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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😊
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.
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.
There's a pretty big difference from leading and trailing edge, yes, but moreso that it isn't round left to right. That makes high and low spots that a rider can feel with the change in effort. And, the high spots, of course, provide less grip. Admittedly, many don't notice these things, which is why I was asking. (Genuinely curious, not poking the bear. 🙂 )
There's a pretty big difference from leading and trailing edge, yes, but moreso that it isn't round left to right.
You're talking more about the fact it's squaring off? I haven't noticed any significant difference over past tires I've ran. They all get flat in the middle. I don't get to commute to work on US 129. As the flat becomes more pronounced with wear I can eventually tell tip in isn't as smooth as a fresh tire, but that doesn't keep me from taking it down to the wear bars. Or maybe a little farther... 😁
As for that little curled lip on the trailing edge of the siping, I think that has to due with the nature of the tread pattern and forces from acceleration. Those side treads are more perpendicular and are taking forces broadside on the trailing edge. I've burned through numerous sets of Bridgestones that had a very similar tread pattern and I'm on the last one on the 2nd VFR. That also exhibits the trailing edge curl.
They do all get flat in the middle, unless you only ride in the twisties. It’s a gradual change, so we all get used to the handling. A new set of tyres highlights the change. I take my tyres to the wear strips too.
Right. Mine get scalloped when I suck at braking properly and get worn flat at partial lean, so I get a high spot on each side of the flat spots, which really sucks when you need grip there!
I think my biggest gripe with tire wear usually hits the front the hardest, and that's from the slope of the road crown. The left side of the front tire is always out of tread first. I imagine for UK and Europe folks it's the opposite, the right side wears quicker.
It's been debated a few times, but not likely the crown is a big factor..... you turn left more than right, and chances are you favour the left side and may be more aggressive on left curves than right..... I have worn the right side off first during aggressive riding on the Cherahola.
Additionally, most people "perform" differently on one side from the other. What I've seen is that people carry more lean to the left. My thought (unemcumbered by any facts!) is that most folks are right side dominant and their brains are protecting that side. I'm inferior at both sides. 🙂
It's because of the extra forces and weight on the left side when you ride with your left hand on your hip.... taken from the "gixder forums".... 🤪
I find it difficult to ride with right hand on hip to balance that out!
Mine actually wears out left or right faster depending upon CW or CCW direction track is run. Some tracks only go in one direction, like Laguna Seca, so I wear out left side quicker.
You're talking more about the fact it's squaring off? I haven't noticed any significant difference over past tires I've ran. They all get flat in the middle. I don't get to commute to work on US 129. As the flat becomes more pronounced with wear I can eventually tell tip in isn't as smooth as a fresh tire, but that doesn't keep me from taking it down to the wear bars. Or maybe a little farther... 😁
As for that little curled lip on the trailing edge of the siping, I think that has to due with the nature of the tread pattern and forces from acceleration. Those side treads are more perpendicular and are taking forces broadside on the trailing edge. I've burned through numerous sets of Bridgestones that had a very similar tread pattern and I'm on the last one on the 2nd VFR. That also exhibits the trailing edge curl.
Consulted with Dave Moss and he suggested I go 2/1psi less to 31F/28R. And increase rear rebound-damping. I added 1/4-turn per session and ended up 1 full turn more @ 2.75 turns compared to original 1.75. Much more even wear by 3rd day. Not much left, but definitely better. Also improved my times by 1.2s/lap, which is HUGE!
[image: uc?export=download&id=1Z-MtT3CC113a4VGTY]
Got set of KM1 in, looking forward to tyres that lasts more than 3-days!!! Especially at Attesa Podium Club track, which is much higher speeds. 🙂
One last tread life update on these. Just starting to skim the center wear bars on the rear. 14,000 miles. The front might go to 20,000 or more. It's a little nuts the longest lasting tire I've ever ran on a VFR is the cheapest.
End of thread · 37 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 2 Oct 2023
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