Bridgestone Battle Wings

[Engineer]

Just had a set of Battle Wings fitted to my standard 1200GS - they are bloody lovely!

They feel a gazillions times nicer than Tourances, particularly when lent over, wish I had fitted them sooner.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Cracking tyres and I would always choose them over Tourances

 

[Engineer]

Cracking tyres and I would always choose them over Tourances

They are indeed! they make the Tourances feel very crude in comparison - can't comment on their off-road ability but 98.84567895% of my riding is on road so provided I can get around 6,000 miles out of them I will be sticking to these from now on.

 

[GSTourer]

I have Tourances fitted to my 07 GSA which are just about ready for replacement............think I will give them a go !

 

[phooey]

Another vote for the Battle Wings - on my 3rd set on the GSA. 10k easily achievable.

TBH not had any problems with Tourances either although they square off a bit more than the Bridgestones.

 

[wheelnut]

Just fitted some pilot road 3 trials so see how they go.....

 

[Stig]

I Likes Em!

First tried them back in 2006 as a replacement for tourances..... Had em fitted ever since

 

[Big_Steve64]

It just shows you how subjective tyre choice is.

I hate Battlewings and much prefer Tourances.
I hate any Dunlop tyre and love Road Pilot 3's.

Do you think it is how your brain computes the feeling you get through the tyre. You hear about Racers complain all the time, about how they can't ride on a certain type of tyre.

If we put it into context, all modern tyres are pretty good. I remember my first little bike, a Honda CB125J. It was fitted with Yokohama Deathmasters. First time it rained I was off on the first corner. They were so hard I thought they were solid and didn't need air. They were shinier than the chrome on the exhaust. Happy days.........

 

[[email protected]]

battlewings

took the death wings of my GSA 2007 shortly after buying it, horrible in the rain, dance all over white lines felt like the bike was going to go from under me in corners, anything other than perfect dry roads felt horrible.
Tourances for me, brilliant last year 2 up on the Stelvio and in the passes in the rain riding around the outside of the czech boys and scraping the pegs.

My wife had an older Bridgestone on the back of her Africa Twin and HATED it, put a tourance on and she was well happy.

Just my 2 pence worth.

 

[MIKE R]

My 2ps worth.

Had Battlewings on my GSA from new. Good in the dry but deadly in the wet.

Changed for Tourances at the first opportunity. Wouldn't ever chose Battlewings again!

Strange how different tyres suit different people.

Mike

 

[Engineer]

took the death wings of my GSA 2007 shortly after buying it, horrible in the rain, dance all over white lines felt like the bike was going to go from under me in corners, anything other than perfect dry roads felt horrible.
Tourances for me, brilliant last year 2 up on the Stelvio and in the passes in the rain riding around the outside of the czech boys and scraping the pegs.

My wife had an older Bridgestone on the back of her Africa Twin and HATED it, put a tourance on and she was well happy.

Just my 2 pence worth.

Battle Wings are not 'death wings' - they were the old trail wings

 

[Engineer]

My 2ps worth.

Had Battlewings on my GSA from new. Good in the dry but deadly in the wet.

Changed for Tourances at the first opportunity. Wouldn't ever chose Battlewings again!

Strange how different tyres suit different people.

Mike

Spent the last two days riding on wet greasy roads - the Battle wings are far more reassuring that the rock hard Tourances, so we can't possibly be talking about the same tyres or maybe they suit the 1200GS more than Adventure??? or are are you riding an 1150?

 

[trebor]

My 2ps worth.

Had Battlewings on my GSA from new. Good in the dry but deadly in the wet.

Changed for Tourances at the first opportunity. Wouldn't ever chose Battlewings again!

Strange how different tyres suit different people.

Mike

+1

Though my experience of Battle Wings was on a 2008 GS, hated them in the wet. The rear tyre made it to 5000 miles when I changed both for a Pilot Road 2 on the rear and a normal Pilot Road on the front. This was an excellent combination, though had they been available at that time I would have used Pilot Road 3s on front and rear.

My 2010 GS Adventure came with Tourance EXPs. I found these to be a very good tyre but they squared off at 5000 miles but I managed to squeeze another 2000 out of them. After reading positive reviews on these forums I changed them for Dunlop TR91s. I have ridden on these through winter and have been very pleased with their performance.

Bob

 

[Giles]

Heh Heh ....

And so the opinions go on ...

I've had two sets of TR91's now. I think they're a cracking tyre and bloody brilliant in the wet

 

[MIKE R]

Spent the last two days riding on wet greasy roads - the Battle wings are far more reassuring that the rock hard Tourances, so we can't possibly be talking about the same tyres or maybe they suit the 1200GS more than Adventure??? or are are you riding an 1150?

I was referring to a 2010 GSA.

Mike

 

[Yorkie]

My GSA came with Battlewings - absolutely hated them in the wet - they kept stepping out. As I never go off road, I changed to Roadsmarts and love them in wet or dry - a whole new level of confidence.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Why don't peeps run 'pure' road tyres

Is it just for the looks 'cos Battle Wings etc are no better off road than a road tyre

I've run Dunlop D607's which were great and Battle Wings which were almost as good as well as knoblies on my GS .......... but ........... none of them perform as well as a 'pure' road tyre (I'm currently running the Avon Azaro/ST combo).

Anyway, as Giles says "And so the opinions go on ... "

Happy riding

Andres

 

[Giles]

I'm just in the process of getting a second wheelset. so TKC's on spoked wheels and pure road tyres on cast wheels. Bit undecided at the mo on the road tyres .... possibly roadsmarts ...

 

[Engineer]

Tyres do seem to be a very personal thing - I love the feel of the Battle Wings, I can 'feel' them 'working' whereas the Tourances just felt like 'hard round' things in comparison - I also notice that the Wings were very warm after a two up 20 mile ride on Sunday, never noticed the Tourances getting this warm - perhaps the carcass of the Battle Wings is softer, allowing them to heat up quickly and provide more feedback by flexing a little - just something I like

 

[mac163]

My GSA came with Battlewings - absolutely hated them in the wet - they kept stepping out. As I never go off road, I changed to Roadsmarts and love them in wet or dry - a whole new level of confidence.

Yes ...... in big agreement on the Roadsmarts. Tried Tourances, Battlewings & Conti Trail attacks ....... Roadsmarts definitely the choice for tarmac.
Mac