Anyone used a Battlax Adventure A41 tire yet?

[RCinNC]

I'm in the planning stages of a trip out west this summer, and I'm in the market for a tire. I'll be riding two up, and sadly parts of the trip are going to be on the interstate. Most of the trip will be on pavement, but there are a couple spots (Phantom Canyon Rd, Moki Dugway, Valley of the Gods Road) where I'll be seeing a little bit of dirt/gravel. I've seen that Bridgestone has released a new tire, the A41 Adventure, that looks like it might be a candidate for the trip (it'll be 4000-5000 miles, depending on which way I ride home, and only about the first 2000 will be two up). Trouble is, I haven't really found any reviews of the performance of this tire other that the publicity information released by Bridgestone, so I wanted to see if anyone here had any experience with it yet.

 

[scott123007]

I think virtually any tire that fits our Tenere's will suffice for a trip like that. If it is mostly pavement riding, and only 4-5 thousand miles, you may as well use a more street oriented tire for the slight comfort and lack of noise advantage they will give. I have not used an A41 myself, but I have a friend with a GSA that has them and likes them both on and off road. You could always go with the tried and true mileage kings (Mitas or Heidenau), but they may be a little noisier than you might want for a mostly pavement trip.

 

[Sierra1]

I have a set ordered, but no, I have not used them. They are SUPPOSED to be slightly better than the A40s in the dry, and substantially better in the wet. It's a dual compound that claims good stick/stability at full lean. The dual compound SHOULD give more mileage per tire. If they're not MUCH better that the Battle Wings, I'll switch back; the BWs aren't bad and they're relatively cheap.

 

[RCinNC]

Sierra, I've noticed that Battlewings seem to be harder to find on line. I wondered if they were being phased out by Bridgestone.

 

[Sierra1]

I've seen here & there, that they are on the way out; makes sense since they haven't been changed/updated. My dealer says that he hasn't received any official word on being discontinued, and they're still available. But, I wouldn't be surprised if they are discontinued, and there are just that many of them sitting in warehouses. Once those are gone, that may be it.

 

[Cycledude]

I used a rear on the last Alaska trip, at a little over 5,000 miles I had to buy another tire to replace it. Other than wearing out to soon it worked fine.

 

[RCinNC]

That's kind of disappointing as far as mileage goes. Then again, I know some of the roads in Alaska are pretty hard on tires.

 

[Nikolajsen]

In my experience, Bridgestone have never made a tire, that is in the top, when it comes to mileage.
I think it is because Bridgestone put more effort in the way it sticks to the tarmac/gravel., than the mileage.
So if you go for the many miles, choise different brand.

 

[Sierra1]

5K miles IS disappointing; you're likely right about the Alaska roads taking their toll. I ride mostly on pavement. I would have probably picked a more aggressive off-road tire for an AK trip. I'm hoping the A41 provide more grip/stability in the corners than the OE BWs.

 

[steve68steve]

I don't think you have to worry about tires too much for the Moki Dugway and Valley of the Gods - they're both pretty hard-packed (cars drive both those roads).


You are going to have a blast - what a great trip itinerary!


I'd go Mitas just as to not have to think/ worry about it.

 

[jeepinoutwest]

5000 miles is poor seeing as I get over 17,000 miles on my battle wings and could have gone to 20,000 if I were cheap.

 

[Sierra1]

17K miles?! ??? I barely got 7K out of mine. I've always considered anything over 8K to be good. I don't think that I've ever made it to 10K on any bike tire.

 

[RonH]

I've got 7200 miles on the stock Battlewings, well actually 7200 on the front and 6400 on the rear, as I picked up an unwanted 6" long bolt through the tread of the 800 mile old tire ruining it, but my tires look about 50% worn if that. I'm pretty well happy with the Battlewings.

 

[taskmaster86]

I've got 7200 miles on the stock Battlewings, well actually 7200 on the front and 6400 on the rear, as I picked up an unwanted 6" long bolt through the tread of the 800 mile old tire ruining it, but my tires look about 50% worn if that. I'm pretty well happy with the Battlewings.

I am at 5,000 miles on the stock Battlewings and the rear tire is badly squared off. Plus I have cracks in between the treads like dry rot.

I ride conservatively and take care of my stuff. I do not see how you guys are getting anything more than 6,000 miles or so out of the battlewings.

 

[RCinNC]

I'm amazed by that too.

I've bounced between the stock Battlewings and Shinko 705's, and I would feel fortunate if I could get 6000 miles out of either one of them. Now, I do ride with a passenger a lot which certainly changes tire longevity, but I'm still gobsmacked by how someone can be getting like three times the mileage I do out of the same type of tire.

 

[Xt1200zsupertenere]

In my experience, Bridgestone have never made a tire, that is in the top, when it comes to mileage.
I think it is because Bridgestone put more effort in the way it sticks to the tarmac/gravel., than the mileage.
So if you go for the many miles, choise different brand.

Bridgeston battlax BT023 is A Fantastic Tire for your roadbike , GOOD grip and many Miles. , and yes .. i hade Them on My Kawasaki

 

[RCinNC]

What are they like on dirt and gravel? My planned trip is going to have some of that type of riding.

 

[WJBertrand]

Comparing tire mileage between riders is somewhat pointless. I think rider style/habits/technique has the largest impact on tire life. I've seen slow guys burn up a tire in 5K and really fast guys go 10K on the same tires on the same bike, riding the same part of the country. I've also seen the reverse scenario.

 

[RCinNC]

I agree that the comparison is pointless. I'm just expressing my amazement when someone says they're getting something like 17,000 miles out of any motorcycle specific tire.

 

[Sierra1]

Bridgeston battlax BT023 is A Fantastic Tire for your roadbike , GOOD grip and many Miles. , and yes .. i hade Them on My Kawasaki

::026:: I've used the 23 on the ST1300 with very good results. But the 23 was replaced by the 30; the 30 was as good if not better. They were the only tires that I actually wore out before they picked up a nail. They lasted longer than any other tire I've used; 10K miles. Those tires are sport touring; not adventure style. They'll work on dirt roads and such....until it gets wet. And y'all are right about to many variables to compare tire longevity. I think y'all will agree though, that heat and crappy roads do the most damage to tires.