Battlax Adventure Cross AX41

As mentioned, the Adventure Cross is clearly the tyre that has a greater focus towards off-road riding. Aside from being used on the Honda Africa Twin models that are used in the Dave Thorpe Honda Adventure Centre in Exmoor, they’re ideal for those who ride an adventure bike and have a desire to ride off-road, but without having the durability issues of a truly dirtfocused tyre. Thus being able to handle loose and rocky surfaces, with an ability to cut through mud and water whilst also not being torn to pieces by rock or swiftly abraded on harder surfaces, nor being too noisy or vibratory on road rides.

Even on some of the wetter roads we experienced, the Cross provided ample grip and feedback, only feeling very slightly more skittish than the Adventure Trail on wet Tarmac, and that was only really noticeable when riding the different tyres back-to-back, although to be fair we didn’t ride in truly torrential conditions.

Bridgestone achieved this impressive result by focusing on what is required with a genuine trail

(rather than motocross or enduro) tyre – not losing any of the on-road capabilities; increasing in off-road grip and thus improving off-road traction; and focusing on durability and reducing irregular tread wear. This was achieved by optimising the tyre size for the wheel rims used by popular adventure bikes, and exploring the tread pattern and block positioning while ensuring the best block rigidity possible for on-road grip. To put this into context, the tread on the AX41 has a 30% larger cross-sectional area when compared to the previous A41 tyre. Finally, a high strength compound was required to prevent high wear in an off-road scenario.

Available to suit both tubed and tubeless rims, with those requiring tubes being labelled on the sidewall as ‘Use tube on tube type rim’, there are 15 sizes available, with 18in, 19in and 21in front tyres, and rears suitable for 16in, 17in and 18in rims. In short, for every sort of bike that you’re likely to want to take on an appropriate off-road route or green lane.

Front Pattern & block positioning 1:

Block wall angle optimisation :

■ Upgrading the block rigidity with feedback for the rider.

2: A-IW Technology : Anti- Irregular Wear Technology :

■ The A-IW technology consists of reducing the heel and toe wear at the trailing edge of the block, thanks to block deformation under braking forces constraints.

■ This new block profile is countering the deformation and ensuring the durability of the tyre.

Rear Pattern & block positioning 3:

Redesign the tyre dimensions to increase the total amount of blocks on the tyre.

4: Apply a high cross section area and a small pitch length :

■ Increase the cross section area with 30% compared the A41.

■ Shorter pitch length in order to increase with the higher diameter of the tyre the amount of blocks over the circumference.

5: Increase both compound rigidity and strength compared to the Trail – on road.