Australian Motorcycle News - June 21, 2018

WORDSSIMONBOWEN PHOTOGRAP METZELER

Having identified

a need for a long-

distance sport-

touring tyre

for the thriving

adventure

market, Metzeler

has introduced

a third product

under the Karoo

umbrella

T

he motorcycle industr y has enjoyed
decade-long growth in the adventure
segment, with tyre manufacturers
benefitting from customers more
intent on covering longer distances and
therefore purchasing tyres more frequently.
Positioned at the asphalt end of the dual-
purpose collection, the new Karoo Street
Expedition tyre complements the Karoo 3
Adventure, with its serious off-road capability,
and the Karoo Extreme Rally, the tyre aimed at
hard-nosed Dakar heroes. According to Metzeler,
the new hoop is “for riders of large adventure or
dual-purpose bikes looking for a sport touring
tyre with off road styling and capable dirt track
performance”.
Until now, Metzeler has furnished dual-purpose
machinery with its much-admired Karoo 3,
completing the road rally look riders aspire to
while offering off-road performance levels way
above the requirements of many.
The Karoo Street, however, has a subtler
approach, with an emphasis loaded – as its name
suggests – in favour of asphalt adventuring while
still retaining competent performance over less-
demanding off-road terrain.
If the Karoo 3 has a 50/50 street/trail ratio, then
the Karoo Street has a 70/30 street bias that will
also appeal to the street scrambler fraternity, as
it will provide a sweeter ride around town than