Tire pressure?

[irhawk]

Just wondering the correct tire pressure to use on the 2014 Valk.  I think the owner's manual said 36 front and 42 back, but the Honda service dept told me to use 41/41. What's everybody using?  Thanks

[Bighead]

Don't know what people are running but the 41 would be better than 36 IMHO.

[mrtappan]

I usually run 38/40. 

[hubcapsc]

If my front isn't 40 when I check it, I set it to 40.

If my rear falls below 40, I set it to 43 or so. Sometimes when it is at
least 40 I wimp-out on pulling-out/uncoiling/recoiling the 100 ft. air hose  ...
I might be a candidate for one of those air tanks you fill from the compressor
and carry to the tire... I suppose they're plenty safe?



I've never had an OEM rear tire.

-Mike "The wrong tire was installed on my new bike by the dealer..."

[CajunRider]

May not be as bad on a Valk (less stuff up front), but a Wing (as least mine) will start a decel wobble on the front end if it gets below 36 psi. 

If I keep mine at 36 as per the manual, then as little as 1 psi loss means front end wobble.    

I like to keep mine between 38 & 40 on the front, 42 rear. 

[irhawk]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the consensus is to inflate the front tire to a greater degree than the manual suggests.  I wonder why they recommend 36 for the front tire.

[Hef]

For many years now, I have run 40 in front and 42 in back. It's a fact tires last much longer when properly inflated. 

[hungryeye]

If my front isn't 40 when I check it, I set it to 40.

If my rear falls below 40, I set it to 43 or so. Sometimes when it is at
least 40 I wimp-out on pulling-out/uncoiling/recoiling the 100 ft. air hose   ...
I might be a candidate for one of those air tanks you fill from the compressor
and carry to the tire... I suppose they're plenty safe?



I've never had an OEM rear tire.

A year or so ago I started a collection of Craftsman 19V Lithium battery tools, I have the 1/2 drive impact, sawzall, and the bestest is the $39 air compressor about the size of a drill motor, has about 15" hose and clipon air chuck, push button and watch digital guage. I run it 2lb over what I need and matches any good pressure guage. And, its easy to pack for trips.  


I screwed this up somehow

[hubcapsc]

I have an air compressor in my saddlebags.

I'd rather unroll the 100 ft. of hose than drag that slow, loud
thing out into the driveway 

At least by the time you get down to bidness, it's PFFT and you're done  ...

-Mike

[hungryeye]

I have an air compressor in my saddlebags.

I'd rather unroll the 100 ft. of hose than drag that slow, loud
thing out into the driveway 

At least by the time you get down to bidness, it's PFFT and you're done  ...

-Mike

My hand held will top off 4 lbs in a minute or less, I have a shop compressor, been using retractable hose container for years, but I hate hoses and electric cords. I don't do heavy work anymore so I'm all in with the battery tools.

[3TV]

May not be as bad on a Valk (less stuff up front), but a Wing (as least mine) will start a decel wobble on the front end if it gets below 36 psi. 

If I keep mine at 36 as per the manual, then as little as 1 psi loss means front end wobble.    

I like to keep mine between 38 & 40 on the front, 42 rear. 

I don't think the 2014 Valkyrie has that problem.  I just checked my tire pressure for the first time, with 450 miles on the bike.  I had 30 psi in front and 36 psi in back, and I thought the handling was great.  I increased PSI to 40 psi in front and 41 psi in back.  I'll see how I like it on this Friday's ride.   I may go back to the 36 psi recommended in the manual for the front tire.

[dans2014]

   The recommended pressure is on the frame tag lookin smack at you. Always amazes me how all us humans seem to have different rules than the manufacturer recommends after hours and hours of testing in all conditions!!! Just sayin

[hubcapsc]

  The recommended pressure is on the frame tag lookin smack at you. Always amazes me how all us humans seem to have different rules than the manufacturer recommends after hours and hours of testing in all conditions!!! Just sayin

The manufacturers don't focus entirely on race-track statistics... they don't care
all that much how long your OEM tire lasts... those slightly squishy tiny-bit-underinflated
tires sure do feel good and run quiet on the test ride  ...

Running the recommended 35 in the run-flats on my Mini Cooper is like
burning money...

-Mike

[bscrive]

  The recommended pressure is on the frame tag lookin smack at you. Always amazes me how all us humans seem to have different rules than the manufacturer recommends after hours and hours of testing in all conditions!!! Just sayin

The manufacturers don't focus entirely on race-track statistics... they don't care
all that much how long your OEM tire lasts... those slightly squishy tiny-bit-underinflated
tires sure do feel good and run quiet on the test ride  ...

Running the recommended 35 in the run-flats on my Mini Cooper is like
burning money...

-Mike

Under inflating tires is an old car sales trick.  People test drive the car with under inflated tires and the ride is softer and impresses the buyer. 
My cousin is a mechanic at a Huyundai dealership here in Ottawa, and all the tires on the new cars are set to 32psi.  Rarely do they pump them up after the sale unless someone gets scammed buying the nitrogen fill option, and if the owner never checks them they can be back in as little as 20000kms needing new tires.  He sees this all the time.

Brian

[3TV]

May not be as bad on a Valk (less stuff up front), but a Wing (as least mine) will start a decel wobble on the front end if it gets below 36 psi. 

If I keep mine at 36 as per the manual, then as little as 1 psi loss means front end wobble.    

I like to keep mine between 38 & 40 on the front, 42 rear. 

I don't think the 2014 Valkyrie has that problem.  I just checked my tire pressure for the first time, with 450 miles on the bike.  I had 30 psi in front and 36 psi in back, and I thought the handling was great.  I increased PSI to 40 psi in front and 41 psi in back.  I'll see how I like it on this Friday's ride.   I may go back to the 36 psi recommended in the manual for the front tire.

Handling is noticeably better with 40 psi in the front tire instead of 30, and with 41 psi in the back tire instead of 36.  I'll be leaving air pressure right where it is. 

[Jess from VA]

 The recommended pressure is on the frame tag lookin smack at you. Always amazes me how all us humans seem to have different rules than the manufacturer recommends after hours and hours of testing in all conditions!!! Just sayin

The manufacturers don't focus entirely on race-track statistics... they don't care
all that much how long your OEM tire lasts... those slightly squishy tiny-bit-underinflated
tires sure do feel good and run quiet on the test ride   ...

Running the recommended 35 in the run-flats on my Mini Cooper is like
burning money...

-Mike

Bingo.  Vehicle manufacturers (including motorcycles) are more interested in the bottom line, including liability issues, than either best handling or best mileage from tires.  Tire manufacturers give better advice.  I've not followed vehicle mfgr's advice on PSI for many years (it's virtually always too low for best handling and mileage).  And many new vehicles come with pretty mediocre tires, and their recommended psi should only be considered for those tires (maybe), but not better tires.

While not scientific, what I generally start out with (for a new tire I haven't used before) is halfway between the vehicle mfgr's recommended psi, and the max psi printed on the tire sidewall.  And usually end up somewhat higher than that.

Handling is noticeably better with 40 psi in the front tire instead of 30, and with 41 psi in the back tire instead of 36.  
No doubt.