Featured New Tires For My Bonnie

We can at least buy Avon tyres in the UK. It was my tyre fitter who told me they were now being made in France.

Which presumably means there is now no tyre brand that's actually made in the UK, crying shame.

 

The Phantoms they fit to new bikes have approx half the tread depth of a phantom that you buy off the shelf, they are made at a lower price for the manufacturers, I’m guessing they are a cheaper compound as well, anyway , they aren’t very good!

 

My Speed Twin 900 purchased late April (US) was shod with Michelin Road Classic's. Very pleased with the handling and ride quality.

 

You say here you use Brigestone BT46 or Avon Spirit ST as front tyre. Do you use the radial or bias tyres ? I can't find any dealer who is selling bias tyres in the size 100/90 18"

 

I wouldn't worry about Bias Ply or Radial. I spent sometime fretting and researching this when I wanted to get rid of the awful Pirelli Phantoms that Triumph had fitted to my Street Cup.

Logic would be to use the same design, Radial or cross ply, on the front and rear, but Triumphs own tyre selector download lists the Pirellis fitted as standard to the Street Bonnies and the T100 / T120 as cross ply at the front and radial at the rear, whilst suggesting the Avon Storm 3D X-M as an alternative, but that's radial front and rear. This discrepancy is almost certainly down to the tyre manufacturers' choice about whether to go with radial or Cross ply.

Avon don't now make the Storm and only list the Spirit ST as their suggested tyre for the Bonnies. But those are a heavy sport tourer tyre and only available as Z rated radials front and rear (designed for speeds over 149mph!), well over specced for a Bonnies modest performance.

Whilst the official Avon website doesn't suggest the Roadrider 2 for the Bonnies, Avon make them in the correct sizes, lots of tyre fitters in the UK suggest them for Bonnies and they're Cross ply front and back.

IMHO what is more important is speed rating; unless you're on a Thruxton, you're not going to get over 130mph so H rated (or higher if necessary) is the way to go.

I settled on H rated Avon Roadrider 2 front and rear. They have totally changed the riding experience of my Street Cup, all the white lining and cornering uncertainty (even worse in the wet) has gone, they give a very smooth and confident ride.

@Markus went with the Bridgestone BT46 (also Cross ply front and rear), he's really happy with them and with the way he racks up miles if there were any problems he'd have told us by now.

So choose your tyre and enjoy the improvement over the standard Pirellis and Enjoy the ride.

 

Just if you didn't hear it yet: I have been to the dealer yesterday to discuss a possible tire change before even receiving the bike as the Phantoms seem not the best choice.
The dealer could give me the pleasing information that from the end of last year on Triumph now puts the Michelin Road Classics on the T120.
Their test bike and two on display already had that tire on.
So I'll make a test ride when it is warmer outside and see if I like that tire more - the Phantoms felt like they made the bike unwilling to go into corners for me (being very unexperienced).

I'll give a shout, when I tested the Road Classics.

 

They do indeed, and I've found them to be an excellent tyre.

 

That sounds very promising, thanks!

 

I don't dislike the Phantoms. I typically use up two fronts to one rear. I do like the BT46 Bridgestone's.

 

My Speed Twin 1200 was supplied with Metzeler Racetec RRs, nightmare. These were intended for those who ride home to track day in the dry, blast around the track and wobble home. If like me you go out in the rain then they are useless, if not dangerous. So after 3000 miles struggling with them they were ditched and replaced with Michelin Road 6s. Wow, transformed the bike, more comfortable, much better grip, great corner confidence and much better tyre life (I've covered 12000 miles on Road 6s on a BMW R1250GS). So don't put up with poor OEM tyres, get rid of them and choose something from one of the many great tyres available.

 

Yes it would be great if Triumph would just listen to their riders and pull their fingers out.

 

I enjoy reading the UK perspective on tires. I rarely consider edge grip in the wet. I ride rain or shine, but the rain is more infrequent. My picture of the UK is rain and cold constant rain gear.

 

I suppose it differs by region, As a Scot from the west coast , rain happens a lot so wet grip is the main criteria for tyres but having moved 20yrs ago to Sunny Essex rain is less by a factor of about 9 ( 3 times average in Scotland and a 1/3rd in Essex) dry grip is a more useful quality.
Although modern tyres are far superior to the ones we got in 70/80's (anyone remember Japlops) but bikes have got faster too!!

 

luckily, we didn't know what we didn't know. The tires today are so much better today.

 

I think it is down to which supplier offers the biggest bribe...

 

To add to my last post. While replacing the Bonneville front tire. I noticed the tube had moved causing the valve stem to tilt. I never tighten the stem nut on my offroad motorbikes. The T100 is my only ABS equipped bike. Riding a bit aggressively with front tire pressure around 34 cold. Allowed the movement, I suspect. I will adopt the dirt bike stem method on the Bonneville. I don't know if this speaks to the grip of the Phantoms or the braking ability of the single disk.
Noriyuki Haga Was asked how to go faster. He said more gas less brake. Taking his advice would more than likely correct my tube issue. lmao

 

So just to be clear are you, or have you, replaced the nasty Phantoms with BT46's?

And as you mentioned it, I reckon the single front disk does not provide the safe braking needed for a 220kg bike + rider (and possibly pillion) from potentially 90-100mph (yes I know that's rare, but it happens). But this post is about tyres not brakes, so apologies for deviating.

 

Hello beerkat. The Bonneville is on its second front Phantom. Once the rear tire calls it a day. A change will most likely be made to Bridgestone's. The BT45 and now 46 are the go-to choice for my VF1000f and VF750f.

 

Well that's interesting. I reckon you must be unique in opting for a second helping of the Phamous Phantoms. As you say, you clearly have no problem with them. All I can think is the roads in NW Carolina must be dry, perfectly surfaced, lack white lines and have very few bends. Ours are the opposite.