BRIDGESTONE 020,s ANY GOOD?

[Phil W]

Just finished running in my GS12. What a fantastic bike!!!
I,ve been using my favourite dales roads, a good mixture of complex B roads and fast A roads. The GS taking it all in it's stride of course! I have noticed tonight while pushing the bike hard through bends the rear has slid a couple of times....nothing scary just notable.
I'm running Michelin Anakee's at the moment. Has anyone compared these to the Bridgestone 020's. If so do they offer better grip and control on the road?

 

[HMarc]

I've been running BT020s for the last 5k miles or so. The rear is pretty worn, I wouldn't start on a trip of more than 1000 miles or so unless I replaced it first. The front will obviously last thru a 2nd rear (as I've found to be the case with my old FJR1300).

My memory for specific details isn't that great, but I remember being very happy with them when I first put them on, after starting with Trailwings, then going to a Tourance on the rear.

I recall that they improved stability in the corners, and in particular improved the bike's stability in a cross-wind. Of course suspension adjustments/changes will do the same thing to a greater or lesser degree.

 

[sven]

Michelin Pilot Roads are now available (or soon to be available) in GS sizes.

There was a comparitive test in one of the German bike mags a few weeks ago (can't remember which one - I was reading it in a newsagents in Dusseldorf Airport to kill time) and the Pilot was the best out of the seven tyres for both dry and wet weather grip.

 

[Emoto]

I ran through several sets of 020s on my R1100RS and was very happy with them. Grip was very good even in cooler and wet conditions. I haven't used the anakees, but I used to go very fast on the 020s without any issues. They also had a reasonable life, so became my regular tire on that bike.

 

[Mr K]

I've been running BT020s for the last 5k miles or so. The rear is pretty worn, I wouldn't start on a trip of more than 1000 miles or so unless I replaced it first.

Is that really 1,000 miles or did you miss a zero?
Loved your TT bar mount instructions, so respect your opinion, but 1,000 mile from a rear tyre?
We're heading of for the Black Sea (from UK) this Autumn so need at least 5,000 miles from a rear.
My OE Anakee looks good for 2,000 more at 4,600......... I'd appreciate any advice?

 

[Mr K]

Sorry - Missed the point: You've done 5,000 miles already.

Slap me, I'm an idiot.

 

[kdude]

I was using the pilot roads on my 03 rs and when I compared them to most sportouring tires on the market they were :

Long lasting
Great in the wet
Good in the dry

and I would reccomend them in a heartbeat.

I wish Michelin will come out with a tire in the gs size soon.

hp

 

[Dave Price]

I love the O2Os on my 12GS, but the rear has only lasted 3500 miles, which, compared with O2Os on my other bikes is significantly less mileage.
The only factors which I can think may have affected the wear rate, is play in the rear drive for part of the tyre life and carrying a pillion more often.
I've also noticed that the tyre in the GS size, starts life with 1mm less depth than in a Honda pan european size, for whatever reason.

 

[Emperor Norton]

I've also noticed that the tyre in the GS size, starts life with 1mm less depth than in a Honda pan european size, for whatever reason.

The 020 for the GS is not simply a re-sized 020 for the Pan or some other bike; it's specifically engineered for the GS, based on the general 020-technology.

Got a set of 020s last Friday and I'm very happy with them: cornering is definitely more fun than with terrain tyres, and they're more silent and more comfortable. Had them on my RT before and favoured them over the Pilot Roads.

However, I envy my daughter with the Roadtec Z6s on her Honda Hornet. I wonder when Metzeler will come out with the right size for the GS.

 

[Marco]

Check this link to choose the right tyres; it is in French so ask me if you need any translation:

http://www.lerepairedesmotards.com/pneus.htm

 

[Marco]

Forgot to say that you must click at "les résultats de l'enquête pneus" (bottom of the page last paragraph)

 

[Quentin]

Check out the Tourance result from the test. Pretty good.

They deserve consideration. I have used them on my 1150 and 1200GS and they were such an improvement over the Trailwings for wet grip. I get good mileage -- now at over 6000 on the 1200GS with about 1000 left in the rear. This includes two trackdays where again I never felt outgripped by others.

 

[Marco]

Agreed Quentin ! I believe that the Tourrances are the best tyres for the GS12; probably even better than the road tyres BT020 (at least this is confirmed by this poll)

 

[nleader]

I've been running a pair of 020s on my 1150GS - following on from several sets of Tourances. They work fine, but don't last as long. I can't honestly say they are a better tyre on the 1150GS than the Tourance. Behaved very predicably on the track, but so did the Tourances.

I'm likely to get Tourances again next time.

Norman