Raptor Chapter

but this time for the thou...

Its MOT time and she has had her annual bath and going over.... and its time for a new rear - not for the test I hope but certainly before Lincolnshire

I have loved the way the 020's behave (and ride) but they dont seem to be availiable now.. the 020 on the front is fine and whilst I normally do front and rear at the same time financial limitations mean thats not going to happen just now.

so what is a good tyre in the 020 vein to go the the 020 front.

I generally don't mix tyres. I inherited the vrap with Avon viper sports which were pants. Swapped the back to an Avon Storm Ultra (I've always ridden the storms on my bikes) it was a terrible unison, soon got a matching front. Can't find a fault now, theyre great for what I need, and they get a good fan base too amongst my more nutty rider friends.

I'm in the same boat (needing only a rear) but luckily the car has Continentals fitted, that aren't very expensive.

If you currently have an 020, then the tyre that has superceded it should be compatable. I think the BT023 is the latest incarnation.

I'm running Maxxis Super tourings on the Xtra, no idea what they will be like if you mix them, but as a set they do everything I need in the wet & dry, I don't ride hard, but don't hang about either.. I'm about to pay about £90 for a rear.

Maxxis have come on a long way, but sadly that does reflect in the price, as they are on a par with Contis now. Still a lot cheaper than the major players though.

just got a pair of 023s on mine, they're supposed to match well with 020s

front feels a little sportier than the 020 a bit more like the 010, but then that could also be the new bearings and of course the non-square tyres (they were very needing replaced)

only 50 ish miles on 'em so far, so can't really make a judgement, but they didn't give me any 'moments'

I have a mate with an 020 on front and 023 rear with no ill effects on a 900 Hornet. Michelin Pilot Road 3s seem to be getting rave reviews in all the mags so I may replace my Pilot Powers with those soon

New MOT obtained... with an advisory on the rear tyre.

Thanks for your input... an 023 will be ordered tommorow (once I get paid!)

shebee wrote: New MOT obtained... -/-

I always used 020's on my Buell and then used 023's and can highly recommend them as you get loads of miles out of them plus they grip well.


Norrie.

Just got back from 3000 miles around Europe with a pillion on the Raptor. Maxxis Diamonds were squirmy peices of crap and TERRIBLE in the wet. Really made what should have been some fun roads abit crap. Next set (which are due) will probably be storms as they rocked on the SV

023 rear on order. thanks

I've just had a pair of Conti Road Attacks (thats what are already on the bike) delivered.

If I get my act together, I might just have to fit them tomorrow...

buy whatever you can get at a good price and are the right fit for your bike. None of us here are racers so any decent make will be better than the rider.......................................................... more often than not people use the tyres as their excuse for lack of ability/ knowledge when things go wrong.

I agree with what you have written, but find that most of a tyre's ability is in the rider's head.

If a rider isn't confident in the rubber, then the tyres won't be used properly, won't warm up, and will then reinforce the rider's prejudice.

If a rider is mentally happy with a tyre, they will corner harder, warm in up more and quicker, which makes the tyre work better, and this just adds to the confidence.

BTW £159 + £6 delivery for the pair of Contis. Manufacture date is from 18 months ago, but still better than the 7 year old tyres currently fitted.