BMW GS Adventure vs the Bronco Raptor

[Roughstock]

Out on the bike today. That's an old picture. A pic when I first got it. I went through the mountains on a path I have been taking the Raptor the last few days.

It was fairly rough at times. The Raptor eats it up. You just go through with a smile on your face. I noticed the other day my tires are starting to look like the tires of the vehicles at the Raptor Off Rodeo. Beaten up.

On the bike there was a couple of times I was like OK what the hell am I doing. I don't want to come off here. A bit later I had to fish tail it a bit to make the corner. It's a big bike to fishtail. Oh and hit some sand which can be dangerous at speed. Such a different experience. Raw, edgy and a bit harry at times. Also amazingly beautiful.

That saying the Raptor is the beast of all beasts. An amazing vehicle. I am beginning to really understand how special it is. I am growing more and more fond of this machine daily. My off road biking days are waning and the Raptor days have just begun. I hope I own one of these for a long, long time.

Relaxing after a day on the trails....

 

[JohnGalt]

I noticed the other day my tires are starting to look like the tires of the vehicles at the Raptor Off Rodeo. Beaten up.

Sounds like fun! Keep an eye on those. The stock C-rated K02s weren’t made to last in the desert.

If you don’t have them already, pack some Gluetreads sidewall patches and something to abrade the raised lettering better than the small 80 grit sandpaper pieces provided. Small light insurance to carry if you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Saved my bacon after two blowouts in one day…. We didn’t try to fix the one in the pic, the other one was a bit less catastrophic…

 

[Bschurr]

Raptor BoR tire (odometer indicated ~5k miles and not sure if this was the tire that came from MAP or a replacement) - BEFORE I began…

 

[Johnny Rebel]

pack some Gluetreads sidewall patches and something to abrade the raised lettering better than the small 80 grit sandpaper pieces provided.

That is some really good advice. Those things can save the day for sure.

 

[Roughstock]

Sounds like fun! Keep an eye on those. The stock C-rated K02s weren’t made to last in the desert.

If you don’t have them already, pack some Gluetreads sidewall patches and something to abrade the raised lettering better than the small 80 grit sandpaper pieces provided. Small light insurance to carry if you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Saved my bacon after two blowouts in one day…. We didn’t try to fix the one in the pic, the other one was a bit less catastrophic…

View attachment 14425

Yes thanks I have some. I will need to put something more substantial other than the 80 grit. Two in one day. You never know. I'm pretty sure I read in another post you went to KO3s? You mentioned they are tougher side walls I believe. Would you recommend going to the KO3's from the KO2s for most of us? Thanks

On a side note. I was walking the dog today and I thought..why is my knee so sore. Oh yeah the enduro bike. I know I woke up with a sore back and my neck is a bit sore tonight. Just can't take the pounding..I hear more Raptor, more Raptor in the future.

 

[Roughstock]

Raptor BoR tire (odometer indicated ~5k miles and not sure if this was the tire that came from MAP or a replacement) - BEFORE I began…

View attachment 14427

Ha...I thought that was your tire at first. Then I thought wow you really are pushing it...haha Mine are getting there but not those...

 

[JohnGalt]

Yes thanks I have some. I will need to put something more substantial other than the 80 grit. Two in one day. You never know. I'm pretty sure I read in another post you went to KO3s? You mentioned they are tougher side walls I believe. Would you recommend going to the KO3's from the KO2s for most of us? Thanks

On a side note. I was walking the dog today and I thought..why is my knee so sore. Oh yeah the enduro bike. I know I woke up with a sore back and my neck is a bit sore tonight. Just can't take the pounding..I hear more Raptor, more Raptor in the future.

80 grit is the right roughness, just need some thing bigger or motorized if you need to remove a lot of raised rubber.

I went to Falken Wildpeak R/T01s. D rated. Don’t hate them, not sure I love them yet either.

BFG makes the K02 in a 37x12.5 D rated that’s only 5 or 6 pounds heavier. My guess is for desert and on-road while not making other sacrifices beyond weight that would be a great replacement tire. Not sure on K03s

 

[Roughstock]

80 grit is the right roughness, just need some thing bigger or motorized if you need to remove a lot of raised rubber.

I went to Falken Wildpeak R/T01s. D rated. Don’t hate them, not sure I love them yet either.

BFG makes the K02 in a 37x12.5 D rated that’s only 5 or 6 pounds heavier. My guess is for desert and on-road while not making other sacrifices beyond weight that would be a great replacement tire. Not sure on K03s

Great thanks! Great info. I haven't looked into it at all. I don't think the KO3s are the way to go. Chuck's company Raptor Addiction (more 150's I believe) does high speed Raptor runs in Moab. He also works at the Moab Off Roadeo. We did some trails with him and some other friends. I asked him about going to D rated and he said stick with the KO2s they were designed for the Raptor. At the time I didn't flush it out more. I should call him and get a more in depth take. I've changed tires on cars to get more milage and wished I'd stayed closer to the factory spec.

 

[Ironmike]

Great thanks! Great info. I haven't looked into it at all. I don't think the KO3s are the way to go. Chuck's company Raptor Addiction (more 150's I believe) does high speed Raptor runs in Moab. He also works at the Moab Off Roadeo. We did some trails with him and some other friends. I asked him about going to D rated and he said stick with the KO2s they were designed for the Raptor. At the time I didn't flush it out more. I should call him and get a more in depth take. I've changed tires on cars to get more milage and wished I'd stayed closer to the factory spec.

KO3’s are not yet available in our tire size (likely not until early ‘26), but they look to be a minor improvement on the the KO2’s in many ways.

 

[Ironmike]

80 grit is the right roughness, just need some thing bigger or motorized if you need to remove a lot of raised rubber.

I went to Falken Wildpeak R/T01s. D rated. Don’t hate them, not sure I love them yet either.

BFG makes the K02 in a 37x12.5 D rated that’s only 5 or 6 pounds heavier. My guess is for desert and on-road while not making other sacrifices beyond weight that would be a great replacement tire. Not sure on K03s

Could be hard to find those D-rated KO2’s since they’re being phased out over the next year.

 

[Roughstock]

KO3’s are not yet available in our tire size (likely not until early ‘26), but they look to be a minor improvement on the the KO2’s in many ways.

OK great good to know. An online friend was getting KO3s for her Badlands. 35s. Good to know about the new KO3s out soon. Of corse on our F250 we have load E and around here you need a strong tire. It would be nice if the tire could be more puncture resistant and still have great off roading properties. It seems they may just be. Minor improvements? I will be paying attention going forward as tires are not too far in the distant future.

 

[JohnGalt]

Great thanks! Great info. I haven't looked into it at all. I don't think the KO3s are the way to go. Chuck's company Raptor Addiction (more 150's I believe) does high speed Raptor runs in Moab. He also works at the Moab Off Roadeo. We did some trails with him and some other friends. I asked him about going to D rated and he said stick with the KO2s they were designed for the Raptor. At the time I didn't flush it out more. I should call him and get a more in depth take. I've changed tires on cars to get more milage and wished I'd stayed closer to the factory spec.

He’s probably right, but everything has its trade-offs. My gut says the C-rated K02s for the Raptor weighted gas mileage high in Fords trade-off priorities. I loved the OEM tires for 26k… right up until the two blow outs and had to limp 100 miles to Pahrump with a leaking sidewall patch to get a new tire. I decided to sacrifice a little bit of plush ride for a little more security.

 

[Roughstock]

He’s probably right, but everything has its trade-offs. My gut says the C-rated K02s for the Raptor weighted gas mileage high in Fords trade-off priorities. I loved the OEM tires for 26k… right up until the two blow outs and had to limp 100 miles to Pahrump with a leaking sidewall patch to get a new tire. I decided to sacrifice a little bit of plush ride for a little more security.

Makes sense. I think the trade off is probably worth it. I need to look into the the KO3s and figure out what they will actually be.

 

[Ironmike]

Makes sense. I think the trade off is probably worth it. I need to look into the the KO3s and figure out what they will actually be.

I was able to take a hands-on look at them at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff this past May, so look for some similar event to check them out in person. BFG typically has some staff there that can answer/discuss technical topics and/or issues. I was impressed when I saw the KO3's: better sidewall integrity, better tread pattern for snow/ice while still retaining a smooth ride on normal pavement, improved traction on rocks, even a little quieter. Only issue is waiting until 2026 for a 37".

 

[Roughstock]

I was able to take a hands-on look at them at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff this past May, so look for some similar event to check them out in person. BFG typically has some staff there that can answer/discuss technical topics and/or issues. I was impressed when I saw the KO3's: better sidewall integrity, better tread pattern for snow/ice while still retaining a smooth ride on normal pavement, improved traction on rocks, even a little quieter. Only issue is waiting until 2026 for a 37".

Thanks, great information. I was thinking 2025 not so bad and then I realized what you are saying....2026. I will need tires before then I believe. All good.

 

[Roughstock]

He’s probably right, but everything has its trade-offs. My gut says the C-rated K02s for the Raptor weighted gas mileage high in Fords trade-off priorities. I loved the OEM tires for 26k… right up until the two blow outs and had to limp 100 miles to Pahrump with a leaking sidewall patch to get a new tire. I decided to sacrifice a little bit of plush ride for a little more security.

You've probably covered this before but I missed it. Two blow outs. Was there anything really unusual with your set up or trails. Air pressure, speed, crazy trails or fast runs? I was kinda of surprised at a C rated tire and would like some more details if possible.

 

[Ironmike]

You've probably covered this before but I missed it. Two blow outs. Was there anything really unusual with your set up or trails. Air pressure, speed, crazy trails or fast runs? I was kinda of surprised at a C rated tire and would like some more details if possible.

Randy (@JohnGalt) has documented this mishap thoroughly on this site as well as B6G. If you’ve ever done any serious desert running, particularly in DVNP or the MNP, you know that those rocks have superpowers in terms of cutting up sidewalls. C rated is no match.

I think if you stick to typical offroad trails, even some rock crawling environments, they may likely be adequate.

 

[Roughstock]

Randy (@JohnGalt) has documented this mishap thoroughly on this site as well as B6G. If you’ve ever done any serious desert running, particularly in DVNP or the MNP, you know that those rocks have superpowers in terms of cutting up sidewalls. C rated is no match.

I think if you stick to typical offroad trails, even some rock crawling environments, they may likely be adequate.

Checking it out now. Thanks. What a great memory I have. I read about this before....ha

Yeah I am weary of sidewalls. That's were I got my last flat a few years ago.