| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
Left work early yesterday (fed up; happens more as the years go by) to do an 80-mile loop around the local 10,000 foot mountain. There is an 8-mile stretch of dirt road; rocky in spots, but a carefully-driven car can make it no problem. Picked up a rock cut near the top; when I got to pavement rear tire was flat. I carry plug kit and air compressor but couldn't inflate the tire or find the cut. No cell phone access, of course; it was also raining heavily (a welcome relief from the 100F in the valley where I live). So, descend 12 miles of pavement at 15 mph...tedious, but not difficult. Call Mrs. Greg for the rescue. Upon getting home found the cut and plugged it. Have 5K miles on the Sync, so I'll probably junk it, although there's probably 3K left. What was all this talk of the tire manufacturers developing some REAL 17-inch dual-sport tires? A la Conti TKC 80. Haven't heard any updates lately. I'd sacrifice a little sportbike handling for a thicker carcass and more puncture resistance. Or maybe I should stay on the pavement where the Uly belongs... --Doc | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Couple of years ago I was up on some rocky stuff in Utah. Really out of both the bike's league and mine, but I was too dumb to know it. Came across a couple of folks on ATVs. One says "hey your tire is flat". Sure as shit...turned out I had picked up one of those razor inserts that hunters put in their arrows. The mushroom plug was almost entirely useless but I did get home. I didn't have a pump at that time. Now I carry a pump and the professional gooey rope kit. Haven't needed it yet. As I use the bike 80-90% on tarmac, I'm satisfied with the Pirelli's, I wouldn't want to give up grip... I don't know how you get 8K on your Sync, I'm usually done at 5. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I hear you, Doc. I've been waiting and hearing rumors,too. With my luck, a 17" dual sport tire will come out the day after I sell my Uly. | ||
| Growl |
The Shinko 705 tire is promising, not yet avail in the Uly size but... Promising... I wrote to Shinko at this email: info@shinkotireusa.com I ride a Buell Ulysses. I hope you will eventually manufacture the Shinko 705 tires in sizes to fit my bike! (rear is 180/55 and front is 120/70) Shinko wrote back: "We have just started producing the 705 and we built the molds for a few specific machines we had in mind that we thought the tire would work well on. As for sizing in the future we will definitely look at those sizes you mentioned. We would just to see how these ones work out first before we go and start building a bunch of molds that cost a ton of money. Maybe next year who knows?!?! Thanks again for your input and we look forward to keeping you on the road in the future!" I think they need to know how many of us want this tire for our brave Ulys info@shinkotireusa.com | ||
| Dr_greg |
Hear, hear! I just sent them an email. Thanks for the tip! --Doc | ||
| Woodreaux |
It's time to replace my Uly tires. I would like something a tad more off road than the the Sync or Strada tires. Sent an email to Shinko - Thanks for the tip. | ||
| Nutsosane |
Dr Greg, should you enjoy a conversation regarding Uly's and GS's, Punctures, real tires and the eternal damnation of leaving the Uly fray PM me. NUTS | ||
| Rotorhead |
Doc, live a little and mount up some like I did to do a dustybutt run. So it's a little weird running a rear tire up front but so is trying to make a ULY a birt bike. IT was truely the best time I have had on my ULY. That set up made running roads in the AZ deserts allot of fun. TKC 80 150 rear. chenshing 4.60 tube type front.  (Message edited by rotorhead on August 07, 2009) | ||
| Sekalilgai |
Man Dave that is one GNARLY ULY! | ||
| M2nc |
I gave up on Syncs and off-road. Last Buellotoberfest we rode down a gravel, dirt, rock road in the morning to find the tire was flat as I got to pavement again. Several plugs later I realized the damage was much worse then thought and changed to a D616 I had as back up. In the process of changing the tire I saw the inside of the Sync was shattered. I also realized that the D616 was considerably heavier and the side walls were ten times as stiff as the Syncs. This past month we rode in the mountains of Virginia and we had to traverse like 1/2 mile of gravel. Later we stop for lunch and I see cuts all over the Sync tires. I hate the D616 on pavement, but if I were going to do the same ride this October, I would change back to the D616. | ||
| Tginnh |
I have had the pilot road 2 down many miles of dirt road without any issues. It's not much of a dirt tire, but it seems to hold up. Maybe the dual compound is the key? | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
When I rode my Uly to Alaska, I was on Diablo Stradas. Hit some construction on the Cassiar and Alcan with gravel sections that were no trouble. I rode the Denali and Taylor Highways with no trouble either. The Taylor had some large rocks in sections that required 20 m.p.h. or less, but most was 30 to 40 m.p.h. Are the Stradas better than Syncs? | ||
| Froggy |
The Stradas are the worst tire in the world off road. Syncs aren't special either, but they feel like knobbies compared to the Stradas. | ||
| Dr_greg |
That's what's on the rear now; still have a Sync up front. This bike (my 2nd '06 Uly) came with Syncs; first time I'd used them. I guess I'd agree on their fragility off-pavement. My favorite tire so far has been the Distanzia. When the PR2 wears out I'll be back to them. Yeah, with the SM compound they wear fast, but they're pretty inexpensive and I mount tires myself. --Doc | ||
| Ulynut |
My Stradas get sliced up pretty easily. I would not recommend them if you ride in dirt at all. The 616s were really good in the rain, and they were much better than expected in dirt. On dry roads, I hated them. | ||
| Florida_lime |
I have no problem with the rear 616 on pavement, other than the two I tried didn't get as good mileage as the Syncs that I usually run, but they were MUCH cheaper. On a set of PR2s now. | ||
| Cash |
Rotorhead, I love what you've done with your Uly. Its given me loads of ideas of ways to make it more of a dirt beast. | ||
| Maximum |
"My favorite tire so far has been the Distanzia" I'm about to order my second Distanzia...I love 'em, the grip is awesome! I have zero chicken strips on the rear or front, but I really wish they came in 180's. |
