Tyre pressure

[Mudfart]

Ok, so the manual says to inflate when tyres are cold to recommended pressure (28 psi front-32 psi rear).
I'm sure thats wat all the "pros" have been saying too. "Make sure tyres are cold".
Right, I live a minimum 15 minutes ride @ 100kph from the nearest gas station, so would my tyres be "warm" by then?
If so, can I still inflate them, maybe at something like -2 of the recommended psi?.
Just curious coz I know I'm gonna have to inflate em before my restricted test on Tuesday.

[duckonin]

Ok, so the manual says to inflate when tyres are cold to recommended pressure (28 psi front-32 psi rear).
I'm sure thats wat all the "pros" have been saying too. "Make sure tyres are cold".
Right, I live a minimum 15 minutes ride @ 100kph from the nearest gas station, so would my tyres be "warm" by then?
If so, can I still inflate them, maybe at something like -2 of the recommended psi?.
Just curious coz I know I'm gonna have to inflate em before my restricted test on Tuesday.

Manual says check them cold so you do just that..Yes your tyres would be very warm at 15min ride @100k's ph, next time you stop your bike feel the heat in the tyres.....

[vifferman]

A couple of psi won't make a huge difference, so don't sweat it. But buy yourself a tyre pressure gauge, and check them before you set out.

[FROSTY]

two thoughts. 1) Over inflate the tyres by 4 psi each end then ride home.Thatll put the pressure darn close to what it should be cold.Then next morning check the pressures at home before setting out.
2) buy a pump and pump themup at home

[crazyhorse]

Most of our group run with a few less psi in their tyres than the manual says. However, it may depend on the "kind" of riding you do to warm up your tyres. We ride considerably faster than 100km, so if you stick to the speed limite, the psi your manual says shouldn't be too wrong to put in when warm.

but yeah, go buy a guage and check from home

[Mudfart]

yeah the point is, I was hoping to not have to buy 1001 bits and pieces as hidden costs for owning a bike, when gas stations let u fill em for free. I have bought a gauge, but not a compressor. The gauge telling me my pressure is low aint gonna help, when I have to ride 15 mins to fill tyres. So, if gauge says low, then when I get to the gassy, I should over-inflate? By approx 4psi?
Next on my to buy list is an axle stand, hiopefully they come ambidexterous?
Maybe down the track, an air compressor. Or maybe you old farts can tell me what is the most important gear to buy?

[centaurus]

I always check my pressure in the morning, before leaving. This is the only way to make sure the tyres are perfectly cold. What you can do is check pressure before leaving and if low, make note now many psi it needs to bring it to the right pressure. Then at the petrol station put the needed psi's on top of the existing pressure (which will obviously be higher than the pressure measured at home). You should measure the pressure again next morning to confirm you have got it right (assuming your tyres don't loose considerable pressure on a daily basis).

As for how much pressure, it depends on your riding and the actual tyres. The more pressure you have, the less the tyre wears out, but also the less grip you have. Also, on higher pressure the bike feels more flickable through corners. On lower pressure it feels sluggish, but is has more grip.
On shitty tyres (shinko for ex.), from my experience you can't go more than 1psi over the bike specs. If you do, it will feel like you're fiding on ice (especially if it's wet). If I get caught using a crap tyre, I usually leave the pressure at the recommended value.
On average or good tyres, I usually ride with 2-4 psi more than the recommended. This gives me a good tyre live but doesn't rob much of the grip. Unless you are racing the bike or it really feels too slippery for you, do not go under the recommended pressure - it gives you a better grip but this is a sure way to shorten the tyre life.

The best way is to experiment for yourself. Start with recommended pressure and the next day add 2psi on each wheel. Ride it on the same road so you can see the difference. If it feels good, leave it or add some more pressure, if it feels twitchy, drop one psi. After choosing a pressure, remember to test it in the wet to, to make sure you're still confortable with it.


A couple of psi won't make a huge difference, so don't sweat it. But buy yourself a tyre pressure gauge, and check them before you set out.

I disagree, vifferman. From my experience 2psi can make a significan difference in feel and grip. with some tyres even 1 psi can make a difference. The worse the road conditions get (wet, cold, bumpy, etc...) the more you'll notice the difference.

[p.dath]

yeah the point is, I was hoping to not have to buy 1001 bits and pieces as hidden costs for owning a bike, when gas stations let u fill em for free. I have bought a gauge, but not a compressor. The gauge telling me my pressure is low aint gonna help, when I have to ride 15 mins to fill tyres. So, if gauge says low, then when I get to the gassy, I should over-inflate? By approx 4psi?
Next on my to buy list is an axle stand, hiopefully they come ambidexterous?
Maybe down the track, an air compressor. Or maybe you old farts can tell me what is the most important gear to buy?

I you already have a gauge check check the pressure when cold. If it is 3 PSI under, then when you get to the servo just add 3 PSI.

But if you are just taking an easy trip on a public road for 15 miutess I doubt you'll tyre pressure will very that much.

Your tyres get hot when they flex. So unless you are doing hard acceleration, braking or cornering don't worry about it too much.

[TimeOut]

Get a cheap 12v compressor from the warehouse less than $20, it'll be good enough for a bike tyre.

The gauges at the servo's are notoriously inaccurate.

[p.dath]

Get a cheap 12v compressor from the warehouse less than $20, it'll be good enough for a bike tyre.

The gauges at the servo's are notoriously inaccurate.

I wouldn't rely on a gauage from the warehouse either ...

[duckonin]

A couple of psi won't make a huge difference, so don't sweat it. But buy yourself a tyre pressure gauge, and check them before you set out.

Two psi under or over make a huge diff on my bike to feel and ride, I increase the rear by two- three psi for pillion and gear..As my tyres are a harder compound meaning longer life it can take up to fifteen k's or on a cold and wet day up to 20k's before putting to much trust into them..And a digital gauge is the way to go...

[Mudfart]

I wouldn't rely on a gauage from the warehouse either ...

wat if i check my pressure on my new gauge, and then inflate with the cheap warehouse compressor? hehe....

[varminter]

Get a foot pump from Super Cheap, take it back when it falls apart and get another (like mine did, keep receipt) and for some reason the axle stand is called a paddock stand. Don't know why, I usualy use mine in my garage.

[Mudfart]

Get a foot pump from Super Cheap, take it back when it falls apart and get another (like mine did, keep receipt) and for some reason the axle stand is called a paddock stand. Don't know why, I usualy use mine in my garage.

sweet, i had a bad experience with a water blaster at repco recently. I bought it, (the last one instore) started it up, and it exploded internally in .5 of a second.
I took it back, and waited 6 mths for it to get fixed.
Now it collects dust, I just can't be fucked.
I take it these paddock stands are quite important, for helping with routine maintainence aye?
What else would one require?

[centaurus]

sweet, i had a bad experience with a water blaster at repco recently. I bought it, (the last one instore) started it up, and it exploded internally in .5 of a second.
I took it back, and waited 6 mths for it to get fixed.
Now it collects dust, I just can't be fucked.
I take it these paddock stands are quite important, for helping with routine maintainence aye?
What else would one require?

Don't bother with a compressor - a pump is cheaper, would last you longer and it doesn't need a power supply. For a bike tyre you just only 3-4 pumps to bring the pressure at the right value (it's not like you need to pump for 10 minutes).
Paddock stand, while is nice to have, it's not a necessity if you're short of cash. The only times you need a paddock rear stand is if you remove the rear wheel or when lubing the chain. Even the chain tensioning is usually done with the bike on the side stand (check the manual though). For lubing the chain you can put the bike on the side stand and put something under the right foot peg so the rear wheel will be off the ground so you can turn it.

Don't hurry spending money on things that you might need in the future but can do without for now, especially if you don't have money to waste. Buy a new tool/accessory when you can't do the job without it. This way you avoid wasting money on stuff that you might not use and postpone spending money on stuff that you will definitely need but maybe not right now.

[p.dath]

I ended up buying a mini-tyre pump (as in hand operated) that would fit under the seat of my motorcycle. I also have stashed a puncture repair kit there. I figured getting a pump I could take with me might give me some extra options one day when I really needed them ...

[FROSTY]

Dude a footpump costs stuff all and given its a 30 minute round trip will pay for itself in no time.
Now the EX250. Thats the "New" shape ninja isn't it? If so you need a set of 8mm bobbins. --Theyll cost you about $20.00
Then you can use a paddock stand one handed easilly. The good news though is once you have the stand and the pump yoll use em on every bike you own

[tcpdump]

wat if i check my pressure on my new gauge, and then inflate with the cheap warehouse compressor? hehe....

This is what I do :)
I bought a digital pressure gauge off trademe and a cheap warehouse compressor (I think $13 or $15). It struggles to reach 34 (or 36?) psi but it gets there in a few minutes.

Have no idea if the warehouse compressor is showing correctly because it's not showing psi or bar, it's something else and I'm too lazy to do the math :)

[slofox]

We ride considerably faster than 100km...

:Oi: Looks like I have to spank ya bum crazyhorse...:spanking::spanking::spanking: :sweatdrop: :devil2:

[slofox]

This is what I do :)
I bought a digital pressure gauge off trademe and a cheap warehouse compressor (I think $13 or $15). It struggles to reach 34 (or 36?) psi but it gets there in a few minutes.

Have no idea if the warehouse compressor is showing correctly because it's not showing psi or bar, it's something else and I'm too lazy to do the math :)

I use a "thunder" compressor from Super Cheap...works a treat and is small enough to fit in the seat bag. About $40 or so IIRC...

[crazyhorse]

:Oi: Looks like I have to spank ya bum crazyhorse...:spanking::spanking::spanking: :sweatdrop: :devil2:

ohh! that could be fun :innocent:

[wingnutt]

Gidday,
Something to consider too, is that the hand book, may not be the correct pressures for the make of tire you have on.

The pressures in the book, are for the tires that are on the bike, when brought new, if the tires have been replaced, note the make of the tire, and check their web site, for recommended pressures.

I found this out when I brought my bike, handbook said 32 psi in both, web site said 36 and 40, so there can be a huge difference in the recommended pressures.

The pressures, on the web site, are usually, minimum pressures, and as already suggested, pump the tires up about 3 psi, above the minimum, and then back them off to the place, where they feel comfortable, but don’t go below the minimum pressures.

I would totally recommend checking the tires cold, and pumping them up cold too, as it’s crucial for the best performance.

[centaurus]

:Oi: Looks like I have to spank ya bum crazyhorse...:spanking::spanking::spanking: :sweatdrop: :devil2:


ohh! that could be fun :innocent:


Yay! It looks like we have a competition: slowfox and fasthorse, aaaa... I mean... crazyhorse :lol::lol::lol:

[crazyhorse]

Yay! It looks like we have a competition: slowfox and fasthorse, aaaa... I mean... crazyhorse :lol::lol::lol:

:rofl: :rofl:

[slofox]

ohh! that could be fun :innocent:

Phoooarrrrrghghghgh...I reckon...errrr..I mean...:o:o:o

[Mudfart]

the ninja doesnt have any space under the seat, maybe you could fit a scrunched up teatowel, for those times you must do emergency dish washing up.
Ill check out a pump when I get back from my big trip next weekend.
I'll go to super cheap, but I'm never shopping at ripco again.

[brendonjw]

I bought a michelin foot pump for my 250 ninja, it was like $30 from repco and has the gauge attached and came with attachments for balls and bicycles as well, only takes a couple of pumps to get it up to the reccomended PSI if i havent used the bike in a while, interestingly some of the US ninja riders recon our bike handles better with a few pounds less than the 28-32 reccomended, personally i like the 28-32 on the stock tires but am going to get some new ones in the next month or two