Okay, so, I recently got into this whole off-road motorcycling thing, and let me tell you, it’s a blast! But, man, figuring out the right tires? That’s a whole other story. I started off with the tires that came with my bike, and let’s just say they weren’t exactly cut out for the kind of trails I wanted to hit.
I did a ton of reading online – forums, blogs, you name it. Everyone had their own opinions, and it got pretty confusing pretty fast. All-terrain tires were the suggestion for on-road and off-road compromise, so that’s where I focused my energy. You know, those tires with the chunky tread patterns? Yeah, those.
First, I tried to understand what all those numbers on the tire sidewall meant. Like, I saw something like “180/55R17” on one tire, and I was like, “Huh?” Turns out, it is the size and construction. That “R” means it’s a radial tire, whatever that means. And there are some with a “B,” too. It’s a lot to take in!
Then I dove into the different brands. There are so many options out there! I felt like I was drowning in tire choices. I started looking at the tread patterns, trying to figure out which ones would grip well in mud, sand, and gravel.
After spending way too many hours researching, I finally narrowed it down to a few choices. I went down to my local motorcycle shop and bugged the guys there for a good hour. They were super helpful, answering all my newbie questions.
Finally, I made my decision and bought a set of all-terrain tires. I picked some with a pretty aggressive tread pattern, hoping they’d give me good traction off-road. I slapped those bad boys on my bike and took it out for a spin. It was such a difference compare to the original ones! I could actually go on those dirt trails without feeling like I was going to wipe out every five seconds!
Here is what I wrote down in my little notebook about my new tires:
- Grip: Way better than the stock tires. I felt much more confident on loose surfaces.
- Noise: A little louder on the pavement, but nothing too crazy.
- Ride: A bit stiffer than the old tires, but still pretty comfortable.
- Looks: They look pretty badass, not gonna lie.
I’ve been riding with these tires for a few weeks now, and I’m really happy with them. They’ve opened up a whole new world of off-road riding for me. It’s still a learning process, but I’m having a ton of fun figuring it all out. Next up, I need to start looking into better suspension…
