Tyres

Need new rubber on my 1200 Bandit. Currently BT010 front & BT020 rear.
I'm happy with this combo, but have heard favourable reports about Michelin
Pilot Road & Metzeler Roadtec Z6.
Anyone got experience of how these compare to the BT020's?

 

Have a look at Conti Road Attacks, too. I've had 'em on my VFR for a
couple of thousand miles now, they're wearing well and grip well enough
for me to get within a few mm of the edges even 2-up with luggage.

 

Ratchet says...

Firstly, there's absolutely no need to fit a BT010 front with a BT020
rear. According to a Bridgestone tyre technician the 020 front is a
softer compound than the 020 rear anyway, so there's no real advantage,
you just pay more.

Secondly, unless you're some sort of racing god, in which case why ride
a B12, then something like Avon Azaro 3 AV45/46 STs should be fine. I
had them on a ZZR1100 and they were fine for my pace of riding on that,
and I don't hang about. Dnc has them on his bandit, and I think on his
ZZR1100, Pip has them on his RF900, Tuppy on his Pan-Euro too. None of
these owners ride slow and none report anything drastically bad about
them. In fact, all I hear is good, and that includes the price and wear
rate. They are cheaper than 020s and last longer, grip better wet or
dry and corner nicely. What more do you need?

I wouldn't ever fit Michelins to any bike, I just don't like them
purely because they are French.

 

SteveH says...

Tbh, even Michelin Macadams are able to give that amount of grip. We
had Pip's B12 off the edges of the Macadams, trouble is they don't like
changes of direction or anything resembling damp roads. Any tyre will
grip to the edges in the dry, 2 up, loaded or not.

 

Macadams are the most nasty tyres I've used in the wet on my Bandit. I
used to dred having to go out in the wet on them. Nasty nasty..

 

Fair enough, but they've given me a lot more confidence riding on damp
French roads under similar loading. Always had a problem with that in
the past, but with these I've been fine. They also felt really good in
the absolute pissing rain we were caught in coming back from the ferry -
standing water on the M4, but still gave me a decent amount of grip and
feedback on the 180 degree slip near Newport.

I like, 'em anyway. They get stupidly soft and sticky on dry roads, but
the tread depth is so deep they don't appear to be wearing.

 

Lozzo wrote

I too have them on the bindit but as I don't have a reputation for fast
riding my opinion is worth **** all.

And, just for the record, as they have caused me no problems at all, in
fact they lead their lives in a very understated way, I don't have an
opinion.

 

SteveH says...

Azaros are like that, the tread goes on for ever. The Azaros are miles
cheaper from FWR though.

 

[of Conti Road Attacks]

I've seen nice things along similar lines written about them before and
it's only my prejudice for Conti tyres generally[1] that stops me from
replacing the -020s when the time comes around.

That and the lack of a fitment for the standard front wheel on the GS
and I'm not yet inclined to go the "Super'tard" route with it [3].

 

I've just gone for some more Azaros on my zzr1100. No problems grip
wise and I got far more miles out of them than I was expecting (~
0k - bikes used mainly for commuting two into London which probably
helps). However I think that will be last time I let one of FWRs so
called mechanics loose on one of my bikes (to be fair at least one of
them is pretty good but you don't get to pick and choose).

He fitted rear wheel OK (although a bit too fond of his hammer for
re-fitting the wheel spindle for my liking). Completely cocked up
getting the front wheel off - he had the bike on the centre stand
(bike pneumatic lift). Front jacked up on the exhaust collector box.
Then he discovered, having unbolted the calipers and removed axle
etc. that there was insufficient clear to get the wheel out. He then
proceeded to start to remove the mudguard and then have another go at
getting the wheel out. It is during this phase of the proceeding that
I suspect he broke on of the mounting tangs on the rear section of
the mudguard. I was too far away to be certain and when confronted
(after I had alerted the manager to his incompetence) claimed it was
broken already and just dropped out when he removed the bolt. This
might or might not be true. He then decided to give up on this plan
of attack and do what he should have done in the first place i.e. in
summary, reassemble the front end and then use a paddock stand.

If you do let FWR work on your bike, make sure you watch what the
guys doing!

Jim

 

I have them on my B12 too.

pair available here for £139 (plus £6 delivery)

http://www.motorbike-tyres.com/#avon

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