The Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 receives consistently favorable reports for dry and wet grip, with 42 of 45 reviews positive overall. Steering feel and handling also attract substantially more praise than criticism, particularly for commuting and touring. Tread life is widely liked, and end-of-life accounts support useful mileage, although the distance achieved varies with the motorcycle and riding style. Complaints about wet grip, slower steering or wear occur only in small minorities and do not establish a recurring weakness. Most reviews do not identify a stage of use, and the repeat accounts do not show a common ageing trend.
What owners mention most counted across 45 reviews
Hi, Oct 2012, I used this review to decide which tires to buy to replace mine on my 1997 ST1100 Pan (non ABS/TCS model) only this week. Thank you to the chap who wrote his review previously because I bought a matching pair of these BT023 based on him and have just been out for a 'sighting' run of about 40 A and B type country road miles. I was coming back and I just had to write a review of my own to repay the compliment and help someone else out. FANTASTIC is the word I'd use to describe them. The tires have loads of feedback, they feel very very secure in particular, very comfortable, quiet tires, NO STEERING SHIMMY OR WOBBLE AT ALL with both hands off the bars, lovely profile to them and the Pan rolls from side to side beautifully. I am not a hard rider but a very experienced road rider of some +20 years and these are superb even from the off. Once I've a few hundred miles on them they'll be no doubt even better. Haven't tried them wet but I anticipate good results. If you have an old Pan GET THESE!! They are a little more expensive than other named brands but boy are they worth it. By the way ensure you choose the correct profile tires as they are different for the ABS/TCS model.
Well here is an updat as I had only riden 350 miles when I wrote my review. I really acnt belive how good these tires are, I have now riden in the rain and to say they were good is an understatment. They give so much confidence its scary. I was out the other day and there was a lot of standing water on th eroad but these tires handled everything.
I've been told that Bridgestone is getting a tire to replace these at the end of 2012!! If they do the new tire will have big shoes to fill!!
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I like to lean the bike over and the oil heads lean over an awful lot!
This tire takes over from the previous BT021 and promises longer mileage; I got 10K out of the 21. Behavior is perfect wet, windy, or dry. I cannot comment much about braking since I have ABS linked power brakes; I do not notice the ABS switching on and off more than it should do.
I use 34lbs pressure [also on the rear] and try not to go below that. It appears to resist debris such as nails and sharp stones well.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Bridgestone Battlax BT 023? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Have had many different tires over the years on various bikes (maninly sports) and must say these have been the best of the lot. On my recent fireblade and now CB1000R I have used BT 014's, 015's, 016's, 021's as well as many other makes. These give plenty of feedback and inspire me to ride quicker and corner faster and have been excellent in the wet. They also seem to be wearing well and I have replaced tires at a lot less miles then what these have currently done.
All in All a very good tire that I would use again and recommend.
Previously had BT021s on my ZZR1400, but as they weren't available at the time from my local dealer, I tried BT023s. It took a while to get used to them, as the steering is definitely slower on the 23 than the 21, but they've been generally good, and seem to have worn well, though I typically get around 12000 (yes, 12 thousand) miles out of a pair of tires. Mind you, 12k is only a year's use for me.
i have a honda hornet 600 when i first got my bike it had a dunlop set up i couldnt be more unhappy with them however the 023 is proberly the best tire on the market for someone who dose alot of miles and plays on the week end my mate has the same bike as me and runs the 016 and corners make no odds wether thts due to the rider or not how ever her is a good rider too about 8500 miles rear n 10000 on front i have no chicken strips at all :@
Well I have done 350 miles on these tires and to say its made my Blade feel a whole lot better is an understatment. They feel great, they give great levels of grip and they are so stable at speed. I only gave 9 out of 10 for wet grip as I have not been out in a proper down pour yet. But I have been out in damp conditions and they were great as well.
I have looked at the wear and it looks good as well (Remember I've only done 350 miles)
The BT023s were a good match for the ST 1100 stable and predictable in the dry but a bit less so in the wet. The wear rate was reasonable with the front tire wearing out before the rear. 6.5k on the front and 8k on the rear. No steering wobble as experienced with some other tires.
Update. I had done just under 6k on the rear tire before a puncture.. The manager at my local garage thought i had done under 3000 miles. Had to replace as bridgestone recommend new tires after punctures as they dont test for it. Only choice... Another bridgestone bt 023. Now just £129.50 fitted
I've done 2500 miles on this tire and the line used for balancing has only just dissappeared. Wear is fenominal, dry grip is far superior to the standard Dunlop Sportmax tires to the point that at near full lean the rear felt planted while I could feel the front end slide (i have about 3mm of chickenstrips). Tires warm up in seconds not minutes and wet weather riding around Brecon is still a pleasure. Not a pleasure compared with another tire, just pleasure full stop. The tire feels a bit hard at lower speeds (below 30mph) but above that the tire provides amazing comfort and I can't hear the tire over the sound of my exhaust.
These tires were excellent. My riding is mainly 2 up with and quite spirited even more so when on my own! I really cant fault these tires, They have never stepped out on me or even felt like they would. I am not shy at getting a shift on although with a degree of caution and I have complete confidence in these tires which is very important.
Only down side was the wear, having said that 3.5k out of a tire on a big bike is not bad, would def buy again. I am going to try roadsmarts next.
I have a 675 that I've owned for 3 years so I've tried various tires and have to say these 23s are brilliant. I ride 300 miles a week all year round and agree the wet grip is really good and water is dispersed from the tire efficiently. I'm happy to use front brake in the wet while starting to lean into turns and that wouldn't be the case without the grip they provide. The only other wet tire that i think might be as good is the Pirelli Diablo or Strada ( which i have on another bike) Dry grip is also very good. I have around 5mm of chicken strips left from road riding and have never had the tire step out of line ever. The tread is still uniform and deep across the tire widths, and profile has not flattened atall. I'm confident that I'll see an unheard of 8-10k miles from them. Really!! They warm up fast and mine have slight signs of bobbling rubber from hard cornering. I'm looking fwd to a trackday in a couple of weeks - wet or dry I don't mind. Ignore the hype of needing super sport tires on a 600 (the 675 has Diablo Super corded as standard) as they don't match the all round performance of a BT023.
