New Rim Protectors . . . - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

C2W? · 05-14-2007, 10:58 PM

I noticed a little while back that Bridgestone had introduced some new tires. . . The 021 as a replacement for the ever-popular 020

And the TW501/502 combo for the "sports/adventure" group

I've been more than happy with the 020s for the past 27+K miles so I figured I'd try the "latest and greatest". . .Unfortunately Bridgestone decided to NOT make the 020's in a 19" version for the front of the Strom. I contacted Bridgestone to find out if they intended to make a 19" available. Nope, sorry the TW series is what you want" was the reply.

With the Reno StromFest approaching and my rear 020 starting to get too close to the end of their life I decided to try a set of the TW501/502s knowing that if I wasn't happy I could always go back to the 020s if I had to.

Here is what I posted (on Strom forums) regarding my impressions of these new tires. . .

1. Did a short 50 mile loop this morning to wear off the mold release and get a feel for the new Battlewings and bed the EBC brakes. Initial turn in (compared to the 020s I've been using) at 50mph and below is noticeably slower. . . .as is the low(er) speed "steering". As long as it doesn't translate into lost aiming precision at higher speeds I'll be a happy camper. Time will tell.

Less tendency to follow long major (pavement) breaks on the slab...I'm guessing this is the difference between a block front tread (the TW501) and the "old school" rib style front tread design of the front 020. Seems to "react" less to broken pavement....Actually seems to "ride" better over irregular and choppy surfaces. I'm hoping this isn't translated into less rider feedback when I pick up the pace a bit. My durometer shows that the rubber is slightly softer than the 020s (F & R) I wonder of the increase in tread depths will translate into a little higher rear mileage. Typically I have been getting 16+K on the front 020s and 5-8k on the rears.

I'll get a chance tomorrow to put some miles on these puppies at a "brisk pace". . . check the braking, play with the pressures a little bit, maybe find out how they perform "on the edge". I'm still gonna need a rainy day to find out how they compare to the 020s in sloppy conditions. .

2. Some (more) Initial impressions. . . .

So far I'm liking this tire combo on the 6Fiddy. I managed a couple hundred non-slab (mountain twisty) miles today with SVS (Chuck). We managed some of everything . . . plenty of variety. Good pavement, broken and choppy pavement, blacktop, Low, medium, and high speed twisties, the occasional sand and/or gravel on the apex and/or in the braking zone tossed in for good measure. All of the above.

FRONT
Great "feel", Less harshness, No tread squirm

In my post yesterday, talking about the front tire I said "Seems to "react" less to broken pavement....Actually seems to "ride" better over irregular and choppy surfaces. I'm hoping this isn't translated into less rider feedback when I pick up the pace a bit."

Having done just that (picked up the pace a bit) today I find that the feedback I'm getting from the front (Tw501) is excellent . . . with the 020 and it's thin front tread (relative to the thick or fatter Tw501 blocks) I'm thinking the feedback was harsher because the thin(er) tread transmits the road irregularities through the carcass and suspension (to the rider) a. faster and b. with more force compared to the new 501 front.

So it seems that the thicker tread block of the Tw501 is absorbing more of the force yet somehow managing (via the miracles of modern Chemistry probably) to give the rider (me) the required feedback and "feel" without any real degradation in data acquisition speed. In other words "the thicker rubber at the contact patch doesn't slow down how long it takes for the tire to transmit what it (the itty bitty contact patch) is doing (in a usable format) to my "brain" while "plushing out" the ride a little bit. Straight up and down panic braking is every bit as good as the 020 imo maybe even a bit better as this tire is putting a "skosh" more rubber "on the ground" I think. We only picked up the pace a little so I didn't get the front do anything out of the ordinary when using the brakes leaned over. Aiming (think multiple redundant "S" turns) precision at higher speeds is also as good as or better than the 020 imo. I hope this "trait" is maintained as the/my pace increases. The only place I felt it was heavy or "slower" than the 020 is at "steering" speeds and that could easily be the difference in the very slightly larger contact patch.

REAR
What rear. . . Oh yea "that" rear.

Not much to tell yet. At the pace we were riding the rear might just as well be an 020 with thicker tread. Hopefully this attribute will continue as the pace is increased. Mileage should be better if for no other reason than the tread is deeper than the 020 to start with. Like the front the rear seem to "cushion" the pavement irregularities better or more efficiently as a result of the thicker tread without any noticeable loss in "data transmission". So far so good. . . Now I need miles. Some rain miles and some weekday (less traffic) miles on my favorite "test loops" at a brisker pace before I commit to using them for Reno this year.

3. Some more "comments" after another 400+ miles of abuse eraaah use.

On The Slab. . . . The first thing I noticed (comparing the 501/502 combo to the 020s previously installed) is the greatly reduced tendency to "follow" or "chase" long stretches of mixed and/or intermittent height concrete or blacktop joints running in the direction of travel. Wasn't bad with the 020s, almost non-existent with the new skins and without losing any of the steering precision that the 020s offer.

Dirty irregular pavement secondary roads. . . As I started to pick up the pace I was pleasantly surprised to find that the traction limits seem to be "as good as" or better than the 020s I just took off. When the front end starts to push a little on medium speed corner exits the movement is smooth and predictable. No sudden loss of traction. Lots of feel or tactile feedback before it starts to move. Same with the rear as long as I'm smooth on throttle application. No surprises, no bad habits. Depending in entry speed, pick up the throttle off the apex on a bumpy surface will get the bike sliding a little. And like the 020s the slide is predictable and manageable.

High(er) speed "precision" and traction. . . . . In a previous post I mentioned MRSBs (multiple redundant S bends ). At higher speeds the "aiming" or precision steering of the 501/502 combo in high(er) speed MRSBs surprised me (again). I managed to "test" the higher speed traction of these tires by inducing small slides coming off the centerline reflectors whilst cranked over. Much the same as at medium & lower speeds. With a decent entry speed "Turn in" on irregular or bumby surfaces could, if pushed hard, induce a slide. No sphincter clinching lurches sideways. . .Just a nice gentle slide and then traction regained. I think the aiming precision is slightly better with the 501/502 combo. No increase in high speed steering "effort".

20-50mph dirt roads. . . . . Front seems to "steer" better than the 020's on the same road at the same speeds. Better "feel" in ruts. Not much to say about the rear....It just kinda slides around and eventually follows the front.

Be interesting to watch the wear and I do still need some serious rain miles in the mountains to satisfy myself that these are a great replacement for the 020s. Unless they turn out to be real turds in the wet I'm sold on these "Dual Sport" puppies.

Front Comparison

Rear Comparison