Lower tire Pressure

[Flienlow]

Tire Pressure. I know, I know. Read the manual and pump 'em up to 42lbs.  I dropped my to 35, and think the bike handles way better. Anyone else running lower pressure?

[Son of Pappy]

Handles better how?  NOT being a wise guy, just curious as to what is better.  7 lbs is close to %15.  Even on the days I ran the track I tended to drop 5 for a bit better grip, but the turn in rate was slower.  Tire life will also tend to suffer, greater heat and more flex result in more scrub.  I tended to run what they recommended for best overall use.

[jscon2011]

I'm pretty curious as well. I know that once the pressure gets down to about 33 the low-pressure warning starts flashing. I personally just mistakenly equipped my bike with pirelli rosso corsas and they lasted 4,500 miles........ which is nothing. Super stick but no touring life. So I like a ton of air in my tires for max mileage.

[maxtog]

I dropped my to 35, and think the bike handles way better. Anyone else running lower pressure?

Nope, that would greatly shorten the tire life.

[gPink]

I keep my 550 lb bike at 36/38.

[DucRider]

I keep my 550 lb bike at 36/38.

Is that also for 2up riding?

[gPink]

No two up. Old airhead bmw.

[Rhino]

I think the bike feels way better at higher pressure. Falls into the turns better. Maybe not as sticky? IDK, I don't push the envelope on the street. Too many unknowns with the surface. I keep mine at 42 or 43.

[ljcorby]

I think the bike feels way better at higher pressure. Falls into the turns better. Maybe not as sticky? IDK, I don't push the envelope on the street. Too many unknowns with the surface. I keep mine at 42 or 43.

Same here, especially for two up riding.

[rocknrod]

When I received my bike from the dealer the tire pressure was Front 36psi, Rear 35psi. I changed it of course but strange.

[Flienlow]

Handles better how?  NOT being a wise guy, just curious as to what is better.  7 lbs is close to %15.  Even on the days I ran the track I tended to drop 5 for a bit better grip, but the turn in rate was slower.  Tire life will also tend to suffer, greater heat and more flex result in more scrub.  I tended to run what they recommended for best overall use.

I feel it increases grip by a lot and instills confidence in corners. I always had that..."Not so fresh feeling"  on a few roads where I live. Now I find that I am scraping my toes going around them more and more. As far as turn in, My bike is handling better than it ever has.
I have never been a huge fan of the Connie, basically gave up an RT to get a cheaper bike when I bought it. However, I have been riding it a lot lately and it is really starting to grow on me.
For sure the trade off will be tire life, but tires are cheap compared to my butt. 

 (and I am running PR3's)

[ZG]

With the Connie it feels very heavy in the turns IMO running at lower tire pressure... 

[maxtog]

When I received my bike from the dealer the tire pressure was Front 36psi, Rear 35psi. I changed it of course but strange.

Not strange at all.  We all got our bikes from the various dealers with wrong pressures  (mine was also 8psi too low), and headlights pointed in the ground, and batteries with loose connectors or even installed backwards in the case, some even with missing keyfobs. 

Dealers, gotta love them.

[tomp]

I use an auto pressure limit pump set at 44lbs for ft and rr, and both TPS's read 40 PSI on the dash.  I know the factory states that the TPS is not accurate, but 4lbs is crazy.  I am using Z8's with the 190/50, and though it feels secure in turn ins or lane changes, it is slow and requires a good amount of bar pressure to perform.  My R1150 RT, that weighs almost the same, has PR3's and seems to handle with much more ease and agility than the 14.  Could be the tires, the geometry, or cosmic waves, but I know it's not air pressure causing such differences. 

I do wish that the 14 handled with the agility of the RT.  It would then be almost perfect.  May try a 190/55 next time to see if that really makes a difference, like I have read on this forum... tomp

[VirginiaJim]

I switched with a rider and rode his RT and he rode my C10.  After about 50 miles I couldn't wait to get off the thing and back to my C10.  So really all I can say about your comparison is 'really?'.  I run PR3s on my C14 and the handling is superb and I keep 42 in each tire.

[Shoe]

My answer to lower tire pressure is always the same. Try it on your bicycle or for lack of a bicycle then try to remember back when you were young and had a bicycle. Didn't it ride better and easier with proper inflation? 

[Flienlow]

I switched with a rider and rode his RT and he rode my C10.  After about 50 miles I couldn't wait to get off the thing and back to my C10.  So really all I can say about your comparison is 'really?'.  I run PR3s on my C14 and the handling is superb and I keep 42 in each tire.

To each their own. I rode my buddy's C-10 and he rode my FJR. After 5 miles I made him give me my FJR back. That is the last time I will ever ride a C-10. My 2010 RT was a way better bike than my Connie. It stopped better, handled better,and was very comfortable to ride. The engine is smooth as a sewing machine but there are no entertaining qualities about it. (not sure about the 14 model.)

[tomp]

To each their own. I rode my buddy's C-10 and he rode my FJR. After 5 miles I made him give me my FJR back. That is the last time I will ever ride a C-10. My 2010 RT was a way better bike than my Connie. It stopped better, handled better,and was very comfortable to ride. The engine is smooth as a sewing machine but there are no entertaining qualities about it. (not sure about the 14 model.)

I agree, but Jim is the admin, and didn't want to start an argument with him.       Motorcycles are so subjective.  Even the same on on different days.  From all I've read and heard, except for the rear suspension recall, the main difference with the '14 RT is more HP and torque, with the WC engine.  Had a '12 1200RT, but at $400 a month, it got traded to a friend for his '04 1150 and $$$.  The '12 had more and smoother acceleration, but the '04 actually handles better for me...

I still would and do ride the C14 much more often, and am happy with it, overall...  Tire pressure does seem to make a difference and it is pretty easy to tell when the tires need some air.   tp

[VirginiaJim]

To each their own. I rode my buddy's C-10 and he rode my FJR. After 5 miles I made him give me my FJR back. That is the last time I will ever ride a C-10. My 2010 RT was a way better bike than my Connie. It stopped better, handled better,and was very comfortable to ride. The engine is smooth as a sewing machine but there are no entertaining qualities about it. (not sure about the 14 model.)

Totally agree with the C10 vs FJR....I'd do the same thing..

[copdocpvd]

Interesting discussion.

I had an RT with brand new Metzelers, didn't realize I was almost ten pounds low on the rear tire, ran a 100-mile stretch with lots of curves at, uh, extra-legal speeds both ways a couple years ago.  Back end felt odd, I pulled over and the tire looked absolutely baked (like a hard day at the track), and the rear looked like a slick, had worn all the way past the wear bars and was showing threads.  Five hours later, $400 poorer, I was towed the 200 miles home.  Won't do that again.
 
If you read Motorcyclist or Cycle World, they almost always drop the "street" tire pressures by 5-10 lbs when it's time to test on the track.  Logically, it would increase the contact patch a little bit and give a little more lean angle, but it also results in the tire being worn out very quickly.

If you're riding a track day and don't mind replacing your tires, drop the pressure.  If you're gonna' be riding 700 miles, and will be dozens of miles away from the next town, I would ride at the recommended pressures.