A Nightmare to Mount, A Dream To Ride - The Dunlop D606 and Pirelli MT21 Tires on My CRF300L Rally
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- This tire combination (D606 rear / MT21 front) is extremely popular in the dual sport community. I don't know how much of that is hype, but I've used the combo on a couple of my other bikes and liked it. I decided to throw them on my Rally, and in this video I talk about the pros, cons, and other various things to consider with the combo on this particular bike.
This is the video I used when learning how to change my own tires:
• How To Change A Motorc...
(note - there aren't rim locks on the stock CRF300L wheels, so you can ignore that part)
D606 Tire:
amzn.to/3WHlH97
MT21 Tire:
amzn.to/3vx80Ol
Baja No Pinch Tool:
amzn.to/3Hw0QQU
17mm Axle for Baja Tool:
amzn.to/3kJ4H4c
0:00 Intro
0:20 Side-by-Side Comparison
2:03 Sizing Differences From Stock
5:18 Installation Woes
7:18 Installation Complete
7:58 What Was This So Hard?
9:34 Baja No Pinch Tool Axle Size
10:33 Seat Height Difference
11:45 Test Ride Recap
Very timely for me, I've got a D606 rear on order. I'll be taking it to my mechanic :-) Thanks!
Wise choice :)
It really IS the epic combo, especially in the DRZ community. I've been running this combo since 2006 on my DRZ and 2019 on my KTM 450 EXC-F
I Just picked up a 2023 Rally and stumbled onto your channel via binge watching every of the CRF vids. It's nice to see and hear the opinions from an owner who is pushing some sponsored mods.
Thanks!
GREAT VIDEO….Thanks! You helped me lock in my tire choice on my Rally but changed my mind on tackling this at home in February. I ordered paddock stands and will be running them up to my dealer to mount. 😎🤙
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy the new shoes :)
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Lots of tricks on tyre mounting but the one that stands out is for pinching tubes. The last six inches is where that occurs. So, when mounting the tyre, make sure you push, tap the opposite tyre bead that you are working on, into the center of the rim as much as possible. And do this often. Regarding the last little bit of tyre, where you want to cram that tyre spoon in and pry.........DON'T. I tap the tyre on with a hammer. I always use a dead blow hammer. Its the type of hammer that does not bounce. If you hit the concrete floor with it, if doesn't bounce. So with using a dead blow hammer to nurse the last 5-6 inches into the rim, with a good lube. Even WD40 works well. (I use it). But obviously, be careful not to get any on the brake disk.
The other thing I use which is actually still around is call a Tire Breezer. Flanders has, makes them. (I guess I should look that info up........). No one in the world seems to use it but does it ever work great for me. No more prying the tyre on. Ever.
Note here. I did look up The Tire Breeze tool. It has worked well me for decades. And might be worth a look-see.
Honestly, tyre changing shouldn't be that difficult so to anyone that it proves to be a challenge.........Relax. Don't rush it. No need to do a 6 minute tyre change.
Thanks for all the great tips Dick! I'll definitely be referring back to these the next time I have to tackle a tire change.
I loved running a Metzeler Karoo 3 front and a Heidenau K60 Scout rear. Killer combo that handled everything I ever threw at them and they wear like iron. Not cheap tires but they last a good while. Thanks for all the awesome info!!!
Nice! I'll add that combo to my list of things to try :)
Yeah l would agree that the heidenau k60 is a Miles better than a 606
Noticing that 1/8" taller wheel lip was REALLY useful/insightful; THANKS - for that.
I'm pretty new to changing tyres and have felt the pain of a pinched tube, I struggle with them all, the hardest bit is getting it seated evenly - turned out I just needed better/more lube. I swapped these for a set of MT21s that were easier to fit, seemed OK for my skill level, wore quicker than stock.
I am thinking of a D606/MT21 but having second thoughts now, lol I'm enjoying your channel, thank you, keep sharing.
Yeah, I’m thinking better lube might really help. And doing it in summer, when I can let the tires bake in the sun for a couple hours would probably really help too. Thanks for the feedback!
I purchased a 2023 KLX300 in July and quickly decided after riding the Michigan sand on single tracks that I needed more traction than the stock 605's offered so I ordered a pair of 606's. I read about the Dunlop/ Perelli combination a couple of weeks later. The Dunlop's were a bit challenging to mount to say the least but managed to get it done without much problem, it was 80 degrees when I did it. Well, I regretted not installing rim locks after realizing airing the 606's down would help even more. I've been running 14 PSI would like to drop down to 10 or less. I've been waiting for Motion Pro Lite Loc Rim Locks in 1.6" to get back in stock and they have finally showed up, I'm getting them today. I'm going to warm up everything with the wood stove and get them good and hot before I attempt to install them. The one tool I thought was a lot of help with these stiff tires was a tire bead holder.
Definitely a good idea to do the rim locks at that PSI. I hope the re-install of the tires goes well for you. And yeah, I do use a Bead Buddy. I’m thinking my biggest issue was the heat. I had my propane heater on, and used a heat gun to warm up the tires a bit, but I’m thinking it still wasn’t enough.
Looks good. I will likely do the same combo this year.
Can’t wait to test them out in the dirt 👍
Good video. I’m nearing the end of life on my stock tires and will be doing this soon. Already have the Baja No-Pinch with the full range of axle insets. I’ll give the gold insert a try. I am in total agreement with you about trailside tire repairs. I live in Phoenix. Messing around with a tire repair on a hot day could be deadly. Instead, I carry some large zip ties and plan to ride out to safety and then make a call for help. No trailside tire repairs for me.
I’ve been tempted to make a whole video just on zip ties. A biker’s best friend 🙂
I get what your message is, but keep in mind that the D606 sidewall will sustain a slow and patient ride home after an unrepaired puncture. I just added the same tires to the same model of bike, and found it vital to keep positioning the bead portion nearest me back into the rim recess where the spokes come through. I am confident you were doing this, and do agree that a repair on the trail would be nasty. But in the past, installing the Michelin Anakee Wild was no fun on my XR650L, and the end result was excellent traction with great tread life. By the way, I used Dawn on the bead and baby powder on the tube. I made my changer waist height, with a centre turntable of 3/4 inch UHMW, eight inches across, and a 5/8 centre post. No outside contact like yours, all the support was on the sprocket and/or disc.
That's a great point about the sidewalls being strong enough for a slow ride out. That makes me feel better about not being able to do a trailside repair. And thanks for the additional install tips!
I've been riding dual sport bikes since 1994. From 1994-2005 I had two different DR 350 SEs. I ran MT-21 front and rear, because at the time, the MT-21 was the best option for a more dirt oriented DOT legal tire. Somewhere in the 2002-2004 time frame, the Dunlop D606 tires became available. By 2005, a few friends had started to run the D606 combo on their DRZ 400S, the dual sport model DRZ. In early 2006 I upgraded to a DRZ as well, a pre-owned 2002. The previous owner had installed MT-21s. I ran them until they wore out. By that point, I'd been around the D606 rear tire enough (from friends using them) that I saw the slightly longer life my riding buddies got out of them compared to an MT-21 rear tire. Also, the D606 rear didn't have the tendency to lose chunks of the knobs in really rocky terrain like could happen on the MT21 rear tire. By about 2008, I switched to a D606 on the rear when the MT-21 was toast on my DRZ
I was never found of the appearance of the D606 front tire based on seeing a few friends have minor incidents in the dirt (crashes) when the front D606 washed out on them, so I stuck with the MT-21 on the front. As of 2023, I still run the MT-21 on the front of my DRZ and on my KTM 450 EXC-F (dual sport model) as well.
in 2020, I ditched the TKC-80 OEM tires that came on my KTM and decided to try to the DSport on the rear, since it was half the price of the D606 rear. My first ride on it were all over the SIlverton, Colorado area, including Black Bear Pass. Initially, I wasn't terribly impressed with the durability of the DSport after riding around for 4 days / 450 or so miles around Silverton. The tire started to split at the base of a lot of the center knobs (lugs). I've never seen a tire do that before.
I think in 2021, my DRZ was ready for a new rear tire so I went with the DSport on the rear since it was still half the price of a D606. It hasn't split like the tire on my KTM did. It has held up well, and is probably just as worthy as a D606, though the D606 might have longer life, but just barely.
I've pushed the life of the current DSport on the DRZ far beyond what I usually do because I didn't ride much this year after breaking my wrist in May.
I'm going to use another DSport on the rear and MT-21 on the front. I didn't get back to riding until late September, so I kept running the already bald DSport.
The DSport front is a near carbon copy of the D606 front, so for that reason, I won't run it on the front. The MT-21 seems to be a better tire for more dirt riding, which is what I primarily do on my DRZ and KTM 450 EXC-F.
In the DRZ forums/groups I participate in, the MT-21 front / D606 or DSport rear is still the go-to tire combo.
I have a klx250 , had to buy two different axle adapters for the no pinch tool . Works like a dream
It's a genius idea.
Installing new tires during a cold Utah winter day....no way. Wait for that hot sunny day and leave tires on the black asphalt for a couple hrs. Tires will get hot, stretch, and pop right on. Also, a good quality tire lube is a big help.
Thanks for the tips. That whole experience was pretty soul crushing 😂
@@HighDesertHills I had a dealer install mine too. I love the combo and will have the dealer install the next set as well. Gave up tire changing years ago now during a similar experience changing scooter tires.
After this time around, I'm definitely close to hanging up my spoons permanently as well. Can't wait for the snow to melt, so I can give these tires a proper test :)
No need to wait for sunny days. Just put tire to any metal or wood box, cover with blanket and put electric heater inside. After 20 min it will be soft and easy to mount.
@Marchuk777 Thanks for the tip. It’s going to start getting chilly around here soon.
I think you will love it when you get to the trails.
Can’t wait!
IT went with a D606 tire but with the Perelli scorpion on the front I also already had the Baja no pinch tool I believe you exposed the real culprit of why the bead was so tough to get on the rim. The steel wire is what makes it tough. I believe other tires use different materials on the bead. I will be checking tire construction in selecting a rear tire.
That’s a good point. Steel isn’t exactly stretchy 🙂
MT-21 front and D606 rear are still the GO-TO combo on Suzuki DRZs.
The Tusk DSport is sort of taking over as a good rear tire in place of the D606 since they are half the price of the D606 rear.
Great info, bought the same tires for my Rally once it gets here. Will have them professionally installed and going to also use Tubliss. Then I can just use a plug for a trailside fix.
Nice. Tubliss seems cool, but I've heard it's not meant for on-road use, which makes me hesitant to try it.
I've never seen a point in mounting my own tyres rather than the shop doing it for $20 (or even included in the tyre purchase price). I'm not racing and changing tyres mid-event. My tyres last a year or more of use. And I've never ever had a flat tyre off-road. We have grass, mud, sand, forest around here not sharp rocks. If it happens I'll just limp slowly back to a road and get a lift back to civilisation.
I’m starting to lean that way as well. We do have plenty of sharp rocks where I ride, but I’ve still never blown a tire (knock on wood). I’m thinking the “limp back” method is going to be what I use if it ever happens.
Great review. Very frustrating having the tire changing so difficult. I actually wonder if the tire was sized as an imperial size and the rim was sized as a metric size, it was such a pain. I once had a hallucination I could do a trailside tube repair but thankfully, I have never had to. Anyway, you and all your commenters here taught me a lot. Please do make that video about zip ties. What is that? Zip tie the flat tire on the rim so you can slowly make it to where the bike can be picked up? Nice to see the increased traction on the ice/snow. Anyway, a learning video. Thank you for posting it.
I remember one video I watched about mounting tires where the guy said, “just keep reminding yourself that this will eventually work, and you’ll get through it”. I was definitely doing that this time around. 😂 Thanks for the great comment - I appreciate the feedback!
@@HighDesertHills All I can say, is that when that tire bead snapped, the air must have been filled with 'comments of appreciation' for how weak the tire bead turned out to be."You gotta be - blanking - kidding me " comes to mind. Glad to see you got through it successfully on the second rear tire.
@@phil4986 Haha, yeah, the words that came out of my mouth just then would not have gotten a PG-13 rating :)
I put the D605's on mine, cheapest option , noisy at first but get better after 500 miles.
I've road over 10 miles on stock rear flat mix of dirt and street wasn't fun but doable. I mounted 606's I'm like you never again. one time when I aired down the rear valve was leaking lost all air and I didn't even notice I heard a rubbing noise ignored it for a few miles of dirt riding. I tighted the valve stem aired up and was good. they are like run flat tires.
That’s good to hear 👍
Trick I saw was to leave the tire out in the sun for a couple of hours and it softens up. First tire I changed, I pinched the tube as well! Glad I’m in good company
Yeah, I think I need to do my tire swaps in July rather than January 🙂
i also tried mounting tyres by myself .... it is so hard with the stiff ofroad-tyres, so go to a dealer who has professional devices. Nice Video, greetings from Germany.
Greetings! Thanks for the comment 🙂
3:34 The IRC front looks very similar to the D606 front and Tusk DSport front.
Great video ! Try using Sierra tire sealant and you won't have to worry about flats on the trail as much.
Cheers!
Thanks for the tip!
@@HighDesertHills no worries my man. Have you tried the 21 in sand? How is it?
Add some tube compatible tyre slime to your riding kit . You could get stuck somewhere there isn’t phone signal or vehicle access !! They are the best combo though !!
Thanks for the tip!
i have the Tusk Dsport on my rear and the MT21 on my CRF300l the tusk tires are cheaper since the rear are the first to wear.
Thank you for the video. Did this combo through off your speedometer? Are you considering changing out the front sprocket?
It actually brought my speedometer closer to accurate. With the stock tires my speedo indicated about 5% faster than GPS. Now it’s only about 1 or 2% faster. I’m not planning on doing anything with the sprockets at the moment, but that may change when I have a chance to get out on some real trails in the spring. I think if anything I’d go a couple up on the rear sprocket. I don’t think I’ll change the front sprocket.
@@HighDesertHills I saw something about needing a new chain if you do rear instead of front. I'm still waiting for my bike so watching you for all the goodies 😁👍
I believe you can go up a couple with the stock chain. I was chatting with a guy who did that, but it’s second hand, so your mileage may vary. Hope you get your bike soon. Waiting is the worst.
I put the tusk d sport tire on the rear of my rally I bought the baja no pinch tool right after that , it was also a chore to mount!
Nice. I've heard that tusk d sport tire is a great alternative to the d606
@@HighDesertHills 1500 miles and it is over halfway worn , its road manners are not great I think I will try the dunlop next
Gotcha. Yeah, the dunlops do hold up really well.
"Front tyres never wear out as fast as rear tyres". That's what I thought! I replaced the IRCs on my 250 Rally at only 1800 km (mid 2020) because they were simply totally unsuited to the winter season clay mud here. I'd heard the D606/MT21 stories but I'm in favour of an experimental approach so I went D606 both ends. Well, the front wore out quickly with severe triangulation of the centre lugs and the bike started wanting to run straight/wide on tarseal corners. I replaced it with an MT21 after 5250 km but to be honest it should have been 1500 km earlier because of the not wear as such but the handling deterioration. I have still now got the D606 rear on after 8750 km. The tyre is well worn down in the centre but I think still legal (1.5 mm). It's fine on the road, and it's summer now and offroad is baked hard, so no problems there too. I already have a set of Aussie Motoz Rallz to try next for, I hope, better road cornering so I can better keep up with an adventure ride group I've joined with CB500X, couple of 690 ADV, and 800 and 1200 GS all of whom have much more road-oriented tyres. Hopefully they lose little or nothing offroad and in life compared to the D606. We will see. A lot of people around here have been trying Michelin Tracker if they're doing serious enduro stuff, while still having good wear on the road. I found it hard to pick between Tracker and RallZ. Both of these newish options might well be better than the now ancient D606/MT21 technology. Hard to say without trying.
Thanks for all the great info! It’s weird that the D606 wears out so fast on the front when the rear tire is so durable. I hope the Rallz work out well for you. I haven’t heard much about them yet. I did see a lot of good things on the Trackers, but I couldn’t find anyone in the US that sells them. Maybe they’re not DOT approved over here or something 🤷♂️
Thanks for the great info. Any update on the RALLZ vs D606 or MT21?
@@Retumbo7 I finally fitted the Rallz rear in May, after exactly 10,000 km on the D606 rear which was still technically road legal but useless off-road as winter started and mud appeared. I've only done 1000 km on that so far, so can't really say anything except it's quieter and corners better on tar than the D606. I made a slight mistake in that the 120/80-18 is a little too big with very little (but positive) clearance to the swing arm, but slightly negative clearance to the plastic mudguard behind the shock. It's only very slight rubbing going forwards (pushes it out of the way) but makes clicking sounds going backwards. I'm sure it will stop as the tyre wears. The supposedly taller D606 120/90-18 was perfectly fine. But go for the 110 Rallz, I think. I still haven't fitted the front Rallz as the MT21 is still perfectly fine -- looks almost new -- after 5700 km, lasting much much better than the D606.
I pinched the tube when I installed my rear d606 on my dr650. Scratched my rim too. The upside is that when you egt a flat... and I did. the side wall are stiff enough that you can roll on it. Up to 50 k no problem.
That’s what I’m counting on. There’s no way I’d try to change a tube on the trail with these tires.
The Baja Tire Tool was s huge disappointment for me. I experienced the same frustrations as you when trying to mount a set of Tusk Dsports on my 22 CRF450RL. I promptly sold the Baja tool and learned to use some good tire levers. For me the levers make mounting stiff tires so much easier.
Why not an MT21 on the rear. I'm consider the MT21 for both. Does it suck for the rear?
I’ve never tried it on the rear. The D606 has a reputation for being a durable tractor in the back, but several people have told me they love the MT21 for both front and rear.
Hey there. Didn’t you put a video out a while back, comparing your 300 Rally to one with an ECU flash? If so, which video was that? If not, please excuse me for getting you confused with someone else… But I thought it was you, and another guy with a rally, and you raced the two bikes to show the midrange performance increase from the ECU flash…
Yep, that was me 🙂 here’s the link: th-cam.com/video/Wq_zXSNvVfE/w-d-xo.html
@@HighDesertHills thanks!
Is the MT21 on the back not as good of tire ?
They say the D606 in the rear lasts longer and has better overall traction. A lot of people do the M21s front and back, so I’m sure it’s fine, but I’ve always been happy with this combo, so haven’t had a reason to switch it up.
Who supplies the front crash bars? Look great
Outback Morortek. They’ve definitely paid for themselves 👍
Thanks! Appreciate your insights on the tires
@kenmoist Glad it was helpful!
in winter i let them sit under hood of truck with engine running for an hour to soften them up. nah didn't work, was still an absolute bitch to install fresh ones... after running them, to change a tube they are easy to deal with
You want a tough tire to mount try the Dunlop Trailmax Mission. Sweet mother of God!
Haha, thanks for the warning 😂
Question is the D606 not a good front tire?
I’m sure it’s fine, but people say it tends to wander a bit more than the M21. I’ve never actually tried one on the front myself - I’ve just gone with the general consensus.
It's pretty squirrely especially at higher speeds on asphalt.
Yeah I'm pretty new to motorcycling in general, bought front and rear d606 tires for my drz400 and it does get a bit squirrelly going anything past 65MPH for me. Looking forward to replacing the front with the MT21
Think Ill use that handy little tool called cash
😂You are very wise.
I HATE mounting these tires... Your poor rear rim got thrashed
Leave them in the sun if summer or winter soak them in the bath but yeah best option take to shop for a tyre machine 😋
I just put some new tires on my KTM. I left them in the back of my car all day with the sun out, and it was way easier. I haven’t heard of the bath trick. ThAt would have been a good thing to try with these tires, since it was January and freezing outside 👍
The tusk dsport rear tire is far superior to the dunlop d606 at half the cost
I’ll have to give that one a try. I’ve heard it doesn’t have the same longevity as the d606, but I could live with that for the savings.
@@HighDesertHills about the same as far as mileage
You're high.
WARNING false information
These 606 tires are sh@t house at best zero traction on hard pac that's why the last because there as hard as goats heads and if you think there hard to fit just wait until you get a flat tire you will have a meltdown trying to fix on the side of the track if you want to run Dunlop 606 just make sure your insurance is up to date because you'll need it
No doubt about it these are hard tires. I haven’t had any problem with traction (much better than stock) but I definitely wouldn’t try to change these things on the side of a trail.
Totaly disagree, best all round 50/50 rear tyre you can buy, grip well in all conditions, run 20psi hwy 14 -16psi off road, I've found them easy to change, fitted 5 in the last 18 months to my 701, average 4K a tyre & repaired flats on CRF300's on the side of track with standard tyre levers, hardest issue changing a flat in the bush is breaking the bead, otherwise easy as to change
Not sure where you guys ride with 606's but it sounds like they spend more time in the shed or on a trailer than they do out bush riding lv even tried there intermediate enduro tires and there about as predictable as a spring weather
@@jw8556 20,000klm's, 70% dirt, 30% black top in the last 18months with the 606 rears on a 701, best compromise tyre Ive found for it yet