Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Oily Rag - Dedicated to Pat, Greywolf. 26/06/45 - 04/06/18 => Tyres => Topic started by: MisterDavey on April 11, 2025, 08:05:00
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Does everyone stick to factory pressures.
Mine are 36 front, 42 rear, as I imagine most are. I've only done 220 miles, but I feel very confident in the A41, it gives a great ride so I plan to stick to standard pressure.
Has anyone experimented?
My ZZR1200 rode much better with the front reduced from 42 to 36.
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I stick to factory pressures on the Vstrom, it works well. Depends on the bike and usage, I always start with factory and then play around a bit to find what works for me. For example on my FJR, factory states 36/42 but I found the front tyre wore a bit weird, also the big Yam is very heavy on the front end and takes a bit of effort turning.
After a few trials I found 39/42 perfect for me.
I've only ever taken factory pressures as a guide.
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Good to know, cheers.
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I'm an A41, 36-42 type.
No need to play around, those pressures are just so.
On a 4000 + mile two up touring trip last Autumn they wore even but to be honest they hardly wore at all.
Upt.
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Thanks Up North.
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I'm on my second set of Avon Spirit ST's and after a short while at factory pressures I looked the manufacturers recommendations for their tyres and have been at 33/42 ever since.
On my recently acquired GS 1200 I am running Scorpion Trail 2's at 36/42 as per Pirelli's recommendation.
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Interesting info on tyre pressure shared in https://americansporttouring.com/find-the-best-tyre-pressure-for-your-motorcycle/ and https://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?180426-Method-for-determining-an-initial-tyre-pressure&s=c3962df7ec9963fc9e49bca6b8e4124e
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Many thanks for your input good people.
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Interestingly, my former Triumph Tiger 1200 came with the really low front tyre pressure of 32 psi. The bike handled like a pig and had really heavy steering at that pressure. I checked with Triumph, they confirmed that it was the correct pressure, 32/42 psi. I then checked with Pirelli and they said, no it should be 36/42 psi. Again, another check with Triumph UK and it was the same story 32/42 psi. So, I emailed Bridgestone UK and they came back with 36/42 psi ! I changed to 36/42 psi and it transformed the bike, the steering was more natural, turn in was smooth and neutral and it just felt better. Looking through the various Tiger forums and pretty much everyone had done the same thing with the same results. It still ate tyres at the same rate front & rear however...
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I have finally completed the build of my 1974 Triumph 750.
Recommended tyre pressures are 26/27.
The other day, in a hurry to try it out for the first time, I rode it around the block and the steering felt terrible; heavy, lazy, difficult to turn in.
Yesterday, with a few final details sorted, I wanted to go out and give it a proper shakedown, so I checked the pressures, the front was at 24. Pumped back to 26 with the rear at 27 it rode just the way I thought it should.
2psi! who'd a thunk it.
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2psi! That's barely anything. Indeed, wouldn't have thought it would make such a difference.
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26psi seems very low to me and I'm not surprised that 24psi didn't work. I always use 36/42 as per the handbook for the V-Strom 1000 2014. The handbook for my last bike the 650 recommended a lower pressure (can't remember what it was) but 36/42 worked best on it too. Still, what do I know? :thumb:
Some time ago someone posted on this site a letter from one of the top tyre manufacturers (Can't find it, sorry) which was very detailed and informative. The conclusion was that 36/42 was best for most bikes.
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I concur, the Varadero stock pressures are 34/38-42 depending on the load.
I run 36/41 and find is holds a line far better, tips in nicely and I don't get the odd wear I had at lower pressures.
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Reply #61 in https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=33373.msg413531#msg413531, is worth reading
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That's a great read Gert, it explains absolutely everything.
Thank you very much.
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Interesting that the first gen 1000s list 36/36 for solo and then 36/41 for two up but all the later big bikes list 36/42 in all conditions.
Might give 36/42 a go as I've always just run stock, especially since the rear is a bit worn now, maybe it will reduce the feeling of drop in.
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On my 2016 650 Haynes manual says 33/36 which I've always stuck to (Bridgestone Battlax A41's currently)
Would people recommend I go to 36/42 which seems to be popular here?
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@Achujin, no need to change if you're happy with stock pressures. Mine works fine at 33/36. I usually use 41 in the rear because I'm often 2 up and sometimes with luggage. I only leave mine atv33/41 cos I'm too lazy to alter it between times. That also works well when I'm just solo.
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Uchujin, as crump says, if you're happy with them & not getting undue tyre wear then stick with those pressures. However it's not just our (riders/bike owners) who are saying use 36/42 pressures, it's also the manufacturers.
In the link that Gert posted above there is a post from me that includes the text from an email I received from Bridgestone regarding the A41's I had fitted at the time.
Why not give the 'higher' pressures a try & see what you think, you can always go back to the ones you choose to use now?
The Doctor 46, I guess the link Gert posted is the post you're thinking of?
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In the link posted by Gert, the article states the tyre manufacturers have agreed that tyres are to be manufactured to be set at standard pressures of 36/42 across all machines.
So if your 15 year old bike (my last bike was 20) has different pressures in the handbook/manual, go with 36/42, because it's about the tyre, not the bike. Unless your running the original tyres :grin:
My ZZR 1200 had 42/42 in the manual, after a service and tyre valve replacement, it rode so much better, in fact, it was the bike it should have been when I bought it.
I went back to the mechanic and we got chatting about it, I'd been setting the pressures at 42/42, and I hadn't known he set them to 36/42 , which suited the new tyres.
This is why I started this thread.......
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Barbel Mick. Yes, that's the one and thank you Gert for posting it. :thumb:
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Just been on Michelins website and it says to stick to the pressure recommended in the BIKES owners manual....?
Not saying 36/42 is NOT an industry std though.
We had a similar situation at work ( boat building ) when all the manufacturers of resins/ bonding pastes / gelcoats supplied data sheets reccommends a 2% catalyst ( hardener ) rate for everything. Some at this rate were unusable... WTF?
Rep came round...yes 2% is right....
Not happy with that we contacted the manufacturer, and they sent round the Chemist who actually designed the stuff. I was at a big firm at the time and we used to buy their entire batch so warranted a visit.
"Oh no ...the 2% is a std for COMPARISON. That way it takes out a variable in different manufactures products so it is easier to compare..use it at what works for you, within limits "....ahhhhh
So what I am thinking is an industry std is not set in stone , nuclear weapons excepted..maybe.. most days.. :grin:. I would be interested to hear from the actual tyre testers who helped develop the tyre, that may give a different recommendation depending on the tester asked :shrug:
Any hoo.. I ride my 650 with 30/ 36 ..not as in the manual.... ( 33/36 )
I used to be 33/36 on Road 6s and it was fine. I then upgraded the Suspension ( Nitron TVT forks and shock ) and 33 at the front on the very same tyre was horrible, MCT recommended a drop in front pressure and after dropping 1 psi at a time settled on 30 ...and it also lasted 17, 000 miles. ish, so nothing wrong there :shrug:
So test, record, test, record is what I do now till happy, cost's nowt but time :shrug:
Ho Hum
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This might be stating the obvious... Tyre pressures should normally be set on a cold tyre. A too low tyre pressure will heat up the tyre a lot quicker and often give a better grip. The downside is that the tyre will wear a lot quicker. The trick is to find a happy balance of tyre pressure that offers the rider a good mileage (tyre life and fuel consumption) while still retaining a good road grip.
The owner's manual gives a suggested starting pressure, however, the tyre pressures will vary depending on tyre brand / tyre construction (eg radial / cross-ply / bias-ply), total bike loaded weight (rider, luggage & passanger), various road surfaces and finally riding style (as in hard braking / cornering / accelerating).
I think that for convenience or a possibly a softer ride, many riders may choose an average between their on-road typre pressure and off-road riding tyre pressures. Maybe this is to save the hassel of first stopping, to let the tyre cool down enough, before re-inflating to the their on-road pressure.
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Another problem when recommending a pressure to others ,when a psi or two can make a difference , is gauges.
I have 5 ,if you count the one on my bicycle floor pump ( which is way out ), and they all read a bit differently to each other :shrug:
For my motorbikes I use my Venhill , it seems to have the most repeatable performance and has an air bleed , making it easy to use and I stick to the readings I get from just that one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311412786072?var=0&shprz=EBAY_GB_131090&_ul=GB&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=20006&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338986375&customid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_sATMdhCuhFWCfGOSwmauXI_9GiwnUSk7xxnSA7gCsbaazVRTuLQcaAoQeEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADcddnYDsu3cTC2RIYDGIqip4h5aG&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_sATMdhCuhFWCfGOSwmauXI_9GiwnUSk7xxnSA7gCsbaazVRTuLQcaAoQeEALw_wcB
So if I say , for example , 30 psi in the front , it is 30 psi with MY Venhill ( though you are welcome to come round and use it :icon_wink: )........what that is on yours ?...........
Ho Hum
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Quick edit I didn't get to in time to relate.
Years ago ( probably nearer decades now ) Bike , I think, mag gave away a pencil type gauge free with the mag.
That's handy for keeping on the bike....I thought..... It now lives in my bolt bowl , where it was thrown in disgust.
I tried it and it would give a different reading within 15 psi either side every time I used it :GRR:
They could have replaced the scale with a sticker that just said " SOME " :grin:
Ho Hum
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You raise a good point regarding gauges.
I have three that match. A Halfords analogue gauge, foot pump, (has the same gauge fitted) and an Airman, which I keep in my tank bag.
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Yes , I never trust the garage forecourt ones that have been thrown around and abused, I would be better off just using right boot to get an accurate reading :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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Something that has always been on my mind regarding tyre pressure monitors. Pressures should always be taken with cold tyres, I'm assuming TPMs are constantly taking measurements, so how does it allow for temperature changes as the tyre gets hot? Is there some kind of clever chip that allows for that?
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My bike track pump was not cheap but the guage lies like a US politician.
I reckon it's out by 6psi.
Dad bought me a serious PCL inflator for Christmas, now I just need to yoink his hydrovane trolley compressor and I'm good to go 😉.
I always have a pencil type PCL guage in my tank bag too as I don't trust forecourt ones all that much either.
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Years ago ( probably nearer decades now ) Bike , I think, mag gave away a pencil type gauge free with the mag.
I still have the same gauge embossed with 'Bike' in pale blue on the side. Virtually useless, but I've kept it for some reason ?
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Regarding forecourt air pumps ...... I'm sure I read somewhere that now they charge for the air, the pumps have to be calibrated?
I very rarely use them though & prefer to use one of those dial types, which produces the same reading as a cheap(ish) air pump I keep on the bike. Either could be a few psi out but I'm pretty sure either or both are accurate enough? :)
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A note of warning on some of the posh pumps Mick mentioned.
I had a flat on my Gen 2 fazer ( no repair kit :angry-banghead: ....I know..I know :shrug:) and managed to get to a M&S petrol station that had a posh all singing and dancing digital pump , it even had a card reader FFS..£1 a go ..
But I had NO air left in the tyre . It was one of those you connect the hose , set the psi , then it does it for you.
Would not work :GRR:
Went into shop to ask and they said no, it will not work if 0 psi 'cos it thinks it is not connected......... :crazy:
Another tip....don't tell the RAC you are at a Wild Bean Cafe ( safely off the road, with good ammenities in other words ) they MAY take 4 hours to turn up, while you watch a dozen others use that same damn pump just fine.... :GRR:
Next time I will push the bike onto the dual and tell them it is there , getting in the way...THEN go and have a coffee...
Ho Hum
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Crump,
Good point...not a clue ..sorry :grin:
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The car's tyre pressure monitors show the psi going up as they warm. Cold pressure is 35psi, once they've warmed up they'll read 38psi. The alarm for low pressure sounds below 30psi regardless of warm/cold tyre. I assume bike ones are the same.
Nigel, not working at 0psi sounds like the worst design for a pump ever :crazy:
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Uk_Vstrom650,
I know... stupid pump :GRR: ... I didn't even get my quid back. :grin:
Ho Hum