Bridgestone S20 tyre review

**JayRacer37** · 25th November 2013, 14:43

Originally Posted by Drew

What rpessures were they at when you went over the hill?

The rear seems to be sweet. But given how close to the edge you've gotten on it, and not on the front but still getting surface scuff, is not what I'd expect.

Busa is a pretty big horse. I'd be running 36-38R 38-40F to ride it at my sorta speeds on something like that.

Reckon the scuffing is pushing the front a little, and the rear is used closer to the edge as the 'Busa is loading up and compressing in under drive (Big Bike Syndrome). As you say, she's not a little bike...this is not unusual wear for bikes that size.

**roogazza** · 25th November 2013, 18:07

Originally Posted by caspernz

Been following this topic with interest, and the disparity of wear rates (and appearance of tyre) has me mildly puzzled.
I get where Drew is coming from, running with compliant suspension, which I've got my Busa set to as well. Now I'm by no means a hoon, but I'm finding the S20 has a bit of a tendency to coax the hoon within me to come out and play...which could become a problem since the Busa has that Jekyll & Hyde nature already anyway

Be interesting to see how many clicks Drew can get out of his set.
Anyway, after about 500 clicks, this is what my set is looking like after a trip over the Rimutaka at a moderate pace.Attachment 290268 Attachment 290269
I like the feel and feedback of the S20, not to mention the grip, but I doubt this set will last 5000 clicks for me...

Mmmmmm yellow busa, you on the 'Hill' early Sunday ? Near bottom on Featherston side? Lovely morning for it !

**caspernz** · 26th November 2013, 11:27

Originally Posted by Drew

What rpessures were they at when you went over the hill?

The rear seems to be sweet. But given how close to the edge you've gotten on it, and not on the front but still getting surface scuff, is not what I'd expect.

Busa is a pretty big horse. I'd be running 36-38R 38-40F to ride it at my sorta speeds on something like that.

This was 40 F & R. Have tried lower pressures but just doesn't feel right, especially on the front. Recommended is 42 F & R and I'll try that on my next outing just for comparisons sake. The S20 warms up very quick compared to the OEM BT015.

The Busa is a good tool for shredding tyres and I accept that. Still surprising to hear you've done 5000 clicks and your set is looking crisp still...

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

They are looking very nice - good wear patterns where it has been nice and warm, not stressed enough the tread edges are collapsing, all in all looking exactly like you would hope for. Do you know how much gauge in the tread has been lost over those 500kms? Hard to judge from the photo's but looking pretty nice to me thus far. Out of interest, what tyre did you run before the S20 and how much did you get from it?

It's funny, I keep getting varied reports on mileage too. Some are looking very good, like Drew's and OAB's did, and of course there is the opposite where people get significantly less. The common factor in lesser mileage from the tyre seems to be doing big distance over not a lot of time. I think this comes down to carcass heating up - for example a guy on a MultiStrada did Hamilton-Christchurch-Hamilton with a few other rides after and the rear was looking pretty tired. In this kind of application the T30 would be much better as its designed to deal with that style of loading on longer trips, as it's stiffer it doesn't build heat so easily. The S20 being a soft sports tyre isn't as good at touring...

Cheers Jay, the only other tyre I've had on was the OEM BT015, done 5000 clicks on them. Rear mostly done, and I just change the set normally. Front could have done maybe 1500 clicks more.

Yes I understand carcass heating problem. In the trucking industry we have the same issue, get the right pressure for the loads and the tyres do well. So on the bike I tend to stick to the higher end, towards the recommended pressures, especially taking into account the weight and performance potential

of the Busa.

I'm not bothered in the slightest if after 5000 clicks the S20s are done. Maybe my riding isn't as sedate as the wifey believes

then...

All in all, my most recent experience with tyres has been mostly Michelin. Pilot Road 2 and 3, Pilot Power 2ct and Power Pure. The PR3s struggled with hard riding on my last 750, so I was not gonna try them on the Busa.

Will keep following this thread and chime back in as the mileage creeps up. Thanks for your feedback guys

**caspernz** · 26th November 2013, 11:29

Originally Posted by roogazza

Mmmmmm yellow busa, you on the 'Hill' early Sunday ? Near bottom on Featherston side? Lovely morning for it !

Yes I saw a few likely lads that morning...and the weather was top notch

**ajturbo** · 26th November 2013, 17:13

put a T30 on the rear of the XB 2500ks ago. a very quick trip to Arrowtown/home/takaka/home last weekend. (41psi)
In the heat of the day, the sides looked like they would not last the trip home. But the middle was still smooth, it was VERY noticeable.!
But the transition still seams smooth to the touch (hard/soft parts)
gripped very well on the "hill" only time i felt it slip was in the wet on a white line (just had to test the limit)

Am impressed with it so far.!

I will pump up the S20's for ya Jay...

**roogazza** · 27th November 2013, 09:09

Originally Posted by caspernz

Yes I saw a few likely lads that morning...and the weather was top notch

Would you not be better off with T30s on the Busa ????? Not being rude but it's a heavy beast.

**caspernz** · 27th November 2013, 10:39

Originally Posted by roogazza

Would you not be better off with T30s on the Busa ????? Not being rude but it's a heavy beast.

That's a fair question, and I asked S20 vs T30 from Jay, taking into account the usage and suggestion was the S20. No harm in trying T30 next though...

**JayRacer37** · 27th November 2013, 12:28

Originally Posted by caspernz

This was 40 F & R. Have tried lower pressures but just doesn't feel right, especially on the front. Recommended is 42 F & R and I'll try that on my next outing just for comparisons sake. The S20 warms up very quick compared to the OEM BT015.

The Busa is a good tool for shredding tyres and I accept that. Still surprising to hear you've done 5000 clicks and your set is looking crisp still...

Cheers Jay, the only other tyre I've had on was the OEM BT015, done 5000 clicks on them. Rear mostly done, and I just change the set normally. Front could have done maybe 1500 clicks more.

Yes I understand carcass heating problem. In the trucking industry we have the same issue, get the right pressure for the loads and the tyres do well. So on the bike I tend to stick to the higher end, towards the recommended pressures, especially taking into account the weight and performance potential

of the Busa.

I'm not bothered in the slightest if after 5000 clicks the S20s are done. Maybe my riding isn't as sedate as the wifey believes

then...

All in all, my most recent experience with tyres has been mostly Michelin. Pilot Road 2 and 3, Pilot Power 2ct and Power Pure. The PR3s struggled with hard riding on my last 750, so I was not gonna try them on the Busa.

Will keep following this thread and chime back in as the mileage creeps up. Thanks for your feedback guys

That would be good, always keen to keep up with how people are getting on. On the 'Busa, 40psi isn't overly surprising, it's a heavy bike! Let me know what you think of 42...my thoughts would be it wouldn't be as nice as far as bump absorption goes.

Originally Posted by roogazza

Would you not be better off with T30s on the Busa ????? Not being rude but it's a heavy beast.

Originally Posted by caspernz

That's a fair question, and I asked S20 vs T30 from Jay, taking into account the usage and suggestion was the S20. No harm in trying T30 next though...

It's on the border. If you are realistic with pressures and life expectancy, you can enjoy the extra grip of the S20 (the 'Busa standard fitment BT015 is a predecessor of S20 so in the same category). The T30 might get a little more mileage, at the expense of outright grip...it also may not last any longer as the harder compound can be more prone to spinning up (and then exaggerated wear) than the softer one that hangs on a little longer. Hard one to judge, and it comes down to the way you ride the bike. Looking at Caspernz tyres after a little use, I'd say he is benefiting from the extra grip just nicely!

**slofox** · 3rd December 2013, 15:04

For what it's worth:

At the end of life of my first set of S20's, I have noticed that the front tyre, although having little tread left on the shoulder, is still pretty much round in shape. Putting a new back tyre on still provided that lift in performance, despite still having the same front on.

First tyre I have used that did that.

**roogazza** · 4th December 2013, 08:13

Originally Posted by slofox

For what it's worth:

At the end of life of my first set of S20's, I have noticed that the front tyre, although having little tread left on the shoulder, is still pretty much round in shape. Putting a new back tyre on still provided that lift in performance, despite still having the same front on.

First tyre I have used that did that.

36..38 seems about right, nice tyre.
I'm not in a hurry to replace mine but I am interested in the Kms they can do.Just takes a while riding once a week.
I've further softened the susp,so looking forward my next time out.

**caspernz** · 15th December 2013, 20:52

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

That would be good, always keen to keep up with how people are getting on. On the 'Busa, 40psi isn't overly surprising, it's a heavy bike! Let me know what you think of 42...my thoughts would be it wouldn't be as nice as far as bump absorption goes.

42 front and rear for about five hundred clicks...nah, feels too hard for solo riding. I prefer 40 f & r, so will go back to that

**JayRacer37** · 16th December 2013, 12:33

Originally Posted by caspernz

42 front and rear for about five hundred clicks...nah, feels too hard for solo riding. I prefer 40 f & r, so will go back to that

Good call, last think you want is a big bike feeling skittish eh!

**slofox** · 7th January 2014, 12:20

Replaced the front today, some 2000km after the rear. Which means that particular front lasted some 9600km. Still legal treadwise (just) but showing scalloping on the shoulders finally. Pretty good life I thought.

Swapping the front though, has made a huge difference to the feel of the corners. Back to riding on a rail again. I hadn't realised how much more the front had to do with corner feel than does the rear. Makes sense when ya think about it I guess.

Love these S 20's.

Oh and it feels much nicer than the 750 I test rode yesterday did with PR3's on it.

**roogazza** · 7th January 2014, 14:10

Originally Posted by slofox

Replaced the front today, some 2000km after the rear. Which means that particular front lasted some 9600km. Still legal treadwise but showing scalloping on the shoulders finally. Pretty good life I thought.

Swapping the front though, has made a huge difference to the feel of the corners. Back to riding on a rail again. I hadn't realised how much more the front had to do with corner feel than does the rear. Makes sense when ya think about it I guess.

Love these S 20's.

Oh and it feels much nicer than the 750 I test rode yesterday did with PR3's on it.

Cheers slofox, I'd be rapted if I get that. (gonna take a while at this rate).
So no trade in then ?? New rubber feels great huh !