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Evolution of the BT-021 sport touring tire
Tire launches follow one another. While Dunlop and Michelin have just presented their new Sport products (SportSmart and PowerPure), Bridgestone is the only manufacturer to present an evolution of its sport-touring tire: the BT-023, an evolution and replacement of the BT-021. Because if there are still BT-020s, the BT-021s normally stop definitively with the arrival of the latter. It was about time some would say because the BT-021 had lost ground against the Roadsmart and other Roadtec Z6.
Anything new announces improvements. The BT-023 announces more longevity – up to 15% better, or even more – and more grip in dry and wet, at the manufacturer’s recommended pressures (2.5 front / 2.9 rear). In fact, compared to the old BT-021, the BT-023 even claims to work in part on the beds of the BT-016, a more sporty tire. Finally, it announces better shock absorption and therefore more comfort.
How do you improve a tire? At the rubber level (silica / polymers), construction and design. Bridgestone also introduces, for the first time, nano-technology to bind silica and polymer components.
Technical
The front and rear tires are characterized by four peculiarities: the new compound of rubber Silica Rich Ex (ensures the grip) enriched with a polymer "RC Polymer" (ensures longevity) linked with the use of nano-technologies, the construction Mono Spiral Belt (MSB, belt made of an aramid filament wound all around the tire, which ensures the non-deformation of the tire and its stability in a straight line) and a new tread pattern (V-grooves for the duration of life and T kerf at the front for maneuverability at the rear but also a thin tread without tread at the rear).
The rear tire – and only it – additionally receives the “3 Layer Compound” technology, ie bi-rubber, with a “resistant” central part for longevity and stability and “soft” sidewalls for grip on the tire. angle.
An optional specification is available for very heavy machines like the BMW K1300GT with a specific tread, combining MSB technology and a CrossBelt (cross belt) for the construction of the rear tire.
Everything is there to ensure superior longevity (+ 15% minimum announced) and better grip (thanks to the rubber and the drawings).
The manufacturer has also worked on tire wear so that it is uniform and thus offers improved performance over time..
Road test
Each brand has its own way of organizing a trial. At Bridgestone, the mounts are installed on several motorcycles, from the 600 (Bandit 650, Hornet, XJ6, FZ6, GSR) to the big roadsters (FZ1, Bandit 1250, CB 1000R, XJR 1300, MT01) through road cars (CBF 1000, FJR 1300, RT 1200 RT). The test takes place only on the road, the preferred location for this tire. Breaks are organized in order to be able to switch from one mount to another and thus to check the contributions in terms of stability at high speed and grip..
The front / rear pressures have been significantly modified … with 2.5 / 2.5 for the 600, and 2.7 / 2.9 for the big road, the others being at the standard 2.5 / 2, 9.
Cool weather in mid-March, but the outside temperature turns to 15 ° C, almost hot. The roads await us on the small departmental roads between Toulon and Hyères.
The XJ6 takes off slowly. The first turns come quickly and the pace gradually increases. If the ease of the machine is "original", the assembly quickly builds confidence. The pace picks up again and the little one follows with a healthy, natural demeanor. It grips well and the angle gradually falls. Admittedly, the roads are clean, but the bike seems riveted to the ground and we must rethink more sporty climbs to put as much confidence and accept so much angle without batting an eyelid. The sequences are done in a smooth and natural way, without particular liveliness, nor feeling of falling. The impression is rather "round". A straight line arrives and the bike remains perfectly stable, without the slightest hint of shimmy, at speeds that decency does not allow me to quote. The ensuing braking confirms the grip of the tire, even with strong braking.
Even a passage on a freshly grooved road, which usually causes the bike to float oscillating between the grooves, happens here naturally and without fuzzy behavior..
What about the big roadsters? The behavior is the same. Christophe Guyot who accompanies us comes down from the FZ1: “the bike has lost 30 kilos”. If it has kept its kilos, the bike has nonetheless gained in naturalness and apparent ease of driving. Even the big MT01 seems to have won at the exchange, with exactly the same rise.
Because the BT-023 is available in two versions, the standard version for almost everyone, and the GT version for big … like the FJR and the 1200 RT. On the other hand, the MT-01 is at standard speed. The difference plays on the design and the absence of filament winding, replaced by a CrossBelt belt. But even the 1200 RT seems to like this new tire which brings more ease and less heaviness to the front..
For all motorcycles, "comfort" is also there, which means that the tire dampens and does not systematically bring up all the information from the road … like a more sport-type sport like SportSmart for example (at equivalent pressures ). And it is true that we expect a touring tire to play a role in comfort compared to a more sporty tire..
Conclusion
The grip and stability of the BT-023 are stunning, whatever the speed. There remains the longevity which will be tested via the long-term tire test. The pace of tire renewal is accelerating and we can forget the bits of wood from 10 years ago. When you see the difference in grip between this new BT and my BT-57 light, the difference is obvious with an impressive confidence building. Of course, I am sure that I will not be able to do the 33,000 km again with my original BT57 rider, but the comfort and grip provided are also unrelated and worth the effort. And then, the BT-023 announces at least 15% longer life than the BT-021. And for the same price as its predecessor, around € 260, Bridgestone should come back to the forefront with a replacement tire, knowing that the BT-023 is not yet planned on any original motorcycle..
| Strong points | Points to Confirm |
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Dimensions
- 110 / 70ZR17M / C (54W) 150 / 70ZR17M / C (69W)
- 120 / 60ZR17M / C (55W) 160 / 60ZR17M / C (69W)
- 120 / 70ZR17M / C (58W) 160 / 70ZR17M / C (73W)
- 120 / 70ZR18M / C (59W) 170 / 60ZR17M / C (72W)
- 110 / 80ZR18M / C (58W) 180 / 55ZR17M / C (73W)
- 190 / 50ZR17M / C (73W)
- 160 / 60ZR18M / C (70W)
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No place for an anti-theft device, no place for the "vest" henceforth compulsory, and no central stand it seems to me … The builders would still have to think that we do not all have a single house with an armored garage and sophisticated alarm systems, and that these machines are used on the road, in town, etc., places where these motorcycles are going to be the object of envy!
an RT, passes immediately to the Michelin PR3, the number of flat of any model including a Cup
seen in Thonon this WE it seems to be one of the best climbs of the moment
hello everyone,
since the beginning of December I have had the 2017 version in total matt black including the radiator …… the whole is superb!!
Which I hastened to customize in trail with nipple tires and installation of a grille on the headlight. In order to protect the low engine, I am thinking of making a belly pan.
Other changes are planned …. I have some pictures of the beast ..
in weak point I would have added the paying option of the moderately low saddle at 265 €
in comparison, on the bmw gs it is a free option.
still on the gs, the front axle lift is the pinnacle when we have tasted it, we have the impression that all classic fork motorcycles are suspended on bicycle pumps
It all depends on the use, even if the anti-dive principle of the telever is adictive, especially on a trail.
On the road, some also offer an excellent feeling (multistrada, caponord). But the telever is extraordinary there, it is true.
Offroad, the inverted forks of Adventure KTM offer more comfort and an excellent performance where the telever "bangs".
In short, it is a question of preference, use and habit.
expensive very expensive why pвs the ktm more reasonable