Correct Pressures

I have Metzeler Z6 fitted to the thou, and when looking for correct tyre pressures for my CB, I found that I might be running on the wrong pressures on the SV. I've always gone with 36/36 for solo riding, but Metzeler say that I should be using 36/42, which is what I run when 2 up. This always feels strange when I've forgotten to lower them again when solo. The values aren't massively different though, unlike the CB.

Standard values, as I understand it, are 29/33, but Bridgestone say it should be 36/40 on BT-45, which is a great deal higher.

Are they quoting for two up riding? Or does the different tyre really need such a drastic increase in pressure?

Manufacturers no longer differentiate between two up and solo riding in terms of recommended pressures. They have one recommended pressure for both.

But this is a recommendation, and if you find the pressures are better for *you* at a different PSI than their recommendation then this is the right pressure for you.

29/33 is very low and what is commonly used on a race track. I'd not be running anywhere near that unless I was planning on riding *very* hard.

Changing the pressures can make a big difference to how a bike feels so play with them till you personally are happy with them.

C

C

What warm pressures do you tend to run after reasonably hard riding Berlin?

Cheers

[mister c]

Have always run mine at 36/42, whatever. Never had a problem

Depends entirely on the tyres Nick.

On the SV, I ended up running Conti road attacks at 30 front, 33 rear on the road cold and they were excellent at that. Running them at the recommended 36/42 cold they were truely awful.

Every time I change a set of tyres I start playing with the pressures all over again until I find the optimum PSI for that particular set with the way I ride.

It also depends on the type or riding I'm planning on doing too. If I'm touring I'll bump them up to 4 psi back and front as I'm not going to be generating the same temperatures as scratching.

Carcass design also comes into it too as some tyres are much stiffer than others so running the stiffer tyres at higher pressure is going to give a very harsh ride in comparison to softer carcass tyres at the same pressures.

C

Originally Posted by Berlin

On the SV, I ended up running Conti road attacks at 30 front, 33 rear on the road cold and they were excellent at that. Running them at the recommended 36/42 cold they were truely awful.

I ran my road attacks at 36/42 and its was lovely - fast turning and nimble - we must have different suspension set ups!

I now use michelin pilot sports and they are even better!

Thats the thing about tyre pressures. Its a personal thing. Personally I didn't like the way 36/42 bruised your kidneys and loosened your fillings over the bumps on Yorkshire roads. For me, Conti attacks were better at 30/33.

Thats why folks should try different pressures and not just accept that the manufacturers recommendation be set in stone. Different pressures can make the bike feel completely different. if you never play with them, you'll never know if there's a better setting for you personally than the standard recommendation.

cheers,
C

[QUOTE=Berlin;1964602] Personally I didn't like the way 36/42 bruised your kidneys and loosened your fillings over the bumps on Yorkshire roads/QUOTE]


Whats there not to like

I can see what your saying though, and its a trade off with suspension and how hard you work them.

That was winter - summer I run 34/36.

Im running 36/42 hot now. Seems to be working. Also knocked a little rebound off the forks and that helped a lot.

I wish I had more time to test everything I can with suspension and tyre's to find that perfect setting. I think I need slightly stiffer springs too, think I went a little bit soft... Have to run more compression dampening than id like to stop the forks diving all the damn time.

Anyway sorry for digressing.

Increase your front preload Nick.