Under Pressure

[MisterDavey]

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.

[crump]

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.

[MisterDavey]

Good to know, cheers.

[Upt North]

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.

[MisterDavey]

Thanks Up North.

[NeilM]

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.

[Gert]

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

[MisterDavey]

Many thanks for your input good people.

[2112]

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...

[NeilM]

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.

[MisterDavey]

2psi! That's barely anything. Indeed, wouldn't have thought it would make such a difference.

[The Doctor 46]

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? 

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.

[mr_diver]

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.

[Gert]

Reply #61 in https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=33373.msg413531#msg413531, is worth reading

[MisterDavey]

That's a great read Gert, it explains absolutely everything.
Thank you very much.

[Rixington43]

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.

[Uchujin]

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?

[crump]

@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.

[Barbel Mick]

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?

[MisterDavey]

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 

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.......