u/ramblings-of-a-biker

Why do you ride?

I've been riding since I was a kid, and something got me thinking recently about why we actually keep coming back to motorcycles.

It's obviously not just about getting from A to B.

For some it's the freedom. Some love the machines themselves. Some ride for the adventure, the scenery or the people they meet along the way.

For me, it's probably a bit of all of those things.

But I'm curious about everyone else.

What is it about riding that keeps you coming back?

Anyone who says they can't tell the diffbetween tyre brands isn't really in touch with their bike. I choose different brands for different bikes and different types of riding. My choice isn't right for everyone, its right for me, and as such I will not be drawn into a tyre recommendation thread.

For sports bikes, I always go for Bridgestone. Ive tried Continental, Michelin, Dunlop and pirelli, but i prefer the feedback I get from Bridgestone. They work for me and how I ride.

For adventure bikes, its a bit more complicated. For the off-road stuff, I always fit Continental TKC80 tyres. They simply do what is expected of them. That's why they remained unchanged for decades. They don't last as long as others, they aren't as stable on asphalt as others, but they perform well then the bias is more towards dirt than tarmac, but you still need to be able to do motorway speeds on the highway.

But change the bias a little, and I choose different tyres. For faster road riding, and more road than dirt, it has to be Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR. I fitted these to a BMW 1250 GSA a few years back and toured Europe 2-up, loaded with luggage, and they didn't have any chicken straps on either tyre. They stick like glue and give incredible lean angles in all weathers. I always have a pair in the shed for when I need them.

My favourite all rounder at the moment is the Mitas Enduro Trail+. It's quite simply a great compromise tyre which lasts a long time. The set i have on the T7 now have been in service for over 3 years. They grip the asphalt, grip the dirt, but they don't do either as well as the tyres mentioned previously. But their plus is how long they last. They will delivery twice the mileage of the STR or the TKC80, they're just not as good when it comes to grip either on road or off-road.

The next brand I am about to try is the Anlas Capra Rally X. I will fit them in the coming weeks to try throughout the Autumn and Winter months and post a review on the website.

I have tried various brands over the years, Hein Gericke, Oxford, Kriega etc., but my favourite brand has got to be Enduristan. It's not cheap, but its really good, well designed and it lasts. #enduristan #yamahatenere700

I use the Rolling Mavericks Enduro Trail Stand. Weighs less than 100g, takes almost zero space in my luggage, works with any bike and looks cool in anodised blue. What do you use?

For me, it would be to make the exhaust hanger removable without having to butcher the frame. #yamahatenere700

My wife is 60, im 54, but we still do long day and multi-day trips on the T7. Next summer, we are taking the bike to Italy, exploring Tuscany and Puglia from the UK.

Controversial, but i think the T7 is great for 2-up touring.