In the September issue of RiDE Magazine, the team have been testing three of the very latest sport tourers in the Scottish borders to determine which is the most deserving of your hard earned cash.
The bikes being tested by the lucky trio of riders were as follows:
- Kawasaki Z1000SX Tourer
- Ducati Supersport S
- BMW R1200RS Sport SE
To level the playing field, all three bikes were put on matching rubber in the form of the new Bridgestone Battlax T31.
This new sport touring hoop from the Japanese manufacturer takes wet weather performance to new levels, while maintaining the rock solid stability and durability of the superb T30 EVO, which is still available at second-line prices. Just like it’s EVO predecessor, there’s also a GT version for heavy tourers too.
Of the tyres, RiDE had this to say:
“The T31 is Bridgestone’s latest sports touring tyre, which the company says is developed with an emphasis on good wear and especially good wet grip.
The rear is dual compound, with harder rubber in the centre for better wear, and softer at the edges for more cornering grip, plus it’s reinforced to suit heavier bikes like these.
Importantly to us, it’s very neutral steering, so we could be sure any differences in feel were down to the bikes themselves, not the tyres.
All the bikes were happy on the T31s, but the Kawasaki felt the most benefit because it’s OE tyres are so bad.”
For the full bike reviews, pick up the latest copy of RiDE Magazine.
With a wide range of sizes available, the Battlax T31 is a great option for a huge number of machines – especially if you’re riding in all weathers.
View the full range here.
