Bridgestone Tire Review

[michael]

I own a '90 VFR imported from Germany to the Netherlands. When I bought it it had done 32.000 k's and it had Bridgestone tires. In front the BT 020 and at the rear the BT 057. After something more than 12.000 k's I had to replace them. I've chosen to take the same tires again. By this time I really had learned how to ride my VFR (It's my second bike and the first one was a Shadow 500. No comparison huh ;-) ). Due I ride long distances in a straight line the tires got kinda flat or square. So I was really amazed about the handling of my VFR. You should have seen the huge grin on my face after I found it out :-). But any way after a short period the rear tire started to become square again, I don't remember at what milage but it appeared to me that it faster than it should. So after about 14.000 k's I replaced them for BT 020 front AND rear because the compound is a little bit harder. I was hoping this would prevent it from becoming a 'square' tire. After I've done about 4200 k's I indeed think this is solved but, there is a big BUT, the handling suck big time. In long corner's the rear feels strangs, as if can't trust it. just like the suspension is to soft. Or that the frame can't handle the force, just like my old Shadow 500. But the rear felt kinda shaky. And when I'm driving fast through bad wether with lot's of wind I felt the same when I just drove in a straight line. First of I thought it indeed was the suspension or something else, after all the VFR had done a little bit more than 62.000 k's. But then I read an article about an owner of an Pan European, which normaly has BT 057's. But he had them replaced by BT 020, just like me. And he had exactly the same problem. This started me thinking that it indeed started after the tire exchange. His dealer told him that Bridgestone is going to designe a special 020 for the Pan, maybe this would also help for my VFR. I don't know but next time I'll take the 057 again. What I don't get is that the two guys, Karl and Ismat, are so enthousiastic about their 020's. I check the pressure regulairly and always keep it 2.5/2.9[Bar] front/rear (as it should be) so that can't be the problem.

If anybody knows how to solve this, feel free to email me at dekleef@hetnet.nl. BTW you can check my website: http://vfr750f.n3.net

Regards, Joeri.