VictoryHammer2006
New Member
thought I'd write a review of my new purchase Mitas E07 Dakars, and for just for kicks I'll make some comments about my rear case which is a SHAD SH48.
For the tires, I went from bald stock Metz'z which were amazing even at 120+ MPH on the street. Rode a level 3 rough fireroad ride on the bald Metz'z, slipped in the sand, little traction but thanks to the bike (and rider haha) never went down and outrode much of group. ::012::
-Ok so first off the e07 Dakars were US$300 for the set and another US$40 to install/balance at CycleGear. I'm a regular so got half price install.
-Went with manufacture recommended 36psi front and 32 psi back.
-The tires were the last set from a shop on eBay.
-First thing I noticed was the traction (good) as I pulled away, the next thing I noticed was the front end wanting to dive into the corners. At first I didn't like it. Felt like the front was too thin and was going to wash out (and that's on the payment). Quickly decided they needed a good break in.
Decided to do a 200 mile loop, with 50 of that being offroad, though fireroads there were some brutal sections of rock, hardpack, sand, everything ..and I road it like I stole it. more on that in a minute...
On the street I started to like the way it dropped into the corners and I was more aggressive in the twisters and once I trusted the tires I actually started to trust the bike more and have my first highway heel drag in the corners. So that was cool. I avoid that usually. That was from 0 elevation to 7000 ft up and back down. What I didn't like was as 85mph I have head shake. The wheel was balanced so guess I'll blame the knobs?????? Not liking that because I liked doing 100+ and it being so smooth it was like flying. This will slow me down which is probably a good thing. Not much tire noise. It sort of suddenly felt like a dirt bike on the street where prior it felt like a street bike in the dirt.
Regarding the offroad, I consider myself an advanced rider, but that's from years of true MX bikes and the Tenere is a newer experience for me. Have to say these tires performed very well compared to my Metz ride a few weeks back. In fact, there was a point I was competing with a train of jeeps for trail space and forgot I was on a 500 pound bike and mobbed in a way that requires good tread. The downside was the sand - though much improved it still sucked in the sand. That I'm going to blame on the bike (and I guess the rider) - there was some incremental improvement with these tires in the sand and huge improvement on all the other offroad conditions.
At the end of the ride the front looks new and the back lost the sharp corners on the knobs but the tread depth looks the same, like 0 wear on depth. 200 miles was not enough to judge so I'm making a 2000 mile ride starting next week on crappy roads. I'll report back on how these tires held up.
What else?
Oh, the SHAD rear case.. did that 50 miles offroad with my rear case because I forgot it was on there! I have the SHAD mount plate made for the tenere and the case. It held up beautifully overall offroad. I was really shocked. I caught air a half dozen times, and bottomed the bike out hard a few times. For a street minded rear case that holds 2 full face helmets it was amazing. The downside was on the drive TO the offroad spot the plastic top shell started to blow off. This is like a clip on hard plastic skin you can order in carbon fiber look, or the color of your bike. It is purely cosmetic but I would hate to lose it having paid more for the carbon fiber look. Some Gorilla glue will take care of it when I remember.
let me know if you have questions. Any advice on the head shake at 85mph and up on the street appreciate.
For the tires, I went from bald stock Metz'z which were amazing even at 120+ MPH on the street. Rode a level 3 rough fireroad ride on the bald Metz'z, slipped in the sand, little traction but thanks to the bike (and rider haha) never went down and outrode much of group. ::012::
-Ok so first off the e07 Dakars were US$300 for the set and another US$40 to install/balance at CycleGear. I'm a regular so got half price install.
-Went with manufacture recommended 36psi front and 32 psi back.
-The tires were the last set from a shop on eBay.
-First thing I noticed was the traction (good) as I pulled away, the next thing I noticed was the front end wanting to dive into the corners. At first I didn't like it. Felt like the front was too thin and was going to wash out (and that's on the payment). Quickly decided they needed a good break in.
Decided to do a 200 mile loop, with 50 of that being offroad, though fireroads there were some brutal sections of rock, hardpack, sand, everything ..and I road it like I stole it. more on that in a minute...
On the street I started to like the way it dropped into the corners and I was more aggressive in the twisters and once I trusted the tires I actually started to trust the bike more and have my first highway heel drag in the corners. So that was cool. I avoid that usually. That was from 0 elevation to 7000 ft up and back down. What I didn't like was as 85mph I have head shake. The wheel was balanced so guess I'll blame the knobs?????? Not liking that because I liked doing 100+ and it being so smooth it was like flying. This will slow me down which is probably a good thing. Not much tire noise. It sort of suddenly felt like a dirt bike on the street where prior it felt like a street bike in the dirt.
Regarding the offroad, I consider myself an advanced rider, but that's from years of true MX bikes and the Tenere is a newer experience for me. Have to say these tires performed very well compared to my Metz ride a few weeks back. In fact, there was a point I was competing with a train of jeeps for trail space and forgot I was on a 500 pound bike and mobbed in a way that requires good tread. The downside was the sand - though much improved it still sucked in the sand. That I'm going to blame on the bike (and I guess the rider) - there was some incremental improvement with these tires in the sand and huge improvement on all the other offroad conditions.
At the end of the ride the front looks new and the back lost the sharp corners on the knobs but the tread depth looks the same, like 0 wear on depth. 200 miles was not enough to judge so I'm making a 2000 mile ride starting next week on crappy roads. I'll report back on how these tires held up.
What else?
Oh, the SHAD rear case.. did that 50 miles offroad with my rear case because I forgot it was on there! I have the SHAD mount plate made for the tenere and the case. It held up beautifully overall offroad. I was really shocked. I caught air a half dozen times, and bottomed the bike out hard a few times. For a street minded rear case that holds 2 full face helmets it was amazing. The downside was on the drive TO the offroad spot the plastic top shell started to blow off. This is like a clip on hard plastic skin you can order in carbon fiber look, or the color of your bike. It is purely cosmetic but I would hate to lose it having paid more for the carbon fiber look. Some Gorilla glue will take care of it when I remember.
let me know if you have questions. Any advice on the head shake at 85mph and up on the street appreciate.
