Continental TKC80 - What are they really like on the road? - Triumph Street Twin

[@motobob]

Nice vid Tony! Pretty much exactly my experience of the TKC80s on the Street Twin, although I think I’ve a few more miles on so can confirm that they’re wearing really quickly. Don’t think I’ll be fitting them again just from an expense POV. The rear is squaring off and the front is getting really uneven - the knobbles in the middle are wearing fine but when they are either side of the centre line of the tyre, they’re starting to lose chunks. I think it’s from braking where they will probably splay a bit. Great tyres and they look awesome but I think I’ll have to swap them in a few months 😭

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers Bob, I don't think they'll last that long on tarmac, so i guess they could be an expensive choice if the dirt capability isn’t used.

[@mancavemoto]

I only did about 500 miles on them, then i sold the bike

[@TaylerJC1996]

I'm looking at getting these tyres for my street twin can I ask what sizes you bought for the front?

[@mekstro6290]

Bought a KTM 640 SM to commute in the winter. Sounds like this might be the tire for me. Oh, love the Triumph twin sound. It is just gorgeous!

[@SimonBrisbane]

That scrambler twin sounds magic. Watching on my iPad I can feel the pulse while holding the screen - love it!

[@mancavemoto]

Ha! Cheers

[@DispatchMoto]

Really good to hear your experience with the TKs, looking to buy some of these. Glad to hear they worked really well with your setup.

[@jacob14163]

Excellent review! I finally got a triumph scrambler 865 and they came with an extra set of tires, tkc 80s. Which are something I wanted any how. Looks like I will have to fit them on and go for it.

[@stevenhill6214]

Your bike is looking ace and those tyres definitely do something for it. I want to live on your planet full of lovely roads with hardly any cars!

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers Steve! You could always move to Essex 😉

[@cater10]

Thank you for this vid, I have a 2019 Street Scrambler, planning on getting these tires because I love the look as well, you answered all of the concerns I had, much appreciated

[@mancavemoto]

No problem 👍 and you'll have a better front tyre option with the 19 inch front rim

[@DrDeathEMS]

Cold winter already in Canada. We have a foot of snow and my scrambler is in the garage. Appreciate you and your channel. It will help get me through the winter. Although these tires look like they will perform better in the snow! Hmm

[@mancavemoto]

DrDeathEMS A foot already! Wow yep these could be fun in the snow. Still pretty mild here, it was apparently 18 degrees C in Scotland yesterday!

[@Voodooand]

I looked at til TKC 80s when i needed new tires and the compund feels nice and soft for road use, but i went for the MT60 RS corsa from pirelli because they had less blockey tread, more road biased, and i got to say the MT60s are epic! in all conditions(i ride all year round, only snow keeps me inside). done 7000km with them on. i really struggle to to find a reason not to put more dirt biased tires on every motorcycle i own because as you mention, dirt, grid, crap from tractors and such these tires grip great, and the more sporty, road smooth treaded ones will slide and loose grip way more easily. the slow speed rumble and vibration just isnt that much of a problem, it goes away above 30kmt. great review Tony!

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers Prt, i did look at the MT60rs and very nearly went with them. Maybe time time

[@ownyourworld]

I have run 4 sets of mitas eo7’s but think I’ll go with these next time as it’s getting a bit slippy now

[@OldManTony]

Interesting video. The tyres certainly complete the look and certainly seem to be performing OK too. I wonder what tyres they’ll be selling on the new new 1200 Scrambler!

[@bill_4359]

Just saw the promo and photos of the new Norton Atlas Nomad and Ranger 650's. I'm not looking to buy another bike, but I liked the Nomad. I own a 2017 Triumph Street Cup and a 2008 H-D Dyna Low Rider.

[@Flatcoat11]

Great honest review from somebody that actually uses them ... thanks

[@mancavemoto]

No problem 👍

[@rickducharme7429]

The bike looks righteous, Tony. It's funny about all the controversy from the peanut gallery re: these tires on the street--ridiculous, really. Good level-headed info. Thanks for it. Cheers!

[@mancavemoto]

Rick Ducharme cheers Rick

[@KrisMOTO23]

TKC80s are my pretty much go to tyres, ive had them on nearly every bike ive had and done 1000s on miles on them. Currently got a set on my Street Scrambler, had some on my Daytona 955 and ive got a pair to go on my speed triple once ive used up the current pirrellis. They are fantastic, I'd 100% agree with everything Tony has said about them. my only small gripe is the longevity but its what you get with that type of tyre but hey.. I love em.

[@russellgoodban7068]

You're putting these on a speed triple? Why?

[@stepheneldridge6998]

Bike looks good on the TK's...I've just changed the front wheel on my Xr650R supermoto to a 19 inch and fitted TKC80's. My first ride on these tyres this morning round the country lanes of West Sussex and I'm mighty impressed! I'm amazed how much they grip and how planted they feel on the road...considering how 'blocky' they look....great tyre!. I'm not concerned about wear rates...I just want a tyre that grips. Hmmmm....wonder what they would be like on the new Triumph scrambler I'm dreaming of....Steve

[@mancavemoto]

Nice, yep they get a ‘bad press’ usually from people that haven’t tried them out. Bet they are great on the XR650

[@mattevans5812]

Great tire. Sadly, they are now discontinued in North America but still available in the UK I think

[@mancavemoto]

Thats a shame

[@aintnothinbutdablues]

I’m not sure if the Michelin Anakee Wild weren’t better tires for the Street Twin/speed Twin 900

[@AkaAndyKnuckles]

On a KTM 690 Enduro R I used to have I found the TKC80 to have far more tarmac traction than I expected. Oddly I saw at Eicma that KTM have gone with the Mitas E07 on the new 2019 690 Enduro R.

[@mancavemoto]

Yes, i'm not saying they are the best tyres out there, but they are a LOT better on tarmac than people would imagine. Yes KTM have done some odd things with the tyres. The Adventure R had TKC80's on it when they unveiled it, then the next day they had been replaced with (from memory) Pirelli Scorpion rallyes?

[@nigelfleming3309]

An interesting review, thanks Tony, also some nice bikes outside the pub 😉

[@mancavemoto]

Yep apart from that awful green one 😉😂

[@stevene8893]

@ViewsfromtheManCave, Thanks for all the videos, I find them very helpful when modifying my Street Scrambler. Would you mind sharing what type of handguards Tom has on his Street Twin.

[@mancavemoto]

I’m pretty sure they are stock Tiger 800 handguards

[@vytas5584]

I wouldn't be surprised if the tyres are better in the wet. Look at racing slicks vs racing wets. They have grooves that channel the rain out. Huge grooves on TKC80s would do that well.

[@mancavemoto]

Yes they would, but by the same token the contact patch will be smaller, that was the thinking

[@BIG-K]

Very useful. Thanks Tony Nice visuals too.

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers

[@aidanreilly5469]

Lovely looking Triumph.

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks

[@filmdetective]

Hey again Tony Listen I have a “problem”with my street twin, and seeing as you seem pretty knowledgeable about it all, I thought I’d ask... I find my bike, not feeling like it used to. It use to have a strong coughing acceleration where I had a good like bopbopbop sound when I was accelerating in lower rpm. Now, I feel like it’s more like a steady stream when I accelerate, like sometimes it feels,like I could be in high rpm pretty quickly in 2nd and 3rd, I even found myself at the end of the throttle without the power I should be expected to have... it’s hard to explain by text (even more in English), even when I try to explain to the garage they don’t seem to pay me no mind... they take it for a ride and say it seems fine, but they didn’t have the before/after effect I’ve had... I tell myself it might be that the bike used to be new and now it’s fallen into what it’s supposed to be... it’s at 4000km I’ve played around with the clutch lever settings (1/2/3/4) and cable tightening, it does change things, but the effect doesn’t go away I know there are more settings I haven’t looked into, like the clutch cable down by the foot, or maybe it actually comes from the accelerator Dunno Thanks to you Tony Or anyone who could help Adrien

[@mancavemoto]

Hi Adrien, thats a difficult one to diagnose on here. Could be a slipping clutch maybe? or air leaking into the exhaust system. other than giving everything a good check over I can't suggest anything. Odd that the garage don't seem to think there is a problem?

[@filmdetective]

Views from the Man Cave I know, either I’m being too picky, or maybe the Triumph garage is being snobby... you mean to say it might be clutch disks themselves that are slipping?

[@edgeyt1]

I wonder if weight is the issue with these tyres. They came fitted to my KTM 690 Enduro (21" f 18" r), and I found the unpredictable in the wet, never tried them off road. Best thing about them was they wore out very quickly. I swapped to Pirreli MT21 they were very reasonable off and on road. Don't know if you can get them in the sizes you need.

[@Verdekiwi]

Thanks for the video. Loves the roads you’re riding. Where were you?

[@mancavemoto]

Based in Essex, UK

[@pierremartin9048]

Really good overview, and they look’ the part. I’ve used these on my KTM 1190 Adventure (not the R version with 21 fronts). They are pretty good on the road BUT the guys I road with ( and before we got into the woods for 2 or 3 days), we rode easily at 70-80+ mph on twisty roads (Idaho, Montana, Colorado etc) and with 140 bhp on tap......I had a few WTF moments, especially in damp. I much preferred the TKC 60s which is still pretty aggressive for off-road, but have a full solid rubbered center line. I thought this was the best compromise.

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks, I'm looking at a set of the TKC70's next, with a TKC70 'rocks' on the rear.

[@toddbecker2153]

Nice that you didn’t have to adjust the front mud guard

[@mancavemoto]

Nope

[@saschakraemer6793]

Thanks for the review Tony. May I ask why you didn't go for TKC 70 or TKC 70 Rocks, it seems that would have been the better choice on road but also "similar ish" looks...

[@mancavemoto]

I had thought about TKC70’s but wanted a more aggressive look.

[@Rigz727]

Cheers Tony

[@mancavemoto]

Yep the Heindenau K60 is a good choice

[@mahmacphail]

Thanks, very helpful.

[@mancavemoto]

No worries

[@tinks43]

Certainly look the biz! 👍🏻

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers Cotti

[@foxtrotgolf5698]

Very cool looking scrambler Street Twin. Good job. Where did you get those spoke wheels?

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks, they are the OEM Triumph accessory spoked wheels

[@foxtrotgolf5698]

@@mancavemoto Did you use the same disk from the cast wheels? Very much appreciated.

[@hopgood007]

Cracking video Tony. As I progress my T120 to that more aggresive look I wonder how these would perform for an everyday A/B road commute? Lovely visuals as usual - and where do you ride? Only three cars and a van in the whole video!!

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks Paul, they should be ok, but I don't think the life of the tyre will be that great in comparison to some others at the price range, if used just solely on tarmac? I ride around the roads of Essex surrounding my home, thats why I love riding here, if you know where to go you can avoid the traffic.

[@hopgood007]

And I thought South Warwickshire was great riding country but yours looks fantastic. Good point about longevity.

[@kevinbeadle4279]

Hi Tony, my wife wants TKC80s on her ST 900 did you reverse the direction of travel using the 18 rear on the front Also did you consider a scrambler set of wheels? Enjoying the videos

[@mancavemoto]

I did yes, and it does alter the handling. You get used to it, but its a bit weird at first. I was looking at a few options, then the street twin spoked wheels came up at a good price

[@odinairsoftuk9809]

Have you tried them on mud yet? Looking for something more aggressive but still wet tarmac grippy to replace my t700 stock tyre because they skate on muddy green lanes.

[@mancavemoto]

TKC80's are good in the mud the agressive lugs give decent grip and clear pretty easily too

[@odinairsoftuk9809]

@@mancavemoto Thanks!

[@alex_rodriguez777]

Are those the factory wheels from the Street Scrambler? They fit the Street Twin with no modifications?

[@mancavemoto]

No they were accessory wheels for the Street Twin, the Street Scrambler has a bigger front wheel.

[@toddbecker2153]

Would love to know what kind of spoke wheels you have on your street twin.

[@mancavemoto]

They are the Triumph OEM spoked wheels that were available. I’m not sure if they still offer them in the accessory catalogue?

[@billrothwell8364]

I have a 2010 scrambler ,and was thinking of putting rear tyre on front would it be ok on this cheers.

[@mancavemoto]

Doesn’t that have a 19inch front wheel? The TKC80’s spec a front in 19’s

[@moody9931]

That bike looks lovely. Why didn't you buy the street scrambler? Spent a fair chunk of cash making the twin look like the scrambler.

[@mancavemoto]

I bought this on the launch day and the Street Scrambler wasn’t ‘a thing’ then. If the SS had been available when I bought this, then I would have bought that instead!

[@moody9931]

@@mancavemoto I see. You still riding this or is it just the tiger?

[@mancavemoto]

I sold this bike a while ago now

[@airbornerat]

Fantastic tyre

[@mancavemoto]

It sure is!

[@robmcd]

Fit the 18” tyre backwards if used on the front.

[@mancavemoto]

Yep thats exactly what I did

[@Sonnybee01]

I was thinking Spitfire tires. Do you know anything about them

[@mancavemoto]

Bridgestone Spitfires?

[@adriantompson]

did you no your insurance is void now look into did because i wanted to do something simler and didnt because insurance. nice bike

[@mancavemoto]

Cheers Adrian, my insurance companu didn’t have an issue when I declared it.

[@adriantompson]

will have to find a different insurance company next year mine are a pain with modes.

[@nathanlowney6058]

What size are/were you running?

[@mancavemoto]

Standard size rear, but I had to put a 3.5 inch rear tyre on the front because they dont make a TKC80 18 inch front

[@nathanlowney6058]

I just ordered a 170/60/17, two sizes up from stock 150/60/17. About an inch wider and inch taller. Doing a 120/70/17 in the front from a 110/70/17. How many miles/km did you get out of these ?

[@michaelschaller2510]

Do you still have the street twin?

[@mancavemoto]

I don't Michael no

[@JLOSTAFF1]

Why didn't you buy a Street Scrambler in the first place?

[@mancavemoto]

Because I bought the Street Twin in launch day before the Street Scrambler was available.....

[@JLOSTAFF1]

@@mancavemoto Wondered why. Still, you had good fun customising it no doubt? I have the Street Scrambler 900 and I liked your vid on the de-cat. Trouble is my insurance company wouldn't insure me if I removed the Cat. (Highways Insurance from Bennetts.) as I've recently renewed I didn't want to lose money so may have to change Insurance company in 11 months time and do the modification.

[@mancavemoto]

Yep, that’s no great of Bennetts it’s often one of the modifications that’s allowed as standard on the policy

[@thefooleryoftom]

The Street Scrambler is also £1,100 more expensive for spoked wheels that are a pain to keep clean and an exhaust both Tony and I have swapped.

[@tonihannan]

I just bought a second hand street twin with 2k miles on the clock (almost new). I like the styling of the scrambler, but I test rode both bikes from triumph showroom and the scrambler is slightly taller in seat height, and the rider position was slightly off for me. I felt my legs at the knees being pushed apart on the scrambler at speed more than the twin. At 5'4 i regularly ride my cb1000r and do struggle wiuth touching the floor, so decided it was the twin over the scrambler. But whats great about these bikes is the fact you can customise, customise, customise which is not only fun but makes it personal to your own styling. Ive used your videos to pretty much complete my customisation. Ive gone for completely matt black and fitted the nrc tail tidy, new brake levers, bar end mirrors, tec slip on exhaist, the triumph scrambler headlight grill, TEC adjustable black shocks, and painted the healdight bezel, the headlight mount, the intake covers, handlebar risers satin black. Ive gone for the heidenau k60 scout tyres rear 150/70/17 and front 110/80/18. check out my work so far on my instagram page instagram.com/tonihannan

[@1990-t1j]

Informative. Maybe I should fit a pair to my MT-01. Just a joke!

[@mancavemoto]

lol i've seen them on a GSXR 1000!

[@twotter1969]

I'd rather ride on TKC80s than Karoo 3s.

[@raylanamir3359]

you probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm you can watch all the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. Have been binge watching with my brother for the last couple of weeks =)

[@atlasreed281]

@Raylan Amir Definitely, have been watching on instaflixxer for years myself :)

[@Sonnybee01]

Yes Bridgestone

[@mancavemoto]

Sorry, I’ve got no experience with those

[@erkful]

Great tyres…they last a lot longer on a light bike.

[@thefooleryoftom]

👋

[@mancavemoto]

;)

[@armandov2424]

"If you've got any comments or questions YOU KNOW WHERE TO PUT THOSE"... that's rude LOL!

[@mancavemoto]

😂

[@splodge57]

Tyres for looks?? Fine if you only ride in the dry but they can't be as grippy as a good road tyre on a dark, damp, greasy leaf covered road on a winters evening. And if you have an accident with a rear fitment tyre on the front wheel your insurance could be nul and void. All for looks!!

[@mancavemoto]

Why can’t they be as grippy? It all depends on the tyre, I would say these offer more condfidence in the wet than the stock phantoms. I’m not saying they are the best tyres in the world, but they are better than a lot of people think. My insurance company had not issue with the change. So not ALL for looks!

[@splodge57]

Surely the development that goes into a good road tyre will mean they grip better on the road in poor conditions, you even say so yourself in the video. If the tyre says rear wheel fitment only and its on the front that may be a get out for some insurance company's. It could also be an MOT failure, just something to consider before fitting them.

[@thefooleryoftom]

I found my Heidenaus far, far better than the standard Pirellis in the wet/cold.