim Reaper]

I've just worn a set of the new mid-hard Metzeler MC360 out in 2000 miles (mainly tarmac, some gravel roads) in two weeks in Iceland. Still some wear left in the rear but I don't think the front will do any more even if I reverse it at this stage.
I have a set of the mid-soft compound to go on when I get it back.
Had no problems with grip in either dry, wet or muddy conditions. A bit noisy, getting noisier as they wore, especially the front.
Will post some pics once the bike is back home, it's currently in a container in the Faroe's at the moment.
Cheapest place I found them was gear4motorcycles.co.uk , £35.50 for a front 80/100 and £44.10 for a 120/100 rear

[Magnon]

That E09 looks interesting.
It says 20 off 80 on road but it looks much better for road than the MT21.
How hard is it? I detested the Mitas Co2. Felt like a concrete ring.
I loved the 754 Xtreme on my WR450 and 400EXC but way too dodgy on road.

I had a C02 - took it off in the end as I couldn't wear it out and it wasn't pleasant on the road or wet rocks. The E09 is a similarly heavy duty carcass but the tread pattern makes it much more suited to road use and you can get it in 140 width whereas the widest C02 is 120.