Heidenau K73 SuperMoto tire review

[kvman50]

My local dealer (2nd Gear MotoSports in New Westminster) has these tires (Heidenau K73 SuperMoto) in stock and they immediately caught my eye as they are very aggressive looking. After talking with the owner and the mechanic, I decided to put them on my 2008 Versys. I was never fond of the stock tires and didn't trust the rear at all. Weird profile/feel.

I have had these tires for about one month and so far am loving them. They are stock sizes 120/70X17 and 160/60X17 and have a very rounded profile. They are very light feeling and the bike leans very consistently and smoothly. The tires are a little knobby feeling at very low speeds but that disappears when you get going a bit faster. The weather here in Vancouver is cool and wet and this is where I think these tires will excel. I have been in a few nasty rain rides the last month and the bike feels great. Stable and good traction. Great progressive feel when leaning over and confidence inspiring.

I am told I should get good mileage out of them, but am not sure does that mean 7000km or 15000km. With the weather being so cool, I expect pretty good mileage. Not sure about when the weather is hot, but I will probably require new tires by then.

These tires have more rubber whiskers from the mold than I have ever seen on any other tire. I spent a fair amount of time with a razor blade cutting some off, but there must be 1000 per tire. Looks kinda scruffy! I haven't even tackled the front tire yet.

So far, two thumbs up!
Dave

[ATYC]

They look bad ass.

[Newsshooter]

They look like a dirt track racing tire. If they're a supermoto tire I wouldn't expect them to last long.

[MikeV]

My local shop has a killer promotion going on for the Heidenknau K60's and Continental TKC80's.

Which is a happy coincidence as I was thinking of doing a k60 rear and tkc80 front.

[Baron650]

That K60 lasts long but squares badly. In 5k it looks like a truck tire. But you can probably ride it like that for another 5 if you want to. Not something I'd want to do.

[MikeV]

I'm ok with that. My scorpion trails aren't looking perfect after 6k miles. I mainly want them as a winter/early spring tire set. So no biggy.

[Versystole]

Originally Posted by kvman50

These tires have more rubber whiskers from the mold than I have ever seen on any other tire. I spent a fair amount of time with a razor blade cutting some off, but there must be 1000 per tire.

Dave

Don't cut those off- RIDE them off!

[cuff]

Nice tire KV. I called 2nd gear a few months ago and sent an e-mail about these tires. At that time they didn't have them in or couldn't get them. I should have waited. Mind me asking what you paid?

[fasteddiecopeman]

Originally Posted by kvman50

...These tires have more rubber whiskers from the mold than I have ever seen on any other tire. I spent a fair amount of time with a razor blade cutting some off, but there must be 1000 per tire. Looks kinda scruffy! I haven't even tackled the front tire yet....

Originally Posted by Versystole

Don't cut those off- RIDE them off!

YES X 2!

[kvman50]

I'd love to ride them off... don't know if you guys realize it's winter, cold, wet, etc. The lean angles just aren't as good in the winter. I think I paid about $370 Canadian including mounting, balancing, taxes, environmental levy, etc. They did all the work... I just dropped the bike off.

[Kawa007]

Great tires indeed, you can read some updated review about them here:
http://www.kawasakiversys.com/forums...&postcount=112

I think the front should last 10000km, the rear about 5000km if mild to cold weather.
And for canadian customers I bought mine here:
http://www.petes-superbike.com/engli...uper-moto.html
It's the only place I found that sold them, and price was quite decent. If I remember well, I think with shipping the set was about 320-340$...

[Kawa007]

Went for a ride today...as you can see winter is around the corner here too hehe
These Heidenau K73 tires are just so awesome, even had fun on snow covered frozen dirt...

Now these aren't studded tires and I wouldn't speed in icy twisties...but in the snow you can have a lot of fun!! And they are very confidence-inspiring on the road even when you hit a bit of snow, dirt, salt, water...There's no way my bike would have stayed up all day had I kept the stock tires on.

[kvman50]

I totally agree with you on these tires. I rode about 150km today (sunny!!!) and they are great. Even if they don't last, they feel great and I'm hoping to get decent mileage. So far, Magnifique!
Dave

[mascoma]

put a pair on my versys and it steers terribly slow and seems to drift the front out of corners on acceleration. Any one else have this issue? Remedy?

[Kawa007]

Originally Posted by mascoma

put a pair on my versys and it steers terribly slow and seems to drift the front out of corners on acceleration. Any one else have this issue? Remedy?

Are you sure pressure is normal? These are the fastest turning tires I have ever tried on any bike. I remember the first time I rode off with these on I almost dropped the bike on the side in the first turn as I wasnt expecting it to lean so easily! On top of that they have excellent grip on pretty much any surface. So if you feel they are slow turning or drifting, either you're tire pressure is way too low, or there's something else wrong...

[mascoma]

pressure is fine. turns Hard and SLOW and THEN falls into corner. Tires are very square compared to stockers which I never had issue with even down to 22 degrees F and 1/4 inch chicken strips.

Maybe tech messed with my fork settings, could that result in what I am describing?

[Kawa007]

Did you have your forks adjusted at the same time as your tires changed, if so then yes it can affect handling noticeably...
Cause really these tires on my 2011 versys makes it handle like a bicycle, I'd say handling is about 30% lighter then with stock tires. The only time I felt the symptoms you described my air pressure was low (on my MT-01) and the middle of the tire was cuping, though it would not fall into corners, I would have to push hard to lean and it would always try to stand back up and go in a straight line.

Your tires look exactly like these right?


And what tires did you have right before putting the K73s on?

[mascoma]

The K73s replaced the original stock tires, and yes they are the same as your pic.
I did not ask the tech to touch the suspension but you never know.
What pressure do you run in your K73s?

[Kawa007]

It's in the cold shed (winter almost over here) so my pressure wouldnt be a reference, but they put the recommended tire pressure when they installed them. If tire pressure was low to the point of explaining the poor handling I think it would be visible to the eye or my touch. But maybe just go back to where you had them installed, cause really what you are experiencing, certainly isnt normal with these tires and this bike.

[mascoma]

Yes, more snow here in NH today, looks like I could be riding in a week or 2 if things warm up though!