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Pard, have you tried the Kenda Kwick KD1 tires? If you haven’t, maybe give them a try sometime. I would love to hear your thoughts on how they compare to the Mitas and Dunlop.

The Kendas are pretty cheap. I just scored another set of them for $89 shipped. Some people have found much better deals than that. They are substantially lighter than the stock IRC tires that came on the bike. I really like them. They don’t last real long, but the performance is great. I don’t worry about the lack of longevity since they are so cheap.

 

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Have not tried them yet. Glad to hear your recommendation. Been considering them. Maybe next tire change?

Really liking the TT93 rear BTW. Maybe even more than the Mitas. Harder to mount though. Stiffer sidewalls.

Maybe I’ll try the KD2 someday. Sounds like a winner.

Yeah, I’m just curious how the KD1s stack up against track favorites like the Mitas and Dunlop. I’m impressed with the quality of the Kendas, especially for the money. Years ago I didn’t really think of high quality when I heard the Kenda name, but that has changed. They seem to produce some pretty nice stuff, even in the bicycle world.

 

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I just swapped over to a 100 front and a 120 rear, both kd1's. I feel it made a huge difference in how the bike handles.

Is the cross section more round? I can’t remember. I’ve heard that is better for the track. I’m running stock sizes.

 

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Ordered a set of the KD1s to try.

500 miles on the TT93 rear and it is toast already. Great grip but not a street tire at all. Not for me at least. Way too soft.

If you think about it and if you have a scale, weigh the KD1s and the worn TT93. I’ve heard the TT93s are heavy. My KD1s were 3/4 pound lighter each, than the used stock IRC tires. That is a big, noteworthy, useful difference, especially considering it is un-sprung, rotating weight. I’ll take weight savings like that all day long.

I’m very interested to hear what you think. I’ve always wondered just how much better the track tires are. Since you have experience with them, your opinion will be welcome to hear. I hope the KD1s are at least somewhat close to the others.

I need to pick up another rear KD1. The rear tires wear out faster, of course. My front one still looks good. If I had an additional rear, I could install it and that would leave me a complete set in reserve. I would have ordered two rears and a front at the same time, but they only had one of each in stock.

If you end up liking the KD1s, maybe you will try the KD2s sometime too.

 

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I didn’t know what sizes you have been running, but I did know that the 100 front and 120 rear sizes weighed more than the stock sizes. I am surprised they weighed that much more, though. I had no idea the Michelin Power Pure tires were so light. Did you weigh the Dunlop TT93? I’m guessing the Mitas tires are not DOT approved? Good grief, your rear Kenda KD1 120/80-12 is a boat anchor.

None of my Kenda tires have that red logo. I thought that was old and they stopped doing it. I went and looked at my actual photos. Here is what mine weighed in stock sizes. Considering the IRC tires were both used, especially the rear, I probably saved about 1 1/2 pounds total in tires alone. Probably close to 3 1/4 pounds total with other components I listed below. The GromFatherz Hyper Hub weighs a bit more, but it is blingy, beautiful, and strong.

Kenda KD1 120/70-12…..7lbs 5oz (new)
Mounted Weight…..14lbs 1oz

Kenda KD1 130/70-12…..8lbs 2oz (new)
Mounted Weight…..16lbs 7oz

IRC NR77U 120/70-12…..7lbs 12oz (used)
Mounted Weight…..14lbs 8oz+

IRC NR77U 130/70-12…..8lbs 13oz (used)
Mounted Weight…..17lbs 3oz

Just for fun, here are some additional weights for other components that contribute to unsprung weight, much of it rotating weight.

Stock Axle Spacers
Front: 138 grams
Rear: 151 grams

GromFatherz Speed Spacers
Front: 44 grams
Rear: 49 grams

Stock Brake Rotors
Front: 734 grams
Rear: 640 grams

EBC Vee Rotors
Front: 654 grams
Rear: 553 grams

Stock Rear Cush Drive Hub: 493 grams

GromFatherz Hyper Cush Drive Hub: 541 grams

Stock 34t Rear Sprocket: 530 grams

Kitaco 34t Rear Steel Sprocket: 304 grams

Stock 15t Front Sprocket (sprung, rotating weight, with retaining plate): 117 grams

Kitaco 15t Front Sprocket (sprung, rotating weight, with retaining plate): 96 grams

 

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Why would smaller 100/120 tires weigh more than the stock larger 120/130 tires?

Did not weigh the TT93 yet, still mounted on the bike.

The Mitas MC35 are DOT tires. Great tires but the medium rear wears flat in the center after less than 1K road miles.

The Kenda is a fresh tire, made in 2021. Not sure why some would have a red logo and others not.

Good to know about the Mitas. Maybe, I’ll try those someday, too. I think they cost quite a bit more than the Kendas, if I remember correctly. The red logo thing is strange. Yeah, none of my 120/70 or 130/70 tires have it.

As far as the weights go, I felt that the 120/70 and 130/70 Kenda’s weights were pretty reasonable and a good bit lighter than stock, which I welcome. I like the compound. I’m not sure how Michelin makes the Power Pure so light. They must be thinly constructed, but it is a great tire. I think everyone is in agreement that they don’t provide the amount of grip that the Kendas do. I’d personally rather ride on high grip, low mileage tires. I feel safer, when riding fast.

I’m guessing it is the height of the 100/90 and 120/80 that contributes to the additional weight? Would running stock sizes be out of the question for you? Maybe stock sizes would be a good compromise, regarding weight, if they lasted longer than say the Dunlop or Mitas tires. If you keep this set of Kendas, maybe you can at least get some miles out of them. Ultimately, I suspect you will prefer something else, due to the weight penalty alone. It will be interesting to see where the Dunlop TT93 comes in regarding weight.

Realistically, I’ll probably keep running Kendas for a while. I love the grip and the price. I paid $89 shipped for this pair. My mountain bike tires cost that much each…lol.

I saw a YouTube video once where a guy was at a Grom meetup in the Smokey Mountains. Kenda was there with a tent setup. I believe that guy paid $20 a tire for KD1s. How do you beat $40 for a set of great performing Grom tires?

I wonder if the Kenda KD2s are any lighter?

 

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If you click the “+” beside Technical Specifications, you can view the weights that Kenda claims. Looks like the KD2s weigh even more than the KD1s. I need to weigh my newest set of KD1s, but they are currently in storage. If I get an opportunity, I’ll weigh them and post their weights vs my first set.

KD1s

Kenda Dual Sport Tires & More | Powersports | Kenda Tires | Kwick KD1

powersports.kendatire.com

KD2s

Kenda Dual Sport Tires & More | Powersports | Kenda Tires | KD2 Kwick

powersports.kendatire.com

 

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I'm not sure if they're even available for the US market but has anyone tried the Rosso Scooter SC? It's supposedly the same carbon black based compound as a supercorsa.

View attachment 90575

I’ve never tried any of the Pirelli tires. They sure look good. They are pretty expensive, if I remember correctly. In fact, I’ve never owned any Pirelli tires on any vehicle. I know my father has had some on his various German cars over the years.

I’m such a creature of habit. I really should try different products more frequently. I get locked into something that I like and don’t try newer stuff that comes along. Eventually I’ll try something new, end up loving it, then wonder why I didn’t switch sooner…lol. That doesn’t always happen, but it does sometimes. I think you get older and have seen so much hype come along that when you find something that works pretty good, you stick with it.

With electronics I’ve grown very tired of always chasing the latest, greatest stuff. It outdates so fast. I’ve actually tried to reduce the amount of electronics I own, substantially. I’m tired of sending thousands of dollars worth of electronics to the landfill every year that no longer work or are no long compatible with anything and nobody wants them.

Over the last 20 years or so, I would exclusively run Continental tires on my bicycles. The last couple of sets of Continental X-King tubeless tires I had were complete garbage. They were like Swiss cheese. I’ve never seen a set of tires so porous. Sealant leaked through the side walls like a screen door. Continental lost all of my business. Continental would lie about the width of a tire to make their tires seem lighter. They would label a tire as a 2.2 inch, but it would really only measure 2 inches. That way when they would give the weight of a 2.2 inch tire it would seem incredibly light, but in truth, it wasn’t even a 2.2 inch tire.

I now run Maxxis tires and haven’t looked back. They have been fantastic.

 

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Did you send the Kendas back or are you going to try them? Like I said previously, I think you might like the weight of the Kendas in the 120/70 and 130/70 sizes best.

I wonder if the Pirelli tire will be a little heavy since it is a 62P tire? It’s hard to say, these weights seem to be all over the place.

 

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Will try the Kenda K-1 as well. Just want them both on hand. Will test both.

Looking for a go to tire that provides both grip and some wear durability. 500 miles on a rear is not going to work.

That sounds like a good plan. It’s fun testing different stuff. That is kind of how I feel about the Kendas. The grip is good and they are cheap. I need to pay more attention to how many miles I’m getting out of them. I like them enough that I bought another set.

 

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I always enjoy your videos. What a beautiful place to ride. It reminds me of riding the Tail of the Dragon. You can really get lost in the flow of it. No traffic in those vids too!

 

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The Pirelli is almost 1/2 pound heavier than the Kenda KD1 in the comparable 130/70-12 size. The TT93 is the question mark. I guess we’ll know soon.

 

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Yeah Pard, I also found it interesting that the 130/70 was so much lighter than the 120/80. It would be interesting to email Kenda to ask why that is.

When I saw your tire changing machine, I immediately thought of DYI01’s machine he showed in his build thread. So your machine is similar, but not exactly the same as DYI01’s?

My last set of tires I ended up just paying the Honda dealer to change them. They said they could change them without scratching my wheels up, so it was worth it to me. I didn’t want to use tire irons on them and beat the rims up. I was worth it to me. They gave me a pretty fair deal and did a perfect job.

As often as you change tires, you would go broke paying someone else to change them. It makes sense for you to have your own machine.

 

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Awesome. Thanks for posting the TT93’s weight. So for a modded 125cc like mine, the 120/70-12 and 130/70-12 Kenda KD1s are a pretty good choice when it comes to getting the tires moving. The Michelin Power Pures are lighter, but probably have less grip.

 

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I don't ride in the rain, which tires do I want for grippy street performance? I feel like the OEMs might be a bit slippery?

Let’s see what Pard thinks of the Kenda KD1 tires. I wonder if they are anywhere near being in the same league as the Mitas and Dunlop regarding grip. I’ve made it clear that I am happy with them, but Pard has experience with so many other tires to compare them against. He also has track experience, so I suspect he knows how to push them to their limits. This a great thread.

Pard, you are on your way to having a PHD in Grom tires…lol.

 

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60 mile hard riding on the Diablo Rosso tires today. Good surface, hot temps. 22 cold 25 hot on the tire.

This is a cruising tire. Excellent shape and feel to the tire, not performance oriented grip. This tire should last a long time but I was sliding around on it.

Kenda K-1 up next.

I guess the tradeoff is simple. Want grip, pay for short tire life.

The only tires that I had slide on me like this at this point in the test have been power pures and the diablo rosso. The surface of both those tires feel similar and slick compared to the Mitas and Dunlop.

Nice save! I think you are going much faster in your videos than I even realized.

 

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Hey, somebody send me my Kenda fan club membership card!

60 spirited miles this morning on the Kenda K-1 120/80 rear tire mounted on a OEM rim.

Very nice tire. In terms of performance, I have nothing but praise!

The tire feels great to ride on, handles as well as any out there, and it GRIPS! I tried to get it to exceed limits but it hung in there and stuck. I am both very pleased and surprised. The grip is just as good as the Mitas medium and TT93 in my tests.

Interestingly as well, despite it being a heavy tire in comparison, and I had it on a heavy OEM rim instead of the carbon BST, there was no discernable loss of performance.

Now I am intrigued and will have to test a Kenda up front as well.

Next up for the rear is the Mitas hard tire.

That’s great to hear, Pard! It doesn’t sound like I’m missing anything from the other brands. From the first ride on the KD1s, I felt like they were very sure footed. They inspire confidence. I too, thought they were great to ride on. I’m not sure how to really describe that feeling. The stock IRC tires felt harsh or something by comparison.

I’ve been running 26psi in the Kendas. I’m not sure what air pressure is best with them. I haven’t had time to experiment with different air pressures.

They are the perfect tire for me to work on my cornering skills. I think someone once said the Kendas give a bit of warning, before letting go, as where some tires just let go, all at once. If that’s true, I’ve got a ways to go before pushing them to their limits.

I followed the link you posted to the Mitas tires. Wow, those things are expensive. As I mentioned previously, you can find some crazy good deals on the Kendas. If you end up liking the Kenda on the front too, you could probably buy 2, or in some cases 3 of the Kendas, for the price of one Mitas. That is why I’m not very worried about how long they last. It will be interesting to see how many miles you get out of a set.

If you ever mount them on your carbon wheels, that will certainly offset some of their additional weight, but it sounds like that really isn’t a big deal anyway. Can’t wait to hear about the KD2.

I’ll admit I’m curious about how the more narrow sizes feel and handle. Maybe I’ll try those sizes one day.

 

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Yeah, a KD2 front, KD1 rear might be the combination for you.