A question about tires

[Mauricio]

I'm due for tires, and I'm a little torn.

Part of me wants to try the Michelin Pilot Activs, part of me wants to try the Sport Demons. But seriously, I can't get over how fantastic the Bridgestone BT45s are. Head and shoulders over the Excedras of yore. Good grip from the word go, even in cold weather. Good grip in the wet. And... well, I hope this doesn't say too much about how I ride like an old lady...  ... but for crying out loud, I've squeezed 13500 miles out of a rear and probably have another 500 left.

Maybe I've reset my expectations to a new low after a few thousand miles on Cheng Shins on my 450, but dang... hard not to pony up for another set of BT45s.

So... does anyone hgere have experience with either of these tires? I'm especially curious about the Michelins.

[Cal Price]

GSJack is the font of knowledge tyre-wise, lots of archival stuff about tyres around too. I have to agree about BT45s I had them on my GS and i was more than happy with them. I am currently on my second set of Bridgestone BT021s on the Bandit and quite happy, I might be tempted by the Demons (no pun intended) next time around.

[bassmechanicsz]

Their is someone selling new bt45's in the for sale section in NJ for cheap.  Only one person has posted interest so far so might be for sale.

[gsJack]

I put a 140/70 Roadrider on my 02 GS in 9-07 and it went 14,900 miles down to the wear markers and I then replaced it with a 150/70 Roadrider this spring that I expect to go even further.  I put a 110/80 Roadrider front on 3 months later in 12-07 and it has 18k miles on it and looks like it will go at least 20k miles.

I put a pair of BT45 on my 97 GS about 10 years ago to replace the oem Excedras and the rear went 9500 miles and 3 years later after trying some other tires I put a 2nd BT45 rear on that was half worn out in less than 2k miles when I was pushing the bike a lot harder.  Just saying usage can make a big difference in tire life.  I'm still pushing harder than I was with that 1st BT45 rear but not nearly as hard as I did with the 2nd.  Still the Roadrider milage is terrific I think for a tire priced considerably less than the Demons, Activs, or Lasertecs and it meets my current needs nicely, trying to act my age. <G>

A bias ply comparo test from the UK Bike Magazine was posted here and I have some mixed feelings about it.  I'm wondering if they might not use different compound mixes for different markets with our Roadriders being a bit harder than those used in that Brit test.  I haven't used Demons or Activs but I've used Lasertecs and thought a lot more of them than the Brit testers did:

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778173_r5kSp-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778222_97mdg-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778267_oz9pS-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778306_bGmAr-X3.jpg

......................... I hope this doesn't say too much about how I ride like an old lady...  ... but for crying out loud, I've squeezed 13500 miles out of a rear and probably have another 500 left................. does anyone here have experience with either of these tires? I'm especially curious about the Michelins.

Old lady?  Never, I ride like an old man.   

[black and silver twin]

I ran bt45s for 7000 miles before I got a nail in the rear. they are good tires for the price they grip well and last a decent amount of time, probably 8000-10000 miles with no burnouts and wheelies, but I now have Pirelli sport demons and will never use bt45s again. the pirellis have much more grip, both in a straight line and in turns. they probably wont last quite as long maybe 5000 miles or so. but they are only a little bit more money than bt45s and will give you  improved grip in turns, better braking, and less wheel spin while trying to wheelie.

[Porkchop]

I ran bt45s for 7000 miles before I got a nail in the rear. they are good tires for the price they grip well and last a decent amount of time, probably 8000-10000 miles with no burnouts and wheelies, but I now have Pirelli sport demons and will never use bt45s again. the pirellis have much more grip, both in a straight line and in turns. they probably wont last quite as long maybe 5000 miles or so. but they are only a little bit more money than bt45s and will give you  improved grip in turns, better braking, and less wheel spin while trying to wheelie.

I can only imagine that getting nailed in the rear is a pain in the arse.

Anyway, so you're saying the performance gain in the Pirelli is worth more money and half the life?  Is the Pirelli that much more superior in performance that it is worth buying it twice over 10K miles as opposed to one set of BT45s?  I ask because I was going to try the BT45s for my next tire.

-Porkchop

[bassman]

I'm coming up to around 12,000 miles now on my BT45's.  The GS had some tired Exedras when i bought it 2 years ago and I found it very scary riding in the wet for the first 6 months before I changed both tyres for the BT45s.  The change was a revelation!  I was always nervous of wet riding after coming off 20 years previously, and the Exedras (although i didn't appreciate it at the time I bought the bike) were worn and not very good in the wet.  But once I got the BT45s on I felt much more confident in the wet, and discovered the joys of leaning in the dry

Now, two years of daily commuting has cupped the rear quite badly, and cornering is less sure (wet and dry) as a consequence.  I'm going to change the rear before the UK winter really gets going.  I've also got a BT45 front tyre sitting in the cupboard under the stairs (I got it because I thought I had a flat) which I might get fitted soon because the current front tyre is starting to look a bit worn.

Until I'm convinced otherwise, I'm sticking with BT45s.

Bassman

[NF11624]

My OEM BT45s only lasted 7500 miles, and that was with the placid riding of a newbie... so take that for what its worth.  With a better suspension and harder riding I bet they don't last even that long.

[black and silver twin]

yes, the terrific performance difference is worth the less milage and slightly higher cost, to me. tryem you might likem