Triumphrat

djr · 08-11-2004

Finally managed to get hold of someone at bridgestone UK after numerous e-mails to the UK and belgium without reply decided to make some phonecalls.

Belgian tech guy on holiday so called the UK. left a message and the UK tech guy just called me back.

he stressed that he could only comment for the UK market but lets be honest Europe is pretty much all the same. He confirmed that you can use BT20's with an inner tube on the Tiger with spoked wheels.
Recommends 36psi front and 42 psi rear.

Need to wait a couple of months but then think a change will happen.

He did say that it will turn in much quicker on the BT20 than the standard Tourances as well :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

djr · 08-11-2004

Finally managed to get hold of someone at bridgestone UK after numerous e-mails to the UK and belgium without reply decided to make some phonecalls.

Belgian tech guy on holiday so called the UK. left a message and the UK tech guy just called me back.

he stressed that he could only comment for the UK market but lets be honest Europe is pretty much all the same. He confirmed that you can use BT20's with an inner tube on the Tiger with spoked wheels.
Recommends 36psi front and 42 psi rear.

Need to wait a couple of months but then think a change will happen.

He did say that it will turn in much quicker on the BT20 than the standard Tourances as well :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

nehpetsthegrey · 08-11-2004

or fit tubeless tyres on cast wheels etc etc (bores everyone again.) Thanks DJR after converting the bike to cast wheels thats just what I need to hear. Time to start drinking heavily.....
ps. cast wheels give a seriously effective brake upgrade. (he says trying to justify spending serious moolah)

:evil:

djr · 08-12-2004

what tyres are you running on your cast wheels?
What were you running previously?

Timtiger · 08-12-2004

I really prefer tubeless tyres and (I hate to admit it) used to have a BMW R100GS. It was a truly poor handling and very unreliable bike BUT did have the most excellent spoked wheels that had tubeless tyres. The spokes ran from the hub to the rim and were very strong and not too heavy.
I note with amusement that the latest BMW GS now has alloy wheels and the first review here by Australian MC News (I think) reported a seriously dinged rim. The rider seemed to be unaware of the event that caused the ding. I hope the new Tiger rims are a little stronger. Or even better go to the old BWM cross - spoke tubeless rims.

djr · 08-12-2004

I have had no bad experience from using tubes or from not having them fitted. The Tourances as standard on the 03 Tiger have tubes and I have been relatively happy with them. My problem is I want more road orientated rubber. The tourances are very difficult to get warmed up in winter even with the pressures dropped they are only ok in comparison to the BT10's I had on my TT600. In summer the Tourances are fine and give plenty of grip.
I dont mind changing tyres but I do not want the expense of new wheels to do this. Si BT20's with tubes will be fine for me. If i get a puncture then my breakdown/recovery can sort it out.

BigStripey · 08-12-2004

I agree with DJR on this one, the Tourances are slow to warm up when it is cold. I have had no major scary moments with the Tourances, unlike the T66X's which could be a bit hairy at times, and tyre wear is good too.

I will be really interested to see what the tyre wear rate is with 020's fitted. They are an excellent tyre, but i wonder how they will stand up with the weight of the Tiger and the dynamics of the bike in general?

Has anybody already tried this with tubes in?

Timtiger · 08-12-2004

I think I have tried every dual road tyre on my assorted Tigers. The only one I actually disliked were the Avons that gripped OK but totally changed the handling. The bike really tipped into corners and took a lot of getting used to. I am now just getting to the end of the life of a set of Michelin Anakees. They warm up fast and grip quite well. They do wear quite a bit faster then the Metzlers though. I am in a little bit of a quandry as to what to do next. I ride in Melbouren in lots of wet weather on bad roads and lots of diesel spills. I also do quite a bit of dirt road riding. Maybe a repeat of the Anakees???

tango · 08-12-2004

Diesel spills, the bane of my life. Had more than my fair share of them

Timtiger · 08-12-2004

Did you know that polarised sunglasses help. As long as there is a little sun, the diesel gives a rainbow colour to the tar. As long as you are looking - of course.