Sometimes Living in Canada Really Sucks!!!

[ZED]

Not only do we have to contend with only two seasons here, winter and road construction ,  but people also don't know that we exist!

Some time ago I tried to get a set of IRC GP-1 tires for my KLR.  No luck!  Every dealer in Canuckistan said that there is no IRC importer.  WTF!?!    So, I let it drop and started using Trail-wings because they wer easy to get, eventually changing to either D607 or D606 depending weather we were in mud or on good trails.

Now we're looking for tires for KLRChickie's 'little bike', the Yamaha XT225.  Preferably a good 50/50 or more or a street oriented and we'll switch it back to knobies as needed.  So I fire up the search engines and start hunting for tires.  Low and behold, once again, I come across the IRC GP-1.  This would be the perfect tire for the XT in it's planned usage.  However, not only does no one in Canuckistan carry them, no one that I have found that carries them in the U.S. will sell or ship to Canada!!??!! 

So, as I finish my rant for the evening, has anyone else successfully found a way to buy an IRC motorcycle tire whilst in Canada? 

/End Rant:  Yes it's been a week at the salt mine...

[ST1300Rider]

Parts 411 will ship to Canada via USPS. Postage on tires for my ST1300 run about $30.00 per tire to Sundre AB, and they charge an extra $5.00 per tire for packaging. You should be able to get a pair of DS tires for the same shipping cost as one of the rear 'Stones I run as it's based on weight. You have to phone them and be very specific that you want USPS shipping to Canada. It doesn't hurt to have the part numbers and prices in hand from the website. HTH

[bubba zanetti]

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Irc/Irc_Trials_GP1.htm

Available ... buy only ship to lower 48 ...  use my drop box in washington if are desperate. Give me a shout if you want to.

Kenda 270 are very close ... so  i hear ...

[GooseMan]

Just start importing them yourself...make it a little side business

[ZED]

Thanks for the suggestion Goose, but, well, see, I work for a living.  And, I like to travel the rest of the time.  So I don't see starting in import company for a tire that most motorcycle people around here don't even know about as being a good investment of time.  There just doesn't seem to be time enough for us mortals.   Also, I'd be limited to brands as I couldn't do Pirelli since there's already a local mobile tire guy that has prices on Pirelli race rubber that's lower than most people's street rubber.

Thanks for the offer Bubba.    I'll think about it.  We've got the winter to come up with a set of tires for the XT as it'll soon be the "6 months of bad snowmobiling" season.   It's just that it's on our minds right now.  Since KLRChickie's KLR is down she's been riding it a lot more and it seems a shame to wear out a set of knobbies on the street.  However, this has given us the chance to really see what the XT can do on the road.  If you don't load it down like a KLR, it's not too bad.  I wouldn't put it past it to make a visit to the Kootenay's at some point. 

P.S. - Thanks for the link Bubba.  Looks like a decent place with good selection.  Maybe not as cheap as some, but hey, they'll sell to a Canuckistani , so they've got to make a bit extra to cover their legal liability I'm sure. 

[GooseMan]

Thanks for the suggestion Goose, but, well, see, I work for a living.  And, I like to travel the rest of the time.  So I don't see starting in import company for a tire that most motorcycle people around here don't even know about as being a good investment of time.  There just doesn't seem to be time enough for us mortals.   Also, I'd be limited to brands as I couldn't do Pirelli since there's already a local mobile tire guy that has prices on Pirelli race rubber that's lower than most people's street rubber.

I was half joking   I dunno..sometimes people have some spare time on their hands and I thought maybe you wanted to try a little side business. Import a few pairs for you and your buddies, then take it from there!  

But, to be honest, I never heard of that brand either!  

[ZED]

Yeah, I figured it was mostly in jest.
Although, I did once think about becoming a POR-15 distributor...   

The only reason I know of it is from the bicycle industry.  They're one of the chief manufacturers and R&D companies in tires.  Many other tire brands were actually made by them.  Good quality tires with tread patterns that really work for cheap cheap prices.

[GMCdriver]

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/tire/product.jsp?skuId=64397&store=Main&catId=108&productId=p540957&leafCatId=&mmyId=

Dennis Kirk Ships into Canada, just make sure you order over the phone and specify USPS for shipping not UPS.
UPS brokerage fees are a killer.

[KLRchickie]

UPS brokerage fees are a killer.

IF they can find the border....

[spinalator]

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Irc/Irc_Trials_GP1.htm

Available ... buy only ship to lower 48 ...  use my drop box in washington if are desperate. Give me a shout if you want to.

I can't believe you have a drop box. That is soooo secret agent-y of you!

[bubba zanetti]

I can't believe you have a drop box. That is soooo secret agent-y of you!

puts on sunglasses ... que Bond theme .....  

[Kootenanny]

Hmmm...I just went "south of the border" to pick up something from my own drop box, had a little chuckle on my way down: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,31205.0/topicseen.html

[basco]

Sometimes?

[Kool shades]

Iron Pony?

I got a set of tires from them this summer. Tires were half the cost of up here!  $35 to ship 'em USPS. They got here in 7 days.

[bubba zanetti]

Hmmm...I just went "south of the border" to pick up something from my own drop box, had a little chuckle on my way down: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,31205.0/topicseen.html

Just came across at Waneta at noon today. It is interesting to declare that you are bringing 4 x 25mm Ammo Boxes and show the receipt. "you are bringing in 4 25mm ammo boxes?" "Why?"  For my motorcycle as hard bags .... "Oh, have a nice day." You too! No duty ... nada.  

[vstromtourer]

Coming to this very late.  But when dealing with any US distributor, if they only ship UPS I won't buy from them.  I have been nailed twice by those bastards, and never again.   Fedex or USPS are fine, but never never never ever UPS.

[Global Rider]

No one that I have found that carries them in the U.S. will sell or ship to Canada!!??!!

So the next time you head stateside, order a few sets and have them shipped to the UPS Store in Whitefish, MT.

[KLRchickie]

So the next time you head stateside, order a few sets and have them shipped to the UPS Store in Whitefish, MT.

It tends to be a challenge to haul back "a few sets" of tires on the bikes!!!