VFR Snow Tires?

Allright, so i have my 98' VFR out here in Rapid City, SD and it won't be long before we start getting snow. I realize the safest/best option might be to walk around, however, were i to ride my bike, what tires should i throw on. I stopped by my local Honda dealer and recommended
a) buying a DR650
b) Dunlop D616

I took a look at the D616's and they don't look too bad, however i was thinking more of something along these lines.





Any Ideas?

Note: I don't know who the person in the picture is, i found it at a different site.

 

Ahhhhhh....how about a dual sport with some knobbies? Don't be breaking snowbank with your purty viffer....

 

First question: why would a honda shop recommend a suzuki?

Second question: Are you nutz?:wacko: :laugh: :laugh:

I guess you'd try to mount the best adventure/tourer tire. Hell I don't know, I'm from south Texas, don't mind me!

 

I'm from Texas as well, but I would not consider riding in the snow in a bike with plastic fairings. Just seems like a good way to burn some money. One slip and there goes a few hundred minimum.

I like the dual sport suggestion.

 

The Honda dealer, Rice Honda, also sells Suzuki, KTM, and Victory motorcycles, and he did suggest the KTM 990 adventure.
Yes, i realize that it is stupid/crazy but the question remains. Right now i have Metzeler Z6 Roadtec tires on with a 180 rear. The parts guy at the dealership said he wouldn't mount a 150 on that rim, which rules out most tires built to keep the bike upright in slippery conditions.

 

No not crazy, but something my mid thirties body would not handle as well as my 17 yr old one did. I used to run my dirt bikes out on frozen lakes & winter trails unstudded all the time. It is quite entertaining, but as hard as asphalt & concrete are ice is harder & you have atleast an 80% chance of dumping the bike every time you get on it. I would recommend a light weight dual sport w/ as few farkles as possible a DR400 would be less top heavy than the 650 & definetly less top heavy & less body work than the KTM. Keep extra sets of bars on hand if you go that route; thinking some agressive dual sport or super mottard tires would fit the bill for traction. Knobbies w/ studs would be best but more than likely frowned upon for on road use.

 

Ah, but your question has been answered!

 

er, how far are your riding? why not a snowmobile or a quad?

It *is* South Dakota... so I guess going to four wheels or a tracked ride is for North Dakota and Canada?

from sunny Maryland.

 

i agree with an estimate above:80% of the times you try to ride you'll go down.

i tried it; biggest problem is not going but STOPPING.

absolutely not for a heavy VFR; dual-sport better.

for tyres you need something narrow, not wide, so that high contact pressure can be maintained with surface.

 

Well, after the recommendations here and thinking about how much pain would be involved i decided to bring my car out and fix it (minor electrical problems) for my snow busting vehicle. Thanks for the recommendations/advice.

 

http://www.iceroadracing.net

 

That's insane lol. Love it!:biggrin:

 

that blinged out back tyre is pimpin'!!! Shoulda chromed dat front fender though.

 

I love those tires; insanity doesn't even begin to describe them. If only he sold them, but there has to be someone else. And, although the slicks certainly are not road legal, i wonder if it is still a problem if you have 3/4" steel studs sticking out of them.

 

Crazy Nuts and all the above.. Shessh!

 

These boys are from scandinavia and they use these bikes joust for racing on iced lakes.In fact they can make different track from all over the world(laguna,sepang,imola....).There is web page on net but I can´t find it.

 

If you gotta ride in the winter buy an old beater enduro,125-250, and studd it up,when it falls you just pick it up and keep going,nothing to break.

 

Yep,IMO best solution!