www.boxertrix.com

Michelin always has had a grip on the road market. The original Pilot Power and Pilot Road have been on the market for years and dominated the sport and touring markets.

IMO, the new rules is what kills Michelin (and their riders). They are used to being able to make a tire and if it don't work, make a new one and ship it overnight just in time for the race. Now the riders have to make a decision on what tire to use on Friday and they are stuck with it.

throttlemeister wrote:Michelin always has had a grip on the road market. The original Pilot Power and Pilot Road have been on the market for years and dominated the sport and touring markets.

IMO, the new rules is what kills Michelin (and their riders). They are used to being able to make a tire and if it don't work, make a new one and ship it overnight just in time for the race. Now the riders have to make a decision on what tire to use on Friday and they are stuck with it.

I'm close enough to the trade to tell you the first part of your statement is incorrect,Bridgstone are screaming blue murder at the moment cuz they can't sell tyres,they've been giving Michelin a kicking road tyre sale wise for some time,hence the Road 02 and the 2CT from Michelin to stop the rot.

The second part!!,Michelin would send data on a friday(the tyres never used to work on friday) afternoon and Michelin would make tyres overnight and airfreight e'm the following morning.

It's not about deciding on a tyre they have a choice of 32 put in a secure bin and have to use those,rain tyres excluded(they can use as many as they like) the problem being Michelin riders have been used to racing on custom built tyres(for that track)

Bridgestone had a lot of sales imo due to OE mounting of the 020 and 012/014. Most people never bother to look at different tires, and most shops mount the same thing as is on there unless otherwise instructed. With more and more online resources and printed mags doing extensive tire tests, where Bridgestone have been getting their butts kicked by Michelin, Metzeler and Pirelli particularly where their out of date designs are involved, most notably the 020.

Looking at ie the 020, 5 years ago everyone doing more than racing around the block was running them, now everyone is either running the Z6 (or MPR2 now too). Not because of marketing or racing results/efforts, but because they are simply superior tires compared to the 020. And they waited so long with the 021, they have to prove themselves all over again.

* DISCLAIMER: ever market is different and different countries have different preferences for brands. UK *seems* to have a thing for Bridgestone, US is definately a Dunlop country and my experience is mostly based on what I see in the Dutch market.

That shows again that racing has nothing to do with streetriding as bad as the new BT021 scored compared to the way better Z6 and PR2.Or what's good for Stoner is not good for Stoney...

I secured a used boxer-accessories.de paddock stand for £45 and went with a new pair of Bridgestone 20's in the end which were what was on it. (A bit disappointed Watling fitted the 'old stock' tread pattern version of the rear). There are scrubbed in now and going well - I'm a lot more confident to 'lean' now that they are round again. Thanks for the advise - I'll recap on that when it comes to change them.

Q = what do people generally get out of the Bridgestones? in their experience on the roads.

Z6s ... great

Commute every day in all weathers and further at weekends ... all round good tyre. Long lasting too. Always used 020s before and thought they were good ... but things have moved on. Never tried 021s so can't comment.

I know it's a completely different bike (CBR600) but I put a new BT021 on the rear the day before setting off to Spain and 2300 miles later it looks hardly touched. Almost no wear in the middle and the grip in the twisty mountains was fab. I leant more with this tyre than I ever did with the Macadams that have been on it for the past 6 years. It still had the front Macadam on it BTW.

Great tyre and I shall probably sling one on the 'S' when the Pilot road wears out.

I am currently using Avon Storm ST's. Very happy with them. Very good turn in, precise and stable. Good wet or dry. They have done 2000 miles and have kept a nice round profile. I thought the motorway miles would have squared them off but they haven't. Recommended.

cc mac wrote:I am currently using Avon Storm ST's. Very happy with them. Very good turn in, precise and stable. Good wet or dry. They have done 2000 miles and have kept a nice round profile. I thought the motorway miles would have squared them off but they haven't. Recommended.

Admittedly I'm using them on the Blackbird but find the Storms superb. Despite the somewhat moist weather on the Flash tour in May, I had not one single 'moment' on them at all. Excellent in the dry too and have more grip than I'm ever going to use.

masha wrote:
Q = what do people generally get out of the Bridgestones? in their experience on the roads.

Fitted my first set of Bridgestones (ever) recently to my 11s (021's)
2mm wear in 2 k miles on the rear(started with just under 6mm) . So depending when you like to change should be good for 4 to 5k miles.