BT023 pair - £171 (fitted)

Decided to go for a pair of Bridgestone BT 023's to replace the D220's on my 2011 SV650S even though the front tyre was OK. Local arm of the Protyre group is doing a good discount - £171 with free fitting. Most competitiors were well over £200 and some nearer to £300! No one could price match. Did a lot of reading and they have pretty impressive reviews (bar the odd one but you get that with most tyres!) Coupled with what I thought was a great price, I had these fitted today and rode home in the rain! Felt pretty surefooted but no chance of a real test until the weather gets better (tomorrow hopefully). I had the Dunlop front to pick up later in the car. Will do a short write up when I have broken them in after about 100 miles. I found SV650.org really useful getting advice on various tyres to help me choose.

sounds like a bargin

[Nick_69]

They are good tires I never had a bad work for them

Went for a good ride (dry at last!) this morning to scrub the tyres in. Very impressed. Well planted with good turn-in. Interesting my strips are down to 1/4" already on the rear and the same on the front - with the Dunlops the front were smaller than the rear. New tyres always feel better but I am very encouraged by these tyres. Must check the pressures and preload now to see if I need any tweaking.

I have only one bad thing to say about my 9,000 miles on the BT-023..... The tyre doesn't allow for big enough lean angle. I was hanging right off the bike and just saved from a highside because i'd gone off the edge of the tyre. My knee wasn't touching. Mind you I do have a 29" leg so that could be why I couldn't drag knee but still.. not enough lean angle.

GREAT tyre in the wet, far better than the Pirelli Diablo Rosso and the BT-016. Very quick warm up time and I've just gotten to the wear indicators front and rear on my BT-016. Going to get a set of Michelin 2CTs and if I can't get good mileage out of them back to BT-023s for me.

Originally Posted by BlackFlag94

I have only one bad thing to say about my 9,000 miles on the BT-023..... The tyre doesn't allow for big enough lean angle. I was hanging right off the bike and just saved from a highside because i'd gone off the edge of the tyre. My knee wasn't touching. Mind you I do have a 29" leg so that could be why I couldn't drag knee but still.. not enough lean angle.
.

Wow 9000 miles - that's impressive. I was leaning pretty far for me today and still got 1/4" strip left. I think I'd want sticky sports tyres to get knee down. I'm probably into fairly agressive riding but not mental! Like to watch others doing it though!

[Nick_69]

You can easliy get your knee down in these tires, they just wont offer as much grip up when complete lent over

Must just be my short legs cause i'm leaning more now on my BT-016 and still not very close. Got about half inch chicken strips. Still about an inch more profile than the 023

[Nick_69]

Dnt worry bout the chicken strips or getting ur knee down. It will happen with time

I'm not worried about chicken strips, they're just a good indicator of how far you're pushing it