Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Here are some thoughts on Bridgestones new 002 "street compound" tyre. This is not the 002's that they race on, but rather a newer compound designated for street use.

So you won't have to read to the bottom, they grip mint, don't last and feel like there name suggests......as hard as rocks!!!!!!

BigKev hated the new 002 street compound tyres on the gumby, so after 1500klms he took them off and fitted a set of racetechs while at the Island. I chucked on his 002 take offs to see how they went, since my OEM Suzuki 014's had desintergrated at a rapid rate as Watties had also done.

I started with my usual 36psi front and 42 rear while touring. They felt bloody hard at this pressure and did not allow the tyre to heat up at all, cold tearing through every twisty section. I then lowered them a bit to 32 front and 36 rear. It was better but still not right. I finished up with 29 front and 32 rear loaded with gear in order for them to work properly without tearing and soften the ride a bit!

I wouldn't be rushing out and buying another set. They grip good, I certainly couldn't complain about that. They stayed with Big kev corner for corner, so grip is not the issue. It's the ride quality that is really bad. Bigkev reckons these have an extra belt or something. Whatever it is, the buggers are bloody stiffly constructed and do not have much in the way of bump compliance. I felt it crash through the suspension on anything other than mirrored finishes. It would also skate across the road on corrugated turns. As with BigKev, I'm going back to a racetech front, but with an M3 rear!

Bought a set today haven't had a chance to try them yet, I'm starting with 33 front 36 rear that is for 2 up, tore my power to bits and only got about 5k out of it. Hopeing for a bit more out of the Bridgestones. Mick from Goodna suggest to try these.

I found it hard to get any real "feel" from them, but they launched & landed pretty well.

Part of the reason i was taking time to get up to pace before the Oops. I'm not blaming the tyre but I Dont think i'll be going another set.

I had 002s on for a trackday not long ago. Pressures were down around 30psi. They warmed up quickly, gripped like buggery and felt nice and soft. Didn't let go on me once - although perhaps that's because I'm a shithouse track rider.

I'm not sure if they were the new ones.

You may have had the 'race' compound 002's, thats what I used last year at the track day, they are different to the 'road' compound 002's....

The race 002's were bloody superb, I would use them again in a heartbeat.

Loz wrote:I had 002s on for a trackday not long ago. Pressures were down around 30psi. They warmed up quickly, gripped like buggery and felt nice and soft. Didn't let go on me once - although perhaps that's because I'm a shithouse track rider.

I'm not sure if they were the new ones.

Loz, as Gos mentioned below, the tyres commented on in this thread are the "ROAD VERSION" of the 002. Not the 002 Supersport race tyre. Which is, as you have said...a corker!!! I also have had and will have loads more sets of 002 race tyres on my bikes as they are the ducks, but the "Road Version" which I commented about is not a nice tyre in my opinion.

As an aside, I would recommend Metzler Racetech front and M3 rear combo as a road set up. I get about 9-10k out of a set.

hey, strika, how's the racetech compared to the Rennsport? my RSV came shod with Rennsports which are now a defunct product and I've been wondering about the Racetechs...

shrike wrote:hey, strika, how's the racetech compared to the Rennsport? my RSV came shod with Rennsports which are now a defunct product and I've been wondering about the Racetechs...

Just like a chocolate milkshake only crunchy shrike!! They are just like rennies except they grip a bit better and last loads longer!!!!

Just an update on the Bridgestone 002 Streets, I am very impressed in the way the bike feals through the corners, when we were in the tight twisties I was pushing the front a couple of times but that could be the extra weight on the back with 2 up riding, I'm going to drop the front psi a lb or 2 and see how that goes, but other than that I am more than pleased, just need to see how long they last.

[quote="petro"]Just an update on the Bridgestone 002 Streets, I am very impressed in the way the bike feals through the corners, when we were in the tight twisties I was pushing the front a couple of times but that could be the extra weight on the back with 2 up riding, I'm going to drop the front psi a lb or 2 and see how that goes, but other than that I am more than pleased, just need to see how long they last.[/quote]

About 3000 klms is all they managed with me. 1500 with big Kev and 1500 on the 9.

As a Bridgerock fan normally, especially the 002 race compounds I hate to have to criticise one of their products, but I cannot tell you how much I hated these tyres.
They are perhaps one of the worst road tyres I have had the displeasure of riding on. Don't get me wrong, they hang on ok, but they are just so bloody stiffly constructed. They have no bump compliance and just hammer the suspension. Cold, they feel worse than the 002 race compound; they grip ok cold, but they feel dead. Almost like riding on flat tyres. Then once a bit of heat gets into the carcass they feel better. But still hard and harsh. And they cold tear if you run too much pressure and wear out quickly when you run them low enough to make them work properly. I reckon Bridgerock have this one totally cocked up! I'd rather use an 020!

an 020?? farkk thats saying somethin!!

Wattie wrote:an 020?? farkk thats saying somethin!!

Macadams are a better tyre even Wattie!

what about oem 014's???

as bad as they last i did my best time on them...

but we'll see how the dunny q's go eh?

How about Shinkos, Marty? *grin*

Actually, you're dead right. I have 002s on my nine at the moment. Vague feeling, and the harshest riding tyre I've had. It's a shame, because they turn quite nicely.

Wattie wrote:what about oem 014's???

as bad as they last i did my best time on them...

but we'll see how the dunny q's go eh?

THe dunnies have about the same grip as OEM 014's maybe a tad less if any. But last!! They last heaps longer than OEM 014's! I got 2200klms out of a rear dunnie instead of the 1500 out of the 014!