Bridgestone tyres for an SF1

Yogi

Yogi

Hero member
Location
Bellingen NSW Australia
I've gone back through the Search engine and the BT45s seem to be the standout tyres from what I read, but what sizes and pressures would be recommended for front and rear on a stock road bike with 2.15 x 18 Borrani rims?   I'm leaning towards 100/90H18 (BS3917) or 100/90V18 (BS2000) for the front and 110/90H18 (BS3943) for the rear.

To go to an 80 profile would mean going to 110 sizing (110/80H18, BS2005 or 110/90V18, BS2010) on the front, whereas to go to an 80 profile on the rear would mean going to 120 in H rating only (120/80H18, BS3945), but then I have questions about clearance and the effect on steering and handling.  There is also a 110/90V18 (BS2010) front and 120/90V18 (BS2080) rear available, but I am concerned as to whether a 120 should be on a 2.15 rim, as well as the possibility of width clearance issues, and if a 110 is not too big a front tyre for the 750.  Opinions please!

Is there any other reason or advantage in going for a V rating over the H rating?  

I'm more interested in better grip/handling than I am in tyre longevity.

My riding style would be more akin to Dressage than GP, having been off the road for a good number of years... sad but true...
 
the speed rating shouldn't have any relation to grip or longevity so what you really need are H rated tyres for a 750, if memory serves right H are rated for continual 130mph.
 
On the rating front, I seem to remember someone from Avon advising against overspeccing for more grip on the basis that tyres for a heavy, fast bike might never get up to operating temp on a slow, light one.

Mind you, that was prompted by someone asking about V rated tyres for an NS125
 
I recall the old Pirelli Gordons were only H-rated yet were the tyre of choice for the triple back in the day, road or track.
 
Thanks fellas,

So it looks as though H rating is the way to go... am I also correct in going for 90 profile over 80?

And what sizes would those with 750 experience recommend?  100 front, 110 rear?

Yogi

 
Even a 90-18 will be OK on the front and comes closer to the original specs I would say.

please be aware that the pressure should be bit higher than other tires (in the range of 2,4 - 2,5 bar front and 2,5 - 2,7 bar rear).
 
The BT45 are pretty skinny tires, so you can easily fit 100/90 front and 110 or 120/90 rear on an SF.
Run them on usual pressures 2.20 front and something similar rear for one up use. The higher pressure recommendations come from the factories for liability reasons only.

Marnix
 
well - It might have to do with me being way heavier than Marnix, but on my 750SF, any time I felt the bike was a bit unstable, I could be sure the pressure of the front was below 2,3 and/or the rear was below 2,5. Riding to the next gas station and check and fill the tires proofed me right.

This factory recommendation has to do with 2 things:

a) on the Laverda wire wheel rims, you have to use a tube in the tire. this tube causes more friction=> more heat => more wear. the higher pressure is an attempt to compensate that

b) The front tire starts to build a wear pattern that makes the bike vibrate a bit in curves. It does not happen to have this wear pattern that fast if you run the tire at a higher pressure.

that was at least what I was told from a Bridgestone technician by phone and mail.
 
We clearly have different Lav750 experiences Lothar... but who knows body weight does make that difference..

Marnix
 
well - add to our weight difference the one for the SFC and the SF(0) and it really might make a difference. All i can tell is that I could feel the difference. It was not dangerous at all, but with higher pressure, the bike just felt more stabil, the handling was slightly improved and just a bit more "precise" if you will.

But for sure your experience with the 750's in general out-beats mine way, way, way to much to really concur with your standpoint.

so, Yogi - best is you test it and see what feels best for you  ;)
 
I'm interested in as many opinions as I can find - not as many 750 riders out there as 1000, so I appreciate any and all.

Lothar, you are right - I will have to find out what is best for me but it is good to get others opinions, especially those who own or have owned 750s.

Waiting for the afternoon crew to clock on to the forum (G'day Piet), but it's almost 2am here so I'm off to Blanket Bay..

Yogi
 
I found higher pressures with the BT 45s make the Corsa feel more planted. I'm around 80kg by the way.
The tyres just seemed a little more prone to sliding at lower pressures when earholing round the bends.
 
Lothar,

If you are running BT45s on your 750SF, can you let me know what sizes (110H18, 110H18?) and profile (80 or 90) you have on front and rear, please?  I take it your rims are both 2.15 x 18 Borranis?

I'm 97kgs but have hopefully stopped growing... like to drop 20kgs but strange working hours, lack of exercise and long walks and an unhealthy love of food need to be addressed...

Yogi
 
In the inch days I ran 4.10 front and 4.25 rear on my SF. In metric I went to 110 front and 120 rear which are pretty similar. I hated the SF3 with 4.00 front and rear (several here loved it) that gave it the turn-in of a west coast chopper.
I have always used 32psi front and 36psi rear on the road. Less pressure has always been immediately noticeable making the front heavier and the whole bike losing its precision. Tyres lose pressure over time too so you need to check regularly. Low pressure does cause particularly front tyres to wear pox too. Don't trust petrol station gauges. As you say you aren't an elbow scraper, but that doesn't mean your bike shouldn't be sharp.
Unless you intend to do big miles go for the stickiest tyres available, or perishing hard tyres will be a bigger issue than wear for you.
H or V rating doesn't make any difference for you, H is your minimum, going higher is no detriment. I have Z rated 17s on my SF now and they work just fine.
 
Still use 3.50 and 4.00 BT45s on my GTL.  The bike behaves imepeccably, just as Massimo intended it to!  Need a bit more pressure than the Metzelers I formerly used, 2.5/2.7bar front and rear, about 35/38psi.

piet
 
It's a pity these guys don't ship to OZ, look at the prices. Maybe we could put a bulk order in, get Ken to hand carry them over in July, and save a shed load of money!

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/6014/ITEM/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT-45V-Sport-Touring-Front-Tire.aspx
 
try these guys, I do think they ship worldwide:

https://www.mopedreifen.de/V2/englisch/splash2/fs2_splash2.html

contact them before ordering, please.

thanks
 
drikko try this site, a mate ordered front & rear michelin pilot powers paid $300 AUD  & delivered to his house in the blue mountains five days later.

works for me


http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/

steve
 
Thanks Steve, will probably just get TfBikes to do it but will check them out first.

Ken, would you like to use my passport photo? I've already got the spare tyres fitted :)
 
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