Kenda K761 Dual-Sport Rear Tire Review

Setting the stage: After 6,000 kms on my KLR650 running the stock Dunlop K750 I had to replace the rear tire.  Once again I did my research in the KLR forums and decided to go with the Kenda K761 dual-sport rear tire (130/80/R17).  I was looking for a tire that was going to last longer than the Dunlop K750, possess strong on-road characteristics and that could handle the occasional tour in the dirt.  The K761 seemed like a slight compromise but at $60 for the rear tire I figured it was worth a try.

Performance Review: I now have just over 500 kms on my new K761 and feel I comfortable giving it an initial “Good” rating.  I’ve now tried the tire on my city commute, on the freeway, fire roads and loose gravel.  Here are my observations:

The bad stuff:

• The first 100 kms were a little touchy.  Seemed like the resin on the tire took a little time to wear off making the K761 a little slippery.  Make sure to take your time while breaking them in.
• The first few corners were a little tricky as it seemed that the bike was diving into the turn.  It felt like the bike was heavy at first then I would get the sensation of the bike falling into the turn.  Strange feeling at first but the Kenda holds  the corners much better that the Dunlop K750.
• This tire is not made for loose sand or mud.  The K761 floats and struggles for traction in the loose sand and easily cakes with mud.

The good stuff:

• Handles great on paved roads and hard packed dirt roads.
• Road noise is much lower than the stock tires.
• Deep tread and lots of rubber probably means the tire will last a long time.
• The Kenda K761 looks really good on my KLR650!
• You can’t beat the price point. ($60)

Notes:

• Picked them up from aviciouscycle.ca. Best price, great service and they had them in stock.
• For optimal performance I recommend that you ride the K761 at 30 psi on the paved roads and 20 psi when riding in the dirt.
• I spent some time experimenting with air pressure in the front and rear.  It took me a few tries to find a balance that worked for me.  The K761 seems to be sensitive to minor changes in pressure.  Take your time and figure our what works best for you.
• I forgot that I had lowered the air pressure for a dirt ride and experienced a tricky moment when transitioning to the paved road.  Don’t make that mistake.

If not for the poor off-road performance I would have given the Kenda K761 dual-sport rear tire an “Excellent” rating.  I recommend the K761 – it handles great, lasts long, looks good and costs about the same as the rear tire on my mountain bike.  I’ll update this post after I’ve put a few thousand kilometres.  Note: I was not able to recommend the Kenda K761 front tire. (Click to read more).

Feel free to post comments or leave question.  Stay obsessed my friends.