Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
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Interesting small feedback about Bridgestone BT023 GT vs PR2..
- Thread starter Mihalis fjr
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painman
Well-known member
Not sure of current 023's but the ones I had on my 06 in 2007 (edit 021's), only lasted under 4000 miles. Great grip early on but soon lost that great confidence grip feel. Not sure if they were the GT tire or not, but don't think so. And I only ride one up and am not an aggressive rider.
I'm currently running PR2's standard tire with about 5000 mi. on them and have the usual linear cup/grooving on the front but not an issue and some good twisty action helps keep that to a minimum. I expect to get at least 9000 mi. out of these tires. Right now for overall performance and longevity of tire life I'll be sticking with the PR2's. Pun intended. Ride safe, painman.
I'm currently running PR2's standard tire with about 5000 mi. on them and have the usual linear cup/grooving on the front but not an issue and some good twisty action helps keep that to a minimum. I expect to get at least 9000 mi. out of these tires. Right now for overall performance and longevity of tire life I'll be sticking with the PR2's. Pun intended. Ride safe, painman.
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Falko
Well-known member
I'm running the GT's now. Been very good about maintaining tire pressures, and the front is scalloping the same way the factory 21 did. Other than that, the tires have been great.
Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
I have installed the 023 GT'S in mine replacing the 021 and i am pretty happy with these tyres!
I have never running PR2's..perhaps they are also very good..
I have never running PR2's..perhaps they are also very good..
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MCRIDER007
Well-known member
I have used both tires on the FJR and the performance seems to be very comparable. The BT023 costs less but seems to have a shorter life, however they perform very well all the way to replacement. PR2s aren't any joy to ride the last 1500 miles but its always nice to be able to ride a well worn home at the end of a trip instead of having to look for a replacement.
Redfish Hunter
Gone Fishing
Are you certain those were the 023s? In 2007 the 023 was not out yet. Your complaint is consistent with the BT-021. They were the latest and greatest from Bridgestone in '07 and were a flop.
I have not tried the 023 because of the bad experience of the 021. Like you I have been "sticking" with the PR2s and like them very much. Dad is running the PR3s and likes them so far.
wheatonFJR
...
I'm sticking with PR2s...a little less grip than Roadsmart rears, but last longer...and easier to put on than RS tires. Plus the front RS is a piece of crap so you need to find an Angel or other sticky front to mate with it. So PR2s for me. I know two people who have been surprised by the PR3 and have run out of tread. You start out the weekend thinking you have 1000 miles, and you end up having to get a new tire during your trip.
I went with a pair of the 023GT's 7950 miles ago. My back is now well into the wear bars so I'll be swapping that for a new PR2 now. I typically got about the same mileage out of the PR2 rears (9k miles or so). The front 023GT still looks good and is only about half worn.
My only real complaint with the 023GT's was that the rear seemed to want to lock-up too easily in the wet, before the ABS gets a chance to kick in. Never had that happen on a handful of prior PR2 rears. Also heard the same thing from ionbeam as he switched to the GTs right after I did.
OTOH, the PR2 fronts always got so buzzy towards the end as all that siping wore into sawtooth shapes, and the turn-in feel would get heavy as the center hard compound developed that trapedoidal cross sectional shape.
So I figured I'll see how well the PR2 rear and the 023GT front play together.
My only real complaint with the 023GT's was that the rear seemed to want to lock-up too easily in the wet, before the ABS gets a chance to kick in. Never had that happen on a handful of prior PR2 rears. Also heard the same thing from ionbeam as he switched to the GTs right after I did.
OTOH, the PR2 fronts always got so buzzy towards the end as all that siping wore into sawtooth shapes, and the turn-in feel would get heavy as the center hard compound developed that trapedoidal cross sectional shape.
So I figured I'll see how well the PR2 rear and the 023GT front play together.
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SkooterG
Purveyor of Crooked Facts
Me likey the 023 GT spec tires. PR2s - not so much. PR2s are good for life, but handle like crap the last 30% of their life. I currently have an 023 GT spec on the front that has 12,000 miles on it. Plenty of tread left, but it is starting to cup or scallop a little bit.
BigOgre
Well-known member
Hey Fred (and anyone else), I remember awhile ago you were fiddling with pressures on the '23s. What did you finally settle on?
I'd settled on my "standard" 40 front 42 rear. Tried higher front pressure (42) based on some reports that that would help prevent scalloping, but I didn't like the feel. Feels fine at 40. Both tires felt really good in the dry at the standard pressures, it's just that wet braking thing I didn't care for. Unfortunately, I also just had to replace my rear brake pads, so any change observed may be tainted by having changed multiple things at once, but I did put in the OEM pads again.
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Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
I read that many of you have adjusted the air pressure at 40..42.Why so much?The Manual suggest 36,36 for solo rider and for two with lugage 36,42.
All these years i adjusted the pressure at 36,36 and for two at 36,42 as the manual suggest and the bike runs fine.I tried at 40,42 and i was feeling the bumps and imperfections of the road too hard!
All these years i adjusted the pressure at 36,36 and for two at 36,42 as the manual suggest and the bike runs fine.I tried at 40,42 and i was feeling the bumps and imperfections of the road too hard!
MCRIDER007
Well-known member
If you check the tire pressures when you are riding and the tires are fully warmed up I think you will find the pressures to be in the 44-46 lb range.
Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
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MCRIDER007
Well-known member
Motorcycle tires are designed to heat up through sidewall flex. The lower the cold pressure, the greater the flex, and the greater the temperature increase. Higher temperatures give slightly better traction but shorter tire life. The general rule of thumb for a sport touring tire is that you should have about a 10 percent difference between cold and hot tire pressures.
Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
Spud
Well-known member
I'm finally trying a pair to see how they are---a pair of PR2's that is. Got a new set on there but it's still snowing here. I've gone through 3 sets of 023GT's and think for the money they're my pick. I can also attest to wet weather handling with them--leaving NAFO last year we headed out in a steady downpour but kept up quite a pace to keep on schedule. Twice I went through standing water deep enough it almost blasted my feet off the pegs, but the tires held very well.
Unless these PR2's really, really impress me I'll be back on the 023's. The 023 front is now the best front tire for the FRJ (IMO); ironic as the 021 was bar-none the worst ever.
Unless these PR2's really, really impress me I'll be back on the 023's. The 023 front is now the best front tire for the FRJ (IMO); ironic as the 021 was bar-none the worst ever.
SkooterG
Purveyor of Crooked Facts
More pressure = longer life and less cupping. Less pressure = more traction. Many of us want to get as many miles out our tires as we can so we bump up those pressures. When heavily loaded doing high speed touring I run mine 42/44.
And Gen II FJRs recommend higher pressures for some reason: 39 front, 42 rear. Both for solo and loaded two-up.
Mihalis fjr
Well-known member
You have to cover long distances in endless straight highways the most there and for this reason you want to get as many miles you can from your tires.Now i understand for which reason you adjust the presure a bit higher..
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