Bridgestone Battlax T30 on a Kawasaki Z1000 (ZR1000B)

[Hitcher]

Today was a new tyre day. A slightly different new tyre day, as this latest set – Bridgestone Battlax T30s – were supplied courtesy of Eurotread, New Zealand’s Bridgestone tyre distributor.

The Battlax T30, according to Bridgestone’s web site, is a brand new model that replaces the Battlax 023. The T stands for touring, not to be confused with S for sport and R for race, under Bridgestone’s new naming convention.

I have never ridden the Battlax 023. I have previously ridden on the 020 and 021 models that preceded it and was so completely underwhelmed by those experiences (OEM on a Kawasaki ZRX1200R, Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300 and Suzuki GSX1250FA) that I never purchased a replacement set nor felt any desire to consider any other Bridgestone tyres.

After today’s fitment of a 120/70 front and a 190/50 rear, there was still enough daylight around and near perfect riding conditions to warrant a wee burst somewhere. So that’s what happened.

Tonight’s excursion was down and back on the Wainuiomata Coast Road – one of my favourite stretches of sealed highway anywhere, particularly as the sun is setting in the west. It’s also a great ride to scrub in a set of tyres, particularly on the Wainuiomata Hill Road section with its reasonably quick although desperately awful series of off-camber corners.

A bit of filtering was needed on the motorway too – a good opportunity for the Cats-Eye Test. This involves assessing how well tyres clump over those reflectorised markers. The clumping was pretty good. Somewhere between ‘not too harsh’ and ‘moderately plush’. So far, so good. Motorway filtering was also a chance to get a general feel for the tyres.

They are a quick turning tyre, with the bike falling into the turn and rolling around the tyres’ curvature. That initially surprised me but I soon got the hang of it. In some corners they felt a bit over-steery at first but a bit of adjustment with the throttle hand soon had that sorted.

Then the Coast Road proper appeared. Nice and clean and dry with no traffic at all or wandering stock. A quick trip was had in both directions. Enough said.

The T30s’ ambitions are more sport focused than touring. Why do I say that? Because the way they roll into and bite in corners encouraged me to adjust my riding lines to accentuate that. I started taking the apexes a bit later than I would usually, letting the bike drop into the turn and then punching the gas on the exit. It was great fun.

So after almost 100km I think I’ve got the new tyres largely sorted, certainly in dry weather riding. This weekend may provide some opportunities to see how they behave in less optimum conditions. I’ll also start experimenting with tyre pressures and see where those end up. According to today’s fitment notes they rolled away with 34psi in the front and 38 in the rear. That’s about 2psi less at both ends than I normally run my tyres, but hey, let’s see what happens.

So far, so good.

**Please read post #9 in this thread for a significant status update**

Many thanks to Eurotread for their generosity. I’ll post further reports as my relationship with the T30s evolves.

Requisite photos follow:

[AllanB]

Be good to see how they compare to the Conti RA2's over their life.

(My arty eye is not inspired by the tread pattern - I know it is not there to please but it is not very horny looking, don't worry I'll get over it!)

Now you just need to find someone to send you a set of 'test' mufflers and that Kawa would be the horn!

[KoroJ]

Nothing like finding a good tyre Mr H!

I did try the 023's as the last set on 'The Red'. That was on the last GC and they felt great...until pushing the pace through tight stuff and the cassings seemed to start flexing when the got hot and under the weight of the ST. I was quite glad to see the last of them with the bike.

I didn't particularly light the 020's to start with but went back to them after experiencing problems with other tyres and didn't mind them then.

I can't see me trying these jobbies as I'm pretty happy with the Z8/Z6 combo I have at the moment.

[riffer]

Tyres on the Bandit look rather sad at present. How do you reckon they'd go on Mr Suzuki's finest?

[Hitcher]

Be good to see how they compare to the Conti RA2's over their life.

That bar is set pretty high. The RA2s that came off earlier today had covered 11,500km and I reckon there was still about 2,000km left on the rear. The front was set to last forever,

[Hitcher]

Tyres on the Bandit look rather sad at present. How do you reckon they'd go on Mr Suzuki's finest?

I was thinking exactly those thoughts whilst scooting back up the canyon from the coast this evening. The GSX1250FA was particularly adept and sorting out any deficiencies in front tyres and eating rears that it thought were a bit blousy.

[JayRacer37]

Tyres on the Bandit look rather sad at present. How do you reckon they'd go on Mr Suzuki's finest?

I was thinking exactly those thoughts whilst scooting back up the canyon from the coast this evening. The GSX1250FA was particularly adept and sorting out any deficiencies in front tyres and eating rears that it thought were a bit blousy.

In the Bandit's 180/55 rear size, if you need something to last a little longer there is the 'GT' spec tyre also as a more hard-wearing option.

Hitcher, I would try the pressures you are more used to - that front pressure in particular seems a little low compared to what I have heard being preferred on these tyres.

Cheers,

Jay

[ceebie13]

I reckon a wee fang up to Taupo will but them through the mill. :-)

[Hitcher]

Whoa! Let's back that truck up, to coin a tired cliche.

The Battlax T30s don't handle anything like I posted in the first post in this thread.

"?" I hear you say.

Some of you may know that I'm a bit anal when it comes to checking tyre pressures. Every time the cover comes off the bike and it's going somewhere, out comes the gauge and the Michelin double-piston foot pump.

This morning I checked the tyre pressures. No main stand, so the bike has to go for a valve-hunting roll. First valve, the rear. 38psi. OK, I'll leave that as is. Second valve, the front. 41psi. You've got to be shitting me. Check again, 41psi. Thank you, tyre installer, but that's a wee bit more than the 34psi your workshop fitment notes suggested should be in there.

Psssst. 35psi. Close enough. Let's go riding.

Bugger me, what a difference.

Gone is the sharp fall-into-a-corner steering from yesterday. Gone is the over-steering. Gone is the feeling of the bike rolling around the curvature of the tyres. Gone is the sensation of traction difference between the front and the rear tyre.

Instead there's now a lovely positive neutrality with the tyres working seamlessly as a pair. Now there's point-and-shoot cornering accuracy. Now there is ruthless confidence braking hard through a corner.

I've just returned from a Wairarapa excursion with the fantabulous Mrs H accompanying me on her Bandit. The Hill was in pristine condition and we had it dry both ways.

I had the Hill largely to myself on the way home. The grip from these T30s is immense. I'll say no more.

In summary, thanks to more reasonable tyre pressures, I'm now considerably more enamoured of these new Bridgestones than I was at close of play yesterday.

Like all tyres I ride, I will be really interested to see what the longevity is for a Battlax T30.

[JayRacer37]

....

Wow, that is a LONG way different to what they said was in it! A bit concerning, a good thing you didn't just take their word for it!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Second valve, the front. 41psi. You've got to be shitting me. Check again, 41psi. Thank you, tyre installer, but that's a wee bit more than the 34psi your workshop fitment notes suggested should be in there.

.

Wow, that is a LONG way different to what they said was in it! A bit concerning, a good thing you didn't just take their word for it!

Hell yes. Make sure you let them know...else I will!

:-)

[AllanB]

I have made it a rule to check pressures after fitting - car and bike. They are often significantly different to what they should be. Figure maybe it it a first reading after pumping all that pressure in to seat the tyre on the rim or the workshops gauge is out from bing dropped too often!

[JayRacer37]

Nothing like finding a good tyre Mr H!

I did try the 023's as the last set on 'The Red'. That was on the last GC and they felt great...until pushing the pace through tight stuff and the cassings seemed to start flexing when the got hot and under the weight of the ST. I was quite glad to see the last of them with the bike.

I didn't particularly light the 020's to start with but went back to them after experiencing problems with other tyres and didn't mind them then.

I can't see me trying these jobbies as I'm pretty happy with the Z8/Z6 combo I have at the moment.

Hi Koro,

The T30 is a little more capable at the sporting end of the spectrum than the BT023 so likely would perform more how you would have liked - I can't compare to the Metzeler's you have but I certainly feel these would be a step over the BT023 for your use.

Also, we have just landed a T30-'GT' version in the sizes for the ST1300 (120/70-18 front and a 170/60-17 rear) so have an option for a little longer life, and better heat dispersal for the ST now, which we did not in the BT023.

Jay

[KoroJ]

Hi Koro,

The T30 is a little more capable at the sporting end of the spectrum than the BT023 so likely would perform more how you would have liked - I can't compare to the Metzeler's you have but I certainly feel these would be a step over the BT023 for your use.

Also, we have just landed a T30-'GT' version in the sizes for the ST1300 (120/70-18 front and a 170/60-17 rear) so have an option for a little longer life, and better heat dispersal for the ST now, which we did not in the BT023.

Jay

Thanks for that. The Metzlers are feeling great, but being about as anal as Mr H on checking my tyre pressures, I'm noticing the Z8 on the rear is starting to square off. This is probably partly due to lots of SH1 type riding and it has done 8,000Km, but a T30-GT might have to be a serious consideration for the next change as I'm not keen to try the Pilot Road 3's or Conti Road Attack GT's and there's no other options I'm keen to try.

[Tarded]

Wow, that is a LONG way different to what they said was in it! A bit concerning, a good thing you didn't just take their word for it!

Yup, no body has as vested an interest as us in if our arse hits tarmac. Check check check.
That is a long way out though, sounds like no final check, just pumped up to seat as you suggested.

Cheers for the review too, good to hear real world use, not sales brochures.