Bridggie BT023's

[plane]

Greetings from paradise fellow ksrcians...

I've been mainly stuck on a boat (SOB) for most of the last 18 months, hence my lack of attendance.

I am seeking advice on tyre choice for the Rex. I've been out of the tyre buying loop for a while and was wondering what the aforementioned BT023's are like. I'm currently running Dunlop Roadsmarts, but the Bridgies could be another option...

Opinions on any sport touring (not pure sports) tyre greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Pete

[fireyrob]

Will be trying Metzler M5's on the zeddy next as my current PR3's are ok when cruising but can spin up the rear fairly easily. Cant comment on the BT's from experience sorry

[z900/zx9]

Pilot Roads are overated i have always said this I found M5s to be really good they steer much better than the roadsmarts and wet grip is also good on the metzlers.I have also run a number of sets of roadsmarts and for what they are they do there job.Sorry i cant help u on the bridgestonesas i have only ever run 003s

[smithy5]

Not as happy with the 023's as I have been with the earlier 020's and 021's. Sticky as shit on a blanket, but they just don't last. I've gone through two rears, to one front. I mucked about a fair bit with the pressures, but they still wore out in the centre much quicker than their predecessors. Still not sure why, but I think I narrowed it down to one of a few things or a combination of all of them.

1. Shit rubber/softer centre than before.
2. Too much power from the 14 tearing them up
3. Carrying a pillion, more than I did before.

Love them in the twisties, but i'll be looking for something harder in the centre next time. Any suggestions ?????????

[plane]

Thanks for the input guys... Keep it coming please!
Cheers,
Pete

[Phil]

M5's, for all the reason Mal said

I have had many sets on my ZRX and Z and love them. In fact I just did a track day at Wakefield with M5's that had done 5K and still didnt get overtaken by anyone once I had warmed them up (2laps min), before that dont count (& I caught and passed those two carnts anyway )

[KiwiMat]

I'm on my second set of pilot road 3's on the ZRX. Got 11,500km out of the first set, 80% commuting and 20% ratbagging. Excellent in the wet and hold on very well when thrashing......
But.... Might try the M5's next time that these guys rave about......
or the guys at Kawasaki Granville reakon the Pirelli Angel ST's last 15,000km and hang on well,
I'm not sure which I will use next, so I'm interested to see what everyone has to say too

Cheers

KiwiMat

[Gosling1]

Hi Pete - great to see you back on board

M5's are good - but you could also consider a set of Dunlop RoadSmart's. These are a great tyre (maybe I am biased being a Dunlop fan from way back...)

[plane]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I suppose it'll really boil down to what tyre I can get at reasonable price.

Dunlops are easily accessible, followed by the Bridgies. Haven't trip to source Metzelers here, but that shouldn't to hard to figure out. Do the M5's come in a 170?

Cheers,
Pete

[plane]

Hi Pete - great to see you back on board

M5's are good - but you could also consider a set of Dunlop RoadSmart's. These are a great tyre (maybe I am biased being a Dunlop fan from way back...)

Thanks Dave.. how's the GPz1100 going?

Cheers,
Pete

[ZORDO]

I just fitted a BT023 rear tyre. Happy so far,
I will fit a BT023 front shortly
The REX is a heavy bike so get the GT spec tyres as they are made specifically for heavy bikes
Cheers

[Nelso]

I'm on my second set of pilot road 3's on the ZRX. Got 11,500km out of the first set, 80% commuting and 20% ratbagging. Excellent in the wet and hold on very well when thrashing......
But.... Might try the M5's next time that these guys rave about......
or the guys at Kawasaki Granville reakon the Pirelli Angel ST's last 15,000km and hang on well,
I'm not sure which I will use next, so I'm interested to see what everyone has to say too

Cheers

KiwiMat

You won't get 11,000km out of an M5 as it doesn't have a hard centre. I got 7,000km out of my first set of M5s when I never get more than 6,000km out of any other road tyres. For some reason my tyres wear on the edges more than the centre and that's where the M5s wear well.

[dilligaf]

I've had roadsmarts, BT023's and pirelli angel st. On a 600 the BT023s last OK and they are sticky with good feel. the pirellis tip in better though but with less feel. got pirelli diablo rosso coursas at the moment and love them. don't really care how long they last. but again 600s don't really rip them up (especially tippy toeing around in winter)

[plane]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.. time to start bargain hunting!

Cheers,
Pete

[Gosling1]

.....Thanks Dave.. how's the GPz1100 going?.....

good mate - frame and swingarm have been powdercoated and I have been buying a few more bits on ebay - need a couple more still. The motor from this bike is still sitting in the track bike and needs a new clutch before it goes back into the frame. One thing I am looking forward to with this bike - is the new rear shock. Our local suspension guru has modified an S1000RR shock to fit the Kawasaki linkages and top mount. It has about 40mm extra travel and should sit the rear end of the Geeper up about 50mm or so. It also has a shitload more adjustment than the stock shock - as well as not being an air-shock like the stocker. The only mod I need to do to the bike is move the reg/rectifier box from under the battery box to up on the side of the battery box. This gives the clearance needed for the resevoir which sits on the top of the BMW shock.

It should be going by Xmas.