vfrgiving Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 The KM1 is Kenda's first sport touring radial. There aren't many size options, but 120/70 and 180/55 is available. So far I have no complaints with these, and the price is outstanding. I slapped a set of these on the VFR right before a big trip and have put 3,000 miles on them so far. 2,700 miles of that was interstate use loaded down with luggage. The tread life is holding up remarkably well. I got stuck in some very heavy rain enroute and they cut through the water without issue. The luggage has been removed and I've done a couple rides on sporting mountain roads. They've held grip just fine for the amount I push the VFR. I'll post another update after a few thousand more miles, but I don't see any indication they won't have enough life left for the return trip. This is at 3,000 miles use: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Wald Posted April 27, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted April 27, 2023 Interesting choice! I only know Kenda as a bicycle tire manufacturer. Currently, I am running on Shinko Verge 011. Price was around $200 for the set. While the traction and tip in are good, I only get 3000 miles on front and rear. Same was for Conti motion tires which grip a little better, warm up quicker and are less sensitive to tar snakes (it seems that tar snakes becoming an art here lately) but always had a little shimmy effect on the front end, no matter how good these were balanced. Please report on the wear and how many miles you get out of these tires. From the picture, it looks li,e these grip well at lean angle. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted April 27, 2023 Author Share Posted April 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Wald said: From the picture, it looks li,e these grip well at lean angle. I'm not one to try and put a knee down, but I was having a fun ride there. That photo was taken on the grade out of Borrego Springs on Montezuma Valley Rd just to give you an idea of the type of roads I'm testing these out on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Wald Posted April 27, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted April 27, 2023 The tire shows how much fun you had! LOL! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted April 27, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted April 27, 2023 Wow, that's pretty darn good wear for 3000 miles!🙂 Will probably make it to 10k, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted April 27, 2023 Author Share Posted April 27, 2023 2 hours ago, DannoXYZ said: Wow, that's pretty darn good wear for 3000 miles!🙂 Will probably make it to 10k, eh? I'm hoping so. The last time I did this trip a few months ago I was running Shinko Ravens. I got 10,000-11,000 out of that rear tire and a few thousand more out of the front. I was prepared to buy another set but found these Kendas even cheaper and decided to give them a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 2, 2023 Author Share Posted May 2, 2023 5,000 miles. Still a ton of tread meat left. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Wald Posted May 3, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 3, 2023 I hate to admit it, but I may go for a set later in the season. Thanks for the report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted May 3, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 3, 2023 They look like old Dunlops, D207s were they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 2 hours ago, bmart said: They look like old Dunlops, D207s were they? Maybe? The tread pattern is pretty generic. Could be a reminder of any number of sport bike tires. There will be another tread life update shortly. These should have 8,000+ miles on them by this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted May 4, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 4, 2023 That's magical mileage. I have 3k on my Roadsmart IIIs and I'm monitoring closely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 4, 2023 Author Share Posted May 4, 2023 5 hours ago, bmart said: That's magical mileage. I have 3k on my Roadsmart IIIs and I'm monitoring closely. It's going to be another 2,700 miles of interstate on a VFR loaded down with luggage. I think there will still be a good amount of life left after based on what I've seen so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeeEffArah Posted May 7, 2023 Share Posted May 7, 2023 Any update on these kicks after the cross country trek? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 7, 2023 Author Share Posted May 7, 2023 Yup. This is 8,000 miles. Squaring off on the rear is evident now but there's still a ton of meat left. Looks like maybe 1/8th inch material above wear bars in the middle. I could easily do another run across country on this set. The return trip might be pushing it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted May 7, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 7, 2023 What kind of pressures are you running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 7, 2023 Author Share Posted May 7, 2023 The Honda sticker pressures 36 - 42. These are even cheaper now, Motosport has the 120/70, 180/55 complete set for $136 😲 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted May 7, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 7, 2023 1 hour ago, vfrgiving said: The Honda sticker pressures 36 - 42. These are even cheaper now, Motosport has the 120/70, 180/55 complete set for $136 😲 Ugh, that's corporate CYA pressure for max GVWR at continuous top-speed of bike! You're sacrificing tonne of grip and safety at those pressures. Try 33/36 psi for much, much better braking and handling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted May 7, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 7, 2023 Mileage/longevity vs. grip...always the same. I run 36/42. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 7, 2023 Author Share Posted May 7, 2023 I feel like discussing preferred tire pressures is in the same categories as chain lube and engine oil. All of which I have no real interest in debating. I will say that is a nice video, but my VFR saw widely changing conditions throughout the trip. From drastically different bike weight loads to temperatures from high 30's to 105. Fiddling with tire pressure testing on a road trip is not my idea of a good time. I keep my maintenance concerns as simple as possible on the road so I can enjoy the ride. Maintain good chain slack and relative cleanliness and make sure tires are staying properly inflated. I want good tread life and 36/42 has served me well. If you want to try 33/36 in a set of KM1s you are more than welcome to. I'm merely pointing out here that there's a set of cheap tires that work. Money saved spent elsewhere on fuel, beer and good food. YMMV. 😊 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted May 7, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 7, 2023 Heh, heh... I'll try out set at my preferred pressures. Have gone through at least 50 sets of tyres on this bike. Thanks for the find! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted May 7, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 7, 2023 2 hours ago, vfrgiving said: All of which I have no real interest in debating. One less person to chime in. Excellent! 😛 On a serious note, PSI isn't as important as folks think. You should see the variation at a track day for people who are all much faster than we are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 7, 2023 Author Share Posted May 7, 2023 1 hour ago, bmart said: people who are all much faster than we are. LOL! Key takeaway here. I'm not trying to be Guy Martin on the Snaefell out there. With my police handlebar and lower footpegs I'm happy at my medium pace. I was up on Palomar on the weekend when some of the local go-fast crew was out. Full leathers and Ducatis. I moved my relative tortoise keister to the fog line when I saw the headlights. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrgiving Posted May 22, 2023 Author Share Posted May 22, 2023 10,000 miles and they're still hanging in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer bmart Posted May 22, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 22, 2023 And you don't notice the crazy wear pattern? That would have driven me mad thousands of miles ago. 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Bren Posted May 22, 2023 Member Contributer Share Posted May 22, 2023 1 hour ago, bmart said: And you don't notice the crazy wear pattern? That would have driven me mad thousands of miles ago. 😇 Just for my info and maybe the general audience, do you mean the wear on the sides ie. off center? Seems like a thin lip of rubber on the trailing edge. Cupping? On the rear? But the center looks OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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