With the summer right around the corner, the team at Motorcycle News have been out on the roads trying out the latest crop of hypersport and sport touring tyres for their 11th June 2014 edition and Tim Thompson got the opportunity to try out the new Bridgestone Battlax S20 EVO on his long term KTM 1290 Superduke R test bike. Riders can currently get free fitting to the value of £30 on this fantastic new product from Bridgestone when they buy from a participating dealer during June 2014.
The Battlax S20 EVO was developed in conjunction with Valentino Rossi himself who is an official ‘Tyre Development Advisor’ to Bridgestone, and makes the best even better by giving riders improvements in key areas, with increased tyre life and grip when compared with the original multi-award winning Battlax S20. You can see the official Rossi promotion video here.
The front tyre uses a stronger 5 filament belt to increase stiffness for improved cornering stability, whilst the rear tyre now uses a twin filament belt to optimise the size of the contact patch for increased in traction when accelerating out of the corners. The rear tyre also features a proven five layer compound, with a harder wearing central area for increased tyre life and stability at speed, and softer shoulders for superb grip in the corners.
The original Battlax S20 was also well known for it’s strong performance in the wet, but Bridgestone engineers have now tweaked the design of the tread pattern to improve this even further.
So, what are they like to ride? We’ll let Tim take over from here:
“Perky.My Super Duke R long term test bike’s steering is surprisingly laid back – we are talking relative here – and the new Bridgestone S20 EVOs are just what it requires.
They have a smooth and noticeably quick turn-in, the extra response from the front enlivening the Super Duke, making it keener and sharper – a bit more up for it. I feel I can place the bike more accurately, too, pick out the dry bits, steer and brake with more confidence.
My S20 EVO experience so far has been entirely on the road, with many of the 200 or so miles completed in the damp or fully wet. Wet performance is reassuring, that light and precise turn in at the front matched by the sense of a large and compliant footprint at the back. The S20 EVOs also connect to the road from the off; it’s important that Super Duke riders leave home each morning at full noise – so quick tyre warm up is essential.
Some of the tyres in this crowded, sensible-sporty sector have a slightly dead or dull feel, but I don’t get this with the EVOs. The ride on the Super Duke’s WP suspension is pretty plush, so it’s suited to rubber that feeds lots of information to the rider.”
As the UK’s leading trade distributor of Bridgestone motorcycle and scooter tyres, Cambrian Tyres will be attending the official launch of the new Battlax S20 EVO at the Portimao circuit in Portugal in a weeks time, and we can’t wait to tell you how we get on!
