Bridgestone 023

[kgb]

I have a K7 FE model, I bought the bike with 13,000 miles on it and put new Bridgestone 023 tyres on it. I never felt happy with the handling and the noise from the front tyre and after 1,500 miles the front tyre was feathered and worn quite badly (alignement, suspension settings and pressures constantly checked). Even the dealer where I bought the tyres had no idea what had caused this and we put it down to a bad tyre, we did send it back to the supplier but never heard anything back. I put a new front tyre on and same noise from the front and no confidence when cornering, tyre wear was better though with no feathering. When the back tyre started to wear more the handling was worse and I decided to bite the bullet and go for a different manufacturers tyre.
So over winter I fitted a set of Michelin PR4 tyres and went with a 55 profile rear. I had my first ride out on Easter Sunday about 120 miles and the bike is a completely different animal, silent at the front and perfect in and out of the bends, I cannot believe the difference, it has transformed the bike. No more Bridgestones for me and I hope this might help someone who has had any similar issues.

[Hooli]

I've been riding on 023s recently on two bikes (not 14s) & found them a lot better than I ever found PR4s, which I refuse to buy after having one delaminate while on a motorway.

[kgb]

I've been riding on 023s recently on two bikes (not 14s) & found them a lot better than I ever found PR4s, which I refuse to buy after having one delaminate while on a motorway.

Don't know if I got tyres from a bad batch but the difference is night and day

[Hooli]

Tyres are very personal in how they feel. I always said never again for Bridgestones after paying for 021s, but my new bike came on a new pair so it'd be daft not to use them.

[DP1400]

Is it `reasonable` to mix an 021 rear with a new 023 up front?

My 021 rear is ok for a couple of thou yet, but the front is pretty much history, hence the question. I`ll be damned if i`m gonna replace them both and put even more money into tyre manufacturers coffers!

[seth]

I didnt think 021's are no longer made in the size to fit the 14.
I had an old pair on the r/b bike when I got it .
Ok in the dry but lethal in the wet .
Binned them before I binned the bike .

[DP1400]

I suspect the same re. 021`s seth, hence my question about a `23 up front, retaining my `old` `21 on the rear. My understanding is that the `23 is the `natural` replacement for the `21 and therefore ought to perform in a similar way?

[seth]

@DP1400
Mine maybe mostly down to age of the tyres .
But I go back to what I know and trust .
I've had many of the Pirelli Angel range and I like how they preform for us .
Big miles round Europe lots of motorways and fast A roads nearly always loaded up with luggage and camping gear .
So I never say use these tyres as it's each to thier own .
I just say what I like and use.

[Hooli]

I didnt think 021's are no longer made in the size to fit the 14.
I had an old pair on the r/b bike when I got it .
Ok in the dry but lethal in the wet .
Binned them before I binned the bike .

TBH that's exactly how I found them when I bought them new! plus they were just as crap in the cold.

Where as I got caught out in sodding snow today on a Hornet wearing 023s & it felt like it was on dry roads, very confidence inspiring.

[DP1400]

Thanks for your input re. my tyre dilemma guys.

After having had a chat with my `tyre guru` this morning, it does seem that `021`s are no longer mainstream available for the `14, so he`s suggested that I go for an `023 on the front and replace my rear tyre with the same in a couple of months time.

As you`ve pretty much said, tyre choice is a bit of a personal thing with bikes. It has to be said, a bit of a `fad` thing too! As i`ve never had any really serious handling issues with Bridgestones, on dry or wet roads, i`m staying with them for the time being.