[phobiaphobe]

Don't know how much this has been discussed in the past, but I searched threads and didn't find much.

3800 Km on my rear BT014 that came on the bike. Might make it to 5000 but will need to be replaced soon. I'll either put on another 014 or go with a sport touring tire (020?). No allegiance to bridgestones but I like matched sets. When the front wears down I'll either switch to Pilot Powers or Pirellis.

Here's my question:

I don't ride on the track. Mostly aggressive backroad riding and a bit of touring mixed in. I don't ride on the edge all the time but my tires have no chicken strips front or back. How much grip am I sacrificing by going to the sport-touring rubber? Will the mileage improvement make it worthwhile?

Advice wanted.

[ConqSoft]

I like the BT020.

[CRU]

Years ago on my old VFR, I used to mix the two. I had BT010 on the front and BT020 on the rear. Used to get about 8000 miles out of the rear. Never really had an issue with grip on the rear tire. And remember, the VFR is a pig compared to the fireblades. As long as the tires were hot they grabbed. Just don't WOT out of a corner and you should be fine.

[l'timbré]

i did BT10/BT20 combo, lots more kms on the rear the ratio of 2 rear to 1 front became 1 to 1 but as far as grip goes you loose some, warmup times are longer. If you plan on doing a lot of trips do it but dont go put yourself in a weelchair for $$$ and feel stopied for the rest of your life

I will not do it again unless I plan a long long trip.

[Newfie TLR]

I've been a big promotor of the Battlax 010's and 020's.

010 on the back and 020 on the front of the TL with 020's on the Sprint. Judging by your post, I'd say the 020's, but that's just my $0.02 worth.

I had the 020's on the Bandit, and on the track I wore the weld off the pipe on the right side, and the feeler off the left peg, and never felt a slip.

014's, I can't comment on. There were Dunlops on both bikes new (sorry, I don't remember model) and I hated them. Matter of fact, on the Sprint, I changed them at probably half life.

I haven't put tires on the TL since I got the Sprint, but I'm due in the spring, and I may go to Michelins as a trial on the advice of the board members. If I only had one bike..................... Battlax all the way baby.

[l'timbré]

Originally Posted by Newfie TLR

010 on the back and 020 on the front of the TL

[phobiaphobe]

Warm-up time isn't an issue for me; I have a half-hour flat and straight drone before I even get to a road with a curve. I think the 020's are probably a lot cheaper too. I think I'll try 014 front 020 rear.

Thanks.

[soon2b954]

I have heard great things about the Avon AV45 / AV46 AZARO - ST.

[BDA116]

Cheng Shin.

[CBRVFR]

I like the Metzeler Z6. Wearing great on my VFR, lots of stick, works well in the cold rain.

There's a pretty good thread on Ulewz's VFRdiscussion.com for this kind of tire. Lots of opinionated engineer-types.

the BT10/20 thing is so 1999..... Seriously, there are far better choices.

[soon2b954]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Cheng Shin.

Factory equipment on the R1!!

[Skully]

I tried both the Bridgestone 010/020 combo and the Avon AV 45/46. I liked the Avon's better.

[OSIRIS]

Originally Posted by soon2b954

I have heard great things about the Avon AV45 / AV46 AZARO - ST.

I like mine

[Baketech]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Cheng Shin.

When you can't find Tomahawks....

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by l'timbré

Just checking to see who was paying attention!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Actually, you're right. It is the 020 on back and 010 on front, due to mileage. With this combo, I'll get basically two tires on back to one front.

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Warm-up time isn't an issue for me; I have a half-hour flat and straight drone before I even get to a road with a curve. I think the 020's are probably a lot cheaper too. I think I'll try 014 front 020 rear.

Thanks.

A turn within 30 minutes of Calgary??

Yeah, right. Travelling at the speed of sound maybe!!!



















Actually, I shouldn't make fun of where you live, cause this area is almost as bad. A hill is a speed bump in a parking lot and a turn is a detour around the phone or cable repair tent in the road !!!

[Chain]

Originally Posted by soon2b954

I have heard great things about the Avon AV45 / AV46 AZARO - ST.

This was the second set of tires I put on my 954 and I was highly impressed.

I'm a big proponent of modern sport touring rubber. In getting away from supersport tires and making the switch to sport touring meat, you will give up nothing by way of 'stick' in everyday street riding, but you'll enjoy short warm times, better wet grip performance, and longer life in return.

The BT010 front/BT020 combination is a decent choice too. Many guys on the FZ1 board run that combo with good results.

Michelin Pilot Roads will grace my busa soon, about the only current sport touring rubber than captivates me like the AVONS mentioned above do. This is the one and only place I call for tires. Solid selection, great customer service, good prices and fast shipping.

http://www.swmototires.com/

FWIW

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by Chain

This was the second set of tires I put on my 954 and I was highly impressed.

I'm a big proponent of modern sport touring rubber. In getting away from supersport tires and making the switch to sport touring meat, you will give up nothing by way of 'stick' in everyday street riding, but you'll enjoy short warm times, better wet grip performance, and longer life in return.

The BT010 front/BT020 combination is a decent choice too. Many guys on the FZ1 board run that combo with good results.

Michelin Pilot Roads will grace my busa soon, about the only current sport touring rubber than captivates me like the AVONS mentioned above do. This is the one and only place I call for tires. Solid selection, great customer service, good prices and fast shipping.

http://www.swmototires.com/

FWIW

OK Chain, (or anyone else who chimes in) tell me why you go with the more expensive ones, other than personal preferences. The Michelins are ~$40 USD a set more than the Bridgestones. I said I would try the Michelins this spring, but not having priced them before, I didn't realize they were so much more expensive. I can get 2 Bridgestones installed (rims off the bike) for like $350 CDN, so I think my mind is made up.

Battlax it is!

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by Newfie TLR

A turn within 30 minutes of Calgary??

Yeah, right. Travelling at the speed of sound maybe!!! !!!

Believe it or not, there are some great roads here.... just need to know where to go. Heading northwest on 1a towards Canmore, then taking the kananaskis loop around to longview, then up 762 (millarville road) stop at Bragg Creek for lunch, and back into Calgary on hwy 8 is the PERFECT day trip. Great curves of all shapes and sizes, breathtaking scenery, mountain air, no traffic, no cops.

You ever head up into Northern Ontario? There are some great backroads in muskoka area that I never got a chance to ride on a bike when I lived there.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by Newfie TLR

OK Chain, (or anyone else who chimes in) tell me why you go with the more expensive ones, other than personal preferences. The Michelins are ~$40 USD a set more than the Bridgestones.

Easy. According to what I've seen with my own two eyes (not on my bikes, but friends' machines), they last as long or longer than the 020s and they stick harder.

I've run 020s myself and they wouldn't hold my 127 hp FZ1 at the rear, much less a ~158 hp Hayabusa. Of course, there are alot of guys who run the 'stones and coax fantastic mileage out of them. They do represent something of a bargain at the prices you're talking about.

My .02 worth, YMMV

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

You ever head up into Northern Ontario? There are some great backroads in muskoka area that I never got a chance to ride on a bike when I lived there.

I was yanking your chain. I know the foothills aren't that far from you.

I did a round trip to Timmins September past. Going up was pretty crappy (except for between the Sault and Wawa) but coming down Hwy 11 from North bay to Barrie after an early morning fog at the height of the colours was just splendiferous.

[2OHOH2]

I'm now on my fourth set of Avons, the 45/46 set. My front (the 45) has around 12,000 miles on it, and still has tread left. They're great dry and wet.

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by Chain

Easy. According to what I've seen with my own two eyes (not on my bikes, but friends' machines), they last as long or longer than the 020s and they stick harder.

I've run 020s myself and they wouldn't hold my 127 hp FZ1 at the rear, much less a ~158 hp Hayabusa. Of course, there are alot of guys who run the 'stones and coax fantastic mileage out of them. They do represent something of a bargain at the prices you're talking about.

My .02 worth, YMMV

Wasn't getting bent Pal, just asking. I knew Pirellis were almost a second mortgage, but I didn't know Michelins were so much. Problem is here (Northern RR will agree if he ever comes back from south that Bastid) is that there are so many freekin flat roads that the center of the tire is gone before the sides are hardly scuffed!! I mean, jeez, there's no turns here unless I go someplace like the Black Hills (close to RedRider's neck of the woods). If I can get a decent price, I may get a set of the French Rubber, but I dunno. The place I buy tires from here buys Bridgestones by the bajillions, hence the good $$. Anything else is retail cost, so...................

Hey, while I'm typing this, does anybody know if Michelin makes a dual compound?? I know 020's are, Dunlop makes at least one, but don't know about anyone else.

[Newfie TLR]

Originally Posted by 2OHOH2

I'm now on my fourth set of Avons, the 45/46 set. My front (the 45) has around 12,000 miles on it, and still has tread left. They're great dry and wet.

What's the mile-o-meter say for the back??

[2OHOH2]

Originally Posted by Newfie TLR

What's the mile-o-meter say for the back??

It's looking like about 12,000+ miles on the FJR and 954.