Airing up rear shocks.

[thedude]

Hello, the owners manual says to lift the rear tire to check pressure in the shocks. Just curious if that is completely necessary? How far off is the accuracy of the pressure Gauge if the bike is left with weight on rear tire?

[Top Cat]

I air mine up with the bike on the sidestand.
Just to check I then raised the bike with my jack and Idaho's adapter. They were both the same pressure.
So I would say, No it is not necessary.

[thedude]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

I air mine up with the bike on the sidestand.
Just to check I then raised the bike with my jack and Idaho's adapter. They were both the same pressure.
So I would say, No it is not necessary.

That's the exact answer I was looking for. Thanks! Mine were set at 13 psi. I bumped them up to 20 psi, but didn't want to go any more since I didn't have the bike on a lift (no adapters). So, I guess I can go ahead and pump those babies up some more.

[ringadingh]

I check mine a couple times a year and do it on the sidestand as well. Ive never noticed anything to be concerned about, that would make me change the procedure. Mine usually get a little soft from sitting over the winter.

[jestephens]

I always kind of wondered. So to make myself feel better, after airing the shocks, I straddle the bike standing it straight up, grab one of the saddlebag guards, and lift the rear of the bike. Not off the ground, but just to make sure both shocks can extend and "reset" to the new pressure.

I still have a young back though. That may not be for everyone ;)

[caper]

jestephens :) you're back will not stay young doing that:) I know!!

[ells]

I've pumped mine up to close to 40 psi on the sidestand and have ridden two-up that way for almost three years with no problem.

[rewindgy]

Well with the Nomad set up as mine - pressure on stand is 6 - 7 psi higher then when rear wheel in air. Found this out when I blew out a shock.

[dank]

That's the exact answer I was looking for. Thanks! Mine were set at 13 psi. I bumped them up to 20 psi, but didn't want to go any more since I didn't have the bike on a lift (no adapters). So, I guess I can go ahead and pump those babies up some more.[/quote]

I'd go for a test ride first. There seems to be quite a bit of variation from bike to bike and person to person. I decided I liked mine at 13 psi solo, bumped them up to 17 two-up, but then my wife is a slender little thing. Tried different levels. At 22 psi I liked it for firmness on a short ride through some twisties, but it bucked on freeway joints: gave me a back ache on all day rides and and my wife could hardly stay on the bike on some bumps. Others have reported using higher psi levels. I recommend going up a few psi at a time and finding the comfort spot for you set-up.

[ringadingh]

On my bike I found that 35 lbs on the #3 spring setting seems to work for me under most conditions. If its less than that, riding with a passenger, or hitting a good pothole causes the shocks to bottom out .

[Cajunrider]

I keep mine pumped up to 35 psig and the rebound set at III. Most of my riding is 2 up but I leave the settings the same when riding solo.

[cnc]

I agree with rewindgy on there being a pressure difference.
We had a similar discussion a while back. There will be a difference in pressure from no weight on the shocks to the bike sitting on the ground. Air is compressible, unlike a liquid. You can have 0 psi with the bike off the ground and when you lower it the weight of the bike will compress the shock and reduce the size of the air chamber. Reduce the size of the air chamber without changing the amount of air in it the pressure will go up.

Having said this I do pump the shocks with the weight of the bike on the ground as others have stated. I run 22-24 psi which is probably around 12-14 psi if the rear wheel was off the ground. I did check the difference once but can not remember the exact figures.

[henryk]

Dude, hope you don't mind me asking this question in your post.

Can I use a standard bicycle air pump or do I need to get one of the more expensive pumps made for mc shocks?
I know an air compressor is not a choice or is it?

henryk

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by henryk

Dude, hope you don't mind me asking this question in your post.

Can I use a standard bicycle air pump or do I need to get one of the more expensive pumps made for mc shocks?
I know an air compressor is not a choice or is it

henryk

ya can if your quick ! doesnt take too much to loose what ya just put in!

[Top Cat]

The advantage of a progressive pump over a bicycle pump is that the progressive is a no loss pump.
With a bicycle pump I believe you lose some air while unattaching it.

In my opinion, and others may vary, the reason the instructions for airing up the shocks with the bike off the ground is to get the SAME pressure in both shocks. In my experience thats not necessary as I aired up on the side stand and then straighten up the bike to check, it was the same in both sides.

rewindgy , I am assuming you aired up to max with the bike off the ground and then when you rode the pressure was to high. A good reason to air up on the side stand.