Bridgestone S21 test - full throttle rubber with endurance

Bridgestone S21 test - full throttle rubber with endurance

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At the beginning of the season I consciously chose the Bridgestone S21 sports tire. There were two reasons for this. Firstly: I know the tire from my private Ducati Multistrada and was very impressed. Secondly: I also had a few test bikes last season on which the tire performed excellently. So it was the logical consequence to treat the Apex Duke to a tire that I trust implicitly and that suits me.

Fast warm-up runner

Although the Apex Duke is an old motorcycle, it can be used very seriously. The performance over the front wheel is impressive even in its 12th season. In order to do justice to the sharp handling, you need an equally performance-oriented front tire. I believe that the S21 offers the best front wheel performance among current sports tires. And very consistent at different temperatures. Even when the outside temperature is well below 10 degrees and there is city traffic, the S21 gets warm enough within just a few corners to be able to move courageously. At typical seasonal temperatures (20-28) degrees, the tire warms up even more quickly. You can really feel this, as the temperature increases and it becomes more comfortable and at the same time more precise when turning.

Crazy grip

If you demand the S21, it improves performance and offers a lot of grip - in all lean angles. It seems to me that, similar to racing tires, it only shows its full stability at higher lean angles and temperatures. The feedback at large lean angles is very good, especially from the front tire. This is particularly important on the Apex Duke because the front is very agile and light-footed. Tires that offer less feedback can quickly make the steering feel nervous or wobbly. This  doesn’t necessarily promote the rider’s confidence when pushing. The rear tire plays along mercilessly. Well, the Apex Duke with its around 120 hp only makes modern sports rubber smile wearily when it comes to traction and durability. In this respect, with normal country road grip, I was almost always able to turn up the speed without hesitation without the rear S21 wanting to go sideways. But even on significantly stronger test irons, I was surprised at how powerful the Bridgestone rubber was. 

Solid mileage

The season is coming to an end. The Duke has covered almost 3,500 kilometers this year and both tires don't seem tired yet. It seems to me that the tire wear is very balanced front and rear. It is estimated that the rear tire would last a good 1500-2000 kilometers. The front tire maybe a little longer. 

Bridgestone S21 test result, by p.bednar