So what's the deal with the chunky dual sport tires on cafe/trackers builds?

[HollywoodMX]

As seen on a lot of builds on popular bike blogs, you seen these fantastic creations with modern suspension and they add these dual sport variety tires. Something like the dunlop D616, scorpion S/T, etc, etc. Granted some are tracker builds, but how many of these trackers really see the dirt? Some are so pristine that there would be no way it would see the dirt! lol. And dont get me started on the 40k pimped Harley's with MX tires.

Looks wise I haved to admit, they do look cool. Its more industrial of a look, bit more mad max. But buyer beware they only really look cool under certain conditions below;

1. Brand new.
2. Super clean with signs of street use cleaned up but with still lots of tread.
3. Brand new.

*Second pic shows used versions of the tire and how uncool they become with use.

So what is the deal? Is there any benefit that I am missing vs throwing on a set of CT2' and calling it a day?

 

[xb33bsa]

the only concern for the vast majority of these stupid fuckers is how there bike looks in some still shot pichurs
they don't give a single fuk how it handles or rides,not that they would know the difference anyway ;D
merry christmas

 

[D4N63R]

My reasons for running a full dual sport tire (shinko 244) aside from it looking bad ass hahaha

I have a real winter, this means TONS of gravel at every intersection and along every street until at least June-July, back alleys are never cleaned (my favorite way to dodge traffic) and some of the roads I take in my daily commute don't see a street sweeper until august. The city is generally dusty and dirty (industrial city in the prairies). The DS tires hold pretty much the same on both surfaces.

I like to go on adventures

On my Kenda Trakmaster (full blown dirt bike knobby that is somehow street legal) equipped DRZ i could do 100 kph on my only local go fast curvy road before the tires would step out. On this road 100 is enough to shake off any squid that may come along by a long shot. I switched to super moto wheels and honestly, the bike was more fun with the dual sport stuff. much more versatile.

The handling is there, they dont feel super comfortable on the edge, but the tires can generally take a person a lot further then they would expect. Of course they wont handle like a Pirelli but good enough for the street.

They are cheap, but thats kind of mute as tire life is pretty low.

Did I mention they look BA? hahaha

I will have a regular street tire for any long trips on the bike.

 

[hunterkey]

My sr500 isnt really a cafe, but I ride it in the woods and abuse it. I just got some dual sport tires because the street tires dont do well in the mud and going over logs and stuff

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

It's like hipsters in work boots.

http://www.hipstersinworkboots.com/

 

[D4N63R]

It's like hipsters in work boots.

http://www.hipstersinworkboots.com/

It frightens me that such a tumblr exists..

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

You have to admit, it's the perfect analogy.

 

[D4N63R]

it really is... take a bike with emgo pod's (plaid shirt) too much flat black spray paint (black framed glasses), no fender/fork brace (i dont know what to compare that too, maybe lack of performance as a man?) throw on some meaty tires (work boots) and BAM instant cool...

 

[Tim]

Well my SR500 fits your bill nicely But it is destined to live in the country and see some gravel roads and maybe even some trails. In hindsight my GSXR front end would likely be better replaced by something from a dirtbike, and that might still happen.

 

[xb33bsa]

that is some funny shit
exceprt:
Tough day at the job site today. The radiator on the dozer blew out and the foreman told me to repair it myself. I couldn’t seem to use my iPhone to fix the hoses and pumps. My Twitter followers weren’t helpful at all. I didn’t remember taking a diesel mechanics class in my film studies program at Hampshire. I called the guys in the band but they were super high and couldn’t help either. Luckily, mom came down with a new radiator hose and some hose clamps. So, she took care of it.


how come they are all white ? are hipsters racist ?

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Those tires are perfect on that bike. It's not a hipster, it's a hiker. 8)

 

[D4N63R]

Tim the gsxr front will be valved a bit stiff but other then that it''ll be fine, depending on weight of you and the bike it actually may work out great

 

[SONICJK]

My sr500 has dual sport tires as well.
Because it's being built to be.....well.....a dual sport

 

[rockcitycafe]

i think you're right about a dirt front end, the gsxr one is designed from day 1 to handle asphalt, the dirt front end might feel a bit sproingy on the road, but will have adequate travel for trails and dirt, where the front wheel is sometimes just plowing through gravel

 

[D4N63R]

i think you're right about a dirt front end, the gsxr one is designed from day 1 to handle asphalt, the dirt front end might feel a bit sproingy on the road, but will have adequate travel for trails and dirt, where the front wheel is sometimes just plowing through gravel

the problem with dirt forks is they are so long, you can lower them internally but then you need to re valve them to account for that and you end up with something as stiff as a street fork anyway. Unless you can make a CR80 or similar fork with a heavy spring work.

 

[HollywoodMX]

It's like hipsters in work boots.

http://www.hipstersinworkboots.com/

I'm not even sure the tires are a hipster thing, classy bike builders are using them all the time and I cant imagine they are hipsters. Perhaps its harley's fault for instilling fashion over form into the motorcycle community... :-X

Whhhhhyyyyy!!!!??? Will these bikes see dirt???

Well my SR500 fits your bill nicely But it is destined to live in the country and see some gravel roads and maybe even some trails. In hindsight my GSXR front end would likely be better replaced by something from a dirtbike, and that might still happen.

Ya I don't blame anyone who rocks those tires living near gravel roads as part of a typical commute.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I'm not even sure the tires are a hipster thing

I didn't say they were.
Dual sport tires on something like a CB360 is like work boots on a hipster.
See the analogy?

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

I didn't say they were.
Dual sport tires on something like a CB360 is like work boots on a hipster.
See the analogy?

Hey, the CL360 is a "Dual Sport" bike...LOL....

And I would stop talking about Work Boots and Hipsters, Rich Ard might get offended...He likes his work boots...

 

[xb33bsa]

that number 13 hardly up there is such an abortion
the tires are the very least of it's issues