Are Kenda K20 Kanines installed as OEM tires on the 2020 Spyders?

[Don60]

Just bought a 2020 F3 and still had the “old” Kendas on it! Plan on replacing fronts ASAP! Back when I find a shop to do it!

 

[Mikey]

I have now mounted 2 sets for customers. We will NOT be stocking the new Kanines. Quality control and build quality is no better than the original Kendas. Both rears took over 4oz to balance. One was noticeably out of round when spun on the balance machine with the tread veering from side to side as well. Worse, the latest one had a yellow dot marking weight alignment to the valve stem. It was in the wrong location as moving the tire on the rim so that the yellow dot was on the opposite side reduced the weight required by a full ounce. Still over 4.

Sorry, but the Kanines are CRAP and no top tier manufacture would let tires leave the factory so poorly made. They will not be on my bike and I will not stock them at our shop. We will continue to sell top tier Yokohama tires with a far better build quality and longevity and at better prices.

I wish your shop was in Maine!!!! I sucks trying to fine some one to mount a car tire on one of these bikes.

 

[bikerbillone]

My OE 20 RTL Kendas will wear out one of these days, if I could find an independent dealer in Florida, I'd sure give him a shot, but seems I'm stuck with my dealer and will probably have to work with him on the Kenda's. There's just no way I'm pulling that rear wheel. When the time comes I will ask my dealer if he will install if I bring the tire. Fronts should not be a problem to pull an take to the tire store, but then can they balance? We shall see.

 

[Mikey]

My OE 20 RTL Kendas will wear out one of these days, if I could find an independent dealer in Florida, I'd sure give him a shot, but seems I'm stuck with my dealer and will probably have to work with him on the Kenda's. There's just no way I'm pulling that rear wheel. When the time comes I will ask my dealer if he will install if I bring the tire. Fronts should not be a problem to pull an take to the tire store, but then can they balance? We shall see.

The front ones are no problem, it's the back one, it has a small bore hole in the hub, that's the fly in the soup!!!! Needs a small shaft on the balancer to mount it on!

 

[bikerbillone]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[billybovine]

The front ones are no problem, it's the back one, it has a small bore hole in the hub, that's the fly in the soup!!!! Needs a small shaft on the balancer to mount it on!

For a long time there were no tire shops in my area that could balance the front tires. The back plate on the balancer is bowl shaped and the Spyder front rim hubs are too small a diameter to fit against the machined surface. They require a special adapter to work. So yes the fronts are a problem depending on what your tire shop has for equipment.

 

[bikerbillone]

Hmm, Billy, not that I'm really concerned, but back to square one with the dealer and Knines I guess, not the worst thing that could happen. I have the OEM Kenda's and I can't feel any problems, so I guess if ain't broke, etc....

 

[billybovine]

I am lucky. I have an independent motorcycle repair shop 1/2 hour away. Their tire balance machine will spin balance the rear tire and they bought the adapters to balance the fronts.

In the past I have used my local tire shop to change tires. I took the wheels off myself. To balance I have used Ride On in the tires. I did not like that. It would shake on cooler days until the stuff moved around. I also used beads. If I had to I would use them again.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hmm, Billy, not that I'm really concerned, but back to square one with the dealer and Knines I guess, not the worst thing that could happen. I have the OEM Kenda's and I can't feel any problems, so I guess if ain't broke, etc....

( I won't use any Kenda tire, for many reasons ) .... but most Kenda tires will be OK .... the problem is Kenda spyder tires have the worst " defect rate " of any tire I've ever heard of. So the likelihood of you getting one is abnormally high compared to any Auto tire ( some are better than others ). ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[bikerbillone]

Thanks Mike, you guys that have all the miles of experience are worth the attention, I know how Peter Auwen (sp) feels about them. For the fronts, I will sure shop around, cell phone is my friend.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thanks Mike, you guys that have all the miles of experience are worth the attention, I know how Peter Auwen (sp) feels about them. For the fronts, I will sure shop around, cell phone is my friend.

Yes Peter Aawen and I are on the same page where tires are concerned..... and a few other things as well ......... Mike :thumbup:

 

[finsfanscott]

if I could find an independent dealer in Florida, I'd sure give him a shot. When the time comes I will ask my dealer if he will install if I bring the tire.

I edited your quote, but wanted to share Riva Yamaha in Pompano over the phone said they would mount any tire I brought in. Haven't actually done it yet, but that's my plan in a few thousand miles.

 

[Papa103]

I have almost 8000 miles on my rear Kanine. Looks like I might get 12000 miles out of this tire. I have run it in the rain just a few times with no problems. I'm running 29 PSI in it. It is wearing the center out first, but as I look around at the auto tires on spyders, they all seem to wear the center out faster than the outer edges. My Spyder runs very smooth, but I don't see any weights on the rim, so I'm not sure if the dealer balanced it or not. I have been in the tire business enough to know that very few tires require NO weights to zero out the balancer. Either way it is smooth. I am happy with this tire and at this point I will replace it with another if I get 12000 out of this one. On a separate note my front tires are still Kenda OEM's and are doing well at 16000+ miles. I have rebalanced them at somewhere around 8 to 10000 miles. I have had to rotate the front tires because of a wear lip on the forward edge. (I know this means I was running them backwards.) I will replace them all when I get to around 21000 miles along with a laser alignment. I may even replace them with a 21 RTL, they look really sweet and I love the new larger and removable rear tour pack. lol

 

[Quartermain]

Let us hope they are not buying anymore. And they don't have a long term contract for the current tires. I'd hesitate to put my Ryker Kenda's on a field wagon.

You ride a Ryker too? Wasn't going into burning buildings dangerous enough?

 

[bluewoo]

Old
2021 RTL

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Old
2021 RTL

:hun: :dontknow:

 

[Peter Aawen]

Old
2021 RTL

:hun: :dontknow:

The thread title & original topic is "Are Kenda K20 Kanines installed as OEM tires on the 2020 Spyders?" and I believe that Bluewoo is simply answering the question.

For what it's worth, I agree with the earlier conjecture that while there may have been some new Spyders sold that were fitted with Kenda Kanines as 'test mules', the majority of 2020 & on Spyders are STILL being fitted with the crappy OE Spec Kenda tires! :banghead: :bdh:

 

[RayBJ]

I picked up my 2020 RT 2 weeks ago. They have the old Kendras. I'm convinced they are made from recycled legos! They're going in the trash very soon!

 

[askitee]

BRP probably has at least a one year supply of the old Crapenda tires.

Lets hope the warehouse has a fire ... a big fire