tyre pressure and adjustment.

[Redstar]

I can't find a Gas station with an air line that has a air gun head that can fit around the wheel spars and I usually take out more air than I put in! most are designed with cars in mind. I stop at Cycletreads and they check them for me (Free of charge) but it would be nice to find a Gas station with a flexible nozzle thing. I used one recently and it was blowing water condensate and it was more akin to a water blaster! still I suppose with alloy wheels and tubeless rubber the water is not a prob? or is it? and once its it I guess its there for the life of that tyre? any tyre experts out there? :doctor:

[Paul in NZ]

Just buy one of dem little 90 degree adaptor things and carry it in your pocket like everyone else... Ok me.... :whistle:

Paul N

[jimbo600]

Shell service stations have digital air lines and the nozzle fits bikes with ease. The readout is accurate too.

[MikeL]

Shell service stations have digital air lines and the nozzle fits bikes with ease. The readout is accurate too.

Except that they sometimes have a hissy fit and after inflating and/or deflating your tyre for several seconds they smugly flash "Err" leaving you no idea what pressure you have...

[Hitcher]

And unless your nearest free air is less than 1km from home that will be HOT tyre pressures you'll be taking. The rated pressures for tyres are COLD pressures.

[Skyryder]

I've been thinking of getting one of those electric pumps from Repco. Anyone useing them??

Skyryder

[merv]

And unless your nearest free air is less than 1km from home that will be HOT tyre pressures you'll be taking. The rated pressures for tyres are COLD pressures.

Yeah especially when I did mine yesterday in the lovely heat at Paremata Mobil.

[StoneChucker]

Except that they sometimes have a hissy fit and after inflating and/or deflating your tyre for several seconds they smugly flash "Err" leaving you no idea what pressure you have...
I'm sick of Servo tyre inflators. Either the analog ones, that go ding, ding, ding, and stop when the pressure is right - only, they have air leaks and never stop dinging...

Or, the fancy digital ones, where you set the pressure (akin to lotto numbers) and attach and "enjoy". IF they attach, you're bloody lucky (normally the lever mechanism is missing/broken. Otherwise, you set it to say 40psi, it inflates to 44, deflates to 36, inflates to 42, deflates to 38 and then goes pshhhhhhht and gives an error!

Why can't service stations realise that SOME vehicles rely on having accurate tyre pressures? Not everyone drives cages, with 4 different tyre pressures, all way below or above a safe level. (slight exaggeration, but still...).

So, anyhoo.... I've got an accurate analog hand pressure guage, and my own air compressor with flexible tyre attachment. All I need now is my own fossil fuel supply, and I can't do away with servos forever: Mwuhahahahahahahhahahaha ;)

[Motu]

I don't think I've ever pumped up my tyres at a service station.I'm so stupid I don't know if my tyres are hard or soft...it's not an issue with me.

[Sensei]

Have digital Pressure gauge in back of bike so as to get it right . Tyre's hot gain 4psi from cold :2thumbsup
SENSEI

[Slingshot]

they smugly flash "Err"


I've never been sure if the "Err" means error...or if it's more like the noise you make when you're not sure of something.

[Jackrat]

Just buy one of dem little 90 degree adaptor things and carry it in your pocket like everyone else... Ok me.... :whistle:

Paul N

Yep what Paul said.
I can't get a standard fitting anywhere near my rear wheel.
fat mag's with a drum brake. :argh:
I always put a bit much in an then leak it back to the correct pressure useing my own gauge.

[Blakamin]

Have digital Pressure gauge in back of bike so as to get it right . Tyre's hot gain 4psi from cold :2thumbsup
SENSEI
I keep the old slide type in my jacket pocket... (one of those things I'm scared will stab me oneday)

[wkid_one]

Have digital Pressure gauge in back of bike so as to get it right . Tyre's hot gain 4psi from cold :2thumbsup
SENSEI

4psi? Is that the rule - arse! Too many variables determine the hot tyre temp - road temp, ambient temp, tyre pressure, road surface, riding style, blah blah blah. Only race teams can accurately monitor hot tyre temps for given conditions as they can limit the variables - but this is the most preferable temp to monitor for optimal tyre performance. However, given most people are only able to gauge cold tyre temps - this is what the manufacturers give us.

I ran my R1 tyres at 36 front and 38 rear - never had a problem. Once you know your cold tyre pressures you are away

Buy an Accugauge Pressure Gauge and a $19.95 compressor (plugs in cigarette socket) and you will never look back.

[pritch]

I have a digital pressure guage and the right-angle thingie. I checked my guage against guages that had been calibrated (the local Honda and Firestone workshops) and now have a good idea of what the actual pressure is. You have to have your own guage, the service station ones are crap.

[pritch]

Of course VFR and BMW owners and the like will be amused by this talk of right-angle attachments...

[ajturbo]

i was using my commpressor and inflater thingy at home... little did i know that the gauge was broken...... yep the tyer blew up in my face.... i shit myself... i was looking at the dial as it read 40psi......





luckly it was only my push bike tyre... but it blew out the rim also!!!

[Rainbow Wizard]

Shell service stations have digital air lines and the nozzle fits bikes with ease. The readout is accurate too.

I find the digital thingies only work properly on big wheels, you can forget the accuracy on pushbikes and motorbike front wheels. In fact most of the time there's not even enough cushion in bike tyres to allow the bloody demented digital doo-dars to trigger an inflation shunt. I say carry the adapter AND a pressure gauge, it's the only way to be sure.

[bluninja]

Buy an Accugauge Pressure Gauge and a $19.95 compressor (plugs in cigarette socket) and you will never look back.

I thought it was only Goldwings that had a cigarette lighter socket? Oh I see, you just flag down some cage driver and say 'Hey Bro, can I use your lighter socket to inflate my tyres?'

I use a large volume bike pump.....unless you're tyres have a real problem you should only be doing a little work to adjust the pressure. Check the pressure either with the pen type gauge, or my accurate pressure gauge (though it doesn't say how long it stays accurate for).

[svs]

I've been thinking of getting one of those electric pumps from Repco.
I got one for racing a while back. It was crap. Didn't inflate very well and blew fuses in both our cars. Took it back and got a mitchellin double barrel foot pump. Much better - guage accurate too.

[FlyingDutchMan]

Got a BP near me which has a digital pump. I visit it once a week or so and never had a problem yet. Except the damn rear loses 6psi in that time :disapint: damn bloody stoopid arrowmax *grumble*

[Dodgyiti]

And unless your nearest free air is less than 1km from home that will be HOT tyre pressures you'll be taking. The rated pressures for tyres are COLD pressures.

And that is why- for $35 - I bought a foot pump with a flexible connector that fits everything it's been tried on. All this in the comfort of your own garage.
It does take a huge effort to pump up a car tyre from flat on the ground, but for topping up bike tyres, it's a dream. :2thumbsup

[Paul in NZ]

4psi? Is that the rule - arse! Too many variables determine the hot tyre temp - road temp, ambient temp, tyre pressure, road surface, riding style, blah blah blah. Only race teams can accurately monitor hot tyre temps for given conditions as they can limit the variables - but this is the most preferable temp to monitor for optimal tyre performance. However, given most people are only able to gauge cold tyre temps - this is what the manufacturers give us.

I ran my R1 tyres at 36 front and 38 rear - never had a problem. Once you know your cold tyre pressures you are away

Buy an Accugauge Pressure Gauge and a $19.95 compressor (plugs in cigarette socket) and you will never look back.

Yes all true but very often the bike maker and the tyre maker will recommend different pressures for different reasons (both to make their product look good) and there is a big difference (as you point out) in conditions and useage. (temp, road, pillion, luggage, speed)

However, an approx 4 psi gain cold to hot is what you are aiming for and should adjust your cold pressure to achieve. Ideally it's about a 10% increase. So knowing your cold pressure is all about measuring them and your hot pressure....

Naturally on my old shit box it really don't matter as long as it has some air in the tyres so I couldn't give a hoot.... But a 10% gain is the theory...

Supposedly...

WTF would I know. I'm still impressed with telescopic forks....

Paul N

[Hitcher]

I too am the proud owner/operator of a Michelin double-barrel foot pump. No problemo to add a couple of PSI every once in a while as needed.

[TwoSeven]

Buy a foot pump and check the tires before you go for a ride. At the same time as you do the pre-ride inspection that you should also be doing. :)

[crazylittleshit]

Shell service stations have digital air lines and the nozzle fits bikes with ease. The readout is accurate too.

"sweet" I was wondering about that you never know until you go into that corner and then its to late. :ar15:

[crashe]

I also carry around a little gadget in my pocket to put onto the rear tyre....
As I too cant find no garages with the air thing that will fit on the back tyre..... the front tyre they fit on no sweat.. but by the time that you screw it on , pump in the air and unscrew it... ya do loose a little bit of air...

But I do also pop in to see Kerry at Motohaus to get him to check it as well.... well its a good excuse to just pop in to have a chat with him as well...
:ride: :ride:

[ajturbo]

i don't bother taking anything with me... if the nossel doesn't fit on the bike .. i just bend it till it..
1. fits
2. breaks..... then i go to the next one.....
3. do it at home..!

[bane]

I use a service station pump, but the key is I *always* use the same pump at the same ss. Dont know (or care) how accurate the gauge is, but 40psi on the gauge is just right for me.

[Sniper]

Ummm, I use one in Blenheim that just attaches mint as and also has a digital reader to tell me that its letting my tyres down rather that inflating them.

PS, dont use a bicycle pump

[bear]

I've got a digital tyre pessure gauge, and have found the digital air pump at Shell on The Quay in Wellington to be pretty accurate.
Right angled attachment sounds like a good idea.

[Sensei]

[QUOTE=wkid_one]4psi? Is that the rule - arse! Too many variables
Sorry should have said " Approx " 4PSI gain from cold . Have based this on 20 + years of checking .The other 13 y's did care to young just road the bike !!
SENSEI :stupid:

[merv]

Of course VFR and BMW owners and the like will be amused by this talk of right-angle attachments...

I don't know why, do you think we don't have pneumatic tyres? You've still got to get down behind the front discs. The old air units that had the long metal end were hopeless and would scrape the paint on the alloy front wheel while the new electronic ones only have a small end so they are quite good.

[Wonko]

I've got a digital tyre pessure gauge, and have found the digital air pump at Shell on The Quay in Wellington to be pretty accurate.

Almost worth riding down to Wellington just to check the air.

The shell out at the end of the Northwestern has worked nicely for me before. but spent a frustrating afternoon hooning around trying to find one in town.

[erik]

I just use a foot pump and a cheap tyre gauge from Repco. I think I'm going to have to get a new footpump soon though as the old one is pretty stuffed, the gauge on it is totally inaccurate (hence the separate pressure gauge) and it's made of fairly thin bits of steel which are kinda bending sideways now.
The tyre pressure gauge is kinda a bit dodgy now too. So I'm thinking I might go for one of those more expensive foot pumps that have been mentioned (my old one was a $10 one :P).