Bike-O-Din
New member
How do the big boys do this??
Well, the racing people use this technique and so I have used this method successfully on all of my bikes, cars, trucks, trailers etc over the years and it has always worked well.
A tire should increase about 10 percent in pressure from cold to full operating temperature. Example: Starting at 25psi cold, the tire should be at 27.5psi when completely warmed up. Starting at 30psi, tire at full temp should be 33psi.
Inflate the tire to the pressure recommended by the tire manufacture, or one you like (or the best guess). Then run the bike until it gets to full operating temp riding it like you normally would (ie, highway, twisty, around town, 2 up, or whatever is "normal" for you). Then check the pressure. If it has gone up 10 percent + or - just a little, you are right on.
If it goes up more than 10 percent then increase the cold starting pressure by a pound or two and try again.
If it does not get to cold plus 10 percent, lower the cold starting pressure by a pound or two and try again.
It takes a few times to get it right, but after that, you never need to check again, just set it and forget it.
It is hard to believe, but this actually works without much regard to the ambient outdoor temperature. Even when it is hot, the 10 percent thing just seems to work. You only have to adjust the cold starting pressure to the magic number as the weather goes from cold to hot and back again over the course of the year.
As an aside, having the fobo TPMS system makes this a breeze to do!!
Have fun, and ride safe.
Mr Bill
Well, the racing people use this technique and so I have used this method successfully on all of my bikes, cars, trucks, trailers etc over the years and it has always worked well.
A tire should increase about 10 percent in pressure from cold to full operating temperature. Example: Starting at 25psi cold, the tire should be at 27.5psi when completely warmed up. Starting at 30psi, tire at full temp should be 33psi.
Inflate the tire to the pressure recommended by the tire manufacture, or one you like (or the best guess). Then run the bike until it gets to full operating temp riding it like you normally would (ie, highway, twisty, around town, 2 up, or whatever is "normal" for you). Then check the pressure. If it has gone up 10 percent + or - just a little, you are right on.
If it goes up more than 10 percent then increase the cold starting pressure by a pound or two and try again.
If it does not get to cold plus 10 percent, lower the cold starting pressure by a pound or two and try again.
It takes a few times to get it right, but after that, you never need to check again, just set it and forget it.
It is hard to believe, but this actually works without much regard to the ambient outdoor temperature. Even when it is hot, the 10 percent thing just seems to work. You only have to adjust the cold starting pressure to the magic number as the weather goes from cold to hot and back again over the course of the year.
As an aside, having the fobo TPMS system makes this a breeze to do!!
Have fun, and ride safe.
Mr Bill
....... How about the fronts , auto tires can be as low as 14psi and also benefit from less pressure ............... Mike :thumbup:
Mike and Peter are expressing their opinion, as are you. Which opinion you choose to run with is entirely up to the individual. I personally find the lower psi around 20 preferable to 26psi. This decision was made after considering all the input I could find, for which I am very appreciative.
