Bridgestone Exedra G702 review

[mr blackstock]

Well,
After 3 years with the Bridgestone I must say I am very impressed with how it has handled.  To be clear, it is a crusier tread designed for big heavy bikes with lots of weight.  However, after a bit of research I originally found that running it was perfectly safe for the FJ.

While installed I run it on 35psi, due to the very stiff sidewall design, and have found that the tread handles great in the rain, gravel, bumpy corners, slick tar pools, almost anything I have ridden on!  originally when I posted years ago about installing the tread a few members were convinced I was going to kill myself! or that at the very least I had been ripped off.  While I also accepted that with the Exedra I could not ride like a racer, for that you need stickier treads, but for my style of riding it was well suited. 

As always, considering that I cannot afford, and would choose not to, to buy the very sticky high dollar treads and replace them every 3000 to 5000kms, this tread has suited my needs perfectly and I would buy another easily if the price were right.  To really put the cat among the pigeons... I run a Shinko on the front, an H rated tread on the rear, and a Scottoiler on the chain!  Suicidal right?
   

[ribbert]

Good to hear from you Gareth.

Your choice of tyres was obviously well suited to your use, good call. It's very satisfying when you act on your own findings, against the tide of opinion and are proven right .

You didn't tell us the all important number, how many km's in those 3 years?

As for the Shinko, plenty of owners here ride on them (probably more than talk about it). Not everyone's looking to turn their FJ into a track day bike for the road.

I also have a Scott Oiler, I haven't cleaned, lubed or adjusted my chain in 100k. There are some quite vocal opponents to them here (none of whom have owned one) but I now swear by them. I never gave them much thought and was never very fussed one way or the other but I clearly underestimated their effectiveness.

Are you still commuting to Ararat on the FJ year round? It gets mighty cold up there when the sun goes down in Winter.

Funny you should post today Gareth, it was only a few days ago I found this in the depths of my computer while consolidating photos, "Lilith" with her hair bow changed to read "FJ". I don't seem to have the original for comparison. I probably didn't bother because it was you avatar.



It does sort of leap off the screen when scanning pages of photos at a time, even at thumbnail size.

Glad to hear the FJ is still serving you well.

Noel

[mr blackstock]

Gday,
Good to hear from you!
You are right, it is good to come across products and things that serve a great purpose and fit the wallet well, I think I've replaced two fronts to one rear, and I think there's life in her for another 6 months..
Regarding the kms on the tyre, I reckon around 25,000 at most, I should have kept a better record, but seem to remember 10,000 was the best i could get out of any brand.
I still do quite a few kms, around 600 a week, Ballarat to Ararat, lots of kangaroos and tired truckies..

The pic looks great, I'd forgotten about it, the original is a decak I had made for the bike, she still wears it, and yeah with scottoiler I have replaced the chain once, since 2009 or 2010!

Loving the FJ, such a rare beast on the road, a lot of passing riders stare, as though they are seeing a past icon of speed combined with manners...

Cheers, Gareth

[T Legg]

I personally couldn't live with the H speed rating but you definetly have a point. My son and I just finished putting new tires on his bike  two days ago  for  our trip we took yesterday to check on the venue for our 2020 West Coast Rally and I put his old tires in with the pile of tires I have removed from my two fj's in the last three years. one of the sets were petrified tires from the previous owners I had to remove but it is quite a pile. I guess it's time to go to the dump.

[PaulG]

...originally when I posted years ago about installing the tread a few members were convinced I was going to kill myself! or that at the very least I had been ripped off....

  .... yyyeahhhh... about that... rings a bell...  3yrs ago you say?     Crow don't taste so bad if you pretend it's chicken

Glad to see it worked out for you.  I'm also a Scott Oiler convert for many years now. And a pox on those unbelievers .

BTW is your new avatar from that limited edition lego set "Worst Single Term Orange US Presidents"?   Ooohhhh zzziiinnnggg.  Couldn't resist that one.

[mr blackstock]

G'day,

Well the best thing about the net is that you get a lot of different opinions, and after everyone was convinced it was a bad idea I went out and did some research and was eventually happy with my choice...if someone's belief makes you think about what you're doing or research if something is right for you, then thats a good thing..

I do sometimes think when I'm going around a corner a wee bit too enthusiastically "it's a bloody cruiser tyre! take it easy!"

Also, good to see another Scottoiler user, I usually cop a lot of flak from other riders when they see that, they spend lots of energy telling my I don't need it due to better O ring technology.... sigh.

Cheers, Gareth