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+--- Thread: Bridgestone S20 front final review (swapping to a 120/60 front) (/showthread.php?tid=65482)
Bridgestone S20 front final review (swapping to a 120/60 front) - Punkstig - 13-09-13
Well, I liked it, very grippy and absorbed bumps nicely, had to change the front wheel today as the right side was virtually a slick tyre and in this rain I didn't want to risk it, it lasted 9000 miles including a trackday, now for me that mileage isn't adequate, but it was very responsive and gave great feedback, not once on the track did I have any concerns from the front end!
Now this brings me on to swapping the front wheel,
As a lot of you know I have a Thundercat front end on my '03 FZS and I was always going to look into a way of swapping wheels but keeping the speedo drive, well I took the fazer front wheel off and the tabs had already snapped off the ceramic inner drive, so I used my dremel to cut out the notches to accept the thundercat front wheel drive tabs, lined it all up and put in the spindle, tightened it up and the wheel was stiff as anything, very little free movement, so I loosened it off but still stiff.
Ok, I thought, lets take the spindle out and have a look, the ceramic drive unit was now completely shattered in the housing, arse.
Well, I gotta go to work so figured I'd ride without the speedo, the only thing that had put me off changing wheels earlier was I heard people having problems without a speedo attached, ie it doesn't rev properly or over 10,000 or something anyway.
I just tucked the drive unit up the forks and cable tied it to the yokes, and I can happily say I have no problems, none whatsoever, kept it in 2nd when approaching a national speed limit, have it the beanz and it revved freely and over 10,000.
Before doing all this I'd been looking at revs in particular gears so I knew my speed which works out for me as
2ng gear 4500 = 30mph
3rd 4500 = 40mph
4th 5000 =50mph
So I shouldn't have issues with cameras
I'm going to get a permanent battery line hooked up for the iPhone and then use an app for GPS speed, but I'm just very happy I now have a 120/60 front tyre and no performance issues!
Re: Bridgestone S20 front final review (swapping to a 120/60 front) - Punkstig - 13-09-13
Well, that journey home from Ipswich was quite possibly the best wet weather riding I've ever done, not sure if it was down to having a decent sized tyre or the pilot power 2ct, or even a mixture of both, but, wow, cracking wet ride!
(swapping to a 120/60 front) - Lumpy - 14-09-13
the 120 front, even on standard rim, is a great upgrade despite some of the bollocks spouted by KAFAs on here.
Re: (swapping to a 120/60 front) - nick crisp - 14-09-13
(14-09-13, 12:24 AM)Lumpy link Wrote: the 120 front, even on standard rim, is a great upgrade despite some of the bollocks spouted by KAFAs on here.
Oversize tyres on a rim are not always a good idea, as it can cause stresses on the tyre it was not designed for. It can also alter the tyre profile from how it was designed to be. Having said that, the FZR1000 I recently saw had a 180 on a rim designed to take a 170, and it didn't look too wide for the rim at all. Yes Stig, I know you haven't got an oversize tyre on the rim!
Might also be worth considering what the insurers would say if you had an accident and were found to have an oversize tyre.
Re: Bridgestone S20 front final review (swapping to a 120/60 front) - Punkstig - 14-09-13
I tried a 120/60 on my first fazer as the shop didn't have a 110 in at the time and it desperately needed changing, same tire and brand, and it really didn't give the same feed back, possibly from incorrect deformation at lean ( I like corners me!) went back to the right size after.
On the Tcat I put a 180 rear on once because it was cheap and fitted, as was expected turn in was heavier, similar to an under inflated rear tyre, and again went back to a 160 when it was worn.
In all my previous accidents I've never had an insurance damage investigator check tyres in any detail, I've pretty much always got a mix of brands or models front and back and never a mention, I'd assume however if it was to be a major accident there would be a more in depth investigation!
It's funny though Nick, I've heard our rear rims are designed for 170's but 160 is standard so, well, I don't know! :lol
What I do know is with only wet experience the mods I've done make this the best handling fazer (600) I've ever ridden!