The adventure motorcycle market is growing, yet the majority of ADV owners still do most of their miles on the road.
For that reason, many tyre manufacturers are now focused on making predominantly road-biased adventure tyres – and there have been a number of new additions to the market in 2015 alone.
The Bridgestone Battle Wing has been popular with riders since it’s launch, with a reputation built on it’s rock solid stability – but launched back in 2006, Bridgestone decided it was finally time for an upgrade.
Step forward the new Battlax Adventure A40.
Bridgestone’s aim with the new A40 was to increase grip levels, especially in the wet. They have done this by creating a new compound, and revising the tread pattern in order to clear water from around the contact patch more effectively. The blocks in the tread pattern have also been increased in size, which reduces block movement, and therefore wear rates, as well as increasing stability even further.
The tyre retains that adventure type appearance which riders also value, and has been designed to cope with dry gravel and dusty trails should they wish to dabble in a bit of light off-road riding.
Alun Davies of Adventure Bike Rider magazine tested the new Adventure A40 on a Suzuki V-Strom 1000 to test Bridgestone’s claims:
“The tyres were exceptionally stable during high speed motorway runs, the traction was firm and dependable on fast sweepers and blind hairpins at peg scraping lean angles even when subjected to unexpected mid corner braking. In short they were nothing but sure footed throughout.
On the dry, dust and gravel trails of southern Portugal the A40s coped with ease. The dependable performance was just as I’d expect from a competent tyre when ridden off-road.”
ABR have now fitted a pair to their 650 V-Strom long term test bike, and we look forward to hearing how they get on.
View the full Battlax Adventure A40 range here.
