Tire size- options for dual sport tires

[Neoday2]

So far I have almost worn out my first set of tires on the FJ- will have over 10k miles on a pair of Avon Storm 3D XM radials.  They were great this summer!

Now, I am looking at getting another set of tires, ones which I can take on gravel and handle it a bit more effectively.

I know the 16" and 17" tires will limit some of my choices.

Trying to understand how tire sizes fit and numbers would change or even work on our stock rims.

130/90-16
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/duro-hf904-median-dual-sport-rear-tires

would something like this work? 

I plan on putting on a bunch more miles, exploring some gravel along the way, where it might be a few hundred miles of maintained gravel roads after a few hundred miles of paved roads to get there and home.

Has anyone ever fitted dual sport tires to their FJ?

[racerrad8]

Isaac,

You need to be cognizant of the load rating of dual sport tires for the heavy FJ.

Randy - RPM

[CutterBill]

Gravel?  You want to take an FJ on gravel?  Uh... ok... be sure to take video...   

Seriously, if you want to go off-road, just buy a used KLR650.

[ribbert]

Now, I am looking at getting another set of tires, ones which I can take on gravel and handle it a bit more effectively.......

I plan on putting on a bunch more miles, exploring some gravel along the way, where it might be a few hundred miles of maintained gravel roads after a few hundred miles of paved roads to get there and home.

No one likes gravel on an FJ more than me. I have done multi day trips on nothing but gravel and try and include unpaved sections on all my trips as well as exploring remote areas on day rides.

However, if I fitted tyres such as the one in your link, I doubt I would even make it to the gravel. The weight and power of the FJ on tyres like that is just plain dangerous on bitumen, particularly in the wet, and possibly even counteract any advantage on the gravel.

Even less aggressive patterned dual sport tyres than the one you mentioned are not made for the weight, power and speed of an FJ and inflated to normal levels wouldn't feel any different off road than a road tyre.

The best performance you'll get from an FJ on gravel is lowering the tyre pressures, it makes a big difference to handling and less prone to punctures. I find the bike easy on gravel and get lazy about doing it but when I do it's so much better. I carry a compressor and pump them up again when returning to the bitumen.

Correction, I don't like gravel roads, I love them and the places they take me. Dirt roads generally lead to remote areas and that's what I like, the more remote and less travelled the better.

This was probably the best trip I have done on the FJ, Wilpena Pound and beyond. Days of this with days of high speed bitumen to a from.

From this....



to this.....



to this.....



and this....



My only golden rule for riding on dirt on the FJ is never spin the back wheel, tempting as it is to slide the bike around for fun and out of corners. One sharp stone is all takes to put a rip in your tyre that no puncture plug is ever going fix (same goes for the verge on bitumen roads although it's more likely to be broken glass or metal)

Noel

IMO

[aviationfred]

The problem that I see in a good trail tire for the FJ is the same with a good Sport-Touring tire. The 16" OEM rear is the difficult thing to overcome. For the later model FJ's with the OEM 17" front. It has been talked about in many tire threads here, that it really is advantageous to do a 17" rear wheel mod. The tire choices grow tremendously. This includes tires that are designed for the large adventure sport machines. One tire that comes to mind is the Continental Trail Attack 2. A 120/70/17 front and a 180/55/17 is offered for the rear.
The TKC70 is offered in the same 17" sizes and offers a bit more off road capabilities.

Fred

[ribbert]

Gravel?  You want to take an FJ on gravel?  Uh... ok... be sure to take video...   

Seriously, if you want to go off-road, just buy a used KLR650.

That's true Bill, but if you want to make the most of a trip and take in everything you can, you can still only take one bike with you.

The FJ would not be my first choice on gravel but bitumen still makes up 99% of the riding and it would be a shame to miss out just because it's not the best machine for the job.
Exploring on a bike, particularly in country that is new to you, is a lot of fun.

Some of the best places I've ever found don't have bitumen leading to them.

We're not talking bush bashing here, just unsealed roads. The difficulty of riding a road bike on gravel is greatly over stated.

Noel

[rktmanfj]

Gravel?  You want to take an FJ on gravel?  Uh... ok... be sure to take video...   

Some folks can, and some can't...
Me and Rossi?  We can Git'r'done, on street tires. 

[rlucas]

Gravel?  You want to take an FJ on gravel?  Uh... ok... be sure to take video...   

Some folks can, and some can't...
Me and Rossi?  We can Git'r'done, on street tires. 

Y'know, Randy, as soon as this thread was started I thought of that day. But I was too lazy to dig out the pictures.

Riding gravel, especially fairly well-maintained gravel, is less about the bike and tires than it is about the rider's comfort level. It takes a bit of practice to get used to the feel of the bike - any bike - squirming around a bit under you. You have to learn to relax; fighting it just makes it worse. A light touch on the bars and throttle is the way to go.

As far as dual-sport tires on the FJ, I'd be looking at something along the lines of Michelin Anakees (grippy on pavement but don't wear real well) or Shinko 705s (currently using these on the WeeStrom and I like 'em). The kind of tires that get used on GS's and other big "adventure touring" bikes. The problem is gonna be finding them in a 16" front; I think 17" is as small as the Anakees go.

rossi

[CutterBill]

Ohhhh... I imagine I can get a street bike down a dirt road as well as anyone.  I just don't want to beat up such a beautiful bike.

I live on the edge of the Mojave Desert.  Death Valley is only 3 hours away.  And most of our dirt roads are FAR from those lovely smooth roads shown above... more like a rocky obstacle course.  So that's what I picture when someone says they want to take an FJ off-road.  Still, just small rocks getting flung against the engine would be enough to put me off.  Ummm, no thanks; I'll take a more suitable bike if I want to play in the dirt.

Lemme see if I can attach a photo.  Google "Husky Memorial" if you're curious about the location...

[rktmanfj]

Nah Bill, I'm the same way, TBH... while I can, I hate taking the FJ down the gravel roads, and cuss that damned Danny Lewis every time he leads us down one.

I have a couple of XT's if I want to trail ride...  but that's not getting Isaac an answer to his tire question.

[aviationfred]

To directly answer your question. I agree with Noel. I would NOT install the tire that your link shows. There are ZERO ADV tires made in the 17" front and 16" rear configuration. As I mentioned earlier, going with a 17" front and a 17" rear opens up the choices dramatically.

For the use of the OEM 17" front and 16" rear that is on your bike. My recommendation would be to install the Metzeler ME880. They have a large block style tread pattern that may work better off road. They are a hard touring compound and will get you to you destination on pavement with ease. Once you get to the dirt/gravel roads, fire trails, high line paths and such. Use the advice that Noel gave and lower the tire pressure a bit. 30psi/25psi....?? I don't know.....Noel may need to give his chosen lower air pressure setting.

[ribbert]

Ohhhh... I imagine I can get a street bike down a dirt road as well as anyone.  I just don't want to beat up such a beautiful bike.
...And most of our dirt roads are FAR from those lovely smooth roads shown above.

Bill, I've ridden plenty of goat tracks as well, the only thing that's ever stopped the FJ is running out of clearance, my previous belly pan can attest to that, but of the many thousands of miles I've done on dirt I don't believe the bike has suffered as a result. The only damage it shows is from other vehicles - on bitumen.

Noel

[Mike Ramos]

Gravel?  You want to take an FJ on gravel?  Uh... ok... be sure to take video...   

Seriously, if you want to go off-road, just buy a used KLR650.

Here you go....

http://youtu.be/atj2XleubZg

[Neoday2]

I don't have any video but I do have this photo where you can pan around:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154761008099101&set=gm.10154228708513124&type=3&theater



all good points here, thanks for the ideas on what not to do with an under-rated tire. 

I think for the time being, until I can switch to a 17" rear rim, I'll just keep the street tires. 

All in all, it was over 800 miles in two days, about 75 miles or so on gravel/forest service/atv trails. 

[Neoday2]

Here are some of my photos (off road) from the Central FJ Rally this past June.

From just outside Ouray- on the way to Mt. Sneffels.
This was my high point.  Literally started to high center crossing the little stream in front of the bike.






Monument Valley on my way back to Denver to pick up my dad before heading out to Ouray


Cottonwood Pass with my dad on the way to the FJ Rally