Gargoyle said:
VN750 MOM recommends that air pressure be kept at 28psi in the front tire and 28-32 (depending on load) in the rear tire. Everyone I know keeps the pressure much higher than this. I know that the ideal pressure is different for different tires but isn't MOM's recommendation too low for *any* tire?
How much pressure do you maintain in your tires? What tires do you have?
There are almost as many opinions on what psi to run as there are oil recomendations...:blah:
So I'll just add to the confusion....:hitanykey
In the
absence of a recomended pressure by
the tire manufacturer (
not the bike manufacturer) for the bike you are riding, I look to the maximum pressure number on the sidewall.
This is the maximum pressure for the heaviest load the tire is rated at, according to the manufacturer.
Since I don't do 2-up, very little luggage, and weigh in at a staggering 160lbs, on a 500lb bike I'll take 10% off this number, round up to the nearest lb, and use this for the rear tire. Subtract 2psi for the front if it has the same max pressure rating.
I use 10% because pressure increases as the tire heats up...I researched that this can be as much as 10%, esp on older tires, depending on a lot of factors. Ancient lore, urban legend?? Could be....
This results in a setting of 36fr and 38rr for my Pirelli Stradas, for instance. They have a max pressure of 42psi for both front and rear.
My first set of Metz 880s got 22000mi using Metz recomended pressures vs 11200mi for the stock 'Stones set at Kaw recomendations....
As always...YMMV, and the higher psi you use given the same total loads results in smaller contact patches, firmer ride etc etc.....:zzz: