Are BT45 good

[chownsy]

My VFR400 NC24 came with brand new Battleaxe BT45 tryes, Are these good for commuting and the occasional ride outs and long journeys?

I dont intend on chnaging them until they are worn out, but want to know if i would have to be careful when riding on them.

[BillingCBR]

as far as i'm aware they're decent enough, especially for commuting, mate of mine used them on his gpz500s and the riding school i did my test with used them on their er-5s and cb500's

[CMSMJ1]

Aye they are good enough to get lairy on if you so require...

[chownsy]

Thanks for that answer.

Is there anyway of overcoming the fear of the bike sliding out from under me.

I aint got back in the saddle yet from 2 years out, but before i stopped (shoulder injury) i was always scared of cornering my ER5 even though my mate said i could lean it until i was on the very edge of the back tyre.

[CMSMJ1]

That is a healthy fear to have, although how many times, ever, have you seen anyone fall off the bike due to the rear sliding away from them? It doesn't happen...

I've ridden some fast corners in my time and probably thought I was close to the edge in traction/grip - however, it always grips. only some crap on the road will cause anything else and if that is the case then it matters not a lot which tyres you have..

Just be smooth, know what you are doing and why - seems obivous, but people ride in a reactionary way and they don't understand what happens... If you plan and think about the riding then it will be less stressful.

PM me your email - I'll send a pdf of twist of the Wrist 2 - it makes sense of your fears!

[Neosophist]

Yes.

To overcome your fear go to a track day. Talk to people there, especially the instructors, find a nice one and have a chat with him and explain your situation.

On a track you can concentrate on riding the bike without all the road riding distractions, this will let you really get to know the bike, how it handles, how far you can push it before things happen.

Then when your on the road worrying about all the distractions like cars / oil / dirt / gravel / people you'll know much more about your bike.

As for the tyres there cross ply old sports touring tyres but you can still rag it around, especially once you get to know how they handle.

I've worn most of the side-stand off my bike from griding it on the road, along with the footpeg blobbies, all on BT45's.

There no super-cosas but you sholdn't be afriad to lean it.

Cold tyres / Oil, dirt / Incorrect cornering technique are most likely the only things that'll cause the tyres to break traction on the road.

*I did have the back break once but I was really going far too fast and pushing too hard for these tyres...

[thunderace]

I agree with the above.

I seem to have a problem with right handers on the road. Whether or not it has anything to do with me having used to be constantly scraping the can on my old Thundercat and having to replace it every six months or so (something I cannot afford to do any more) or the way I counter-steer, I don't know. I'm absolutely fine on left handers even when I can't see that far ahead. My L/H chicken strip is about 2mm, the right is nearer 10mm. I can't seem to lean to the right these days and it's started to bug me.

So, I decided to get my FZ600 ready for the track. I've had the bike stood for years and it cost me next to nothing in the first place. I can't afford to hire a track bike so I felt this was the way to go. All in all, once the front tyre is replaced, the whole project will stand me in at £317 and a few pennies, including the purchase cost of the bike! A couple of track days at Oulton Park and the project will have paid for itself against the cost of hiring a bike.

I have my old Alpinestars 2 piece that I no longer wear, this will do nicely for the track. The only other expense I will have is a new lid - I don't intend using my Ti-Tech on track. I shall just pick up a cheap HJC or Shark lid, even a Nitro (whichever fits best) because I have no doubt I'll be sliding down the tarmac at some point.

It doesn't matter if I bin the bike, I don't give a shit if I bin it. I intend to get out on track and re-discover my limits. I intend to make sure I can take right handers again.

[Hadies]

Shame roundabouts are right handers ey thunderace

[Neosophist]

'chicken strips' are not really a good way to measure the bike, people become obsessed over them.

a lot depends on riding style, you can wear them off in a car park or round about if you are that way inclined.

it is about being fast / smooth around a corner.



just becuase your tyre looks like this doesnt mean your faster than somone who doesn't lean the bike as much.

leaning off wil lower your centre of gravity and make the bike more upright through a corner.. meaning you will be able to go much faster before you hit maximum lean.

therefore someone who leans off and doens't ride like a looney will have bigger unused portions of the tyre on his / her bike than somebody who doesn't lean off and goes the same speed...

[silentRVF]

Still good for few more thousand hey Neo?

I have my old Alpinestars 2 piece that I no longer wear, this will do nicely for the track. The only other expense I will have is a new lid - I don't intend using my Ti-Tech on track. I shall just pick up a cheap HJC or Shark lid, even a Nitro (whichever fits best) because I have no doubt I'll be sliding down the tarmac at some point.

Maybe I'm missing something.. but wouldn't you want to have the best helmet possible protecting your head from hitting the track, especially at high speeds? I'm pretty sure helmets aren't just there to look pretty, mate..
That's just my opinion.. but I wouldn't want to have brain damage because I wanted to keep my other helmet looking nice..