Getting Ready for the Trans-Wisconsin Adv Trail

[DRugerH]

Good morning all. I am getting ready to finally check off a bucket list item. I am about ready to embark on the Trans-Wisconsin Adventure Trail, or T.W.A.T. in June this year.

I was originally going to take that trip years ago on my Yamaha TW200, but I had to sell that bike, involuntary, but then, not sure how much I would have enjoyed it on that bike anyhow. Well, I purchased the Himalayan for this purpose alone. Last summer, I took a dirt bike training course in preparation, and really glad I did. I plan to hotel it the night before I start the trail and the night after I end it, but plan to camp while I'm on it. I motorcycle camp all the time, so that is not unfamiliar to me and I know how to pack for that.

As for the Himalayan, so far, I have done:

Handlebar risers
Grip Puppies
Mirror risers/extenders
Crash Bars
Accessory Bar
Seat Concepts High Seat
Rubber pads removed from pegs
Panniers
Garmin Zumo XT
Oil cooler cover
Rear master cylinder cover
*This is about all I can remember

Needed:
Tires
Thicker tubes
Maybe larger foot pegs, though I don't mind the stock size

This is my question. I need to get some better tires for this trail which will be a mix of dirt, gravel, mud, sand and stream crossings. I am looking at either the Dunlap 606 or the Shinko 244, leaning more towards the Shinkos. Would anyone be able to help me with the sizes I need for my bike since they don't have the OEM sizes of the Himalayan?

Thank you for your help,
Dan

 

[puttbutt]

Have you tried the perilli mt-21 tires, they're rated for 10% road use, and 90% off road. presently, I have bridgestone trail wings. but I believe they're 50/50 for street and off road. haven't used them off road, so I can't tell you how they handle. Did you also raise the front fender with spacers so that mud doesn't get jammed underneath them?

 

[Robert]

Can't find Shinko's in the size for a Hima, well not in metric sizes....
Dunlop 606 is not available for the Hima's sizes either.. For Dunlop you might consider the Trailmax which is a 50/50 tire.
Plenty of other tires on the market, Mitas E07 is a popular one, as are Shinko 705.
Great part of choice is personal preference, which is only aaquired after trying different tires......

 

[DRugerH]

Puttbutt, I looked at these, but I will be riding a lot of pavement as well. Do you know how well these will work? I think it's about 150-miles just to get to the start of the T.W.A.T from me, so wondering how these would perform. I didn't even think about fender spacers, but, yeah, I'll be in mud and will have some stream crossings, which I am sure are muddy as well, so I think I'll make some.

Robert, I was looking at the Mitas as well. I wanted the Shinko 244s, but, yeah, I'd have to figure out how to convert metric to standard, and I suck at those conversions. But, the Mitas are intriguing. A little pricey, but right now, those are the only tires in the Himalayan size that I can actually find in stock.

Dan

 

[puttbutt]

right now, I've been using the bridgestones to commute to work which is a 56 mile round trip. haven't had any issues with them so far. have ridden in the rain without issues. however if you hit a tar snake while going around a curve, you'll feel it. just google motorcycle tire conversion chart and you'll come up with a lot of info. on that.

 

[Robert]

Here's a conversion chart:

https://www.weeksmotorcycle.com/tire-size-conversion-chart.html#gsc.tab=0

There are several others, just take a look at a few.

Hima rear is 120-90 so should be something like 4.50

 

[DRugerH]

Robert, thanks. I have seen other conversions, but the one you sent is the most informative

Problem: While I am able to find tire sizes for our bikes, nobody has both in stock. It's one or the other, or they are out of tube type... except for one

Rocky Mountain ATV has Tusk Dsport tires that look similar to the Dunap D606. I saw some reviews on these tires, and they might fit the bill. They are fairly inexpensive, but reviewers talk about their longevity and smoothness on pavement, while being aggressive off-road, which is similar to the Dunlap D606 tires I've had before, so I think I might just go ahead and jump on them

Funny thing though, while I can get a front tube anywhere in the world, I can't seem to get a rear tube. I wanted heavy duty tubes, but none can be found, so I think I'll probably get a heavy duty tube for the front, and order a set of RE tubes from India, just to have spares while I'm on my trip.

Dan

 

[OldGuy]

Hey Dan,
RevZilla has IRC heavy duty tubes in all sizes. The 4.00-5.10 x 18 would work fine, and they also have 2.75-3.00 x 21" that'll work. They have a lot of the dual-sport tires in Himma sizes too, but I can't say anything about what happens to be in stock.
OG

 

[Robert]

Amazon.com : inner tube 17 inch

 

[DRugerH]

Thanks all, I'll check out the tubes.

As for tires, as OG said, not much appears to be in stock anywhere, so I ended up having to mix and match. So, upon research with the terrain I am going to hit up, I made a compromise and purchased a Pirelli MT21 for the rear and a Continental TKC80 for the front. I think both will do fine for this trip, and will leave the riding on pavement comfortable enough. I may change my mind once I start my trip, but that's what I will soon have, and will need to live with them. I can always put the stock tires back on when I return.

I also ordered tire spoons and a small compressor that I can plug into my battery tender plug. I want to change out the tires myself in case I have to do this on the trail since I'll pretty much be in the middle of nowhere. May as well learn how with the new tires.

Anyhow, thanks for everyone's help and advice.

Dan

 

[DRugerH]

Well, it was 85 degrees in SE Wisconsin yesterday, so I took advantage of the weather and installed the new tires. Wow, what a chore that was. I don't know how long it took me as I worked on it from 8-11am, but I took a couple of coffee breaks, and was talking to my neighbors from time to time, but it got done. Never changed tires myself before, and hope I never have to again, but if I get a flat on the trail, I know what to do.

I also decided to get a new and better battery since I keep reading about the OEM batteries not lasting long, so did that as a precaution. I also took advantage of the time and wired in the new Garmin Zumo XT that I will be using to stay on the trails.

I think the bike is as ready as it can be. I'll keep riding the bike to break in the tires since they are a little squirrely right now. I expected that being new and knobby and all. They are smoother on the road than I thought, and only really notice the aggressiveness of them as I come to a stop, so maybe 5mph and slower.

Dan

 

[OldGuy]

Hey Dan,
I checked out some of the pics from the ride you're planning.... Lotta miles of sand - take a tow strap... and an extra battery for your cell phone...Could be a long hike for help.
OG

 

[Eatmore Mudd]

Well, it was 85 degrees in SE Wisconsin yesterday, so I took advantage of the weather and installed the new tires. Wow, what a chore that was. I don't know how long it took me as I worked on it from 8-11am, but I took a couple of coffee breaks, and was talking to my neighbors from time to time, but it got done. Never changed tires myself before, and hope I never have to again, but if I get a flat on the trail, I know what to do.

I also decided to get a new and better battery since I keep reading about the OEM batteries not lasting long, so did that as a precaution. I also took advantage of the time and wired in the new Garmin Zumo XT that I will be using to stay on the trails.

I think the bike is as ready as it can be. I'll keep riding the bike to break in the tires since they are a little squirrely right now. I expected that being new and knobby and all. They are smoother on the road than I thought, and only really notice the aggressiveness of them as I come to a stop, so maybe 5mph and slower.

Dan

Practice practice practice !
With some good technique and a couple dozen off & on drills you can go from flat to patched up an rolling again in 40 minutes !

 

[DRugerH]

Hey Dan,
I checked out some of the pics from the ride you're planning.... Lotta miles of sand - take a tow strap... and an extra battery for your cell phone...Could be a long hike for help.
OG

Yeah, the sand is what's gonna get me, for sure. And, I'll be doing this ride solo, so that's another fun one. Taking a battery pack for the phone is a good idea. Not sure if I'll get cellular coverage out there, but may as well take some more juice with me. I've heard of some riders who skip the sand, but I'm going to try it anyhow. I've taken a dirt bike class, where it was 8-hours. Two hours in talks, 6 on the bike. I never dropped the bike they gave me to ride, but there wasn't any sand either, but they had all other terrain. I was told that I could use that trail whenever I wanted. I just gotta drop $10 in their box, and have fun. I'll take the Himalayan there, panniers and all, and see how it goes. We also have a state park, closer to home, that has a dirt bike track. Not as fun as the trails in the class, but still be good for practice.

Dan

 

[DRugerH]

Practice practice practice !
With some good technique and a couple dozen off & on drills you can go from flat to patched up an rolling again in 40 minutes !

True. I really don't want to, but I know I need to. My neighbor is fixing up a 1950's Honda 50, so maybe I'll offer to change his tires since I think he's at that point.

Dan

 

[DRugerH]

Since my last post, I had to replace my front tire already. Continental recalled the TKC80, and they weren't going to start sending out letters until this month, so instead of waiting, I searched and found the matching front tire, the Pirelli MT21, which I like a lot better. It makes more noise on pavement, but I think the set is going to work much better on the T.W.A.T. Also, I purchased a 2011 Honda Shadow RS, and ended up replacing the tires on that bike, so I am now 5-tires in, and my Vulcan looks like it can use a new set. Man, what have I started?

Dan

 

[puttbutt]

since we depend on only two tires on our machines, you have to be pro active to prevent any catastrophic failures.

 

[DRugerH]

Putttbutt, so true. I didn't want to run a recalled tire, but it worked out since I got the front tire I wanted anyhow. Thanks again for recommending the MT21s

Dan

 

[puttbutt]

you're welcome. good luck on your adventure. please post pics. or videos if you can. I would like to learn from other's experience. this summer will be doing my first moto camping. obviously, it won't be on the same level as your ride, but this will be a learning experience for me also. not to hijack this post, but the dirt course that you took, did they explain what psi to use when going off road, if there are factors that influence this.?

 

[DRugerH]

Puttbutt, no, they didn't explain tire pressures. I took the "Street to Trails" class, so the guy pretty much explained the handling of the bike, when to sit or stand, using your knees to steer the bike, etc. He may have explained it in some of the other classes, or in the more advanced classes, but no the one I took. He did take us in all terrains, except sand, so I get to experience riding in that myself next week. I think I'll be learning as I go.

Dan