Checking Tire Pressures (Poll Expired)

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Ok, here's another Poll on what can be considered motorcycle maintenance. Each registered user has one vote, make it count! No need to reply, just make your selection.

[Chris near Kansas City]

I don't check them enough, that's for sure.

[Jalmar]

I check the tire pressure and the pressure in the suspension before every trip. And if I'm out on long trips over several days, I check it every day before I start driving.

I use 38-40 psi front and 40-43 in the rear tire. I drive on Metzeler Marathon ME880 in front and Metzeler Marathon ML2 rear. I have just over 5000 miles on them now, and I think I can get 5000 more before I have to change. I'm satisfied with 10000 miles on a set of tires on the bad roads here in Norway.

[Charlie from Illinois]

Can you put a (before each ride) on there. ?

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Can you put a (before each ride) on there. ?

Use "Once a day" for before each ride.

[phill12]

Tire pressure should be the Maxium stated on the side of the tire. This is for maxium cooling affect and helps increase the life of the tire. I have found that when riding two up and pulling a trailer that tire life has increased if I went 1 to 2 Lbs over the maxium. Tire pressure should be check before each ride. Not only check the pressure but check the tire for any damage or foreign objects, Like nails etc. Just my two cents.
Phill

[TaiwanJohn]

I may only check my tire pressure with a gauge once a month, but after riding for 30+ years, I can tell when the pressures are low just by how the bike feels, riding over every bump in the road. That, and I have a "calibrated toe," and kick the tires every so often to make sure they are still at the right pressure.

As for tire pressures, the recommended pressures work well for me. Pumping the pressures higher just makes the ride worse....

[biggersm]

Hi Gary

I like these polls. I think we should do one based on oil type (not necessarily oil brand) especially dinosaour versus synthtic and also sub-divide by miles on the bike. I'd like to see what the real long distance (the 100K plus Voyagers) are using. We may switch soon in hopes of a quiter ride.

As for tires were now belivers in checking more often. We recently only got about 8-9K on our rear Metzler 880 when we noticed that the tread was pretty squared off and every time we leaned over it was loud and hard to handle. We found out that that we were about 38-40 psi on the back rather than the recommended 46 psi. Its not very fun to check the back tire pressure but certainly worth it.

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Ok Mike, I'll keep that in mind for a near future poll, that's always a hot subject.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Mike's comment got me thinking, I'm fairly new to all of this and over the past 6 months I've seen quite a few others that are a little wet behind the ears if not dripping wet (similar to myself).
I know & have seen were eventually topics get revisited, that's ok because there is always a new view or opinion expressed. How about having "Poll of the Month" ? Different subject each month, only open for limited time (short term, maybe 2 or 3 weeks open to voting). Sorry Gary, I know this causes more work for you but in my mind (large and vast expanse, easy to get lost in) it sounds like something fun!

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Scott,

I've been running a poll about every two weeks here (I've also run polls on the AVA homepage a few times), and will continue to do so as long as I or someone else has a good idea for one. Anyone can PM me, or better yet, email me with their suggestions.

[The Masked Rider]

You might change the first one to read:
'Each day I ride'.
I don't ride the bike every day but I do check it each day I ride.
Fritz

[Rhinestone Kawboy]

Ok, that makes sense, that's what everybody is probably thinking and I guess I was too. Done!