BATTLAX BT46

TheCounty

TheCounty

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Anyone using the Battlax BT46 Fronts ( 100/90-19 M/C 57H TL ) on the front & rear of WM2 rims on a 750 Commando?
Reversing direction on rear of course.
Asking due to shortage of RoadRiders & that this appears almost an identical application. Also any available RR's probably have several or more years shelf time, not a fan for full price.
No I'm not looking to hang off on the corners & pretend I'm Joe Racer at 10/10ths.
Just want good modern rubber under me.
Cheers
 
Amazon has MK Roadriders back in stock: Roadrider MKII Front/Rear Tire (100/90-19) $164.53 (they were $184.71 recently). Free shipping whether Prime member or not. Since these are MKII they cannot be old.
 
Ordinary road tyres these days are much better than any racing tyres we had in the 1960s. I like racing in the rain, because most of the kids cannot handle slippery conditions. Modern bikes have neutral handling which makes riders more tyre-dependent. If you watch any road race, you will usually see a procession of bikes in a corner in line and all at the same angle of lean, and none with any advantage. Passing usually occurs at the tightest part of the corner when somebody gets out of shape.
 
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TheCounty said:
Anyone using the Battlax BT46 Fronts ( 100/90-19 M/C 57H TL ) on the front & rear of WM2 rims on a 750 Commando?
Just want good modern rubber under me.
Cheers
Click to expand...
When changing from BT45s (no longer made) I made the following spreadsheet - may be of some use to you?
Cheers
BATTLAX BT46
 
TheCounty said:
Anyone using the Battlax BT46 Fronts ( 100/90-19 M/C 57H TL ) on the front & rear of WM2 rims on a 750 Commando?
Reversing direction on rear of course.
Asking due to shortage of RoadRiders & that this appears almost an identical application. Also any available RR's probably have several or more years shelf time, not a fan for full price.
No I'm not looking to hang off on the corners & pretend I'm Joe Racer at 10/10ths.
Just want good modern rubber under me.
Cheers
Click to expand...
I put one (19", original rim) on the rear of my '74. Feels great.
 
I have Road Runners on my 78 Moto Guzzi LM1, great tire, still lots left at 3800 miles. However, I put BT46s on my Norton; 19 front / 18 rear, and they feel as good or better than the RRs, may go with them on my LM1 when the time comes.
 
I have BT46 - 18” - front and rear , running 36 and 42 psi respectively.
Feel really stable . Rear‘s a 120 on a suitable rim size.
 
My Avon RR last at least 6000 miles before they need to be replaced. This is the Universal tires. 19 inch rim both front and back. WM4 rim width

front and back.
I move a fresh tire to the front wheel. Then use the front tire to move to the back wheel. I've been doing this for many years. It keeps my tires fresh on the bike.
when that wears out I do it all over again. I usually buy one tire per season.
 
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I have Road Riders on my old CB750K6 (stock 18" rear) and K81/TT100s on my Commando (4.10 front and rear on stock 850 mk3 19" rear). Both have Hagon rear shocks and maintained front forks. I've done 5,000 miles on the Dunlop and just under 3,000 on the RRs. A range of riding, including not holding back on some glorious twisty roads. I think the Dunlops probably have more modern materials compared to when they were first manufactured as the difference between the two tyres isn't that significant.

I am finding:
- wear rate seems broadly similar between the two, if anything, the Dunlops rear squared off earlier;
- confidence on the road is broadly similar, slightly more feedback from the RRs, but different bikes;
- both are OK, but not amazing, on wet roads.

The RRs roll into bends a little more fluidly, but the Dunlop rear is a little squared off now, so maybe not a valid comparison. I will be happy to get Dunlops for the Commando again as their performance is fine, I find and they do look right on the Norton!
 
TBW said:
I have BT46 - 18” - front and rear , running 36 and 42 psi respectively.
Feel really stable . Rear‘s a 120 on a suitable rim size.
Click to expand...
TBW,
How much do you weigh?Myself at 130lbs, I run 31and 28lbs.for years and was always thought that was proper but I go through rear tires quite often.
Thanks,
Mike
 
I got 5200 miles out of my BT45 (120/90x18) rear. The replacement Avon RR Mk2 (4.00x18) rear has 7300 miles on it and is due for changing very soon.
Thats 40% extra life (plus more sure-footed - subjective I know!) from the Avon.
The engine has plenty of grunt (FCR 35s and gapless rings - will pull 130+mph in top) so the rear doesn't see an easy life.
I weigh about 172lb Mike,
I run 30psi front and rear.
Cheers
 
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I had BT45s on my T140, 110/90-18 rear and 100/90-19 front. The rear was down to its legal minimum in ~5000m, could probably have gotten a few more out of the front. BT45s are now obsolete, so replaced them with BT46s.
 
YING said:
TBW,
How much do you weigh?Myself at 130lbs, I run 31and 28lbs.for years and was always thought that was proper but I go through rear tires quite often.
Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...
Hi Mike, I weigh 180 so say 190 in bike kit. I tried various pressures including 28 F / 32 R as recommended by Norman White. Nothing worked and it felt “wallowy” / ponderous. Spoke with Bridgestone tech rep and although their data doesn’t cover old bikes after a long discussion he advised 36/42…and this works, for me anyways. Just back from 5 day D-day tour so panniers ( 32 lbs total) and lotsa constant 70-75 inc burst at 95 ( gps speed) and bike super stable.

Hope this helps.

TBW
 
TBW said:
Hi Mike, I weigh 180 so say 190 in bike kit. I tried various pressures including 28 F / 32 R as recommended by Norman White. Nothing worked and it felt “wallowy” / ponderous. Spoke with Bridgestone tech rep and although their data doesn’t cover old bikes after a long discussion he advised 36/42…and this works, for me anyways. Just back from 5 day D-day tour so panniers ( 32 lbs total) and lotsa constant 70-75 inc burst at 95 ( gps speed) and bike super stable.

Hope this helps.

TBW
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply.Much appreciated
Mike
 
TBW said:
Hi Mike, I weigh 180 so say 190 in bike kit. I tried various pressures including 28 F / 32 R as recommended by Norman White. Nothing worked and it felt “wallowy” / ponderous. Spoke with Bridgestone tech rep and although their data doesn’t cover old bikes after a long discussion he advised 36/42…and this works, for me anyways. Just back from 5 day D-day tour so panniers ( 32 lbs total) and lotsa constant 70-75 inc burst at 95 ( gps speed) and bike super stable.

Hope this helps.

TBW
Click to expand...
I also felt my handling was ponderous. At first I thought it was the isolastics, then I thought that I must suck at adjusting isolastics since I couldn't get the sloppy handling to go away. Eventually I tried more air pressure in the tires and bingo.... much improved handling. I think that higher tire pressures help tires maintain their shape under load better, so there is less side wall flexing which translates into less of a feeling of sloppy handling.
 
o0norton0o said:
I also felt my handling was ponderous. At first I thought it was the isolastics, then I thought that I must suck at adjusting isolastics since I couldn't get the sloppy handling to go away. Eventually I tried more air pressure in the tires and bingo.... much improved handling. I think that higher tire pressures help tires maintain their shape under load better, so there is less side wall flexing which translates into less of a feeling of sloppy handling.
Click to expand...
I run 42/36 in the modern Avon Road Riders.


Modern tires have more pliable sidewalls, needs the extra pressure to compensate.

Don't anyone do what I do.
 

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