Shinko 804 front and 805 rear ADV motorcycle tires.
Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a pair of Shinko 804/805 tires on my 2014 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx, which has spoked wheels that require tube-type tires. My experience with knobby tires began when I raced enduros as a youngster and has continued over the years on various dual-sport and adventure bikes. Prior to testing the Shinko 804/805s, I ran a set of Shinko 705s on my Tiger. The 705s are designed for 80-percent on-road/20-percent off-road use, while the more aggressive 804/805 tires are designed for 40-percent on-road/60-percent off-road use.
The Shinko 804/805s are among the best tires I?ve used on an adventure bike for the type of riding I do, which includes a majority of freeway miles, some two-lane apex strafing and a sprinkling of rocky, sandy trails and single-track in places like Death Valley and the Sierra Nevada, covering about 10,000 miles per year. The 804/805 tires have not reduced the road manners of the Triumph at all, but have significantly improved its off-road stability and ability while inspiring confidence in corners, wet or dry. On the road, the initial lean-in requires a bit more effort, but once in corner, the tires hold a line nicely and don?t require constant input to maintain a curve. Surprisingly, there is actually less noise from the tires than the Shinko 705 tires, which are designed for more on-road use.
On the trail, the tires grip admirably. On a recent adventure ride after a rain...