Hi guys, fitted some tkc80 to my project k100 yesterday just wondering if anyone else has done the same because my front end feels terrible now.any ideas

What was your expectation, and what did you use for a tyre prior? These are intended for larger dual sport motorbikes (the original equipment tyre on the R1150GS Adventure) and capable offroad but only so-so on road. They're rated 60% offroad and 40% onroad.

I knew it would not feel the same as it does on road tyres but I didn't think it would be this bad.has any one else on here fitted trail type tyres to their k100?

I put Shinzo E170? On my bike.

Supposedly 70/30

Yes they feel different but not horribly so
The tread is very aggressive and vibrates at low speeds but I feel the front is very planted on the road.
Cornering at speed, 80+ kph they are a bit squirmy but given the size of the tread it is not unexpected.

Recently did 1600 on a weekend with about 300km of dirt and no problems.

Look at the end of the Scrapheap thread for my post and pics

Found out the problem the tyre on the front is a rear 110/80/18 off eBay I was sold them as a front and rear.not happy

Just check the tyre

The Shonkos I have a multi directional (sounds better than bi-directional)

They rotate one way on the back and the other way on the front.

Both my front and rear are multi directional. I guess sideways is a direction though never intentionally.

It says rear with the directional arrow below it an it's fitted that way

Hi chippy. What about the front wheel bearings?
Recently, I was getting more vibration and a squirmy feeling just as coming to a halt. Thought I had a faulty tyre or it wasn't on the rim correctly as I had just changed it.
Couldn't feel anything gripping the tyre but when I jacked up the front end and spun the wheel, I could hear it.
Removed the wheel and it was then obvious that the left bearing was shot.
Just a thought.

Hi
The front bearings are new only fitted them last week,I think it's because it's a rear tyre it's a 110/80/18 the ppl who I get them front sed that size only comes in a rear tyre that was after I bought them.

A tyre manufacturer's rep once told me for bias/cross ply tyres it was acceptable to run a rear tyre at the front if you turn the direction of rotation round. I did it on a Metzeler ME880 tyre (from a heavyweight cruiser) which I used on an old Airhead. What can it hurt? You've bought it now.

hi chippy -- i'm curious if you tried reversing the tire and if it made any any difference to your handling? you might also try playing with the air pressure - i've had scary handling from over-inflated TKC80's on a GS. 

cheers, f.

fearghal wrote:hi chippy -- i'm curious if you tried reversing the tire and if it made any any difference to your handling? you might also try playing with the air pressure - i've had scary handling from over-inflated TKC80's on a GS. 

cheers, f.

I would be very interested of those things too, since I am planning to get TKC80's on my modified K100 too and I do know that sizes for front are rear tyres. So please if possible information of pressures and if you tested that tyre reversed would be very important for me!

fearghal wrote:hi chippy -- i'm curious if you tried reversing the tire and if it made any any difference to your handling? you might also try playing with the air pressure - i've had scary handling from over-inflated TKC80's on a GS. 

cheers, f.

that is a good thought about the pressures

cheers

Ordered TKC80:s for my next tyres. So still wanting to know about that direction. Front will be rear tyre (not available as front tyre on K100 size) and I will place it so that it rotates "wrong" way unless someone will give me more knowledege about this issue. Also how much pressure should I put on them? I have been using 2,5 front on normal tyres (and 2,9 - 3,0) back.

The hard core GS types round here who run the TKCs on the highway and in the dirt suggest several PSI lower than street tyre-recommended pressures. In archaic speak that's approximately 30 to no more than 34 PSI front to rear, as compared to 'normal' average radial pressures of 36/38 to 40/42 front to rear.
I have worn out two rear tyres on the front of an Airhead where a suitable front wasn't available. Coincidentally, I had two lowsides in greasy roundabouts in one year, too. But that might be down to chance.

The fabled German Continental TKC80 have always been made in Korea by Shinko, BTW.

Got mine installed today and bike seems to be a bit nervous on slow speeds, but OK otherwise. Only about 80km testrun so I keep posting if there is something to post. 2,2 bar front 2,5 rear.

Front and rear tyre have tread patterns running in opposite directions. 

Rear tyres must handle significant acceleration forces and front tyres must handle significant breaking forces. 

This is why a rear tyre fitted to the front is 'reversed".

I have been running a Heidenau Scout K60 110/80/18 multi-directional on the front of my K. It is a bloody fantastic tyre. Have gotten over 20,000km on it. However it did let go on me several weeks ago and Im now rather f@$ked, so theres that....  
Not sure why it let go on me....combination of things really....it was due to be replaced, road was slippery, I was day dreaming, etc etc

These Conti's seems a tad more aggressive than the K60's with a much chunkier, simpler block pattern. 

I also road pretty hard on road with those tyres (they are 50/50) and was amazed at their cornering traction. But I seriously would not recommend them for a bike only to be used on road...they are obviously significantly inferior to a road tyre in this application and you will not be able to push them as hard or have as much confidence in them....your riding will suffer in other words. You will not be able to get the most out of your K....

Personally, about 30-40% of my 'touring' is on dirt, and I love the kind of 'SUV' like ability to go for a ride, and not be put off my stretches of dirt or a blast through a fire trail.

But thats just my 2 cents and thats worth bugger all 

Had my TKC80's now for about 200km and I have to say that they seem to be as good as any normal road tyre on K100 and on tarmac + they are good on gravel too. Pressures (bar) 2,2 front 2,5 rear and tyres are both ment to be used as rear so front tyre is installed reversed. Sizes are 110/80 front 140/80 rear, rear just fits.

I have now driven little over 3000km with TKC80 I think I will get another 3000km with them, but not much more. They are still good to drive, but I noticed a strange sound from front when I drive straight. The reason is strange wear on front tyre. Knobs that are on the center of the tyre have about 4mm more thread than those which are not center.. Weird humming noise comes from that. See picture on the linki if interested.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58323882/Kloppi.JPG

Seems like you may be running them a bit low. What pressure are you runnung.
Other than that how is the bike.

I was said that these tyres need a bit lower pressures than normal street tyres.  

I have 2,2 bar front 2,4 bar rear. (Normally 2,5 / 2,9)

Bike is OK, it has some problems but they are things that I can live with. Little less than 5000km this summer (normally 10 000km so little low). Front forks leak oil and new seals don't help, also front brake is a bit bad don't know why (shakes a lot). New noise from near the clutch - I think it is the alternator. Throttle cable still stucks sometimes, but I have found the reason and it is now much better than before.

I just drive as long it goes with normal maintanance..  

If I have the money and the interest I will someday change the front section completetly. So that I get 16v forks and brakes in front.

On a normal road tyre I have had a similar profile and it was put down to aggressive breaking into roundabouts.

Well that is a reartyre fitted in front and reversed. So it may be so that it does not take braking as well as normal tyre which is ment to be in front and there is the reason why it wears like that.

If its low pressure then increasing the pressure will change the profile a little, even the wear. If its braking, then the normal rear tyre duties of driving and decelerating are not present so just decelerating would be a likely reason to vary wear. Its hard to know for sure but changing the pressure will give you an opportunity to see a difference in a few thousand kilometre's.

I really don't care that much, since rear tyre wont last much more than another 3000km and I will change back to normal tyres after that. Metzeler ME880 I think. Might add the pressure just to see what happens though.

I'd try it and then when you have a result post it in here because someone will need that detail. That's just the thing go in here.

2,6 bar now but I think I will not get much more mileage this year.