RE: Tyre pressures on new 1250 bikes - 2

On my stateside bike (Triumph Sprint ST 955) I keep the rear at 26PSI and the front at 42PSI. With the R1250RS the manual has the front at 36PSI and the rear at 42PSI. It seems to me that the front tire pressure should be higher than the rear.

Zitat von Hydrashok158 im Beitrag #16

---

On my stateside bike (Triumph Sprint ST 955) I keep the rear at 26PSI and the front at 42PSI. With the R1250RS the manual has the front at 36PSI and the rear at 42PSI. It seems to me that the front tire pressure should be higher than the rear.

---

The TPMS would be triggered at 25psi!

What is it with tyre pressures on bikes? In a car if it says (as mine does) 38 psi, then 38 psi it is.

On a bike if it says 36/42, and it’s stamped on the side of the tyre as the max pressures for that tyre, then who thinks 42 psi in a tyre with a max rating of 36 psi is a good idea? Or that 16 psi below the recommended pressure will be ok?

I agree it’s strange that the solo and two up pressures are the same these days, but we are not running around on Dunlop TTs or Avon Roadmasters any more. Tyre technology has moved on. (So has oil, don’t get me started!) I can’t imagine that Metzler, Dunlop, Mitchelin, Avon spent years developing and testing their tyres and then thought, ‘oh fuck, what pressures are we going to suggest’. Yeah 36/42 for road use seems about right, should be ok, slap it on the side of the tyre to cover our asses.

As motorcyclists we are probably more ‘connected’ to our tyres, and want the best grip/handling/wear/feel compromise. I would hope the manufactures have the same objective and the time and resources to test the shit out of their products so we don’t have to.

My personal experience is that running 34 psi in the front tire and 40 psi in the rear tire of my 2016 RS gives me a softer ride and more secure handling around corners with my 160 pound (fully dressed) weight, riding solo with no luggage than does the factory's 36/42 pressure recommendation.

And speaking of low tires pressures: The owner's manual of my 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet recommends using 18 psi in the front tire and 28 psi in the rear tire. With a full load of 390 pounds, they recommend 20 psi in the front and 30 psi in the rear tire. Those solo riding tire pressures make the bike handle like crap at freeway speeds and I use Dunlop's recommendations for their K70 tires of 24 psi front and 32 psi rear, which give a more stable ride. Your results may vary.

Zitat von JAG im Beitrag #7

---

The object of the post was to warn new owners to check their tyre pressures and that was all as I saw no merit from my point of view in apportioning blame.
Regarding tyres losing pressure over time- the front and rear on my bike and the front on the loan bike were above the recommended pressures.

---

Zitat von Hydrashok158 im Beitrag #16

---

On my stateside bike (Triumph Sprint ST 955) I keep the rear at 26PSI and the front at 42PSI. With the R1250RS the manual has the front at 36PSI and the rear at 42PSI. It seems to me that the front tire pressure should be higher than the rear.

---

That was a typo, I keep the rear at 36 and the front at 42

Zitat von Hydrashok158 im Beitrag #23

---

That was a typo, I keep the rear at 36 and the front at 42

---

I think that’s why he’s thinking of replacing his steering damper. I expect the bars flap around like wet towel on a washing line with an over inflated front and under inflated rear! 😁

It’s the difference between Katie Price (aka Jordan) and Kim Kardashian. Kim is bound to be more the stable of the two. (From a purely structural perspective of course).

Zitat von Oscarguitar im Beitrag #25

---

It’s the difference between Katie Price (aka Jordan) and Kim Kardashian. Kim is bound to be more the stable of the two. (From a purely structural perspective of course).

---

Hey Jag

I picked up my new R1250RS Exclusive at the end of June and the tyre pressures on the TPM read something like 39.6 front and 44.2 rear, I found this a little odd so i manually checked the pressures the next morning and i had 36 front and 42 rear or as close as my foot pump gauge could show :-)

But to answer your question "should you have to check your tyre pressures when collecting a new bike" NO they should be the first thing that the dealer checks for you, as this is what is keeping you the shiny side up, a slight difference is allowable but nothing more than 1 PSI or so, IMHO :-)

My motorcycle tyre guru recommends 36 front 38 rear for solo rider. This allows optimum tyre area to be on the road surface for traction. Always kept to those pressures and it works for me!

Zitat von Doozer67 im Beitrag #27

---

Hey Jag

I picked up my new R1250RS Exclusive at the end of June and the tyre pressures on the TPM read something like 39.6 front and 44.2 rear, I found this a little odd so i manually checked the pressures the next morning and i had 36 front and 42 rear or as close as my foot pump gauge could show :-)

But to answer your question "should you have to check your tyre pressures when collecting a new bike" NO they should be the first thing that the dealer checks for you, as this is what is keeping you the shiny side up, a slight difference is allowable but nothing more than 1 PSI or so, IMHO :-)

---

My personal experience is that running 34 psi in the front tire and 40 psi in the rear tire of my 2016 RS gives me a softer ride and more secure handling around corners with my 160 pound (fully dressed) weight, riding solo with no luggage than does the factory's 36/42 pressure recommendation.

Your guess, pressure setting could be the right thing anyway, mid way between some older bikes where there were different settings were based on loading on the bike.

Have mentioned this before -- same tyre size on my R1200ST (maybe GT rear?)also the R1200S and R1200R where bmw advise 32/36 solo and 36/42 fully loaded front to rear -
RS handbook has 2.5/2.9 (36.3/42.1) and no longer bother with a loaded differential for solo solo+panniers or two-up and panniers but as it is the same tyre size this must just be the 'best average' for most users.

Not going to say which magazine road report but the expert used solo setting (he weighs 17.5 stone - 111Kg) for himself and then sat his 7.5 stone 48Kg daughter on the rear seat.
Big surprise >>>>>>>>>>Found the bike under supported while riding so upped the setting to 'two -up' or fully loaded.
How the hell are owners manuals going to cope for this response from a profesional road tester let alone us general members of the population?
To my mind I think 'solo' for him was probably two up for Japan (bike manufacturer) and has been covered on many ride reports, once you add empty panniers/top box, all your protective gear, crash helmets I would guess the maximum gross weight, as advised, was going to be exceded once you put some waterproof coats and one bottle of water in the top box!

Although the usa market might be a special case, they're not all fat but many are under-tall for their weight and we in uk appear to be following their lead!