CT air pressure?

[Spurs]

I have a 205 55 16 CT and I just noticed on this new tire a rub on the starboard  (right) side high, I adjusted my shocks from 5 down to 2 and reduced air pressure from 40 PSI to 36.5 PSI - any comments are appreciated if you have had the same kind of wear

[Chrisj CMA]

port=left


I have never run a CT but that seems like low pressure and low shock setting.  up it a tad on both and see what happens.

[Spurs]

Thanks Chris

[Daniel Meyer]

http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

Also, I run mine 34-38 psi.

[Spurs]

Thanks Daniel; I'll remove the fender tomorrow

[Spurs]

I have heard it rub in left turns only, bearings I'm not sure this is a '97 Std with only 9,700 miles on it

[Jess from VA]

My 206 60 only rubbed a bit (only on the right/starboard sidewall) once when I let the pressure get far too low (twenty something).  I have always run 40 constant.  It may seem counter-intuitive, but I think low pressure lets the sidewall belly out and then rub (and of course this may alter a bit between low and high speeds).  I think more pressure keeps the sidewall stiffer and less likely to rub.  I was away from home when it was noticed, and I added air, and then checked a few times and it was fine, and has never happened again.  

My rub was very slight, and actually discovered by a Hog guy aghast at a car tire who was studying it closely.  He was very happy to discover and report the tiny rub, as proof that car tires were lunacy and would only be run by a crazy person.  I didn't think much of his opinion, but I was happy for his close inspection.

Finally, that bike has a chrome swingarm cover that makes the swingarm that much fatter, and I am fairly certain that my sidewall rubbed the upper inside edge of the cover.  

If you have the bike at home, it would seem to be an easy experiment to hoist it up on a jack, put her in neutral and spin the tire at different pressures.  Of course the problem is while on the jack, the weight of the bike is off the tire, so the sidewall will not reach full belly while weightless.

A tire rub should be in a circle all the way around the tire (however thin).  A little close inspection should reveal exactly where it is contacting the bike. Not only is the tire rubbed, but there should be a bit of soft rubber on the bike contact point.

I'm not sure how shock setting will contribute to a rub, except for rubbing up inside the fender (not on the sidewall).  For my experimenting, I would return to your shock original setting, so all other things but air pressure are equal in trying to find where the tire rubbed the bike.

In short, I think you need more air, not less.  And I'd set the shocks where you like them.

EDIT: I would have assumed you already cut the cages out.  If you haven't, that is the likely culprit.  The fender does not have to come off, but the tire/wheel may.  I did my cages on a tire change (going to my 1st CT), and I just slid up under the empty fender and did the work.  

[Spurs]

Thanks Jess

[mustang071965]

been running a ct for 8 years now. my first did the same thing. looked at every thing. had done the nut cage mod. but there was still a light rub about the sidewall center area. found that even after doing the nut cage mod the square nut was to thick and was hitting the side wall. to solve my problem i ground down the square nut to 1/2 its thickness and all was good then. no more rub.

[mark81]

my bolts are from the inside with the big square nuts on the outside. works good with hitch mounting and bags hide it well enough

[Valker]

Thanks Daniel; I'll remove the fender tomorrow

Don't remove the fender. Carefully read Daniel's post.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks Daniel; I'll remove the fender tomorrow

Don't remove the fender. Carefully read Daniel's post.

I think he meant to do the nutcage removal.

[Jess from VA]

been running a ct for 8 years now. my first did the same thing. looked at every thing. had done the nut cage mod. but there was still a light rub about the sidewall center area. found that even after doing the nut cage mod the square nut was to thick and was hitting the side wall. to solve my problem i ground down the square nut to 1/2 its thickness and all was good then. no more rub.

my bolts are from the inside with the big square nuts on the outside. works good with hitch mounting and bags hide it well enough

After removing the cages, and sanding down the high/sharp spots (and dabbing paint), those nuts looked pretty tall.  

Rather than grinding my nuts down, I removed the big fat nuts and replaced them with standard small nuts of the same size.  (hex)

(Anyone married 20 or more years understands this process.)         (but I digress)

[Willow]

my bolts are from the inside with the big square nuts on the outside. works good with hitch mounting and bags hide it well enough

This is my preference but with chrome acorn nuts on the outside.

Forty pounds does it for me but I like to feel the road.

[Harryc]

... I removed the big fat nuts and replaced them with standard small nuts of the same size.
(Anyone married 20 or more years understands this process.)          (but I digress)

[Pappy!]

This may help you some as well.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,65849.0.html

BTW - I run my CT 34-36# usually.