Winter Air Pressure Loss

beezer · 03-23-2008, 02:38 PM

Since it's been cold I haven't ridden since a short trip in January. Yesterday was nice and sunny but a little chilly and so is today. I took another short ride yesterday and today I decided to go over a few things. I waxed her and thanked God again for blessing me with such a beautiful motorcycle.
Then I decided to check the air pressures. So I got out my Craftsman jack and Idaho's jack adapter and up she went. The shocks lost all their air so I pumped in 15 lbs. with my new handy dandy pump. There was a bit of fiddling involved there. I don't know if you guys with stock seats have a problem getting your sausages in there screwing the pump on but I have a Mustang and it's quite cumbersome to say the least if not less. It appears they could have added 2" to the hose so it would flex more.
Now I realize some of you guys run with 0 psi in your shocks so that wasn't the problem. The problem, and it appears to not matter whether it's a tubeless or tube tire, is the 15 - 20 lb air loss in the tires. Soooooo I can't stress enough to check your pressures.

dantama · 03-23-2008, 06:21 PM

Where I lived previously, there was a gas station with air a few blocks from home and I checked my pressure all the time.

Now I've got to find another one, which hasn't happened yet, so I'm not checking mine nearly enough. Thanks for the reminder.

ells · 03-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Air hoses are disappearing from gas stations. I got a couple 12V pumps for cheap and they work great for topping off tires. Also got the zero-loss pump for the shocks (Beez, no problem with the stock seat getting to the shocks, but my fingers are on the small side)

waterman · 03-23-2008, 08:28 PM

Hmm, 15-20 psi loss. I check mine when I went for my first ride and lost only 8 lbs front and rear. It has been setting since November and finally rode it 3 weeks ago.

03-23-2008, 08:41 PM

I found this little gadget. It's silver and about the size of an ink pen. Ya can actually measure the air pressure in a tire with it.LOL.I just couldn't resist.

03-23-2008, 08:44 PM

On a serious note, I check my tires at least every two weeks if the bike is sitting for a long time. I don't want the tires to get too low.If the tires get down 2-3 pounds, I fill them back up.

buck · 03-23-2008, 08:51 PM

I use a good gauge and have a hand pump handy to top off if needed. The guy i bought the bike from ran 32lbs in the front and 40lbs in the rear. Does that sound about right?

03-23-2008, 09:10 PM

That is what is recommended in the owners manual.I run 40/42 in the rear and 38/40 in the front.The ride is a stiffer, but the tires seem to resist cupping at the higher pressure.

ells · 03-23-2008, 09:17 PM

I go with no less than one or two psi short of the maximum given on the tire.

**ringadingh** · 03-23-2008, 10:57 PM

I also check the tires often, but my shocks seem to leak down after a couple months and need refilling.

03-24-2008, 08:12 AM

Also, if the tires get way low, like almost flat, the kickstand gets very short and the bike is more apt to tip over.Found out the hard way.

flightdoc · 03-24-2008, 11:23 AM

I go with the recommended...Otherwise you could become a test pilot. I too check my pressures several times a month. A word to the wise. When you are going to ride your bike for the first time this season...without question you should be checking EVERYTHING before throwing your leg over that bad boy.

fish · 03-24-2008, 01:49 PM

Mine seemed hard

(tires) Front had 28 and back had 35 ::)
what a difference with 40 / 40

**coacha** · 03-24-2008, 04:21 PM

I check the tire pressures every week. Run 40/42 (F/R) with 20 in the shocks.

hollywood · 03-24-2008, 10:06 PM

what is the pressure suppose to be in the shocks. mine has gotten real bouncy lately

03-23-2008, 02:38 PM	#1
beezer Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The VooDoo Lounge Posts: 5,779	Winter Air Pressure Loss Since it's been cold I haven't ridden since a short trip in January. Yesterday was nice and sunny but a little chilly and so is today. I took another short ride yesterday and today I decided to go over a few things. I waxed her and thanked God again for blessing me with such a beautiful motorcycle. Then I decided to check the air pressures. So I got out my Craftsman jack and Idaho's jack adapter and up she went. The shocks lost all their air so I pumped in 15 lbs. with my new handy dandy pump. There was a bit of fiddling involved there. I don't know if you guys with stock seats have a problem getting your sausages in there screwing the pump on but I have a Mustang and it's quite cumbersome to say the least if not less. It appears they could have added 2" to the hose so it would flex more. Now I realize some of you guys run with 0 psi in your shocks so that wasn't the problem. The problem, and it appears to not matter whether it's a tubeless or tube tire, is the 15 - 20 lb air loss in the tires. Soooooo I can't stress enough to check your pressures. __________________ 2012 FLHTK Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-23-2008, 06:21 PM	#2
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	Winter Air Pressure Loss Where I lived previously, there was a gas station with air a few blocks from home and I checked my pressure all the time. Now I've got to find another one, which hasn't happened yet, so I'm not checking mine nearly enough. Thanks for the reminder.
	0

03-23-2008, 07:25 PM	#3
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Winter Air Pressure Loss Air hoses are disappearing from gas stations. I got a couple 12V pumps for cheap and they work great for topping off tires. Also got the zero-loss pump for the shocks (Beez, no problem with the stock seat getting to the shocks, but my fingers are on the small side)
	0

03-23-2008, 08:28 PM	#4
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	Winter Air Pressure Loss Hmm, 15-20 psi loss. I check mine when I went for my first ride and lost only 8 lbs front and rear. It has been setting since November and finally rode it 3 weeks ago. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16
	0

03-23-2008, 08:41 PM	#5
Guest Posts: n/a	Winter Air Pressure Loss I found this little gadget. It's silver and about the size of an ink pen. Ya can actually measure the air pressure in a tire with it.LOL.I just couldn't resist. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-23-2008, 08:44 PM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	Winter Air Pressure Loss On a serious note, I check my tires at least every two weeks if the bike is sitting for a long time. I don't want the tires to get too low.If the tires get down 2-3 pounds, I fill them back up.
	0

03-23-2008, 08:51 PM	#7
buck Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Posts: 209	Winter Air Pressure Loss I use a good gauge and have a hand pump handy to top off if needed. The guy i bought the bike from ran 32lbs in the front and 40lbs in the rear. Does that sound about right?
	0

03-23-2008, 09:10 PM	#8
Guest Posts: n/a	Winter Air Pressure Loss That is what is recommended in the owners manual.I run 40/42 in the rear and 38/40 in the front.The ride is a stiffer, but the tires seem to resist cupping at the higher pressure.
	0

03-23-2008, 09:17 PM	#9
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Winter Air Pressure Loss I go with no less than one or two psi short of the maximum given on the tire.
	0

03-23-2008, 10:57 PM	#10
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Winter Air Pressure Loss I also check the tires often, but my shocks seem to leak down after a couple months and need refilling. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

03-24-2008, 08:12 AM	#11
Guest Posts: n/a	Winter Air Pressure Loss Also, if the tires get way low, like almost flat, the kickstand gets very short and the bike is more apt to tip over.Found out the hard way.
	0

03-24-2008, 11:23 AM	#12
flightdoc Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,285	Winter Air Pressure Loss I go with the recommended...Otherwise you could become a test pilot. I too check my pressures several times a month. A word to the wise. When you are going to ride your bike for the first time this season...without question you should be checking EVERYTHING before throwing your leg over that bad boy.
	0

03-24-2008, 01:49 PM	#13
fish Top Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aquashicola Pa. Posts: 6,377	Winter Air Pressure Loss Mine seemed hard (tires) Front had 28 and back had 35 ::) what a difference with 40 / 40 __________________ I'm not prejudice I hate everyone equally;) 08 nomad blue/silver MaryJane 74,010miles VBA #299 Her's 10 900LT 36,700 09 Bath NY. 10 Lake George NY. 11 National Maggie Valley NC. 12 Pa Wilds (Wellsboro) Pa. 14 Lincoln NH. 17 National Lake George NY.
	0

03-24-2008, 04:21 PM	#14
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	Winter Air Pressure Loss I check the tire pressures every week. Run 40/42 (F/R) with 20 in the shocks. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
	0

03-24-2008, 10:06 PM	#15
hollywood Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mission TX Posts: 340	Winter Air Pressure Loss what is the pressure suppose to be in the shocks. mine has gotten real bouncy lately
	0

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