16 inch front tyres - Bridgestone S20 or RT016 Pro?

**koba** · 27th July 2012, 00:49

Originally Posted by gammaguy

Dont worry about tyre life,as the most expensive tyre is always cheaper than the cheapest front end lose and crash.

So true.

Unless you ride a bike as shit as mine (16" front)

**koba** · 27th July 2012, 00:50

Originally Posted by Damantis

I have a 16 inch front on the bike and it chews out the shoulders fairly rapidly. Currently have a BT016 F. I'm happy with the grip but not impressed with the milage ( about 3500kms and I'll be lucky to get another 1500-2000 out of it ) The Metzler before that was about the same.
Does anyone have experience with these tyres? Am considering a BT016 Pro or an S20. Though the S20 is about $40 more so I'd want some kind of assurance it would last a bit longer. I could put a shinko on it, but I like to enjoy myself, rather than worry about the front washing out.

What bike do you have that has a 16" front?

That's oldschool shit so it's likely to have oldshools shit suspension too, that can be quite hard on tyres...

**Drew** · 27th July 2012, 06:39

Originally Posted by koba

What bike do you have that has a 16" front?

That's oldschool shit so it's likely to have oldshools shit suspension too, that can be quite hard on tyres...

He has a 1997 fireblade, and Honda in there infinite wisdon put a 16 front hoop on it.

The rolling radious of that tyre is damn near the same as a 120/70r17 though, so it doesn't turn any more times than a 17

The bike also weighs twice what yours does Malcolm, and half again on the RG400

**koba** · 27th July 2012, 09:22

Originally Posted by Drew

He has a 1997 fireblade, and Honda in there infinite wisdon put a 16 front hoop on it.

Strange, I could understand them doing that in 1987 when it was all the rage but 1997?! Bloody Honda.

**baffa** · 27th July 2012, 12:44

You obviously havent ridden a Fireblade Koba.
The external diameter of the tyre is the same as a 17 inch, but it has less unspring weight, giving less gyroscopic forces and quicker turn in. It feels a little nervous, but thats the pay off.

You wont find a better handling bike in that class, until 98 onwards.

Diamantes: have you tried Metzler M3s? They are a good tyre, wear isnt fantastic but it should see more than 5000

**Fast Eddie** · 27th July 2012, 17:50

Originally Posted by baffa

You obviously havent ridden a Fireblade Koba.
The external diameter of the tyre is the same as a 17 inch, but it has less unspring weight, giving less gyroscopic forces and quicker turn in. It feels a little nervous, but thats the pay off.

You wont find a better handling bike in that class, until 98 onwards.

Diamantes: have you tried Metzler M3s? They are a good tyre, wear isnt fantastic but it should see more than 5000

bt016 on the front of my blade, mint.. track time and fun rides and general commute.. its getting near the end but it has done about 6,500ish kms.. they are pretty soft eh? the rear gave me half that.. runnin a pirelli donation on the back its mint..

i like tyres, free ones are great eh drew. what shinkos did you have on that particular outing? I had IRC on the blade once.. the front did feel funny I always thought.. vague.. not that bad.
I did lowside once though on that irc thing. but always blame the road.. oil on the road, something like that for sure.

**Coldrider** · 27th July 2012, 17:58

The blades were ridden from the front, heavy front tyre wear, but easy on the back.There's on ol '92 one just a couple of houses down from me, and it still excites.

**Fast Eddie** · 27th July 2012, 22:19

Originally Posted by Coldrider

The blades were ridden from the front, heavy front tyre wear, but easy on the back.There's on ol '92 one just a couple of houses down from me, and it still excites.

lol mines not that easy on the rears.. 2 rears to a front usually..

twist the thing on the right handle bar a bit more..

**Coldrider** · 28th July 2012, 17:53

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

lol mines not that easy on the rears.. 2 rears to a front usually..

twist the thing on the right handle bar a bit more..

yeah, i know what you mean, like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mti49...eature=related

**Damantis** · 31st July 2012, 18:51

Originally Posted by baffa

You obviously havent ridden a Fireblade Koba.
The external diameter of the tyre is the same as a 17 inch, but it has less unspring weight, giving less gyroscopic forces and quicker turn in. It feels a little nervous, but thats the pay off.

You wont find a better handling bike in that class, until 98 onwards.

Diamantes: have you tried Metzler M3s? They are a good tyre, wear isnt fantastic but it should see more than 5000

There was a Metzler M3 on it when I got the bike and the shoulders lokked like it had been grated. Got another 2000 kms out of it but I don't know how many kms it did from new.It stick well till it was akmost bald tho so maybe I'll see if I can get a good deal on one.

**orangeback** · 31st July 2012, 19:16

i owned a blade for about 6 years, 1998 it had the 16 on the front , i always found that bridgstone worked well , think it was an 014 or 12 , i tryed a 17 inch on the front and reverted it back to the 16 all it really gave me was more options on tyres , it didn't handle any better. tyres are cheeper than fairing panels, i've alway gone for the stickest front i could get, but i think from memory there was only 3-4 options. back then.
Look up as you could own a ducati (puso) PASO with a 16 inch rear and you cant get them at all , or very really.

**Fast Eddie** · 31st July 2012, 19:58

Originally Posted by Coldrider

yeah, i know what you mean, like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mti49...eature=related

haha you got it

Originally Posted by orangeback

i owned a blade for about 6 years, 1998 it had the 16 on the front , i always found that bridgstone worked well , think it was an 014 or 12 , i tryed a 17 inch on the front and reverted it back to the 16 all it really gave me was more options on tyres , it didn't handle any better. tyres are cheeper than fairing panels, i've alway gone for the stickest front i could get, but i think from memory there was only 3-4 options. back then.
Look up as you could own a ducati (puso) PASO with a 16 inch rear and you cant get them at all , or very really.

yeeep, running a 97 blade. no probs with fronts, have either had shitty IRC stuff for the first couple and then worked a bit harder and had bridgestones last 2.. this one is about to show some canvas so gotta start thinking of replacement. Bridgestone seems easy to get, im not aware of any other 16" fronts apart from IRC..

Drew said shinko did a good one but dunno if 16" and 130 wide.. they are fat suckers.

**Kickaha** · 31st July 2012, 20:03

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

they are fat suckers.

Like your bikes owner

**hayd3n** · 31st July 2012, 20:30

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

haha you got it

yeeep, running a 97 blade. no probs with fronts, have either had shitty IRC stuff for the first couple and then worked a bit harder and had bridgestones last 2.. this one is about to show some canvas so gotta start thinking of replacement. Bridgestone seems easy to get, im not aware of any other 16" fronts apart from IRC..

Drew said shinko did a good one but dunno if 16" and 130 wide.. they are fat suckers.

its a shinko podium and not to bad at all