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Anyone run a Kenda K270 as a dirt only tire?

Motosportz

Motosportz

CH Sponsor
Staff member
Jake stopped by on his Transalp the other day and had a K270 mounted up. Looks like a nice crossover from a trails tire to a knob. Anyone used them for off road only use? thoughts?

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Yes and I really like that tire. I originally purchased it thinking I would do more road,gravel this summer. I did use it for a couple hundred miles that way and it worked great. Then I had a last minute 7 day riding trip to Colorado. I used that K270, 120/80 x 18 that I already had on my 07 TE 450. I was totally impressed with everything about it. It was rainy, rocky, muddy, hard packed, loose shale rock, big boulders, really everything but sand. Not one chunk or slash. I guess that may partially be due to close spacing but we tore tires up on that trip. I probably rode 400 miles out there. I added a pic thats after another 140 mile gravel, trail day here in MO where it also worked great. I do like a narrow tire for our rocks and its narrow.
I already bought another one for a bike we borrowed for the trip.
 
I used them for a few years on my KLX250s, which I used primarily for single track. I loved that tire. It wasn't the best in the mud, but good everywhere else, and lasted a LONG time. Do not under any circumstances even consider using the front, unless you ride 90% street. I kept going back to it, thinking it was going to be ok for the hard pack i normally ride. It tried to kill me every time. Last time I was out 6 weeks with a broken ankle.
 
Zomby woof said:
I used them for a few years on my KLX250s, which I used primarily for single track. I loved that tire. It wasn't the best in the mud, but good everywhere else, and lasted a LONG time. Do not under any circumstances even consider using the front, unless you ride 90% street. I kept going back to it, thinking it was going to be ok for the hard pack i normally ride. It tried to kill me every time. Last time I was out 6 weeks with a broken ankle.
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Yeah, I am picky about front tires. Stick with what i know there. :thumbsup: Rear I'll try anything once. Just looked like a nice cross between a knob and trials tire.
 
I have a friend that swears by them and he rides exclusively off road. their cheap enough that I would probably willing to try some.
 
Motosportz said:
Just looked like a nice cross between a knob and trials tire.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say it has much in common with a trials tire, but I much preferred it to a trakmaster, which a lot of the dual sport guys swear by.

I was in the shop tonight and noticed I still have that k270 front. I don't want to throw it out because it only has a few rides on it, but I don't want to sell it to somebody and be responsible for their demise :banana:
 
We run them on all of our tour bikes. They wear really well on and off road. Tall side walls and spongy rubber, like a trials tire but but not a trials tire. :)
 
I have always had bad luck with Kenda in general. All have ended up with knobs, mostly the side knobs sheering off.
 
Man, that thing looks like it would be bad news in soft stuff (sand) or mud. I suppose that's no different than a trials tire...

But, if it's like a trials tire, why not just run a trials tire?
 
The Kenda is a copy of the IRC GP1.
And in my opinon for the $10 extra go with the IRC.
In the dirt there a useible tire,just as good as T63 or 606.But on pavement the knobs are weak and wiggle pretty bad.Nothing uncontrolible,but very weird feeling tire.Any hard cornering will give you a very unstable feeling.
For the money if i was looking for a 70/30 tire id run the Michelin T63s,better at high speed,and in wet and or muddy conditions.There S rated and have decent life depending on bike weight and right hand.There a street legal version of there desert racer.
 
Kyle Tarry said:
Man, that thing looks like it would be bad news in soft stuff (sand) or mud. I suppose that's no different than a trials tire...

But, if it's like a trials tire, why not just run a trials tire?
Click to expand...


i want something like a trails tire but a little more robust and knob like too. Something int he middle. I cant seem to get a trails tire to last as i always end up tearing them up even though buddy Jake runs them for a million miles without issue. I also dont like that they are so soft (radial) that they are near impossible to ride when flat. Just looking for a trails tires knob blend to try and why I posted here asking about them after seeing one.
 
Motosportz said:
i want something like a trails tire but a little more robust and knob like too. Something int he middle. I cant seem to get a trails tire to last as i always end up tearing them up even though buddy Jake runs them for a million miles without issue. I also dont like that they are so soft (radial) that they are near impossible to ride when flat. Just looking for a trails tires knob blend to try and why I posted here asking about them after seeing one.
Click to expand...



IRC GP1

S rated,great blend of trials and knobes,at a fare price.I could get almost 3000 miles out of a rear on a DRZ.As long as ya watched the tire pressure.Air down in dirt,and first chance you get air back up to road pressure on pavement.
 
That is a proven pattern for the rear. Like said above, don't even consider the front tire. I rode a friends old XL with them front and rear and was scared of the front. Seems there are a few companies that make that pattern and I even had a Grand Sport version on an XL 600 when I bought it used. I would run the Kenda/IRC/Shinko rear on the 630 for DS use, but not the 510.
 
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