Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Anyone had these on a big bike?
These are what the guy is recomending as he is Bridgestone
He is offering them cheap at the track before a Trackday and I am going to do it but just want anyones experiences with them...

Sort of things like my Michelin Pilot Sports gettting a bit slippy near the end of their life...
And NEVER liking white lines (even in the dry)

they are a great tyre.

they were beyond my capabilities so i went to the BT014

kewl
its only for the day and however they last after that
I figure I deserve it to myself to try track rubber once and damn the expense....

Personally, I prefer the Bridgestone's to the Michelins. I've had a couple of sets of Michelins on my bike now and will be going back to the Bridgestones as soon as this set of Michys is worn out (which may be never given the amount of time i've ridden the kwakka over the last 6 months).

I've had 2 sets.........ridden both on road & track. They are a pretty good tyre but just a heads up .....the rear will slide around a fair bit once it gets hot.

If also crashed on these tyres twice(1road/1track) but this was due to other factors more so than the tyre itself.

Also at the track esp QR they will ball up a fair bit(might be worth playing around with different tyre pressures).

ooooh! Being a bridgestone fan it pains me to say this, but 012SS's, are perhaps the worst tyre i have used. they tend to let go without warning at odd times. I can run faster times on 014's than 012SS's! I rate powers more than them, as well as metzlers too!

The 012ss was the best tyre Ive ever had - and Ive had 014s and pilot powers. I used the 012ss on the front and an 012 on the rear. Loved 'em.

Strika wrote:ooooh! Being a bridgestone fan it pains me to say this, but 012SS's, are perhaps the worst tyre i have used. they tend to let go without warning at odd times. I can run faster times on 014's than 012SS's! I rate powers more than them, as well as metzlers too!

Oooh yeah. 014's!! Love them. It's funny that you and so many others prefer the powers tho. I hate the lack of feedback they provide and have never had an issue with the Bridgeys.

Personal preference when it comes to tyres is a wierd thing. Dontchya think?

aardvark wrote: ... I hate the lack of feedback they provide and have never had an issue with the Bridgeys....

+1 ...

Found the powers very vague on the front end at full tilt ... didnt like them ... whacked on a set of 014s and the prob went away

aardvark wrote:

Strika wrote:ooooh! Being a bridgestone fan it pains me to say this, but 012SS's, are perhaps the worst tyre i have used. they tend to let go without warning at odd times. I can run faster times on 014's than 012SS's! I rate powers more than them, as well as metzlers too!

Oooh yeah. 014's!! Love them. It's funny that you and so many others prefer the powers tho. I hate the lack of feedback they provide and have never had an issue with the Bridgeys.

Personal preference when it comes to tyres is a wierd thing. Dontchya think?

I agree with the comments about powers, they are a little vague with edge grip. But at least they're consistent. When 012SS's let go, they do it with absolutely no warning. They're all grip and feel one corner n then halfway through the next they just refuse to play. No greasing up of the tyre or any initial walking around, they just let go! I have no confidence in them more than anything else. And as i have said in the past, confidence is 99% of corner speed.

i've heard really good things about em, and i'm gonna throw one on the back next week, more to give it a go until i replace front and back.

Who was the Guy offering them @ the track?

As for the tyres I have only ridden on Pilot Sports & Pilot Powers, but have heard good reports about the 012SS.

I haven't ever had a problem with the Powers except when they are abit old & bald.

Back from the track and 12SS where pretty good.
The Michies were worn (but not on the wear bar) and to be honest had started to "let go" with no warning.
SOOOO I did a bit of asking around the pits and general concencus was
- Michies, Pirellis and Metzlers go grip, grip grip highside hospital
- Bridgies and Dunlops go grip grip slip drift and then if you push it highside hospital....
BUT at least they give you a warning whereas the Michies dont.

This was general concencus and it is a VERY personal thing related to style bike etc. etc.

The 012SS was easily (for me) the equal of the Michi but did slide where the Michi would have "gripped".
After about 300k of track and 700k trip home (admittedly fast) it has very little flat spot and looks to be holding up pretty well.
It HAS "scalloped" both front and back treads, but this was probably the track day....

I have never had balls of rubber off the edges of my FRONT tyre before but.... wicked if a little scary in hindsight....

personally i cant bloody decide...
i just grow to love a tyre then they bring out a replacement...

first i had bt 010 on the blade..not bad,so i thought id compare..so i go to the pilot sport..

i love the pilot sport..they replaced it, so i tried the bt012..hated it..with a passion...so i go back to the michey power every one raves about..well im unsure if i like it that much, so back to a bt014 for my next tyre.....

that being said, im loving the bt014 ive currently got on the front....

wish they kept pilot sports tho..i liked them, and when they went, they went smoothly i found...

i agree Neka- the 014's are a really good tyre in my opinion too. These new Dunlops appear just as good grip wise with a lot sharper turn in.