OEM Bridgestones: Uncool beans.

[steveoreno]

What model of Continental tires have been tried on the FJR's? My son-in-law works for Continental and I can get tires thru him for a substantial discount. Anyone have any idea? I have the 023's on my gen 111 and so far, 1300 miles, they have been fine. I am pretty anal about checking tire pressure before I ride because my old connie cupped front tires if you didn't watch it closely.

 

[wheatonFJR]

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself. I know they won't last as long as PR2s...but if they are grippier on the short distance runs...I could be fine with that if it's a noticeable difference. Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

 

[majicmaker]

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself. I know they won't last as long as PR2s...but if they are grippier on the short distance runs...I could be fine with that if it's a noticeable difference. Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

Don't really remember what they were Wheaton, they came with the bike new. I just know they said "Bridgestone" on them. Never again!

My PR2's right now have over 10K miles on them and have plenty left to go. I'll put a new set on for the EOM and save the current ones for an emergency.

 

[SLK50]

BT-023s and BT-023 GTs are not the same tire.

I have one of each on my two bikes.

They're both neutral handling and long lasting.

PR2s may be long lasting but I found them not compliant

and wouldn't hold a line in bumpy corners. YMMV

 

[extrememarine]

I have the Continental Road Attack 2 GT's mounted now - 1500 miles on them from a trip to SE Ohio and back. Crisp handling so far.

My '09 has BT-021's on it new. at 2k miles, the front required excessive bar pressure to maintain a line through a corner. The rear would spin at the top end of 1st and 2nd. Have not run them again. BT023's might play a different tune for some, others not so much...

What model of Continental tires have been tried on the FJR's? My son-in-law works for Continental and I can get tires thru him for a substantial discount. Anyone have any idea? I have the 023's on my gen 111 and so far, 1300 miles, they have been fine. I am pretty anal about checking tire pressure before I ride because my old connie cupped front tires if you didn't watch it closely.

 

[900gc]

BT-023s and BT-023 GTs are not the same tire.I have one of each on my two bikes.

They're both neutral handling and long lasting.

PR2s may be long lasting but I found them not compliant

and wouldn't hold a line in bumpy corners. YMMV

I've got 023GTs ready to replace the PR2s. Hope to find better bump compliance as I find the PR2s carcass on the stiff side. PR2s wear like iron but longevity isn't as important as compliance, traction and neutral handling to me.

I think that OEM spec tires are different as well. Not sure if the mfgs. test the tires 'till they're worn out to see how the bike reacts as they degrade.

I know that cost is always a factor often leading to compromise.

 

[bluesdog]

OEM Bridgestone 021s were badly worn in short order, (@7000 Km for the front, and @ 12,000 Km rear). I replaced them with 023GTs after a bit of research, and have been happy with both handling and mileage. I'm now on my second set, both installed @ 26,000 Km, (although I probably could have squeezed another 2K out of the first replacements). There's currently @ 32,000 Km on the clock, and the tires are wearing not unreasonably. I expect them to last the season.

I ride solo, mostly smooth 'cruising', at times moderately 'spirited', and keep PSI to @ 40 front, 42 rear.

 

[Fly Bye]

I am running BT- 023 GT s on my '08 and have experienced no problems.

When it is time to replace them I will stay with the 023 GT s.

I don't know what Yamaha is putting on the Gen III but it doesn't sound good.

 

[AKjitsu]

I'm really wondering if the OEM tires on the Gen III are a cheaper/different version of the real 023GT's.
My experience with the 023GT's (several sets) has been that the backs wear out first, but keep a pretty good profile until gone. The fronts are the best I've tried. Here's a set I took off where I ran the back to the steel, and same mileage on the front (set mounted at same time). The fronts hold out a long time and stay very round.

Now that's quite interesting. My OEM rear (BT-023 F) still has a bunch or rubber left in the center section but has a vastly more "squared off" profile than yours. (Looks like something Skooter would put back there.) I'm starting to think that the OEM 23's are an altogether different critter than genuine, pedigreed 23 GT's.

 

[Spud]

If Bridgestone is putting on an inferior version as OEM that must be the most bone-headed marketing move ever. After getting such a bad rap (deserved) for the 021 fronts, they now have an excellent tire in the 023GT, they say made just for bikes like the FJR.

So then ruin your rep again w/new bike owners who will all go looking for other brands after the first set is gone? I don't get that...

 

[airboss]

My 08 came with BT-021 got 4000 mile out of those, should have took them off at 3000.

Just ran through my first BT-023GT (rear) at 7000+ miles, front still has a couple thousand left in it. This is the same mileage I have been getting out of the PR2, PR3 tires. Even the front BT023 with over 7000+ miles and some minor cupping is still handling well.

I'll stay with the Bridgestones for now, like the way they corner very planted unlike the PR2-3 that needed pressure on the bars to maintain a line through the corner.

 

[drc32-0]

I suffered the same thing with mine AKjitsu, They are the worst. In no time at all I had to manhandle the bike like a pregnant elephant. THEN!!!! One day I was averaging 100 heading to Daytona Bike Week. 200 miles straight up I-95 for me. As I exited on the off ramp and slowed down. I felt this god awful Bump... Bump... Bump... I thought I picked up a gigantic nail so I pulled over and saw a "BUBBLE" the size of a half a tennis ball on the front tire. Scared the living Crap out of me. Made it to Seminole Motor Sport and got a new tire put on in 15 minutes. If that thing would have let go enroute, I'd be toast. I don't ever want to utter the word "Bridgestone" again.

BT023 GTs?

Very accurate review AKjitsu.Holding a line took a LOT of pressure...so much so that I was starting to think I made a bad mistake buying the 2013.I changed to the PR3's at 7000 miles and it felt like a FJR again.It was kind of odd for me,but the front was cooked at 7000 while the back looked like it might have a couple 1000 left on it.Most of those miles the bike was loaded pretty heavy.

BT-023 GTs?

Sorry to hear about that Denny. 7000 is about max for me on the PR2s. I had the same experience as you on the PR2s on my run out to Kali in 2011...made me back way off some otherwise enjoyable roads like Skaggs Springs and CA 36.

I had the PR3's put on while I was in Eureka,so they were fresh when I got back down to the Santa Rosa area to run Skaggs Springs.I rode 36 with the Bridgestones so it probably wasn't as fun as it could have been.I'm not sure if the Bridgestones were the BT023 GTs or not.Sorry.

If Bridgestone is putting on an inferior version as OEM that must be the most bone-headed marketing move ever. After getting such a bad rap (deserved) for the 021 fronts, they now have an excellent tire in the 023GT, they say made just for bikes like the FJR.
So then ruin your rep again w/new bike owners who will all go looking for other brands after the first set is gone? I don't get that...

I don't get it either,you would think they would put the best tire they have on a new sport touring bike.We go through a lot of tires(13 sets on my '04),that's a lot of repeat business...or not.

 

[ionbeam]

I currently have ~3k miles on some BT-023GT F & R tires. I don't know if it is unique to my tires but they are some of the slickest tires I have run since bias ply days. Regardless if the tires are cold, hot, dry, wet or tire pressure I have had the rear tire slip on cornering and during acceleration in the wet which no other tire brand has done. The rear tire is showing signs of becoming misshapen already. I'm thinking about pulling these tires off and going back to PR2s or PR3s because I have no confidence in them. It is to the point that it inhibits my riding style.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I currently have ~3k miles on some BT-023GT F & R tires. I don't know if it is unique to my tires but they are some of the slickest tires I have run since bias ply days. Regardless if the tires are cold, hot, dry, wet or tire pressure I have had the rear tire slip on cornering and during acceleration in the wet. The rear tire is showing signs of becoming misshapen already. I'm thinking about pulling these tires off and going back to PR2s or PR3s because I have no confidence in them. It is to the point that it inhibits my riding style.

FECK!

Oh well, I guess I will know for myself pretty soon which way I lean on these things. Seems like the reports are ALL over the place with some of my buddies on one side and some on the other of the fence.

 

[user 31223]

since this is now neprt - i will ask it here

I bought a 2012 new - and someone earlier did too but they had bridgestones - i have metzlers - i know they got a bad rap on earlier models but i have 7k on mine and they look great still

So my questions was - am i the only one with metzlers on a 2012 ? did my dealer switch them out ? Based on the comment/question -" why dont they put the best tyre on ?" it seems they do try differnet brands ?

just wondered cos the tyre conversations - except for when i come to replace and im leaning pr2/3 - i always feel left out

 

[ionbeam]

At least for a while the Gen I came with either Metzlers or Bridgestones, both brands seem to have been approved as OEM tires. My '04 came with ME 4s which I didn't like.

I liked the Pirelli Diablo Strada tires so they stopped making them so I moved on to PR2s. The positive about the PR2s is their good handling, good traction and good tire life. The bad, which caused me to adventure to the Bridgestones is how they behaved starting when ~70% worn. For me and my FJR setup the somewhat worn PR2s started to steer heavy, turn-in changed in an unfavorable way but made up for it with too quick turn-in at walking speed. I liked getting 12k miles from the tires but did not like or enjoy the last ~3k miles.

 

[escapefjrtist]

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself. I know they won't last as long as PR2s...but if they are grippier on the short distance runs...I could be fine with that if it's a noticeable difference. Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

Get ready for the magic carpet ride Mark. I'm on my third set of 023GTs and they are the best handling / riding tire I've ever had on my FJR(s). Neutral handling, front maintains its profile until the very end and I've never had one slip. Getting about 10,500 / 8,500 miles front / rear.

--G

 

[wheatonFJR]

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself. I know they won't last as long as PR2s...but if they are grippier on the short distance runs...I could be fine with that if it's a noticeable difference. Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

Get ready for the magic carpet ride Mark. I'm on my third set of 023GTs and they are the best handling / riding tire I've ever had on my FJR(s). Neutral handling, front maintains its profile until the very end and I've never had one slip. Getting about 10,500 / 8,500 miles front / rear.
--G

Thanks George.

I hope I have the same experience as you...and not like Alan's as mentioned in his post above. It's amazing the disparity.

I report back when I'm done with this set...to add another data point to this bunch. Hard to do a regression analysis on this tire I bet...too much scatter.

 

[not2shabby]

I currently have ~3k miles on some BT-023GT F & R tires. I don't know if it is unique to my tires but they are some of the slickest tires I have run since bias ply days. Regardless if the tires are cold, hot, dry, wet or tire pressure I have had the rear tire slip on cornering and during acceleration in the wet which no other tire brand has done. The rear tire is showing signs of becoming misshapen already. I'm thinking about pulling these tires off and going back to PR2s or PR3s because I have no confidence in them. It is to the point that it inhibits my riding style.

Dammit! I was just about to order a set of BT's and now I read this! I wanted to try them because I'm tired of the road2's funky wear and the road noise I get from the front when they're 2/3 worn.

Has anyone tried the non-GT's?

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself. I know they won't last as long as PR2s...but if they are grippier on the short distance runs...I could be fine with that if it's a noticeable difference. Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

Get ready for the magic carpet ride Mark. I'm on my third set of 023GTs and they are the best handling / riding tire I've ever had on my FJR(s). Neutral handling, front maintains its profile until the very end and I've never had one slip. Getting about 10,500 / 8,500 miles front / rear.

--G

Now I'm just confused....nothing unusual....

 

[ionbeam]

I currently have ~3k miles on some BT-023GT F & R tires. I don't know if it is unique to my tires but they are some of the slickest tires I have run since bias ply days....

Dammit! I was just about to order a set of BT's and now I read this...

.... Never tried the BT-023s, but I've heard that alot of folks like them quite a bit.

Yep...that's what I thought...so I thought I'd try them for myself...Thus the GTs sitting in my garage waiting for griff to put his Nomar to work.

Get ready for the magic carpet ride Mark. I'm on my third set of 023GTs and they are the best handling / riding tire I've ever had on my FJR(s)...

Now I'm just confused....nothing unusual....

I had read good things about the BT-023s so I thought I would chance it. I have run Bridgestone tires in the past and didn't like them on my Honda.

Since my previous post I put my recently rebuilt Wilbers back on and redid the front suspension to match the much improved rear shock plus confirmed the tire pressures were correct. Riding home earlier this week in a moderate and sometimes substantial rain I was able to enjoy the rear tire loosing traction upon acceleration in 5th gear @ 65 mph when pulling out to pass a truck that was filling the air with spray. A short while later I was taking a left turn being cautious due to the rain but still got a YAHOO moment when the rear tire gave me another sideways slip.

I seem to be the only person that is reporting a traction problem so it may be my tires or my riding style. I wouldn't let my one data point discourage someone from going the BT-023 GT route. I would encourage people to report their experience with this tire, NEPRT or not.