It's not every day you get to go for a motorbike ride with a top racer, so we jumped at the chance to hit the road with Jeremy McWilliams.
The sap is rising, so more motorcyclists are taking to Irish roads. Bridgestone has just launched a new tyre that will definitely help keep the shiny side up.
Motorcycles have a very small contact patch with the road - often no larger than two credit cards in size - so having the right rubber on your bike is vital. In general motorcyclists are far more in tune with tyre technology than car drivers, and the latest Battlax BT 0-23 has been much anticipated. Is it good enough to deal with Irish road conditions, where roads can be greasy, surfaces pitted with potholes, changes of surface materials etc? We decided to find out.
Jeremy McWilliams (front centre of group in first pic), who has raced motorcycles at the highest level including Moto GP, took a few of us out on a range of motorcycles to put the new tyre through its paces.
First up I grabbed a Kawasaki GTR1400. This big 'Tourer' is extremely rapid and swallows the kilometres with an ease that is almost scary. If you are twitchy with the throttle you can say bye-bye to your licence in less than three seconds! While Bridgestone will be bringing a special version of the BT 0-23 to this heavyweight cruiser section, the standard tyre was faultless. The bike felt assured and planted to the road. Under hard acceleration on rural roads and on mixed surfaces there was no discernable tyre squirm.
Next I got onto a big 'Traillie', the chain-driven Triumph Tiger 1050cc. Vision and the seating position on the Triumph are superb. Like a BMW GS, the Tiger is a Range Rover of the bike world. With additional suspension travel the Tiger ate the kilometres as we hit the Mountains of Mourne. Cornering was done with confidence, even when the road surface was pitted.
My last motorcycle for day one was the insane Kawasaki Z1000. If this bike were a person... You wouldn't sit beside them on a bus! The 'Qwack-er' has a short wheelbase and mountains of power, so it really is a bike for people who want a powered unicycle. It will wheelie in the blink of an eye (I wouldn't know anything about this as I was at all times compliant with the law).
After an overnight stay in Newcastle, Co Down I got onto the KTM 990cc SMT - again, a big Traillie but one that is more involving. The KTM was a huge laugh as it had rapid acceleration and a great riding position. Through the seven sisters it cornered beautifully despite the presence of loose chippings (County Councils note: you may as well take pot shots at motorcyclists when you put this stuff on the road!).
Next I got on the current bike of choice of the Garda Traffic Corps in Dublin Castle, the Yamaha FJR 1300cc. The weighty four-cylinder bike feels like its centre of gravity is around your ankles. It behaves like any big four-cylinder bike, so it rolls on when you release the throttle and needs a bit of bullying to get the best out of it.
Finally, for the last dash back to Bridgestone's HQ in Balbriggan, I hopped on the gorgeously retro Yamaha FJR1300. This naked (no fairing) bike was fitted with Ohlin's suspension and a retro racing paintjob. I loved it but sadly the lack of any wind protection meant my orange high-vis vest tore to shreds due to high winds (note: wind, not my velocity).
A stunning event and a stunning tyre that instilled nothing but confidence on every bike I rode, the Bridgestone Battlax BT 0-23 is a brilliant all rounder.
Michael Sheridan
