Hitcher
7th August 2011, 16:58
One of the issues associated with riding motorcycles is that tyres wear out.
I've consumed a few sets of tyres over the years. Some are fondly remembered, others not so fondly.
I've had my Technically-Not-A-Bandit since January. It had done 1,154km courtesy of its New Plymouth dealer allowing prospective purchasers to ride it. So I am responsible for about 9,600km on the TNAB and its OEM Bridgestone Battlax 021s. Slow progress by my usual standards I know. I blame a series of wet weekends in the first half of this year.
As you can see from the attached images, the front right is starting to cup, indeed quite badly, with only vestiges of tread apparent in places on that side. Indeed it needs replacing. The photo is actually flattering. The front is way worse than the image shows.244178244179
The rear, while showing signs of wear, I estimate would probably have another 1,500km in it, if its mate on the front hadn't thrown in the towel.
So that ends another OEM relationship with Mr Bridgestone's extremely average sports touring tyres. While the 021s are an improvement on the egregious 020s they "superseded", they're still way off the pace that I've come to expect from tyres in this class.
"But you're being harsh, Hitcher. Lost of tyres demonstrate front cupping," I hear the Bridgestone fanboys shrieking.
The good sports touring tyres don't.
Only once before have I worn out a front before a rear. That was a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2s on an FJR1300. On that occasion both sides of the front tyre cupped massively. The rear however acquitted itself nicely, but not enough to persuade me to buy another set of PR2s.
The OEM 020s that came with the FJR also demonstrated front right cupping but on that occasion the rear wore out first.
So I'm now in the market for a set of tyres. My leading contender will be the Dunlop Roadsmart. I've had a set of these once before and loved them. That was on my FJR1300 in Flagstaff Arizona. The tyres were still on the FJR when I sold it. They had seen most conditions from cold and wet through very hot and dry; coarse chip seal and concrete.
Prior to the Roadsmart, Mr Dunlop didn't really have any sort of contender in the sports touring tyre class. He certainly does now. The fact that Roadsmart fronts are single compound means they shouldn't cup as spectacularly as the bifurcated versions other manufacturers make. Time will tell.
Now I just need to find me some at a sharp price. Shame that the 021s couldn't have held on until the 12,000km service. Them's the breaks I guess.
I've consumed a few sets of tyres over the years. Some are fondly remembered, others not so fondly.
I've had my Technically-Not-A-Bandit since January. It had done 1,154km courtesy of its New Plymouth dealer allowing prospective purchasers to ride it. So I am responsible for about 9,600km on the TNAB and its OEM Bridgestone Battlax 021s. Slow progress by my usual standards I know. I blame a series of wet weekends in the first half of this year.
As you can see from the attached images, the front right is starting to cup, indeed quite badly, with only vestiges of tread apparent in places on that side. Indeed it needs replacing. The photo is actually flattering. The front is way worse than the image shows.244178244179
The rear, while showing signs of wear, I estimate would probably have another 1,500km in it, if its mate on the front hadn't thrown in the towel.
So that ends another OEM relationship with Mr Bridgestone's extremely average sports touring tyres. While the 021s are an improvement on the egregious 020s they "superseded", they're still way off the pace that I've come to expect from tyres in this class.
"But you're being harsh, Hitcher. Lost of tyres demonstrate front cupping," I hear the Bridgestone fanboys shrieking.
The good sports touring tyres don't.
Only once before have I worn out a front before a rear. That was a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2s on an FJR1300. On that occasion both sides of the front tyre cupped massively. The rear however acquitted itself nicely, but not enough to persuade me to buy another set of PR2s.
The OEM 020s that came with the FJR also demonstrated front right cupping but on that occasion the rear wore out first.
So I'm now in the market for a set of tyres. My leading contender will be the Dunlop Roadsmart. I've had a set of these once before and loved them. That was on my FJR1300 in Flagstaff Arizona. The tyres were still on the FJR when I sold it. They had seen most conditions from cold and wet through very hot and dry; coarse chip seal and concrete.
Prior to the Roadsmart, Mr Dunlop didn't really have any sort of contender in the sports touring tyre class. He certainly does now. The fact that Roadsmart fronts are single compound means they shouldn't cup as spectacularly as the bifurcated versions other manufacturers make. Time will tell.
Now I just need to find me some at a sharp price. Shame that the 021s couldn't have held on until the 12,000km service. Them's the breaks I guess.