Bridgestone Battle Wing tire report

[Chequeneglia]

At 11.000 kms i had change the Metzeler Tourance rear tire, i was very happy with that tire... cheap, good grip, good for offroad (i feel very safe with Tourance)

We had some problems over December 2013 because a port strike, so there was no great options for the tire change (Metzeler, Pirelli, Michellin... they were out of stock)
I don´t want something too Offroad (like a Karoo 3), i want to ride safe at high speed on highways and a little traction on Offroad

With that equation i have the following tires to choose:

Metzeler Karoo 3 - Too offroad for me, and its gonna last only 5.000 kms (i need at least 10.000 kms!)
Heidenau - it transform at a few kilometers in a car tire... square shape!!!
Brigestone Battle Wing - i choose it because i like that it is japanese (i think high quality... mmm! : ... i was wrong... :'( :'( :'( )


I always ride with TC off, Clutch mode on
With the Tourance i never had a problem or bad grip, even when they were almost dying they have good grip

So i install the Battle Wing... and i had to say "i´m sorry"... i don´t trust them as i trust my old Metzeler
When i get full throttle on a green traffic light i feel the rear wheel spinning and screaming without movement!!!! (as i´m doing a tire burn!!! but i didn´t doing that!, i only want to move fast!!! :-[

I really don´t like my new tires!!! ::007::

 

[Koinz]

it's funny how people have different opinions on tires. i guess it's like an oil thread.

I've had Bridgestones since the bike has been new and I find them to be fairly decent. Good traction in both rain and dry and they have a good ride to them as well. I may not be as heavy on the throttle as you, but I'm no slouch. ;D
I've had Tourances on my Vstrom and thought the tire wore out quickly and never really tried them again. Maybe I should ???

I do seem to be changing out my tires on an annual basis and Honestly I haven't been tracking how many miles are on them, but I've had 3 set's in 22K Miles and the second set were a little used from one of members here when he switched to K60's, so I figure the mileage is acceptable on them considering the fun factor I get out of them ;D

 

[jwhuls]

The pavement did end and then some. No pics of that cause there was no stopping. But the death wings pulled through. the WR stopped once to try and stop me. ha ha!

 

[cakeboy]

well i fall in the middle on this one i like the std bridgestones i think they give good grip , and i also like the tourance 1 , they also gave good grip and tended to last a bit longer than the battle wing ....the worst tyre by far that i have ever had fitted was the new tourance "next" they were shocking , sliding all over the place and gave no feed back at all ...

 

[Chequeneglia]

The pavement did end and then some. No pics of that cause there was no stopping. But the death wings pulled through. the WR stopped once to try and stop me. ha ha!

Thank´s for your replys!

create this thread looking for a reason to keep them on my bike... now i´m a bit more faithfull on them (just a little more!)

* if i´m the only one with the bad feeling maybe i´m the problem and not the tires!!!


Best regards!

 

[Boondocker]

Are your tires so new that they still have the mold release agent (lube) on them? That should be gone after a couple hundred kms, but could be slippery if they are the least bit shiny. I like to have a little romp through some deep gravel to scuff up brand new tires...if you can do that without falling down, which usually I can.

I don't find that K60s square off any worse than Battlewings or Tourances, they just last longer. They do trade tarmac grip for dirt grip

 

[escapefjrtist]

At the rate my OEM Metzler is going away I'll be lucky to get 5,000 miles out of it. Was considering running a 'stone next to wear out the OEM front and then figure out what direction to go. Last VStrom had 'stones on it and they offered decent grip here in the PNWet.

--G

 

[Brick]

My 2014ES Tenere came with Battle wings. After first oil change I left for a road trip. At 6,303 miles I needed a new rear tire. I am very disappointed with the Bridgestone Battle Wing tires. They felt good during the entire trip but gone at 6,303 road miles is wrong!
I ran a lot of Metzler Tourance tires on my 2012 Tenere and on the road got over 11,000 miles on one trip. Normal mileage her in the mtns of western NC I typically got around 6,000 miles when ripping it up.
No more Battle Wings for me!
YMMV



Brick

 

[muddysoles]

it's funny how people have different opinions on tires. i guess it's like an oil thread.

::026::

I quite like the BWs. I am no expert on this subject and could be absolutely wrong. But given that I have done good amount of gravel, tarmac, dirt, sand, slush, water, etc., this is what my tyre looks like after 20000 kms/12400 miles and I am quite impressed with them. I think they still have a little bit of life left in them, what do you all reckon?

When not commuting to work

 

[fredz43]

My 2014ES Tenere came with Battle wings. After first oil change I left for a road trip. At 6,303 miles I needed a new rear tire. I am very disappointed with the Bridgestone Battle Wing tires. They felt good during the entire trip but gone at 6,303 road miles is wrong!
I ran a lot of Metzler Tourance tires on my 2012 Tenere and on the road got over 11,000 miles on one trip. Normal mileage her in the mtns of western NC I typically got around 6,000 miles when ripping it up.
No more Battle Wings for me!
YMMV

Brick

Hi Brick,

Was that a Tourance EXP that you got that amazing 11,00 miles out of? I ask, because I believe that is what comes stock on some S10's and all I have read is that they get about half that mileage. I believe that those that have tried the non EXP have done better. This current thread has some mention of that:

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=12181.msg197199;topicseen#new

My experience is that I get about the same 6300-6500 out of a rear Battlewing. I tried PR3's and only got 1,000 more than that at a considerably higher price. I wonder if your tour that you got that many miles included some good twisties where you got to use the edge of those Metzlers in addition to wearing the center. The 6,000 you get at home seem more realistic. The problem I have in the Midwest with either of the two choices I have tried is that with all of our straight roads, I wear the center flat with plenty of tread left on the edge. I only get to use that part of the tire when I go to the Ozarks or down to your area and ride the mountain roads.

For me, since I get the rear BW's for $125 delivered and can expect a bit over 6,000 from them before the center is worn down, they seem the best choice.

 

[Brick]

Fredz43 no they were the old Tourance tires NOT the EXP. I actually tried the EXP and didn't like them as we'll and got fewer miles out of them. I've been paying around $158 for the Tourance tires. If I could get the BW's for $125 I too would try one locally. But I won't trust one on my longer trips again. BTW the over 11,000 trip was. Western NC to El Paso, Tx - Nelson, BC (this was the Three Flags Rally done each year by the SCMA = Southern California Motorcycle Association. Then on across western Canada up to Hyder Alaska then down the west coast to below San Francisco before we turned east for Western NC. Great trip!

My SPOT track.


Brick

 

[markjenn]

The old Tourance tires (not the Next or Exp models) are renowned for longevity. The Battle Wings seem more/less average. (I get about 6K out of a rear BW.) So I think it is more of a matter of the Tourances being exceptionally long-lived rather than the BW's being exceptionally short-lived.

Tourances used to be pretty pricey, but they're only about $40/pair more than BW's these days. On a $/mile basis, they're probably about the best you can do. Being a harder tire, they probably have slightly less stick on pavement, but within the cornering clearance limits of a bike like the S10, doesn't matter to most riders much.

- Mark

 

[fredz43]

The old Tourance tires (not the Next or Exp models) are renowned for longevity. The Battle Wings seem more/less average. (I get about 6K out of a rear BW.) So I think it is more of a matter of the Tourances being exceptionally long-lived rather than the BW's being exceptionally short-lived.

Tourances used to be pretty pricey, but they're only about $40/pair more than BW's these days. On a $/mile basis, they're probably about the best you can do. Being a harder tire, they probably have slightly less stick on pavement, but within the cornering clearance limits of a bike like the S10, doesn't matter to most riders much.

- Mark

That's good to know, Mark, thanks. For $40 more I think I'll try the original Tourance next time. I assume they are still available and not being fazed out in favor of the newer models.

 

[martin_nj]

which tire were you on when you decided this was a good idea?

 

[markjenn]

For $40 more I think I'll try the original Tourance next time. I assume they are still available and not being fazed out in favor of the newer models.

I keep expecting them to fade away too, but they're still available at most of the big tire stores. Best pricing I've seen is about $265/pair at places like Rocky Mtn ATV and American Motorcycle Tire. Seems like a great deal for a 10K mile tire.

- Mark

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Lets see... I've had the OEM Battlewing, the OEM Tourance, some K60s, Karoo 3s, Anakee II and III on the Tenere.

The other day I was looking at the OEM Tourance I had reinstalled on my wife's S10. With less than 5K miles it was about down to the wear bars. May have had a few miles left on it, but not good enough for the 3 day weekend we were about to ride. Thinking back, and looking at my notes on the tires I've used, I decided to get her a new Battlewing. It was a good general purpose tire with reasonable tire life. If I had the choice I would have selected an Anakee II, but that choice was taken away. I satisfied the Battlewing will do a good job for her.

 

[markjenn]

The other day I was looking at the OEM Tourance I had reinstalled on my wife's S10. With less than 5K miles it was about down to the wear bars.

Unless something has changed, Yamaha was shipping new S10's with Tourance EXP tires, not standard Tourances. They are reported to be giving the same more/less average tire life similar to the Battle Wings that ship on new S10's.... 6K miles to a rear more/less.

- Mark

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Unless something has changed, Yamaha was shipping new S10's with Tourance EXP tires, not standard Tourances. They are reported to be giving the same more/less average tire life similar to the Battle Wings that ship on new S10's.... 6K miles to a rear more/less.

- Mark

Whatever Yam was putting on the bike in Feb 2012 is what it was. I'm pretty sure it was the EXP, I didn't pay that much attention. From the tire's perspective, life with me is difficult. >

It's my wife's bike, but I do ride it a fair amount. If it has only been ridden by her I suspect it might have gotten closer to 6K.

 

[Brick]

Unless something has changed, Yamaha was shipping new S10's with Tourance EXP tires, not standard Tourances. They are reported to be giving the same more/less average tire life similar to the Battle Wings that ship on new S10's.... 6K miles to a rear more/less.

- Mark

Yes my 2012 Tenere came with EXP's... I was not impressed and went with the standard Tourance.
My 2014ES came with Battle Wings... not impressed gonna go back to Tourance's
Hey why am I telling all of you this... I should have kept them all to myself. ;-)



Brick

 

[hANNAbONE]

I got +9200 miles on the 1st OEM BattleWing rear & +12500 on the front.

I got +9400 miles on the 2nd BattleWing rear & have +8000 on the current front with no need to change it yet.

What's not to like..?