And I think that demonstrates the answer I would have given ...
That depends on the rider ... I certainly notice when my tyre pressures are down by that much ... especially on the front end. The handling is just not quite there. but I have seen a rider who's tyres looked soft ... he had no idea it would affect the handling because he hadn't noticed any difference. The tyre pressure on the front of his bike was 15psi. I couldn't believe he could corner with that low a pressure - but he did.
So - that depends on the rider - and probably on the bike .. A cruiser rider might not notice but a sportsbike rider is more likely to ..
"So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."
"So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."
I can tell right away if my tyres are a couple of psi out. I run quite low pressures on the road ~30psi cold front and rear (tyre depending). So even 6 psi equates to a 20% pressure change.
I recently put on a pilot power 3 on the rear and was constantly searching for a preferred tyre pressure, a couple of psi lower would cause the bike to squirm and wallow around. A couple of psi higher would cause it's to skip easily on slightly uneven road and cause really annoying chatter
Skipping is set up not rubber , it will slide if its too hard not bounce . Gas station guages can differ by up to 15 psi , Recommended tyre pressures are ball park only , the softer ,the hotter therefore grippier but too soft they wallow and wear quicker .The oppisite for harder . Get your own guage and find what works for what your riding and how your riding it .
imho yes greatly
But personally I have always been quite sensitive to tyre pressure especially the front. Has a large effect on handling imho.
I remember jumping on my mates 996 once the fucken thing was a pig and that was after he had ridden it 400k on a trip.
Sluggish, fell into corners, wouldn't turn well.
Stopped at Turangi to pump it the extra 5 psi it should have had, completely different bike, bloody nice handling actually
Same thing with another mates new VFR800
Also Maha you may remember my SV1000 when it was delivered to your place.
Felt like a pig to me till I stopped at the first gas station, same problem tyre pressures quite low.
Thats no slight on who rode it there from Hastings, but just the difference in rider feel.
It took new tyres, fork revalve and a bit of time fucking round with the fork heights to get that right.
Even if the old Z1R is a few psi down annoys the hell out of me. I always check my pressures with my gauge before I leave for every ride even on the shitbox handling Bonnie.
So I guess some dont mind, some do??
On a Motorcycle you're penetrating distance, right along with the machine!! In a car you're just a spectator, the windshields like a TV!!
'Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out! Shouting, ' Holy sh!t... What a Ride!! '
Worth noting that modern tubeless bike tyres can lose pressure through the tyre carcase quite quickly.
A couple of psi per month isn't unusual.
Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon
36 & 42 is pretty much the universal recommendation. If I was touring that's what I'd run.
Triumph say 34 (tyre manufacturer says 36) in the front so if I check the tyre and it says 34 and I'm staying local that's OK.
The Ducati manual went lower, 32 or even 30 in the front, I can't remember now, but there was a warning. if the roads were rough you could damage your rims. NZ roads are rough, so I didn't go below 34.
I'll run as low as 38 rear locally. Apart from handling considerations, if your pressures are down you are accelerating tyre wear and costing yourself money. Tyres are expensive enough as is.
There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one. - Joey Dunlop
On my 650 Bandit I run Continental Road Attacks - at 38 and 42 psi ... (psi as suggested by Conti - Suzuki recommendation is less - and they work at that psi) I love them .. very grippy .. most fun tyres I had on it.
On the 1250 I run Pilot Roads (currently 4 on the front, probably 3 on the back tomorrow as they don't have a 4) . Same PSI - 38 and 42. Anything less and I can notice the difference ..
I ride for my own safety (well, sometimes and fun) - and I don't care what anyone else is saying - the tyres work at those pressures, on these bikes, the way I ride them ..
"So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."
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