Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

The Karoo 3 has been available the last two years.  It is my tyre of choice.  In fact, over the years I have had nothing but praise for the  Karoo line.

Charles, What mileage can one expect to get om Karoo 3's (1200GS, not over the top riding?)

I get over 10 000km on a back wheel, more on the front.  It depends on whether, near the end, I need them to be more aggressive for a difficult offroad trip or not.  My last set, I got before the Transkei Extreme in 2014.  I used them for two Jurg se Kaya trips (a year apart, with daily commuting in between).  They were still good for a trip with Geoff and offroad training.

Others with 1200 LCs have complained about getting low mileage - it might be because those bikes are more powerful and aggressive than my 1150.

Thank you, Charles. 10 000km plus was what I was hoping to hear. I appreciate your feedback.

(In my mind I still cherish my 1150 GS which was the first BMW that I've bought 15 years ago when I started riding again. Amazing, solid and no-nonsence bikes. The kind of machine that becomes sort of human and a friend to you...)

Hi Johan - according to the distributors in CT, this tyre will be available to us later in the year. They haven't said exactly when.

Thank you, Stan.

They have been threatening to import this tyre since before Xmas 2014.

Can not wait to test it.

Johan

Before fitting the Karoo3 to my 800GS I was advised to heat cycle the tyres to give me more km's from the tyres. This was the first time I fitted Karoo 3's, so I have no reference to measure against, but to date I have done nearly 9000 km on the rear and still have some way to go. In my estimation I should get another 2000 odd km's from it.

My riding includes daily commuting in town; a 3300 km tour  where we did around 65% on tar due to weather and other reasons beyond our control ( moderate riding as Madie was on her own bike and is not comfortable with aggressive riding); 2 one day rides in the Kalahari with fairly aggressive riding and one unplanned high speed ride on tar in hot conditions (app 100 km). The rest was general riding on tar and gravel.

I love the feel and control I get from these tyres. 

There must be something wrong with all your speedo reading 

I got 1800km on my Kroo 3's on my 1200GSLC

Have now fitted a Pirellis on the back and have done 800km over 2 weekends on dirt and it look no better than the Karoo's

I only use the Karoo's & Pirellis on weekends as I have a road tyre rim for road running Mon-Friday

The Karoo on the front is good and I never change that to road tyres 

Can you please let me know how you do 9000km? 

I'm sure that Johan AND Charles can't be having a similar odometer error ...

http://www.bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/heat-treatment-tyres

In theory, the 1200GS LC (125HP) will also eat rear tyres faster than the 800GS (85HP), unless you moderate the enthusiasm of your right hand.

• The 1200LC eats rear tyres due to it's high power and torque.
• By only using the Karoos over weekends and not on your commute you are not naturally heat-cycling them.
• A lot depends on rider style also.

Hi Johan

To answer your SECOND question first, we will be stocking Kaoo 3's from this week forward, to complement our Dunlop, MITAS, Hdenau, and Capra X. We put in an order 2 weeks back, just got all the approvals in place.

In the year prior to us stocking Karoo 3's, nearly all of the feedback we got was these tires were:

Very good value

Could be noisy on tar (compared to what, you will ask, but it's the feedback we get)

Its a tire that inspires great confidence, and is really 'trusted'...

OUR customers -the ones giving feedback before we stock this tire, say it is good for an 'honest' 4000km, (rear, obviously) I reckon that is  20-30 people's feedback. Your mileage (quite literally!) may vary.

Finally, we will seriously consider stocking the Michelin WILD as soon as they are launched/available. Then we will have 5 dual-sport /Adventure tire brands, catering for most needs.

Cheers, Chris & Team

Thank you to all who have responded to my original post above. I really appreciate your interaction and feedback.

Hi Johan,

I ride a 1200GS LC and got 12,000km on the rear with Karoo 3's. I use my bike for daily commuting and weekend gravel trips - i.e. Tankwa, Cederberg, Overberg, Karoo, etc. As Karoo 3's have an aggressive pattern and are "knobblies", I expected some road noise, but nothing more serious than any other aggressive dual purpose tyre. Previously had Michelin Anakee 3's on with which the bike came out and obviously any dual purpose tyre will be noisier than them, although the Anakee's are considered dual purpose. I now have the Capra X on the LC and if I could "turn back time", I would definitely go with Karoo 3's again.

My 2c worth.....

Thank you, Dudley!

Ride in rain mode when you commute on the LC, I guess you will get more km's from your tyres as the traction control will engage quicker 

I get just over 10, 000 km on Karoo 3's with my 1200GSA LC. Mostly commuting. I found the tyres noisy. I would love to try the new Anakee Wild but I have a feeling it will be out of my budget. If they are to be 15 to 20% more expensive than the Anakee III, and the Anakee III rear is already over R2,000 a tyre ...... then I think I'll stick to Karoo III.

Any suggestions where and what I should fit in Jhb (both wheels) on my 1200 GSA before embarking on a 10 000 km trip through Zim, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda? I plan to ride up to Jhb on my existing TKCs and change there but I believe TKCs are no longer available. 

I would use Karoo 3, or the E-07 - both give good all-round performance and last well if you look after them (no long hot fast rides on tar).  Other supposedly "dual purpose" tyres like the Tourance are not good enough for thick sand or mud, and other more knobbly tyres like the TKC-80 that are brilliant in off-road conditions tend to wear out too quickly.

Another really tough tyre is the Heidenau K60 Scout, but there are some who object to its extra-strong sidewalls and difficulty in breaking the bead.  The design intention is that you should never need to remove the tyre because it is so tough.  It is capable and durable.

When will u start a fitment section?

Hi Stephen - we have a fitment section for everything EXCEPT tires: we don't plan to start a tire fitment section anytime soon, as it will necessitate a dedicated fitment person, as well as a machine (fitting AND balancing), and these machines are pricey.... (R35K+)

So, we have an agreement ith THREE different tire fitment centers, who fit the tires we sell, for a fee:

Donfords Cape Town: BMW motorbikes only: R100 per wheel, fitted and balanced, which is amazing value since you get a trained BMW technician working on your bike...

Mike Hopkins Motorcycles, Cape Town City Centre: R150 per wheel fitted and balanced, and they will do ALL makes of motorcycles...

Trac-Mac Paarden Eiland: R250 per wheel, fitted and balanced, all makes of motorcycle...

We deliver paid-for tires free-of-charge DAILY to BMW Cape Town and Mike Hopkins, all youu need to do is drive in, and get them fitted the FOLLOWING day, or within say a week of me delivering them..

For Trac Mac, we deliver the tires around free-of-charge, or will drive your bike around if you leave it with us, and then collect it when they are fitted...

Cheers

Chris & Team

Hi Anton - just for your info, we are stocking a REPLACEMENT for TKC 80's until they are again available in South Africa (later this year, Q3, we hear...)...

the tire that is near-identical is the ANLAS Capra X: basically the near-identical 4 block/5 block/4 block mud-shedding pattern as the TKC 80's...

there is a shortage of certain sizes for the LC's at the moment, in fact there is a shortage of tires nationally PERIOD!

Many importers are getting new stock in, nn the 2nd week of Apriol, and then we will have a full complement of brands AND sizes available..

Hope that helps!

Chris & Team

Thank you! My problem s that I have to ride to Jhb on my existing tyres before replacing them for a 10 000 km trip to Uganda and back. Any suggestions where I could source and fit similar tyres in Jhb?

Here you go, Anton, 20 Dealers, many (but not all) of whom will stock Capra X, the rest may ONLY do MITAS, unsure.

Just be aware there is a temporary shortage on 150 & 170 rears, and 90/90/21's on MANY brands...

http://www.wfobikes.co.za/dealers/category/gautenghttp://www.wfobikes.co.za/dealers/category/gauteng

Chris & Team

Anton, Reading your post and just wondering what time of the year you will do this trip, and how many km's of dirt track you will cover?

I rode from the DRC through Zambia and Moz back to SA in 2013 at the end of the rainy season and used Anakee II on my 800 GS. They performed well enough except for the wet and muddy dirt roads. (I'm a novice rider). Tar road conditions in Moz, Zambia and Tanzania were not bad at the time but the dirt roads were very slippery when wet. Dry dirt roads were fine.

Suggestion: Fit 80/20 for the trip and take your TKC's as spares, as you may need them in Uganda/Rwanda.

A question related to this thread - at what stage should you consider that a tyre is past its useful life? The legal minimum depth is 1.6mm (across 75% of the tyre) and most recommend replacing when the tread is below 3mm. This may be ok for tar riding but what about for off-road - at what stage should I consider replacing before an off-road trip?

I expect that the answer will have something to do with the severity of the terrain expected and the experience of the rider but there should be some rule of thumb?

I use single set of Heidenau for my daily commute as well as weekends off road and don't see the sense (and hassle) of changing between different tyres for different applications.

Thank you so much! 

Danie, we are going in May/June and try to stay off the tar as much as possible. Previous trips we found TKC 80s to be the best compromise.

Apart from having less traction with worn tyres on an offroad trip (which may not be much of a problem depending on the terrain etc), the biggest risk with worn tyres is tyre failure in the sticks.

Having less tread means the tyre runs warmer (less air circulating between the tyre and the ground), and that it is more vulnerable to punctures.  When there is doubt, there is no doubt: you need to change it.

Anton, best then to stay with what you have experience with. I have previously fitted tires at Full Throttle in Pta. Maybe some advance notice to ensure stock? I'd still consider taking a spare set of tires.

Sounds like you have done this before but just some additional advice. Prevention against Malaria, and just in case take some Coartem on the trip. 

You welcome to send me a pm. I'm currently in the DRC.

I'm interested how your tyres fared and what you chose in the end.

Would you guys fit Karoo 3 rear and TKC 80 front? Is that not a good idea?

I commute daily, rain or shine but I'd also like a tyre that grips well in front on dirt highways...on dirt roads to Oasis, Baviaans or Wuppertal for instance.

Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Should I just go Karoo 3 in front as well? To me they seem a bit "slick" for the front.

Then the Anakee Wilds are obviously the dark horse here. Some people hate them others love them.

Nothing wrong with TKC80 in front.  They are a great tyre and were designed for the GS.  Also, since the front wears less quickly, you will get good mileage from them.

I run with Karoo 3 front and back at the moment, but would run a TKC80 in front if the opportunity (read discount on the tyre) presented itself.

I've got TKC70 on the rear and TKC80 on the front. Ride every day irrespective of weather.

Inflate rear to 3.0 and front to 2.6 bar for commuting. Drop pressure to 1.8 - 2.0 offroad depending on conditions.

I've done 8,000km to date and am very happy with the tyres.

PS as expected, the tyres are somewhat noisy. I wear earplugs so the noise does not bother me.

I also have a rear TKC70 and front TKC80.

I find them a lot quieter than (my long time favourite) the Mitas E07; or the Karoo 3. The first time I rode with a Mitas I thought the drive shaft bearing was going ... 

But: I'm not really happy with the TKC70 on back - I think it's inferior to either the Mitas or Karoo 3. For me the '70 is in the same category as the older Anakee (haven't tried the new wilds). It feels more tentative on looser gravel; and buries itself in really soft stuff.  I haven't tried it on any really rough rocky terrain - but I'm not terribly optimistic. On hard gravel highways, when warmed up a bit - they are pretty good though.  

The big difference between Tony's and my setup is of course the extra 2 centimeters. On the width of the tyre, people! He's about 20cm taller than me ... 

So, a wider TKC70 on the LC may have less of a tendency to wander. And Tony avoids the really loose "stuff" anyway.  

There's one thing about both Conti's that I really like though - better than any other tyre I've tried. They really keep the air in.  Seriously, one would think that's the basic job of a tyre - but in 3 months I've never had to 'top up' the presssure weeks later.  The harder-side-wall tyres do lose the odd KPA. 

There's no one tyre that's going to do everything. You have to find something that works well for you - so you can trust that you are going to get x-thousand km of good grip on the trip you are planning. For me the best allrounder (including tyre life), on the 'air-cooled' 1200, for my riding style, has been the Mitas E07.  

But I really like the TKC80 on the front now, I might just keep that and use the Mitas on the back. 

I have heard many adverse comments (and people changing their tyres) due to the TKC 70 "wandering" on the road.

Metzeler Karoo 3 feedback:

I started this thread in February last year (time certainly flies!) and subsequently fitted a set of Metzeler Karoo 3 tyres (front and rear) on my 1200 GS air-cooled. Until now I've done 5000 km on the tyres, mostly during cooler periods with probably cooler roads, over long distances and with only rider and luggage on board. Around 50% was on tar at around 130 km/h on average and the rest on gravel roads ranging from hard surfaces at higher speeds to going-really-slow sections with loose surfaces and in very bad condition. I did not cover sand, neither wet roads.

The front tyre still looks brand new after 5000 km. The rear tyre is still OK for, I guess, another 1000 km.

I'm very happy with my choice thus far. I knew from the start that I wouldn't be getting the mileage that I'm used to on dual-purpose tyres, but the benefits for me and for my riding style certainly made up for it.

• The solid feel of the bike and the grip of the tyres on tar and on gravel just boosted my self-confidence. No more wondering where the back-end might might drift to in loose gravel as I was used to on dual-purpose tyres. Just straight line momentum all the time, going forward.
• Tyre noise (humming) is evident. (I ride with earplugs, so it doesn't bother me.)
• An interesting "bonus" is the ability of the tyres to claw when cornering. This is especially evident on tar. It is almost as if the bike is progressively glued to the road surface as the lean angle increases. Really an amazing and comforting feeling.
• As I didn't cover sandy or wet roads, I cannot report on the tyre's performance under these conditions. I can, however, say that I wouldn't hesitate to tackle such roads when the time comes, purely based on the self-confidence that the tryes instill in me. And, in the end, with off-road riding, isn't self-confidence what matters most? 

When it's time, I'll replace the rear tyre with a Karoo 3 again. This time, however, I'll make sure that I run the tyre in properly (something which I haven't done with this first set of Karoo 3s) before embarking on longer trips. From what I've read on this and other forums it should increase the life of the tyres.

Stephen I read your mileage comment with interest, Tyre and fuel consumption are closely related to the right hand, As one noted earlier, ride in the rain mode 

Hi Geoff

Comments on various forums re: TKC70s "wandering" refer to front tyre only - hence the TKC80 upfront .

Yeah, since chatting to a fellow club member on Tuesday who was taking off their Anakee Wild's after only a few KM's and saying that they were horrible off road because of the non airing down etc i'm strongly leaning to the Karoo 3's

Either front and back or Karoo 3 back with TKC80 / Capra X front. It seems that the Karoo 3 front and back will be fine for my intended use though.

Thanks for all the feedback here.