BT45 tyres in OZ
- Thread starter drikko
- Start date
Jotaman
Hero member
- Location
- Verrierdale, Qld
Tyres for Bikes in Albion chap - they 'appreciate' that which you have.
LaverdaIan
Hero member
In support there Pete.. sometimes it's not the $, but the guys that respect and know our bikes, and have for over 20 years that give the reason to support their business as they support us..(like sponsoring Concours).. guess that's what gives them the goolies to grimace at us 'Laverdaisti' fools.. but always in good humour.. 
Drikko, when you're in the family, you're in the passion man..
Ciao
Ian
Drikko, when you're in the family, you're in the passion man..
Ciao
Ian
Cosi
Hero member
- Location
- Kingscliff
im wondering why they would reccomend avons ??? when they just put pirrelis on the SA
M
Morizzi
Guest
Tyres are a personal thing so I'll start with this disclaimer. This is what I have experienced with the tyres I have purchased. If you have a different experience then it may be due to different riding styles, different pressures, different road surfaces, different loads and of course different bikes.
Firstly, a number of dealers don't like dealing with Bridgestone. They don't bend over backwards as much to please. One I spoke to wouldn't display them due to the fact that Bridgestone wouldn't give him a display rack. Another needed to pay up front for the tyres, instead of a monthly account but I suspected this was due to either low volume or a poor credit history with them.
I'm a high mileage rider. I did about 40,000km in 2010. I was a bit aghast at a couple of threads where I read that some on Lavs use 15L/100km and some only do 2-3,000km a year.
Even with 40,000km I only went through about 4 rears and 2 fronts so it is difficult to judge all tyres but I'll give you what I feel now. None of that was on a Lav, its still in the UK waiting for me. Most on 80-90 Guzzis and a bit on an 81 Morini. All similar stuff and tyre sizes to triples and twins.
I like BT 45's a lot. They are relatively cheap and great bang for your buck. The rears are excellent and I have never had a problem with them. I get about 10,000km out of them touring. They are twin compound whilst the front is not. I find the fronts have excellent grip but about half life they start to cup badly. I thought this was just my riding style, or lack of it, but I've heard it is a fairly common complaint. Even cupped they grip well but you do that little dance between edges when you are heeled over. It is evidently due to the tread pattern on the shoulders. I have read that you can minimise it with tyre pressure but WTF? How would you know? It takes up to half life to start and how would you judge if you are improving or worsening the issue? I've played around in the normal pressure range with no discernible difference. I'm not going to alter the pressure by too much or it will cause other issues.
I won a set of tyres in a raffle. I wanted to try Pirelli Sport Demons on the Monza but the dealer couldn't get Pirelli to deal at that time. I've read good grip and short life so a perfect low km usage tyre for the hills but I ended up with Avon Road Riders due to a limited choice. I was hoping for better life and no cupping. I'm still on them so I can't fully comment but I've had 2 heart murmours on them in the wet that I'm sure the BT45's wouldn't have given me. I just touched a white line and the front went for a holiday and I was 'powering' out of a corner on the 650 Monza when the rear slipped. I didn't go back to see if there was oil on the road but I've never had a moment in a similar situation on a BT45 before. In short the Avons feel good in the dry but I just don't have the confidence in the wet.
I purchased a bike in the US for a tour. It came with Dunlops (504's I think) that are no longer available but they were good and lasted a long time. When looking for a rear the only tyre I could find was a Kings. I'd never heard of them either. Chinese or Korean probably. It cost $55 fitted and balanced. Whenever I was in the wet on it I just kept telling myself that I had a $55 tyre but it never did give me any grief but I didn't try and coax it into that situation either.
I replaced both tyres with Lasertecs. They seem OK whilst uninspiring and due to the bike having to be shipped back to Oz and all the compliance stuff I have done nothing with it since. Due to the trips I take I often need tyres away from home. I purchased a Lasertec for the rear of the Cali in Melbourne some time ago as it was all that was available. It has never given me any grief but I tend to ride the Cali more sedately. Not that it doesn't handle, it just lulls me into a mellow mood.
I have a Dunlop Arrowmax GT501 on the front of a V65. It has lasted exceptionally well (probably over 25,000km now) and has only given me one moment. I was 2 up going through a few 25-40k corners in the hills. It had been raining for weeks but had stopped. I hit a line of ground water crossing the road and it must have been slimy due to the weeks it had been wet. The 501 went for about a 5cm slide to the side the BT45 on the rear never flinched.
In summary:
A lot depends on what you do with the bike and how much of a tight a*se you are.
If you do low kms then start with a soft tyre. They only get harder with time.
I'll be trying the Pirelli Sport Demons on the Monza (day trips through hills) next though I'm tempted just to put one on the front and a BT45 on the rear.
I'll wait and see how the Metzeler Lasertecs and Avons compare but at this stage I'd probably sway towards the Lasertecs for touring as you can't always ride in the dry. (touring)
(Overall) The BT45's are excellent with only the cupping of the front as a downside. Easily overcome if you are prepared to just get another when it starts to cup. I can't fault the dual compound rears.
Hope this helps rather than confuses. 8)
Firstly, a number of dealers don't like dealing with Bridgestone. They don't bend over backwards as much to please. One I spoke to wouldn't display them due to the fact that Bridgestone wouldn't give him a display rack. Another needed to pay up front for the tyres, instead of a monthly account but I suspected this was due to either low volume or a poor credit history with them.
I'm a high mileage rider. I did about 40,000km in 2010. I was a bit aghast at a couple of threads where I read that some on Lavs use 15L/100km and some only do 2-3,000km a year.
Even with 40,000km I only went through about 4 rears and 2 fronts so it is difficult to judge all tyres but I'll give you what I feel now. None of that was on a Lav, its still in the UK waiting for me. Most on 80-90 Guzzis and a bit on an 81 Morini. All similar stuff and tyre sizes to triples and twins.I like BT 45's a lot. They are relatively cheap and great bang for your buck. The rears are excellent and I have never had a problem with them. I get about 10,000km out of them touring. They are twin compound whilst the front is not. I find the fronts have excellent grip but about half life they start to cup badly. I thought this was just my riding style, or lack of it, but I've heard it is a fairly common complaint. Even cupped they grip well but you do that little dance between edges when you are heeled over. It is evidently due to the tread pattern on the shoulders. I have read that you can minimise it with tyre pressure but WTF? How would you know? It takes up to half life to start and how would you judge if you are improving or worsening the issue? I've played around in the normal pressure range with no discernible difference. I'm not going to alter the pressure by too much or it will cause other issues.
I won a set of tyres in a raffle. I wanted to try Pirelli Sport Demons on the Monza but the dealer couldn't get Pirelli to deal at that time. I've read good grip and short life so a perfect low km usage tyre for the hills but I ended up with Avon Road Riders due to a limited choice. I was hoping for better life and no cupping. I'm still on them so I can't fully comment but I've had 2 heart murmours on them in the wet that I'm sure the BT45's wouldn't have given me. I just touched a white line and the front went for a holiday and I was 'powering' out of a corner on the 650 Monza when the rear slipped. I didn't go back to see if there was oil on the road but I've never had a moment in a similar situation on a BT45 before. In short the Avons feel good in the dry but I just don't have the confidence in the wet.
I purchased a bike in the US for a tour. It came with Dunlops (504's I think) that are no longer available but they were good and lasted a long time. When looking for a rear the only tyre I could find was a Kings. I'd never heard of them either. Chinese or Korean probably. It cost $55 fitted and balanced.
Whenever I was in the wet on it I just kept telling myself that I had a $55 tyre but it never did give me any grief but I didn't try and coax it into that situation either.I replaced both tyres with Lasertecs. They seem OK whilst uninspiring and due to the bike having to be shipped back to Oz and all the compliance stuff I have done nothing with it since. Due to the trips I take I often need tyres away from home. I purchased a Lasertec for the rear of the Cali in Melbourne some time ago as it was all that was available. It has never given me any grief but I tend to ride the Cali more sedately. Not that it doesn't handle, it just lulls me into a mellow mood.
I have a Dunlop Arrowmax GT501 on the front of a V65. It has lasted exceptionally well (probably over 25,000km now) and has only given me one moment. I was 2 up going through a few 25-40k corners in the hills. It had been raining for weeks but had stopped. I hit a line of ground water crossing the road and it must have been slimy due to the weeks it had been wet. The 501 went for about a 5cm slide to the side the BT45 on the rear never flinched.
In summary:
A lot depends on what you do with the bike and how much of a tight a*se you are.
If you do low kms then start with a soft tyre. They only get harder with time.
I'll be trying the Pirelli Sport Demons on the Monza (day trips through hills) next though I'm tempted just to put one on the front and a BT45 on the rear.
I'll wait and see how the Metzeler Lasertecs and Avons compare but at this stage I'd probably sway towards the Lasertecs for touring as you can't always ride in the dry. (touring)
(Overall) The BT45's are excellent with only the cupping of the front as a downside. Easily overcome if you are prepared to just get another when it starts to cup. I can't fault the dual compound rears.
Hope this helps rather than confuses. 8)
3
3patC
Guest
It isn't just grip with the triples Morizzi, they can be a weaving handful with the wrong tyres. The BT45's seem to eliminate that.
Romeo.D
Hero member
- Location
- Zadar - Croatia
Few years back i was doing about 10000km jear with JOTA , fuel consumtion by normal not tuned engine is as i was told 6-9 l/100km in my case on coast road 11-12 on highvay driving costant 180-200kmh around 14 -15 .
Tires that i like was Metzeler ME1 in CompK version (tehey are no more produced and dont know if they have new model in simmilar qality) but rear was good for 4500km , it was not on JOTA .
Avon i simply dont like the fealing , and guess to soft -wear out to fast on havy bikes .
Was driving BT45 on standard wheels and was very happy with them , then changed for wider wheels also in 18" and tires are BT012SS best tire i was driving on old bikes , if only driven on road (no racetrak) rear last for 8-9000km .
Meanwhile i have family and 2 kids , work and 4 bikes . With one of them i make around 10000km and other 3 each 3-4000km jearly . Would like to do more but simply not inaf time .
Tires that i like was Metzeler ME1 in CompK version (tehey are no more produced and dont know if they have new model in simmilar qality) but rear was good for 4500km , it was not on JOTA .
Avon i simply dont like the fealing , and guess to soft -wear out to fast on havy bikes .
Was driving BT45 on standard wheels and was very happy with them , then changed for wider wheels also in 18" and tires are BT012SS best tire i was driving on old bikes , if only driven on road (no racetrak) rear last for 8-9000km .
Meanwhile i have family and 2 kids , work and 4 bikes . With one of them i make around 10000km and other 3 each 3-4000km jearly . Would like to do more but simply not inaf time .
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
In the 90's when I started my Laverda ownership, Metzelers were the deal and Bridgestone were just crap. I have always been a hobby rider, so my average millage was somewhere below 5.000 per year when I started and over the years with family, job and other time consuming activities, I even brought it down to somewhere between 2.000 and 3.000 per year. That was the time when I started to recognize that Metzelers (ME33, ME55, ME99) hardened out very soon (roughly 1 year from new...) and started to slip a lot (especially the rear, but also sometimes the front). I had 3 drops of the bike due to slipping tires until I changed to BT in 2003. Since then, the only slipping tire was in 2009 at the Monte Grappa. Not the tires fault though, it was more the truck in front that sprayed roughly 20 - 30 Liters of Diesel over the 180? hairpin just 3 - 5 minutes before I tried to corner... 
I had BT45 on the 750 SF and man - I rode them to the edges without any hassle. I have BT012SS on the Jota and the SFC with the GSX-Rims and even on race-tracks, they are giving so great handling and so much confidence - you wouldn't believe...
Regarding the cupping on the front: yes, more pressure helps a lot! The BT's do need at least 2,3 on the front, better 2,4 or 2,5 (depending on the air- and tarmac temperature, the usage etc.). Rear should go at least with 2,5, best with 2,7 bar. Improves handling, durability and control.
my 4 Pfennig/2 cents...
I had BT45 on the 750 SF and man - I rode them to the edges without any hassle. I have BT012SS on the Jota and the SFC with the GSX-Rims and even on race-tracks, they are giving so great handling and so much confidence - you wouldn't believe...
Regarding the cupping on the front: yes, more pressure helps a lot! The BT's do need at least 2,3 on the front, better 2,4 or 2,5 (depending on the air- and tarmac temperature, the usage etc.). Rear should go at least with 2,5, best with 2,7 bar. Improves handling, durability and control.
my 4 Pfennig/2 cents...