Tourances on something else....

[The Mechanic]

Had a test ride on a 2004 model Aprilia Caponord (loaned by Hillsborough Motorcyclesof Sheffield) and this was shod with Tourances. Mmmm me thinks, I wonder what these tyres will be like; considering the recent postings about tyre problems and dealer/rider recommendations.

Well the bike was excellent, so much mid range grunt and a really slick gearbox. For a trail bike the front suspension was also very good there being none of the excess dive under braking that most seem to suffer from...B*W excepted...However the front tyre just didn't inspire confidence, at speeds of less than 35 mph it was like the front end was riding over a gently cobbled surface. The tyre just seemed to be struggling to run true, it was fine at high speed 50 and upwards of (unprintable) *15mph. This reminded me of exactly how I felt on my old Transalp when that was shod with Tourances and ridden at 25-35 mph. Not good for city and around town work.

So there you are another perspective on the perenial tyre discussion with another manufacturers bike as the test piece.

Just for good measure I was able to get another Caponord owners point of view as he swore by Tourances, although his bike was a little older so the tyres would not be of recent manufacture. Incidentally this guy had owned a B*W for a very short time (he didn't like it). Also he was not your average 5000miles a year jokey but rather one who covers LARGE mileages annually 12000+ per year, so I listened to his comments.
Not all bikes or tyres suite all riders and riding styles and weights of riders can play a big part in helping or hindering the handling of a particular machine.

Not the conclusion to a problem but perhaps the start of a potential answer to some owners queries

 

[The Mechanic]

Get in first with this....

Yep played around with the rear ride height adjustment and tyre pressures were as they should be. Moving further forward on the saddle altered nothing either.

Bike was brand new 129 miles on the clock.

Yep I know that the release agent and other chemicals need to be released by covering more miles but that should not affect the 'feel of the tyre' at all.

Don't go there if you want to say Aprilia's dont handle, I used to own a Mille....and still regret seling her!

Yep the wheel was in balance and this was not the cause of the 'vague feeling' experienced.

Definately tyre related

 

[DavidHolmes]

Thanks for that. Makes me a little happier dealing with Pirelli Metzler Moto or whoever they are. Their attitude has been resolutely that the Tourance is the market leader, cant make enough to keep up with demand, and I am the only person ever to have this problem.

As to the rider weight thing, 'tis true that I've lost 6 kg in the last 6 months, so maybe I need to eat more.....

 

[BBB61]

Worrying attitude from Metzeler there. They are beginning to sound like Michelin. "Nothing wrong with our tyres, it must be a fault on your bike". Very different to how they were the last time I had a problem with their tyres.

Bob

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

with hindsight - i think think this is what i experienced on my new front tourance and caused me to lower the pressures - to about 20-25 psi - i think.
made it feel better to ride till it 'ran' in - then put the pressures up again after a while

 

[MikeO]

Every front Tourance I've had fitted has been a bit squirrely for the first 50-100 miles - no idea why, but I seem to remember a thread on this subject a couple of years ago.

Just had a new pair fitted today and, as expected, the front feels odd & light - you have to force it into corners as it doesn't seem to want to lean - then it goes and it's like falling off the edge of the world - you seem to have to 'catch' it...

If past performance is any guide, they should be fine in 100 miles or so - unless thay are part of David's bad batch...

Mike

 

[Big Lad]

I must be one of the few that likes Avon Distanzias. I'm on my third rear and second front. I have never had any cause for concern in the handling. I'm 6'2 and almost 19 stone and ride in town ( London ) and weekend country thrashes as well as trips to France. They have handled brilliantly all the time, even when they are down to the wear blocks on the rear. Wet weather is also no problem. I've only tried the Tourance on an mates 1150 and found the ride a bit odd. The front was awful. ( Newish tyres and correct pressures ).

 

[richie]

I had a similar impression with my first front Anakee, but it was fine after the first 100miles. Felt like it was always ready to let go, very scary...

 

[Keith Chapman]

How well do the Bridgestone Battalaxe B020 tyres work? there are some people with them fitted using the standard wheels. can we have some feedback please.

 

[nud1e]

.........However the front tyre just didn't inspire confidence, at speeds of less than 35 mph it was like the front end was riding over a gently cobbled surface. The tyre just seemed to be struggling to run true, it was fine at high speed 50 and upwards of (unprintable) *15mph. This reminded me of exactly how I felt on my old Transalp when that was shod with Tourances and ridden at 25-35 mph. Not good for city and around town work.

My Transalp had started to handle just as you described. As the steering head bearing had been recently replaced, I thought this would be the problem but it wasn't. Checked lots of things and then the tyre pressures ....doh!
Problem solved and this with Dunlop Trailmax front and rear.
Tourances will go on R80GS tomorrow, so further instalments may followed.

 

[jefformston]

How well do the Bridgestone Battalaxe B020 tyres work? there are some people with them fitted using the standard wheels. can we have some feedback please.

I've had BT020's fitted to standard wheels on a 2001 1150, covered approx 1,000 miles on them so far and no complaints although I haven't really 'tested' them yet when riding aggressively. I've always used Tourance up to now, apart from a bad spell on Michelin T66 which is another story, surffice to say they were crap.

I've always found Tourance to be excellent in both wet & dry conditions never any problems no matter what the speed. Possibly not noticed the issues seen by other in the first 100 miles or so as I always take it easy with new tyres and 100 miles is less than a days commute.

If the BT020's don't prove them selves to be better than Tourance, I'm thinking mileage here because I don't think they can be better on performance, I'll be going back to Tourance just because they are cheaper.


IMHO Tourance are an excellent tyre and it will take a lot to beat them. I usually get 7,500 from a rear & 15,000 from a front changing them when the rear starts to white line & the front at every second change of the rear. (Discounted price when bought in pairs)

 

[Keith Chapman]

Thanks for the info on BT020s.

I was thinking of going that way because my tourances are showing signs of cracking and a small split round the tread blocks.
I have no complaints with the handling, my rear tyre is now on 9300 miles, I definately dont push the bike hard enough, no real need to. I ride my bike so my wife can keep up on her Ducati. but was considering a tyre for the road as I doubt that my GS will see any real dirt other than camp sites.

Cost is another factor, 020s are more expensive and if the wear rate is higher I will stick with the tourance

 

[Jarvy]

Had BT 020's fitted yesterday £190 the pair fitted to loose wheels.
Carefully rode to work in wet this morning and they feel good. Going to Italy in two weeks time so will test them on some nice mountain roads.

 

[Jimb]

Capo

Tony , the Cap Nord is fitted with V rated tourances not the H rated ones the GS has, its a faster bike and has tyres rated to 140MPH hence the V rating, a bit softer. Did you notice the forks are 50mm dia, bloody huge.

My mate has a Capo and it goes like the clappers the only downside is he has H & B aluminium panniers fitted and collides with everything, he 'aint quite got the hang of the width, on a recent trip to Spain he hit me twice a couple of cars filtering and a gate post all with no damage at all to himself, I shudder to think what the guy on the ferry did he had worn down the edges of the panniers on both sides.

 

[Spanish Bob]

Every front tourance I have had (4), squirrels about for the first 200 kms. Even produces bar wobble - nowhere near enough to produce a tank slapper though. I just check the tyre pressure is right and do 100 kms of motorway and then another 100 of twisties. I do this riding on my own.

I found srubbing the tyres with a brass wire brush also helps (to produce odd looks in passers by).

all 4 have been really good afterwards.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I found scrubbing the tyres with a brass wire brush also helps

thats where i've been going wrong !!

i thought scrubbing in was completely different

 

[wedgie]

turance

my mate is just back from germany on his gs 1100. he had a set of turances fitted just befor he went so i asked him how they went
no problems what so ever including the lap around the nurburgring

 

[The Mechanic]

To Jimb.

Yes the front forks are excellent and I did notice that they are extremely substantial in diameter, the spring rate and damping are also very good.

The tyre ratings were also noted, but when you buy a new bike or a new tyre you do expect to get round hoops that don't create anxious moments. If this had been a RIDE magazine tyre test I suspect that there would have been some right choice phrases published. Put on most any other tyre and all you have to do is go carefully for a few hundred miles, no shimmy, no shake, no uncertain feeling and definately NO cobbled road feeling from a brand new tyre (in my case a tyre set that had already covered 129 motorway miles before I had my test ride). Additionaly I also checked the wheel balance weights and there were only two 5 gramme items on the front.

Back to the tyre ratings a moment, they will only come into the equation if you operate them above the designed/designated operating speeds....in this case I didn't exceed the lower rating 'H' tyre max. speed. In any case either rating should have no effect below 70 mph.

If Bridgestone will make a 19" 014 (their latest offering to replace the 010/020) then that is what I will be aiming for