R1200RT Tire pressure

[ULTRAPASS]

Alyzck,
How about after market wind shields?

Ultra LT

[alzyck]

Alyzck,
How about after market wind shields?

Ultra LT

Totally need to add after market windshields to the inflammatory list. Aeroflow vs Cee Bailey's vs Cal Sci vs yada yada.

Probably should also add...
- Russell vs Mayer 1 vs Mayer 2 vs Rich's vs Corbin vs Sargent seats.
- LGBT as it relates to BMWMOA.

[Hammam]

Depending on the tire, higher pressures do two things most riders are concerned about.

One is it has been proven to increase treadlife on some dual compound tires.

More importanly, the higher the pressues, the more protection from damage to the rims in the event you hit something in the road, pothole, junk that falls off a vehicle in front of you, that kind of thing.

As to changing pressures every time you ride - that is not what I said. What I said was I check pressures every morning before I ride. Generally, there's no to very little change so all I'm doing is make sure the pressure is where I want it and there's no damage to the tire, as well as checking tread life.

I know a lot of riders that don't check pressures often or even at all unless the bike is in for service. That's their choice. I started riding in 1956 and was taught early on that tire condition is all that's between me and the road. Where it's true tire technology has made dramatic improvements, there's no way temperatures and elevation don't play a part in air pressures. My routine is to check every day I ride. It's worked for me for a long time and I've never had a 'tire surprise' on the road.

Do what suits you. If you don't understand it, ask someone that does to explain it to you face to face. This is too much typing to do as you ask more questions.

Maybe a visit with the service techs at your dealer can get you the answers you're looking for.

Ride safe.

Thank you. Makes sense. I check my tire pressure every week.

[gfspencer]

Just running through my mind the list of really inflammatory things to bring up on this Board. Let's see...

Tire pressure
Tire brands
Synthentic vs dino
Amsoil vs all other oils
Ethanol
Dynabeads
How big a problem final drive failures really are.

What other ones am I missing?

Anti-lock brakes
GPS vs Map
BMW Bags vs Aftermarket Bags . . . especially bags on a GSA

[ka5ysy]

Anti-lock brakes
GPS vs Map
BMW Bags vs Aftermarket Bags . . . especially bags on a GSA

HD vs anything

[KenDittrick]

[JoeDabbs]

I commute daily, check my pressure each morning. I run just a tad over recommended solo pressure and that works for me. When they return my bike from service, the dealer always sets the pressure to two-up and the bike just floats all over the road. I weigh about 170 and ride with no bags, but always the top box with a bunch of junk.

[PGlaves]

I'm going to comment on tire pressure. I'll leave the list of argumentative topics alone.

A number of riders seem to like pressures a little higher than BMW specifies. For older models the reason is clear. Unless you are getting repro tires, today's tires with softer sidewalls and different rubber need more pressure.

BMW brought a bit of it on themselves when they equipped the R1100RS with the very soft three-spoke wheels. Routine potholes and railroad crossings bent those wheels very easily. So in self defense and to avoid $900 wheels folks started running higher pressures. We have run 40-42 in Voni's R1100RS forever for just this reason.

Two years ago when we toured all summer I rode my R1150R. In anticipation of ordering new shocks, as soon as we got home I weighed all the luggage and camping gear as I took it off the bike. Grand total - 171 pounds. Last year I rode my F650 Dakar with a slimmed down 150 pound load. So I run pressures a bit higher than BMW suggests.

I do have a Smartire TPMS on my R1150R. I can easily monitor the pressure rise hot to cold, and also the tire internal air temperature. So doing results in running pressures a few psi higher than the book suggests.

And like others, I do vary my tire pressure depending on circumstances. In cold weather I run a couple of psi lower pressure than my "normal", for two reasons. The tire is unlikely to get too hot and I can monitor that. And, with cold pavement warm rubber is a big traction plus. In very hot weather and day long trips I run a couple of psi higher than my "normal". This helps the tire from overheating. I also may vary pressures depending on locale. If I am riding in the mountains and intend to do so with some spirit I will run a couple of psi lower than normal. But for drones across west Texas and Oklahoma in August I will probably bump the pressures a pound or two. There isn't a single number that is right for all occasions, loads, or riders. Sorry.

As a final comment, I also happen to own a 1997 Ford Explorer. Does anybody remember the Explorer / Bridgestone tire fiasco with low tire pressures, blowouts, rollovers, class action lawsuits, and flack that almost tubed the tire company. My door column stickers say 24 psi. I run 35 winter and 40 summer. Yes the ride is a little harsher, which is what Ford was trying to avoid, but I don't get hot tires, blowouts, rollovers, injury or death.

[gfspencer]

And like others, I do vary my tire pressure depending on circumstances. In cold weather I run a couple of psi lower pressure than my "normal", for two reasons. The tire is unlikely to get too hot and I can monitor that. And, with cold pavement warm rubber is a big traction plus. In very hot weather and day long trips I run a couple of psi higher than my "normal". This helps the tire from overheating.

Excellent point about tire pressure and temperature.

[greenwald]

Number one cause of tire failure in motorcycles (omitting punctures): low pressures. We teach this to every newbie in the MSF Basic Rider Course before they head out the door.

[Atomicman52]

38 / 42

YO Greenwald, Old Pal.

I knew there was something we'd agree on!

38/42!!

[Hammam]

...

And like others, I do vary my tire pressure depending on circumstances. In cold weather I run a couple of psi lower pressure than my "normal", for two reasons. The tire is unlikely to get too hot and I can monitor that. And, with cold pavement warm rubber is a big traction plus. In very hot weather and day long trips I run a couple of psi higher than my "normal". This helps the tire from overheating. ...

I like that approach.

[Hammam]

Now, I wonder if there is anything left NOT on the inflammatory list? Do people get inflamed that easily?

[deilenberger]

Along with Paul - I have a TPMS system. Mine also monitors tire temperature (at least the temperature of the air in the tire.)

Interesting how MUCH different the tire temperature can be, and how much it effects the tire pressure.

I try to keep my pressure so when my tires reach 68-70F, they're at the factory recommended pressure (32F, 36R). Doing so means in the winter they indicate quite a bit less when I leave the garage (usually 30F, 33R at around 45F), and they'll indicate higher when I return to the garage once they really warm up (ie - more then 75F tire temps - usually if I'm riding for a while at speed, even in 45F temps, I can see 80F or more in the tires by the time I get home.)

And as Paul does - I do make some adjustment based on load (when loaded for a rally trip, since I don't camp - my loaded weight increases about 50lbs.. just in clothing and my Netbook), so I'll up the pressure a few PSI (again, calculated for a 70F tire.) I don't feel the need to run excessively high pressures since (1) the R1200R rims aren't all that soft, BMW figured out that wasn't a good idea (2) the bike becomes much less comfortable to ride with higher pressure in the tires (3) I want warmed up tires, since I'm usually in temperate weather on back-roads, I'm looking for max stick with minimum pressure increase (4) I don't care about wear - at all really. I plan on a new set of rubber every year, that's about 12k miles, and the Pilot Roads do that for me without any problem at all.

YMWV - DO take into account the tire temperature when you're checking your pressure. A tire filled to 42PSI at 40F could easily exceed the maximum allowed tire pressure when fully warmed up.

BTW - "maximum" means exactly that. It doesn't mean this is something to shoot for - it means that's ALL the manufacturer will promise you the tire will hold up to.

[t6pilot]

Tire pressures as in the owners manual are set by the vehicle manufacture for the type and size tire installed on the vehicle when it left the showroom. Many manufacture list high and low pressures depending on vehicle loading, all recommend the upper pressure for high speed driving or riding
Heat is the number one killer of tires, a low pressure condition will cause severe heat build up at high speeds, do you ride at high speeds, I really don't think 34 vs 36 psi is a game changer 22 vs 36 is though we tend to think low pressure is something one to two pounds off many riders and drivers are out their every day with severly low pressure in their tires, usually their excuse is they look ok. They are generally the ones with blown tires
I can honestly say I have never had a tire failure, car, motorcycle ,bicycle or airplane think is because i'am anal about tire pressures
My 1200gs calls for 32-36 front 38-42 rear I tend to run on the high side
To make things easier on me I have taken a magic marker and written the pressure ranges on the wheel next to valve stim