Bridgestone S21

The S20 EVO loved by so many riders has evolved again. Due to its superior agility, the S21’s ease of handling and the contact feel when cornering surpass even that of the S20 EVO. The rear tire was developed with Bridgestone’s ULTIMAT EYE™ technology, while the compound succeeds in generating better traction and while improving abrasion resistance for longer life. This marks the birth of a new premium sports radial, one that brings out the best in machine performance in pursuit of the joy of riding.

Recommended for:

● Riders who mostly enjoy sports riding
● Riders of supersports motorcycles who want a combination of performance in the wet and long life
● Riders who are thinking of starting riding on the racetrack

Press Reviews

“I was able to ride a number of bikes at Yas Marina shod with the new S21 tires, from 600cc middleweights to 1,000cc literbikes, from twins to four-cylinders. Consistently throughout all those rides, the first thing you notice about the new S21 is its stability. The tyre provides a very reassuring feel. By that I mean there is no nervousness – just a solid connection between you and the road. Even at max lean, the S21 stayed in line whereas some other tyres can get upset easily or tend to move around a bit. And the same amount of feel and stability was present no matter which bike I was on.

Corner entry was equally impressive, with the tire remaining very stable during hard braking and then the bike turning in nicely, though it does take a little more effort than some other brands to initiate turn-in. The flip side of that effort, however, is there’s no flightiness over bumps, and steering remains very precise, giving you added confidence. The transition from trail braking to max lean is also very good, with only the slightest sense of vagueness during the change.

Direction changes are another plus when it comes to the S21. Again, the tyre needs a bit more muscle than usual to flick the bike from one side to the other, but it pays off with the Bridgestone providing a positive feel throughout the transition. The S21 rolls over very evenly, never falling in or fighting to complete the transition from mid to full lean and then back upright.

Overall grip from the new Bridgestone was excellent, especially for being a street-oriented tyre. Granted, we were riding well within our limits during our time at Yas Marina, as the F1 circuit’s runoff in the turns is comparatively small due to its automobile-intended use; the walls and barriers are way too close for comfort in most areas of the track. When the S21 does start to protest at being ridden too aggressively, it lets you know with smooth, progressive slides that don’t threaten to put you on your head. Grip began to fade after a good number of laps, but again, the S21 is a sport tyre, not a DOT race tyre.

Bridgestone Battlax S21 reviewRidden with moderate levels of aggression, the new Bridgestone S21 is a superb sport tyre that can handle multiple roles with ease. It’s meant for everyday riding, but if you feel the need, the S21 makes for a very competent trackday tire as well. Bridgestone’s claim of extended mileage was hard to gauge by just racetrack sessions, but I will say that at the end of the night’s riding (the circuit’s location in the Middle East means that days are very hot, so the facility has a full lighting system that allows running during the nighttime hours), I felt more worn out than the new S21 looked.” – Sport Rider Magazine

—

“Felt like a full-on trackday tyre. Really clung on to traction over the bumps. Squirmed in the expected places but drove really hard at the same time. Huge grip for a road tyre.” – John McAvoy, Performance Bikes

—

“From the off the S21s worked well on the Duke at Oulton. Grip was as good as I needed, and their sharper profiles helped the bike turn through the chicanes very nicely. In the second session though, I felt feedback was lacking slightly. Testing the other two bikes meant the track was a lot warmer by the time I gave them another go and the difference was obvious. With more heat the feel improved a hell of a lot, and combined with the Ducati’s excellent chassis I’d wager it was possible to do the best laps on this rubber – even if the V-Twin was over 60 horses down on power to the KTM. More surprising was how well they fared along the wet roads of Leicestershire the following day. I can’t say they were as limpet-like as the T30 EVOs, but I felt very secure giving it some in front of the camera. Gary said Bridgestone has been specifically trying to improve the wet weather performance of the S21s, thanks to technical advances helping them to extend the mileage of the rubber to acceptable levels. Bearing this achievement in mind the tyre firm can concentrate on other aspects of the tyre’s performance to broaden its overall capabilities.” – Fast Bikes magazine

—

“It was not too long before I was confidently sweeping along the Fosseway back to base. The S21’s blurb boasts ‘superb stability, handling, and cornering performance on dry and wet without compromise’ and in this initial trip there is nothing to suggest this is not the case. The fact that they are also reputed to last a massive 35 per cent longer than the S20s will take many more miles to test – and will probably have to involve them being refitted to my next staffer as the Kawasaki’s return is sadly imminent. Until that point, I’ve asked the chaps to give their more learned impression of my ZX-10s new shoes, and so far my question has met with a big thumbs up.” – Charlie Oakman, Fast Bikes magazine

—

“The bike’s easy going nature, smooth power delivery and lightweight handling (coupled with subtle electronic rider assists working furiously in the background) help to make it surprisingly agile in the wet. Of course, I’ve also got to compliment the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21s, which come fitted to the bike. It’s a bit of a treat to get such high quality OEM rubber as standard, so props to Honda for that. once the tyres were warmed up (which really doesn’t take much), I generally found the level of grip exceptional. Admittedly, I haven’t been out there properly thrashing the bike, but for sensible, progressive riding in the wet, they have proved to be more than capable. I didn’t have to think about them, and that’s arguably the greatest compliment I can pay. Luckily my 650 was shod with Bridgestone’s A41 adventure bike tyres. Just like the bike itself, they can be relied on to provide good performance regardless of the weather,  and are a real asset to the overall package. I really rate these sports touring tyres and their superb versatility.”- Ross Mowbray- MS&L

—

“Bridgestone proved their confidence by launching the new S21 road tyre at the demanding Bahrain F1 track, and the new multi-compound S21s were more than up to the challenge, giving confidence from the first lap.

Stability under braking was also first-rate, especially impressive on the non-ABS bikes. Rear grip while braking was also striking, the rear refusing to break loose until teased.

Turn-in rate was predictable with excellent feedback, grip was impressive and we could hold on to the brakes with some force up to the apex – more so on the lighter, slower 600cc machines we had on test. At times we had to re-calibrate and remember these are road-legal tyres; turn-in and front end grip is excellent.

On the exit, driving hard on the power, we never had a moment on the smaller capacity bikes, but we could provoke a few slides on the big 1000cc bikes. The S21 rear coped with the big power for the first few laps but then it started to complain a little and move around. This really isn’t a criticism and something we’d expect from a road tyre, especially after some heavy use in the blistering heat of Bahrain.

The best accolade we can give these tyres is that we came away actually wondering why you’d want any more performance than these tyres offer, not only on the road but on the track also. Only after five or six laps on a big powerful litre bike did we want a little more grip, but don’t forget these tyres are also designed to work on a wet, cold morning in Yorkshire.” – MCN Journalist

Tyre Sizes

Front Sizes
130/70 ZR16 M/C (61W) TL
110/70 ZR17 M/C (54W) TL
120/60 ZR17 M/C (55W) TL
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL

Rear Sizes
150/60 ZR17 M/C (66W) TL
160/60 ZR17 M/C (69W) TL
180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL
190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL
190/55 ZR17 M/C (75W) TL
200/55 ZR17 M/C (78W) TL

Original Equipment
Tyre Size – OE Tread Pattern Front/Rear
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL S21 F (Ninja H2 SX ’18 on) F
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL S21 M (CB1000R ’18 on) F
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL S21 U (S1000RR ’19 on) F
180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL S21 U (F900R ’20 on) R
190/55 ZR17 M/C (75W) TL S21 F (Ninja H2 SX ’18 on) R
190/55 ZR17 M/C (75W) TL S21 M (CB1000R ’18 on) R
190/55 ZR17 M/C (75W) TL S21 U (S1000RR ’19 on) R