Tire pressure

[Ivan]

Ok, so I run the tires high on the pressure side, since I outweigh most people. Must be the MSG, they put in the food and stuff it down my throat, so I am a big guy. My scoot will handle quite well. While I don't have the limitless nerves that Tod does, I can attest to hitting a cloverleaf exit dragging the pegs all the way through, modulating brakes and throttle to keep the scoot from leaning too far and taking weight off the tires. So, needless to say, I can gently dance around the point of no return.

Now, let's all just imagine that I had to get a new rear tire. It could have been the only one in town was a D404, and I was 40 miles away from home and wasn't in the mood to walk. The next weekend, I might have just ended up going to the Bob Jones rally in Eureka Springs AR, where some of the most technical roads I may have ever twisted the grip on are, or may not be. Mind you, I had possibly 1000 miles on my rear tire when I left the house, and about 1500 when I got to Eureka Springs, well, in theory. I don't want to say this actually happened, because some jerk will tell me that reality is subjective. Anyhow, during the next day's ride, it might have just happened that I started loosing tire pressure for what ever reason. Some might say that I was not able to take the corners nearly as fast with a spongy half inflated tire. I just might have had to lean harder, to turn the same radius, and drug pegs much sooner than those with nice plump tires that were happy with the 40 psi mark. It could be said that I thought "gee, this scoot is progressively handling worse and worse, and is starting to feel like riding on moose ****."

So, it could be said that in my personal and direct experience, more air is better for handling. But you didn't hear that from me, cause everyone knows that stating something to be true will get you culled, drawn and quartered around here.

It could also be said, possibly, that I have also made a few crotch rockets blush with shame, even in the city streets, maybe on a clover leaf exit on a dare to see if I could beat a CBR through it. Possibly that rider was impressed that my allegedly 29 year old scoot would handle so well. But he really didn't believe it was an 81 XS11, he thought it was just a 'Busa with the plastics replaced by an old Yamaha tank. Some might say that the XS11's engine turns opposite that of most other bikes, however that may not be true, since rotating parts can not be classed in scientific process. Just maybe, on an off shot, the CBR rider might have possibly surmised to have an uneducated guess that the XS11 might not have the torque reaction (if such a thing ever even existed, it could be pure myth) that a modern sport bike may possibly exhibit, in an alternate universe where such things actually exist.

Also, I am 34, but it is hard to tell, since time is relative only to the observer, so I could have been riding like I was 10.

[DGXSER]

Canuk,

I would never professionally "recommend" anyone run any system at the maximum rating when the safety of a person is involved. However, the rating they put on the tires is not a temporary setting. That rating would have to be for continuous operation or it would be required to state a period of run time it is associated with.

[Montreux_Blue]

I'm just keeping the thread alive.

Okay, it might have been faster since the 160mph speedo sucks, not all of us have a gps on our bike.

[trbig]

You mean like taking 50mph posted turns at around 110-115mph on an old XS11?

What are you, like TEN?

Of course, but we've seen some people do some pretty wierd stuff thinking it works 'for them'.

What's even more weird, is when somebody proves over and over something works to many different people, there's still some that say it can't happen... even though they've never personally tried it.


Tod

[Montreux_Blue]

Of course, but we've seen some people do some pretty wierd stuff thinking it works 'for them'.

You mean like taking 50mph posted turns at around 110-115mph on an old XS11?

[trbig]

You are right, you can use the maximum settings, but you will seriously shorten the life of the system.

You assume.... so it must be so. lol. As stated, this isn't true of the tires though.... THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND IN MY RIDING STYLE AT MY PERSONAL SETTINGS. As always, YMMV. Haven't heard of anyone maxing anything else out.

Of the 4000 registerd users, we may have seen 7 that claim to run 40psi or more on the front tire.

lmao.... And if it had been turned around and 7 people out of 10 would have said that they DON'T run the max, you would have been all over that as "Proof".

Nuff Said.

Yup.


Tod

[Crazcnuk]

Of course, but we've seen some people do some pretty wierd stuff thinking it works 'for them'.

[Montreux_Blue]

But to just tell everyone to run 40+lbs across the board is the issue. All I have said is to check the recommendations and calculate the proper pressure for your application.

Nuff Said.

I don't think anyone was telling everyone to run 40+ PSI, just giving their personal experience and what works for them..................

[Crazcnuk]

"and I agree with Tod's boss. Running at or under the max rating of the components is not OVER pressuring a system."

Ok, to be more clear, do you recommend running any system at it's maximum rating all the time?

You are right, you can use the maximum settings, but you will seriously shorten the life of the system.

Of the 4000 registerd users, we may have seen 7 that claim to run 40psi or more on the front tire.

However, if some of these guys are running fully decked bikes, weigh 300lbs, and carry pasengers, then those settings are right.

But to just tell everyone to run 40+lbs across the board is the issue. All I have said is to check the recommendations and calculate the proper pressure for your application.

Nuff Said.

[trbig]

so you should have someone your weight on the bike when you fill the tires

Man, I gotta go find me two Montreux_Blues to put on my bike while I change out my summer air to winter. I can barely stand being around the one??


Tod

[Montreux_Blue]

So....... if you like the way your bike handles with lower pressures then so be it. If you feel safe running it the way you are then good for you, I'll keep mine hard and run it hard. Tune the bike the way you want after all it's your bike and I don't expect to ask you if I can ride it much like I wouldn't let someone ride my bike as they all have their own quirks that take time getting used to. Just think of the first time you got your bike, it took a little time to figure out how it responded etc, not like it came out of a "cookie cutter" box and was set up for everyone, we are all different.

***DISCLAIMER FOR FUTURE TIRE PRESSURE THREADS***
My setup might not work for everyone, it was a long trial and error evaluation of my own personal preference.

[DGXSER]

Ok since this is a fact issue and not an opinion issue, I will fess up that I AM a mechanical engineer, and I agree with Tod's boss. Running at or under the max rating of the components is not OVER pressuring a system.

I will also say that that Max pressure rating is based upon the max it should see, which in my opinion is fully loaded, not empty, so you should have someone your weight on the bike when you fill the tires plus whatever baggage and such you plan to operate with to determine when you reach that max pressure.

And yes Tod, I know you have proven by experience that this is not so, I also know there is a factor of safety put into that rating, which is why you could operate beyond that number slightly and never see a problem.

[Montreux_Blue]

Road trip........... battle of the XSsssssssssssss.

of your back tires.

[trbig]

And... lol.

"Running tires at their max and shocks UNDER their max isn't "overpressuring the system". "

I defy you to find one mechanical engineer that agrees with you.

We don't have any mechanical engineers here, but I grabbed my boss walking by who is a physical engineer.

His quote: "I don't know what you guys are talking about, but how can you overpressure a system if you are at or below the maximum?"

Ron Brown, P.E.


There's a couple more I could run it by if you want?


Tod

[trbig]

Majority, meaning you?

Nope.. majority, meaning the majority. Go back and read what people have posted and you'll find 7 out of 10 are at the max or over with one going to try it.

Accrding to you, against all logic, engineering and several billion miles of testig done by people who know a lot more than we do...

Nope.. not according to me. According to testing done on these actual bikes by people who are just like you and I, against YOUR logic, and with their particular brand of tire, and riding exactly the way THEY ride.... which you won't find in a book.


Look.. just go back and read with an open mind and see how many are, by your account, screwing up. I doubt any of the people posting just automaticaly threw the max pressure in their tires and called it good. There's a lot of cumulative miles and years of riding here that you are dismissing.


By all means, I say to start with the recommended pressures and try raising and lowering them in a real world riding situation and find out what's best for you.. not what a book says, or what somebody else says. Nobody rides just like me, and nobody is going to ride just like you.. and trying them at the max pressure WILL NOT resemble a lesson in ice racing , no matter what some may believe.

Sitting in here and being convinced these people are all wrong and you are right even though you haven't tried it is like a kid hating broccoli.. knowing it's aweful.. and yet not ever actually having taken a bite. But.. even if they do try it at that point, their mind is made up already. If you don't have an open mind about finding a good combination for you.. stick with what you know and ride how you're comfortable with.


Tod