GSA1200 Tyres

[jbodin]

I'm due to change front and rear tyres on my 2008 GSA1200. The original tyres are Bridgestone Battlewings. Generally I have been happy with these,although expected a bit more than 7500k but wonder if there are other tyres out there which might be that bit better. Wet/Dry grip would be 1st priority. Most of my riding of is on road, so has anyone come across any other good tyres they could recomend. Also, any idea of good suppliers/fitters in the West Midlands?
Thanks

 

[Wapping]

Search is your friend.......or be prepared for every possible combination of answer under the sun.....

 

[GSmonkey]

If you're after more mileage, got to be tourance (old type)

 

[jbodin]

If you're after more mileage, got to be tourance (old type)

Thanks for the info

 

[matlockscot]

Dunlop Roadsmarts if you're staying on the black stuff, transformed my bike. Much better turn in.

 

[jbodin]

Dunlop Roadsmarts if you're staying on the black stuff, transformed by bike. Much better turn in.

Thanks for that. Will look up on some info

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

............ expected a bit more than 7500k............... Wet/Dry grip would be 1st priority.

Mutually incompatible IMHO. And, as Wapping says, run a search 'cos all your gonna end up here is a list of peeps fav tyres which is not the same thing as being recommended the best tyre for you.

Andres

 

[Sgt Bilco]

You must have a bit left on the front so I'd go for another Battlewing on the rear. 7500 is pretty good for any of the different makes in my experience.

The only ones I wouldn't have are the Tourance EXP which apparently don't have the mileage of the older Tourances or other makes.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

You must have a bit left on the front so I'd go for another Battlewing on the rear. 7500 is pretty good for any of the different makes in my experience.

Have to say my experience is that they wear (F&R) pretty much at the same rate (I also only ever got 5k out of BW's). A lot of the 'modern' dual purpose tyres seem to do this, or is it just me

Andres

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Have to say my experience is that they wear (F&R) pretty much at the same rate (I also only ever got 5k out of BW's). A lot of the 'modern' dual purpose tyres seem to do this, or is it just me

Andres

Actually, you may be right Andres when I think about it. I mix and match tyres so don't really keep a close eye on wear rate but 7500k sounds OK for a BW if ridden fairly gently

 

[Beemerman59]

I have had 2 sets of Battlewings, replacing both after 5K miles. The rear was badly squareed off at this point and although the fronts still had some life, the leading edge of the blocks were wearing close to minimum tread. I thought they were good tyres and I prefer grip to longevity.

I'm now running Dunlop Roadsmarts and now I'm the limiting factor not the tyre. I can ride the same in the wet as in the dry apart from the roundabouts which have a petrol station near them - diesel spillage! Its too early for me to know about mileage but the grip is worth it anyway.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I changed over from the Battlewings to Conti Attack Trails. So far so good.

The following is a link to a German review of all the main contenders - translated

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...ycle/general/links/news/cta_testwinner_en.pdf

 

[Yonkyo]

Have to say my experience is that they wear (F&R) pretty much at the same rate (I also only ever got 5k out of BW's). A lot of the 'modern' dual purpose tyres seem to do this, or is it just me

Andres

Me too, I only got just over 5k miles out of my last two sets of Battlewings. Got some Karoo 2's on her now, which i'm sure wont last very long. So i'm wondering what to try next

Anybody tried the new Dunlop Trailmax? I saw it at the NEC. very deep tread.

 

[Beemerman59]

Me too, I only got just over 5k miles out of my last two sets of Battlewings. Got some Karoo 2's on her now, which i'm sure wont last very long. So i'm wondering what to try next

Anybody tried the new Dunlop Trailmax? I saw it at the NEC. very deep tread.

I wouldn't go too much on tread depth - the tyre blocks move around more and wear quicker anyway. Well, thats my theory!

 

[Skipssong]

Interested in you guys with BattleWings and only 5-7k. I'm now up at 10k and although the rear is now within 1k or so there's plenty of life in the front.

 

[Yonkyo]

Interested in you guys with BattleWings and only 5-7k. I'm now up at 10k and although the rear is now within 1k or so there's plenty of life in the front.

How the hell are you getting 10k + from your BW’s.

Do you ride mostly solo and without luggage.
Do you only weigh 6 stone.
Do you never go anywhere near motorways.
Do pull away from traffic lights in second gear.
Do you never break the speed limit (ok don’t answer that one).

If you answered YES to all the above, then I’ll believe your BW’s last 10k

 

[Skipssong]

How the hell are you getting 10k + from your BW’s.

Do you ride mostly solo and without luggage.
Do you only weigh 6 stone.
Do you never go anywhere near motorways.
Do pull away from traffic lights in second gear.
Do you never break the speed limit (ok don’t answer that one).

If you answered YES to all the above, then I’ll believe your BW’s last 10k

Most of the miles have been done touring Europe 2 up; full luggage:

2008 - France, Germany, Austria
2009 - South of France

By far the majority of non holiday mileage is done M4, M25, A1.

I weigh 16.5 stones

I'm a IAM Advanced Rider

The bike is a May 2008 GSA; its done 9,897 miles and is on the same BW's it
was delivered with........

believe it or not

 

[boatman]

its right enough that what you get on tyre threads is opinion, so here is mine .When you have gone in just that wee bit too hot, and you know it !!!!!!!! i find that i feel more confident that the exp,s are going tae keep me out of the a and e

 

[jbodin]

You must have a bit left on the front so I'd go for another Battlewing on the rear. 7500 is pretty good for any of the different makes in my experience.

The only ones I wouldn't have are the Tourance EXP which apparently don't have the mileage of the older Tourances or other makes.

Thanks for all the info, I have been happy with the Bridgestone's, it's just nice to know if there is anything new to try with the continuing tyre development. Thanks to all those who have given a sensible comment.

 

[slojon]

You must have a bit left on the front so I'd go for another Battlewing on the rear. 7500 is pretty good for any of the different makes in my experience.

The only ones I wouldn't have are the Tourance EXP which apparently don't have the mileage of the older Tourances or other makes.

I'd go with that. I only used about 7500km of the tyres. I changed back because I still had a third of a trip to do and they were square across the bottom from thousands of K's on straight roads across central Australia. Still got the front with 10K on it and plenty left.

Old Anakee's are good.