Adventure tire for 2019 nc750x - limited options

[jody]

Looking to get tires with more off-road capability - not motorcross, but something like 70/30 or so - 70% pavement, 30% dirt. Flexible.

Calling local shops they all tell me my tires size specs are odd for an adventure tire. Quote I got was for Pirelli MT 60 RS Sport Corsa for front and back - around $500 for both tires (Canadian).

Questions:
1. Are any other tire sizes an option? I know nothing about tires, so I don't know if that's a dumb question. But if other tire sizes are an option, then that opens up more tire options.
2. What do other owners use for adventure-style tires?

Tires specs for my 2019 nc750x:
- Front: 120/70ZR17
- Rear: 160/60ZR17

Any suggestions appreciated!

Update as of Feb 13, 2021:

I purchased Pirelli MT 60 RS Sport Corsa. which are 60/40. $485 Canadian for front and back - a lot more than I was expecting, but I shopped around - it's the going rate.

 

[670cc]

A low cost option would be Shinko 705 80-20 tires. The rear doesn’t come in 160/60 size but the 150/70 size works just fine. I and other forum members have used them in the past

As you noted, Pirelli MT60 tires do come in the NC’s sizes. They are sort of a 60-40 tire. I have a new set in my basement that I had bought from another forum member, but have never tried them yet.

 

[bamamate]

There a many options for the rear in the 150/70 size which I run with no problems. It does throw off the speedo a bit which can be fixed by a speedo healer or larger rear sprocket (I did the sprocket). The front is the hard one to find. TKC80 (which I have), Shinko 705, MT60 are the only ones I know.

 

[Penguinsfan82]

So how does the Shinko 705 effect the speedometer? Higher than actual or lower? I am looking at the same switch from stock tires....

 

[670cc]

So how does the Shinko 705 effect the speedometer? Higher than actual or lower? I am looking at the same switch from stock tires....

The 150/70-17 tire has a bit larger outer diameter than the 160/60 stock size. The motorcycle will cover more distance for each wheel revolution. The speedometer will read lower than actual speed but I forgot what the percentage error was. I have a speedometer corrector device so I can program it so the speedometer is correct.

 

[Penguinsfan82]

ok, thanks for the warning...I don't need to get myself in any trouble just because I wanted some new tires

 

[jackthebiker]

The 150/70-17 tire has a bit larger outer diameter than the 160/60 stock size. The motorcycle will cover more distance for each wheel revolution. The speedometer will read lower than actual speed but I forgot what the percentage error was. I have a speedometer corrector device so I can program it so the speedometer is correct.

That reminds me that I put a corrector on my wifes 1100 Vstar Silverado. She would complain that I was driving to fast. I would drive 4 or 5 miles over the speed limit, but her biker would show a lot more. So we would argue about it. I put the corrector on her bike and set it to read a few mph low. No more arguements, and I continued to drive 4 or 5 mph over the speed limit,

 

[GregT]

The Continental TKC70s are another choice. I ran them on my NC700X in Mexico and they did just fine. The TKC70 also offers an even more off-road rear tire, called the TKC70 Rocks. I have this tire on my BMW and I like it. Here are some links:

TKC70 Rocks rear tire:

Continental TKC 70 Rocks Tires | 35% ($135.36) Off! - RevZilla

Bridging the gap between the more off-road oriented TKC 80 Twinduro Tires and the Trail Attack 2 Tires, the Continental TKC70 Rocks Tires make an exce…

www.revzilla.com

TKC Tires - Front and Rear:

Continental TKC 70 Tires | 35% ($142.78) Off! - RevZilla

Bridging the gap between the more off-road oriented TKC 80 Twinduro Tires and the Trail Attack 2 Tires, the Continental TKC70 Tires make an excellent …

www.revzilla.com

 

[Hondo53]

A low cost option would be Shinko 705 80-20 tires. The rear doesn’t come in 160/60 size but the 150/70 size works just fine. I and other forum members have used them in the past

As you noted, Pirelli MT60 tires do come in the NC’s sizes. They are sort of a 60-40 tire. I have a new set in my basement that I had bought from another forum member, but have never tried them yet.
View attachment 43993

My last (and i mean last) Shinko delaminated at 3500 miles. POS tires never again

 

[mudtrack]

My vote would be for the TKC70 Rocks. My wife will likely put these on her new bike for our mud road at the end of long highway pavement getting there.
I sure like the TKC80 front. I have a MotoZ Tractionator GPS on my DL650 rear with a TKC80 front. Great combination for long mileage. But the Motoz is HEAVY for a NC7xxx.

 

[jcarpino]

Looking to get tires with more off-road capability - not motorcross, but something like 70/30 or so - 70% pavement, 30% dirt. Flexible.

Calling local shops they all tell me my tires size specs are odd for an adventure tire. Quote I got was for Pirelli MT 60 RS Sport Corsa for front and back - around $500 for both tires (Canadian).

Questions:
1. Are any other tire sizes an option? I know nothing about tires, so I don't know if that's a dumb question. But if other tire sizes are an option, then that opens up more tire options.
2. What do other owners use for adventure-style tires?

Tires specs for my 2019 nc750x:
- Front: 120/70ZR17
- Rear: 160/60ZR17

Any suggestions appreciated!

I'm due for new tires and considering the Avon Trailriders (90/10) tire. I ride mostly pavement with dome dirt roads on occasion. They also offer the TrekRider, which is more like a 60/40 or 50/50 tire. Sizes are more limited on the TrekRider.

 

[mudtrack]

My goal is for my wife who is relatively inexperienced off road in mud to be able to make it the last several miles in the slop to make it to our cabin. Keep in mind she has ridden a Suzuki Burgman 400 maxi-scooter for the last few years, and is getting a NC750x DCT this Spring of 2021. The more off road experienced the rider, the more that rider can handle slick conditions with 90 road/10 off road tires with little problem. On our muddy road I would want for my wife nothing less than a 50/50, or basically anything in the TKC lineup. The TKC80 rear may not last, but my wife would be good with them. The TKC70 Rocks looks like it would be perfect for her until she can handle more shiny road tires on the slop with more experience. However she is in her late '60's in age I and feel better that she ride a tire like the TKC70 Rocks. Or TKC80. Or Shinko 805. (I happen to have a Shinko 805 150/70 17 that I used on my V-Strom for about 800 miles during trip training. They were great - I switched to the MotOZ Tractionator GPS for a long trip up the Dempster Highway and needed the long miles. However the Shinko 805 was great. This used tire has at least another Summer of use on them.). Maybe I could handle those Avon Trailriders with my experience level, but with less off-road experience my wife should err on the knobby side, in my opinion.

 

[itlives]

That looks pretty slick! Kudos to wifey for making it on any tire!

 

[itlives]

There a many options for the rear in the 150/70 size which I run with no problems. It does throw off the speedo a bit which can be fixed by a speedo healer or larger rear sprocket (I did the sprocket). The front is the hard one to find. TKC80 (which I have), Shinko 705, MT60 are the only ones I know.

Hey bamamate! So, if you get a 150/70 tire , how much larger of a sprocket did you get??
Personally, I'd rather use a GPS for a speedo anyway... if it won't hurt the dct using a taller tire..

 

[mudtrack]

Hey bamamate! So, if you get a 150/70 tire , how much larger of a sprocket did you get??
Personally, I'd rather use a GPS for a speedo anyway... if it won't hurt the dct using a taller tire..

As you may already know, my wife is in the purchase phase of a "hopefully" 2021 or if that does not work out a 2020 NC750x, depending on North America introduction phases.
However, with my current Suzuki V-Strom 650 I have always had a speedometer that reads 5 to 8 miles per hour faster than GPS speed, regardless of tires whether new or almost at time to send to the scrap heap.
My wife's 2018 Suzuki Burgman 400 (soon to be traded in) has always had a speedometer that reads similar in that 5 to 7 miles per hour faster than GPS speed.
My wife used to ride a Honda scooter PCX 150 that seemed to read more accurate in that it showed 2 to 4 miles per hour faster than GPS speed.
I have a tendency to to believe motorcycle manufacturers overestimate actual speed to excite purchasers.

 

[670cc]

As you may already know, my wife is in the purchase phase of a "hopefully" 2021 or if that does not work out a 2020 NC750x, depending on North America introduction phases.
However, with my current Suzuki V-Strom 650 I have always had a speedometer that reads 5 to 8 miles per hour faster than GPS speed, regardless of tires whether new or almost at time to send to the scrap heap.
My wife's 2018 Suzuki Burgman 400 (soon to be traded in) has always had a speedometer that reads similar in that 5 to 7 miles per hour faster than GPS speed.
My wife used to ride a Honda scooter PCX 150 that seemed to read more accurate in that it showed 2 to 4 miles per hour faster than GPS speed.
I have a tendency to to believe motorcycle manufacturers overestimate actual speed to excite purchasers.

There is always the option to be able to program the speedometer accuracy. I have installed speedometer correction devices (SpeedoDRD) on my GL1800, NC700X, and CRF250L Rally. With stock tires, my NC has a very accurate speedometer, but if I change tire or sprocket sizes, I can easily correct the speedometer error.

 

[bamamate]

Hey bamamate! So, if you get a 150/70 tire , how much larger of a sprocket did you get??
Personally, I'd rather use a GPS for a speedo anyway... if it won't hurt the dct using a taller tire..

I went 3 teeth higher in the back. With the combination of my speedo reading a little high to begin with and the taller tire, that put my speedo right on with the GPS. I also had to add a link or 2 to the chain length.

 

[670cc]

I went 3 teeth higher in the back. With the combination of my speedo reading a little high to begin with and the taller tire, that put my speedo right on with the GPS. I also had to add a link or 2 to the chain length.

Thanks for the info. Probably two chain links were added. It’s hard to add just one.

 

[mtnbiker1185]

In the US a vehicle's speedometer has to be accurate to within 3% +/-, so I would lean more towards the GPS being off than the speedometer assuming no modifications were made that could affect the accuracy of the speedometer. While a 10 year old motorcycle could be off of that since it most likely has never been recalibrated, a new one will definitely meet that requirement. What affects the accuracy of the speedometer depends on where it is pulling the speed from, but can basically narrowed down to the size of the sprockets and/or rear wheel. Meanwhile, a lot of things can affect the accuracy of GPS. The only real way to tell if it is accurate is to take it to a calibration site or ride past one of those roadside radar signs and compare.

On a different note, how much do you and your wife plan on riding off-road/to your cabin? Reason I ask is she might be better suited on a lighter bike until she gains more experience. Now if this is going to be a once in a blue moon trip then I can understand not wanting to purchase a bike for just this trip in mind, but if it is going to be more of a regular thing I would recommend rethinking the NC route. Reason being is that while the bike doesn't feel heavy, it is and new riders tend to tense up and try to fight the bike when riding in

 

[670cc]

In the US a vehicle's speedometer has to be accurate to within 3% +/-, so I would lean more towards the GPS being off than the speedometer assuming no modifications were made that could affect the accuracy of the speedometer.

I just installed SpeedoDRD speedometer correctors on my GL1800 and on my CRF250L (each running stock tire sizes). The Goldwing needed a 6% correction factor to bring it’s speedometer to match 2 different GPS units. The CRF required 5% correction to match two different GPS receivers. (Of, course, I would never expect the different GPS units to not match each other anyway). I have no idea what speedometer accuracy requirements the US might have, but if it’s 3%, Honda and other motorcycle manufacturers have been getting away with a lot more than 3% error for a long time.

Maybe you meant odometer accuracy. I have not checked my motorcycle’s odometers for accuracy.

I have not personally witnessed a GPS receiver with good satellite signal reception displaying incorrect speed.