Paging Wik, Wessie, BCB or other GS owners

It's time for new boots for my GS and I was thinking about getting some
BT020s.

Anyone tried them and know how they compare to Metzler Tourances?

TIA

 

I've never heard of anyone going for 'normal' sports-tourer tyres like 202s
on a big trailie such as a GS. I suppose if you can use sticky road tyres on
a super moto then in theory you could stick 020s on a GS, but why bother?
They might well stick to a decent road surface a little bit better, but the
Tourances ain't bad and I doubt the 020s would last as long. You would also
compromise your ability to do modest off-road riding, by which I mean
anything that isn't too loose or wet/muddy. Maybe that wouldn't trouble you,
but then why buy the Adventure model if you never want to leave the tarmac?

My big GS came with Michelin T66s on, and whilst they were ok in the dry
they were rather scary in the wet - not a patch on the Tourances.

Maybe this is one to float on UKGSers forum?

Rick F650GS/R1150GS (both wih Tourances on)

 

Tony is a big bloke - I think that was the motivation behind it, rather than
any desire to cross the wilds of Essex

 

The Tourances are pretty good tyres but I am interested to see if the BT020s
offere any improvement on road.

tarmac?

My off roading is usually limited to going up the garden to the shed and
riding through the car park at Brands Hatch. I bought a big traillee as it
is probably the most comfortable bike for a tall rider.

I'll be searching the forums there later.

 

That may be because there haven't really been any available in 19",
apart from a few wierd things for Hardleys, and the old ME33(?).

I *love* the T66 as a play tyre - they're just soooo predictable when
they let go. Unfortunately they suffer badly from cupping on the front,
so I've stuck with Tourances recently. Haven't tried an Anakee yet -
that might be next on the list.

 

No, your off roading is varied and entertaining

 

I suppose the clue was in the name!

Rick

 

Yeah, really predictable they were - when I wanted them to grip in the wet,
I could predict that they wouldn't! Well, the back anyway - I never had the
front go, thank goodness. Call me old-fashioned, but I like it when tyres
grip and stay gripped, unless I deliberately want them not to, and that
would only be the back, with the ABS switched off. Come to think of it,
that's why I've got a nasty flat spot on the back tyre. :-(

Rick

 

I'd forgotten about that. It's a tough one; go for the sticky BT020s and it
shouldn't happen again or accept the inevitable and go for the Tourances.

 

Here's opinions on a few:

http://www.sylviastuurman.nl/motor/r11gstires/

 

Never bothered with Tourances; all the talk on UKGSER was either
"Trailwings are shite, Tourances rock" and no-one really had an opinion
on the Michelin T66X's wot mine came with, either.

Anyhoo, the Michelins lasted 11k miles and then I fitted a set of 020s.
I've had 'em on now for nearly 5k miles and they are the dogs wossnames
when it comes to taking huge liberties, speshly in the wet.

I really didn't mind the T66X things at all and found them to be long-
lived and durable but capable of much stupidity in the dry and moderate
lunacy when wet -- they tended to slip all too suddenly in the wet for
my liking.

The 020s make the riding experience very different (read: "enjoyable")
due to their much rounder, corner-friendly profile compared to any of
the more "traditional" big trailie tyres.

So far, they've not started to square off despite mucho mway milage.

I recommend them, mate.

Incidentally, there's a new Dunlop (SP607...?) wot is s'posed to be
similar in design, however, I won't be rushing to try it as in my
experience, Dunlops are great in the dry but not how I like 'em in the
wet...

HTH.

--
| Wik -UKRMHRC#10- 2003 R1150GSA -DC#1 -'FOT#0 'FOF #39 - BOD#12 BOB#12
|# You don't believe me | "Experience is the worst teacher.
|That the scenery | It always gives the test first
|Could be a cold-blooded killer. | and the instruction afterward."
***** human response from wik at blueyonder dot co dot uk *****

 

I can agree with this. in the CIHAGMfest at EOSM I was mightily impressed
with the feel from the 020's on the Adventure. I have Anakee on my
Varadero and whilst they are good the 020s felt smoother and generally
more willing. They shall be the next set of shoes the Varadero wears.

 

Big Tony emerged from their own little world to say

A new thread appeared on UKGSer today
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...273bd0bf884eca&threadid=29103&highlight=bt020

Note the comment about running higher pressures than Tourance. Makes sense I
suppose as BT020 run at 36/42 on most other bikes.

 

Heh, typical. FWIW, I run 36/42 as per boths Messrs. BMW & Bridgestone.
No worries here.

Plus, as I've stated, I think their wet weather performance superior to
that of the Michelins it came with.

I'll see if I too can nadger the rear in <5k miles...

--
| Wik -UKRMHRC#10- 2003 R1150GSA -DC#1 -'FOT#0 'FOF #39 - BOD#12 BOB#12
|# You don't believe me | "Experience is the worst teacher.
|That the scenery | It always gives the test first
|Could be a cold-blooded killer. | and the instruction afterward."
***** human response from wik at blueyonder dot co dot uk *****