Kenda k657 challenger tires

[thebrandonbeezy]

230's are in the shopping kart.. just waiting on my tax return...

[thebrandonbeezy]

230's are in the shopping kart.. just waiting on my tax return...

I like the Pirelli sport demons, but the longevity isn't the greatest.
I have Metzeler Sportec classic on my bike now, couldn't be happier, but they were pricy....

[roeme]

The mic hahah i was talking about the mic being expensive hahaha

I misread that as well initially - realized it soon enough though

[thebrandonbeezy]

Hundred bucks for front and rear on Revzilla...how much less would you pay for the most important thing between you and the pavement? anyway, I like them on my CX and will likely buy them for my GS750.

The mic hahah i was talking about the mic being expensive hahaha

(Pics mic up off the floor, theyre expensive...) so im definitely leaning tward the 230 at this point, even though its the most expensive of the two (712 and 230) its still in my budget and has a higher speed rating. Not that i really need that but its nice to have haha

Hundred bucks for front and rear on Revzilla...how much less would you pay for the most important thing between you and the pavement? anyway, I like them on my CX and will likely buy them for my GS750.

[Steve]

Oh, just so there is no misunderstanding, the "something that lasts a bit longer" will not be Avons.

Either going to be Michelin Commander2 or Dunlop E3. Will have to change the back wheel for either one of them, but I know for a fact that the Dunlop E3 will outlast even the Avons. I had three sets of them on my Wing, two sets went over 23,000 miles, the third set would have gone that far, too, but I was leaving for Mississippi and already had 20,000 miles on them, so I changed them early.

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[thebrandonbeezy]

The orange and black one we (98% him) built he literally road it to cali 2 days after getting it started for the first time ever.. to go to born free 8..


That last one was on "burnout" road in Memphis tn on his way back. I have family there and i met up with him by chance haha anyways. Probably will switch to avons down the road but im on a tight budget.. which is why i asked about the kendas.. and im glad i did. Thanks guys

[thebrandonbeezy]

Right now, I have 230s on all four of the GSes in the stable. If purchase price is your sole criteria, the Shinkos are a good choice.
I have only run 230s, but know a couple of riders around here that have 712s, they like them, too.

My current set of 230s should last through this upcoming season, then I will be switching to something that lasts a bit longer, as we are planning a motorcycle vacation for 2018 that involves a trip that is approaching 7000 miles. Definitely do not want to be scheduling tire changes for three bikes on the trip.

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My buddy did the same last year on his 68 triumph. Used the "old school avons". Vero to cali and back. Tires wore perfect and are still on the bike today. Given his bike only weighs 270 wet (he built the frame from chromoly) his wifes 82 sporty 1000 had the same avons and theyre still perfect too. You get what you pay for, i think just the rear was 170?!?! Now those tires would certainly be out of place on my gs, but im sure this good quality is shared throughout the avon lineup?

[Steve]

Right now, I have 230s on all four of the GSes in the stable. If purchase price is your sole criteria, the Shinkos are a good choice.
I have only run 230s, but know a couple of riders around here that have 712s, they like them, too.

My current set of 230s should last through this upcoming season, then I will be switching to something that lasts a bit longer, as we are planning a motorcycle vacation for 2018 that involves a trip that is approaching 7000 miles. Definitely do not want to be scheduling tire changes for three bikes on the trip.

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[bwringer]

I try to not even allow Kenda Challengers on my property (not always successfully). If anyone asks me to do a test ride on their bike to diagnose a problem and I see Challengers on it, I will politely decline. I treat them as rim protectors that keep the rims from making marks on my shop floor.

I am way down the list of "fast, sporty riders". Not much grass grows under my bike, but I am FAR from keeping up with some of the riders here. Atendees at the last Ozark Rally can verify that. However I have had Challengers slip on me more than once ON DRY PAVEMENT. If a tire gives up THAT easily, I have no use for it.

Shinko 712 and 230 tires are priced about the same as Challengers and have an amazing smount of grip, especially considering their price. The tradeoff is longevity. Bwringer tested a pair of 230s and found them comfortable,predictable and grippy, but they only lasted about half the miles of his favored Avons. Shinkos are cheaper to buy, but Avons are cheaper per mile.

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Exactly what I was going to post. There are very few crappy tires these days, but the Kendas are indeed unadulterated crap.

Get you some Shinkos!

[thebrandonbeezy]

(Pics mic up off the floor, theyre expensive...) so im definitely leaning tward the 230 at this point, even though its the most expensive of the two (712 and 230) its still in my budget and has a higher speed rating. Not that i really need that but its nice to have haha

shinko 712!....(mic drops to floor)

[Steve]

I try to not even allow Kenda Challengers on my property (not always successfully). If anyone asks me to do a test ride on their bike to diagnose a problem and I see Challengers on it, I will politely decline. I treat them as rim protectors that keep the rims from making marks on my shop floor.

I am way down the list of "fast, sporty riders". Not much grass grows under my bike, but I am FAR from keeping up with some of the riders here. Atendees at the last Ozark Rally can verify that. However I have had Challengers slip on me more than once ON DRY PAVEMENT. If a tire gives up THAT easily, I have no use for it.

Shinko 712 and 230 tires are priced about the same as Challengers and have an amazing smount of grip, especially considering their price. The tradeoff is longevity. Bwringer tested a pair of 230s and found them comfortable,predictable and grippy, but they only lasted about half the miles of his favored Avons. Shinkos are cheaper to buy, but Avons are cheaper per mile.

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[smilinbrad]

450.jpgI put a set on my 450A last year. Only manufacturer that could give me a matching set for my sizes. I didn't expect much but they have worn nicely (5,000+ miles) no cupping, no squared off shoulder, lots of tread left. The rear was even two years old when I received them. The guy that changes my tires said the rear was so hard to mount that I should sell the bike before it needs to be replaced. The spoke rim apparently needs a deeper channel for the bead during mounting. Not an issue with the tire itself. If I use them again, I'll consider mounting the front reversed rotation as the rain grooves seem backwards.
I've purchase Shinkos before but haven't put enough miles on them to have an opinion. Now those Dunlop 404s, I've had lots of experience with them. Not a high performance tire but a dependable, predictable service tire for my riding.