Latest views on road tyres for GS

[AndyW]

BT021 rear tyre mini review...

R1200GS - Bridgestone BT021 Rear Tyre mini review:

The good bit:
Grip/traction - very pleased with the performance of the tyres, the bike feels well planted and stable in all conditions, great wet weather grip and the bike is much more responsive in corners (quicker to turn in).

The bad bit (BT021 rear, the 020 front is fine!):
Disappointed with the longevity/tyre wear, the BT021 rear needs changing after barely 5000 miles as it's squared off with the 'wear bars' in the tread of the central part of the tyre worn through, stacks of tread remains on the rest of the tyre though!. This is especially disappointing considering the type of use of my bike, no commuting, touring/motorway riding or pillion/luggage carried, just 'recreational/fast road riding on popular bikers roads i.e. plenty of twists and corners (no 'chicken strips' on the tyres;-)
I'm wondering whether the tyres pressures recommended by Bridgestone are right (equivalent of the higher pillion/luggage pressures recommended by BMW), I've never squared off a tyre in this manner before and wear like this is all the more unexpected considering that the 021 is a dual compound tyre!

Felt obliged to fit another BT021 to 'match' the BT020 on the front

 

[Yonkyo]

On my 2nd set of Battlewings now. The 1st set only lasted just over 5k miles, but I think that was due to running them with low pressure (due to TP readout being in BAR – which I don’t understand).

I really can’t fault the battlewings, they are excellent on dry roads, good on wet roads, and ok on dry dirt roads.

However, reading the comments about the Michelin PR’s. I think I’ll give them a try next. I use Michelin Pilot Powers on the HP2S and they are awesome.

 

[Schtum]

(due to TP readout being in BAR – which I don’t understand).

Multiply the figure in bar by 14.5 to get psi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_(unit)

 

[MickyBlueyes]

Bought mine (s/h bike) with fairly new conti trail attacks on, and rode it several times and had the rear 'skip' rolling into corners even when warm, also found the front very very wooden with little feedback.

Changed to BT-020 Fr & Rear and have ridden 500miles on them in the warm, the cold, and the hail we have had recently, and can say they have transformed the bike. Better grip, stability and loads more feedback.

Mine will never go off-road though would use an XR for that

 

[Greybeard]

I had Bridgestone tyres as original (11,400 miles), switched to Trail Attacks and after 3,750 miles on these I'm pleased with the performance - mostly on tarmac.

 

[steveh]

I've ran

the oe dunlops, road attacks and trail attacks. OE dunlops and road attacks pretty good, trail attack is poo, I've had some big slides at the rear and very little feedback...all on road

 

[Yonkyo]

Multiply the figure in bar by 14.5 to get psi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_(unit)

Thanks for that Schtum, but i've now had it reprogrammed to display good old PSI

 

[LBL]

conti

Just got a second set of trial attacks for my 09 GSA, for me better than battlewings and tourance ( on a gs tho)

 

[Bigboy]

PIRELLI SCORPION TRAIL ?

Hi

Has anybody tried Pirelli Scorpion Trail's and what are they like ?


Thanks Bigboy

 

[wheelnut]

Thanks for that Schtum, but i've now had it reprogrammed to display good old PSI

Quick OT question - is that something you can do yourself or is it a dealer job?

 

[Yonkyo]

Quick OT question - is that something you can do yourself or is it a dealer job?

My dealer sorted it. He told me the GS/GSA's that have the TPM's, display in Bar as standard, unless you specify PSI.
So as far as i know, it's a BMW Tech only adjustment.

 

[wheelnut]

My dealer sorted it. He told me the GS/GSA's that have the TPM's, display in Bar as standard, unless you specify PSI.
So as far as i know, it's a BMW Tech only adjustment.

Cheers - due in for a service soon - will ask them.