Clearance..
 

With knobblies on how much clearance is there under the front mudguard?

I'd prefer to fit a Moto X tyre, but maybe the TKC will give more clearance..

Any opinions on the preferred off road tyres for these adventure bikes that handle the weight best?

A knobbly tyre's appearance might lead you to believe it has a larger diameter and width than an equivalent size road tyre, but all tyre measurements are quoted to the extremities (ie: the edge of the tread/tip of a knobble). A 90/90-21 tyre should (in theory) have exactly the same clearance whatever the tread pattern/design. The width is 90mm (at its widest part) and the height is 90% of the width (at its tallest part), whatever the tyre/tread design.

Thx. I'd never thought of it like that and what you say makes sense.

Proper knobblies not only grip better but shed the mud better too.

im running MT21 front, Mitas E0-9 rear at the mo - great combo for off road in my eyes.

I've been running an Army Special front, C-02 rear for most of the year, which is an OK compromise for something that gets used on the road in between rallies.

In an ideal world, I'd buy another front wheel and use a proper open-pattern enduro front, at least for the muddier rallies - Ryedale, Beacons, probably Hafren. The ones that are mostly stone/gravel based the Army front was fine.

The C-02 rear works great, a lot of the Big Bike lot use them.

E-09/TKC not aggressive enough for rallying IMO. Fine for trail riding.


Oh and just stick a cheap high mudguard on ;)

Just a quick thought; whilst the tyre profile and width is the same (supposedly) what happens once it's caked in mud?

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._5509050_n.jpg

If you have a good tyre for mud conditions, the tyre will self clean so build up is not an issue. I use an E09 rear because I can get 5000 miles from it as opposed to 2500 from a C02. E09 front isna much good on slippy stuff and the best I've tried for these conditions is the Metzeler Unicross, it's brilliant and not bad on tar too. Oponeo have these for 40 quid.

Depends how muddy it is...

http://getfile1.posterous.com/getfil...scaled1000.jpg

:D

Don't get me wrong, I think the E-09 rear is a great road and trail tyre. But I think Monsieur 374 may be after something a little more aggressive, and a bit less concerned about life.

C02 is the one for him then.