Tyres (sigh) Hornet 919 - M3s?

[wharfy]

Ride the same bike on a wet road with Bridgestone BT020s and Michelin Pilot Road 2s, and you won't be able to repeat that with a straight face.

Different tyres can give very different ride qualities.

I think the differences tend to be more noticeable when it comes to wet grip than dry grip, though.

Although I think I already commented that the dry grip level difference on M3s and Pilot Powers isn't noticeable unless riding at track pace, so I guess that means there's some truth in your suspicion.

I'm a real pussy in the wet - I had a couple of "moments" when I first got the Hornet with the rear spinning on smooth tar (not used to the HP even though it is modest by todays standards) so I am VERY cautious now

[jrandom]

I'm a real pussy in the wet - I had a couple of "moments" when I first got the Hornet with the rear spinning on smooth tar...

Did it come stock with BT020s? Those things are a menace in the wet.

If so, I'm not surprised you got the shits put up you. My GSX1400 came with those things on - I took them off and threw them away a week later.

[avgas]

I haven't found a perfect tyre yet - but i found the M3's and Pirelli's "Go-Off" too quickly. So if they are still on the bike after 1 year you have to flick them as the rubber goes hard.
Dunno why.

[mouldy]

I haven't found a perfect tyre yet - but i found the M3's and Pirelli's "Go-Off" too quickly. So if they are still on the bike after 1 year you have to flick them as the rubber goes hard.
Dunno why.

Your tyres last a year ? Get out and ride the bloody thing !

[wharfy]

Did it come stock with BT020s? Those things are a menace in the wet.

If so, I'm not surprised you got the shits put up you. My GSX1400 came with those things on - I took them off and threw them away a week later.

Yep ( 7 more )

[jrandom]

Yep ( 7 more )

Don't let the abysmal performance of BT020s put you off riding in the wet.

Other tyres perform very well on wet roads - my current Pilot Powers being an example. Nary a squiggle, even when feeding the 1400 a few berries.

The 020s, in comparison, were downright dangerous.

[nallac]

Don't let the abysmal performance of BT020s put you off riding in the wet.

Other tyres perform very well on wet roads - my current Pilot Powers being an example. Nary a squiggle, even when feeding the 1400 a few berries.

The 020s, in comparison, were downright dangerous.

A mates got 020's on his zx9r has got no complaints with em, there again
he rides like ya great granma. Chicken strips a mile wide.
I had to ask him did he stop at corners and push it around them.

I love my pilot sport in the wet, pity i've killed it doing burnouts
a big step up from the tyres that were on my sporty
even the fuct front diablo hasn't caused me any moments.

[jrandom]

020's on his zx9r

Oh dear.

no complaints with em, there again
he rides like ya great granma. Chicken strips a mile wide.

Yeah, you'd have to. I stand by my comment that they're dangerous.

Just north of Mokau in the rain five days after I picked up the GSX1400, I had a fuckoff big two-wheel slide across a bit of shiny tar that the bike in front of me, on Pilot Powers, barely noticed.

And then a wee while later on SH3 to Wangas I had the rear spinning up in a straight line at 100kph for no particular reason.

Not that bad in the dry, but dangerously low grip in the wet.

Friends don't let friends ride on Bridgestones!

[kiwifruit]

If i had a hornet i'd put m3s on it. Magnificent at most things. One of the best in the wet.

[jrandom]

Magnificent at most things. One of the best in the wet.

Although I've heard that it is still possible to highside on them.

[Blackbird]

Friends don't let friends ride on Bridgestones!

JR is definitely not letting emotion get the better of him!

Whilst the BT020 has never been all that popular on Blackbirds in NZ, they were a standard fitment for a short while in the UK and from reports on the UK 'bird site, people walked away from them in droves because of indifferent wet weather performance, largely going with Avon Storms or Pilot Powers.

In parting, I've extracted a piece of information off the 'bird site from Bridgestone on the BT020. The "standard" 020 flexed with the heavier performance bikes and some uprated 020's were developed with more robust casings. For those with 020's on heavier bikes, it's important that they are the types with the suffixes shown below:

Up until mid 2002 Bridgestone approved the 'standard' version of the BT-020 front and rear for fitment for the Honda CBR1100XX, in other words, tyres with no suffix letters. During early 2002 our development
riders undertook testing on various bikes using various OE specification tyres. OE tyres are modified versions of the general replacement tyre and are designed to optimise the handling of the bike they were
developed for. The W-spec front tyre was originally developed for the Kawasaki ZRX1200S and the L-spec rear was originally developed for the ZRX1200R. Our test riders realised that the handling attributes of these specific tyres would also have benefits when used on other bikes. With
the CBR1100XX the W front and L rear have increased the bike's high-speed stability over the 'standard-specification' tyres. Because of this we superseded the 'standard' recommendation with the 'W and L' recommendation.

Interestingly enough, the Avon Azaro developed a similar path and the Azaros with a "B" suffix were developed for the big performance machines until largely superseded by the Storm.

Hope that helps in the knowledge stakes.

[AllanB]

Great - tyres within tyres now! So not all are the sae even if the same brand name etc!

Something I do find interesting and here's an example recommended by a supplier on the phone yesterday - stick a PR2 on the rear and a Psport on the front - whats wrong with a front PR2 I ask, as it has the sticky side tread and presumably made to run as a pair. That's fine I'm told but with the sport you know its sticky.

Interesting is the sport tread has no resemblance to the PR2 tread. Apparently not an issue.

I think it is going to come down to the deal I can get on whatever is available the day I book them in.

[Blackbird]

Great - tyres within tyres now! So not all are the sae even if the same brand name etc!

Something I do find interesting and here's an example recommended by a supplier on the phone yesterday - stick a PR2 on the rear and a Psport on the front - whats wrong with a front PR2 I ask, as it has the sticky side tread and presumably made to run as a pair. That's fine I'm told but with the sport you know its sticky.

Interesting is the sport tread has no resemblance to the PR2 tread. Apparently not an issue.

I think it is going to come down to the deal I can get on whatever is available the day I book them in.

Yep, it's a complicated old world! That recommendation you got is not unlike my own present position. I've been an Avon Storm fan since they were released in NZ at the beginning of 2007. I enjoy "pressing on a bit" on the odd occasion but would cheerfully admit that I've never really found the limits of adhesion on the Storms apart when conditions were extreme and would have challenged any tyre. However, when the Avon importer offered me the opportunity to evaluate a sticky Avon Viper Sport on the front for free, I jumped at it. The Blackbird has a reasonable amount of forward weight bias which does load up the tyre and I figured that whilst the Storm front was fine for my riding capabilities, the Viper might offer just a touch more grip in an "oh shit" moment.

The only question is how long will it last and you might face the same issue. As long as it lasts as long as the rear hoop, I'll be happy.

Tyres are the last thing you should skimp on, but it does depend to some extent on what you ride and how you ride. A Viper Sport rear hoop would only last 3000-4000 km on the Blackbird and that's simply not warranted for my "fitness for purpose".

[AllanB]

I had a chat to Christchurch's tyre guru at lunchtime.

He suggested keep the Hi-Sport on the front until its worn as they are a sticky tyre.
Put a Pilot Road on the rear (well priced too) to replace the worn back Hi-Sport.

When I want to replace the front go for a Pilot Sport or Power.

I end up with a nice sticky front with a medium good lasting rear. (must be a joke in there )

Or I could replace both with anything I please and he'd be happy to accept payment

Then again those Storms sound nice..........

Its nice to deal with someone who is happy to offer advise even if it is possibly at their short term cost. Long term they will win in repeat business.

[nallac]

i know two guys running pilot roads(not pr2's) one a sv1000 the other on a hornet, both have had moments in the wet with them.

the hornet riders a fast/mad rider from what i've heard
the mate on the sv has only just got it and had a bad moment on the nice slick seal.
He wants to know how the contis work out for me,(long story on the shipping)
he had pilot sports on his TLR.