headsup: MEFO Super Explorers

Just an FYI in case anyone is looking for a new "true dual sport" tire...

There has been lots of talk about the MEFO Super Explorer in Orange Crush. Personally I'm trying to find a tire that will last me 4000+ miles for Montana this summer and it looks like this one has potential.

The MEFOs aren't easy to find. I got it from Epic Motosports out on 119 in Longmont (Kevin doesn't stock the tire (yet) but he had it for me in a couple of days, and it cost me less than mail order ).

In fact I bought the tire, had it mounted and balanced for the same as what just the tire costs online
If you haven't tried Epic (http://www.epicmotosports.com/) you should check 'em out (no relation: just a happy customer) ).
If the tire catches on Kevin will keep them in stock for us (but he's always gotten me any tire with a couple of days).



I dunno how it handles yet (its pretty easy to guess from the tread pattern what it'll be like - half way between a scorpion and a 908) .. but I'll find out in Dinosaur this weekend

I had a set of MEFOs on my KLR...of course I can't remember the model, but they lasted me >8000 mi. They didn't whine on the pavement either. Geek - you ride a little differently than I do :huh , so YMMV.

Very curious how you like them... Were you running a 908RR previously?

And did you get a Mefo front as well?

Ed,

Do us a favor and measure the height of the new knobs and report back here.

FYI
TKCs are in the 12 mm vicinity.
606s are 16 mm.

Thanks,

Steve

Yeah.. I just ran a 908 and got less than 2K miles on it (admittedly spinning it up everywhere).

I'm still running the TKC80 front. I don't like how the TKC wears but I do like it's combination of onroad/offroad characteristics - and it seems to me like it is about the "same balance" as the MEFO as to ratio dirt/paved.

The MEFO front seems more street to me than the MEFO rear

I did a little 50 mile romp on it this afternoon and initial feel is that it is much more "rollie" than the 908 - i.e. rolls into paved corners really well where as the 908 is kind of square when on the fat rim... exactly what you'd expect.

I'll let you guys know what I think after this weekend which will have hundreds of miles of gravel and even some sand dunes
(I'll probably hate it )

Here you go Steve (keeping in mind the rubber in the MEFO is supposed to be really hard - so it should wear slower than the rubber in the 908)

Here is the MEFO:


and here is the 908 on my 610 (has less than 150 miles on it):



...both just slightly deeper then 1/2 inch on the center knob row

(the photos are a little deceptive.. in person they both look about 6/10ths)

or about 15 mm

you had the 130-17" explorers not the super explorers.
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/765/
super explorer only in larger sizes.
word is mefo is produced by heidenau.
if you look at a heidenau k-60 and a super explorer you'll see a similar tire.
http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/productsnew_b.html
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443958

i run those 130-17 explorers on my dr w/ tkc-80 front.
great high mileage 50/50 dual sport tire combo.
tried the mefo front once and hated how it easily washed out compared to tkc.

word is the heidenau k-60s in 130-17" size do not last as long as mefo explorers.
k-60 are cheaper than explorers.

140-18 k-60s also cheaper than super explorers.
that might also mean less mileage in that size too.
could be mefo specs a harder rubber to heindeau for production.
maybe geek will try those next.

That's good to know as I'm trying to kill off the Gripsters that came on the bike and looking for something a bit more off-road friendly yet that won't be dead in 2k miles. Probably ought to just pull the Gripsters and save them for future road oriented trips.

have a friend in steamboat who used a k-60 rear on a bmw and loved it in the dirt.
i think you'll have spinfest in the sand.
that sand is not like packed ocean sand.

after trying all sorts of tires & combos on a klr and now dr (both 21" fr & 130-17") rear i've found this combo be awesome. i get 7-8K on the set. i replace both at the same time. great paved performance as well as dirt performance.
not a dirt knobby by any means but a great match for 650 dual sports.

One question for those running the Mefos

I tried a set of the Shinko 705s on my F650... They wore ok (7k rear, front doesn't look very worn at all)...

I was very unhappy with the front traction on the street. I think the front tread is much harder than it needs to be. The front was very very easy to lock up on dry pavement.. Coming up to a light, it was way to easy to have the abs kick in....

Are the Mefos so hard that I will experience the same thing? I am going to a set of Conti attacks next...

i LOVE the new mefo super explorers....they will be the only tire I run from now on (for my Adventure)...

And btw, Apex (Col. Springs) has them in stock constantly.

Thanks for clarifying. One thing I should add...thought the Explorers lasted many miles, I remember Geek giving me the "that should have been replaced yesterday" line when he saw the front tire which had scalloped pretty well. I ignored him and ran it for many more miles, but there was a certain resonance at ~55 mph when the front would feel particularly bumpy. Below or above that speed was no problem, and I didn't have any problems cornering...but then again, I don't corner like Mr. Back-It-In-On_Rist-Cyn, so YMMV.

That was a terraflex... kinda like a big black crayon they draw great stripes on pavement...

Yes, yes it did. :eek1

so geek???

Got a set I'm just dying to mount up.

1000+ miles on then in the past 4 days.. spinning 'em up everywhere for fun... they still look new :huh