Forum

[Gaffer64]

Hi,

I have a 2007 RE 350 classic with the original tyres. Please could anyone advise on the tyre pressures. I ride solo, but going on a long trip. Oh I need info asap please, please.

Cheers

Mike

[jefrs]

The pressures for the current Classic 500 are given as Solo (in Owner's Manual booklet dated 2009) - front 18psi, rear 28psi (pillion F 20psi, R 30psi).

If they are the original tyres you should make sure they are still serviceable, I do not mean wear but tyres do deteriorate with age, their grip changes and they develop splits and cracks, especially check side walls; I have several push-bike tyres of that age, good makes, that will simply have to be changed out before I can use the bikes again, tyres do not store well. Yes I know motorbike tyres are thicker and heavier but they carry a much greater load. Be safe

[Leon Novello]

The Bullet Owners Manual says: Solo. Front,18PSI. Rear. 28PSI. Pillion.Front,20 PSI. Rear.30 PSI. HOWEVER: The Workshop Manual says. Solo. Front, 32 PSI. Rear, 36PSI. I would suggest going by the Workshop Manual as there is a chance of the tube moving under load at the lower pressures, causing the valve to be torn out.

[Beezabryan]

Tyre pressures? Dependant on load weight, Leon is nearer the mark though perhaps a little too high.
More important is tyre condition and those tyres are past their use-by date. Would I trust then for a long distance ride? No. But it is your life, your choice
Just my thoughts for what they are worth

[papasmurf]

I have always assumed that 18psi is a misprint, for 28psi.

[Gwilly]

Fit new tyres and run the tyre manufactures recommended pressures, Low 30s about right..

Also clean and inspect drive chain, check correct slack when shocks fully compressed, especially if carrying loaded panniers..

Snapped chain or toothless sprocket will ruin your day...

[jefrs]

Yebbut the Workshop Manual "royalenfieldhandleiding.dpf" (for C5, E5 and G5 dated 2009) states tyre pressure as Solo front 18si rear 28psi, Pillion front 20psi rear 30psi just the same as the Owner's manual.


Nor is this entirely dissimilar to other british bikes, in particular I remember the Bantam front was 16psi solo. Some old bikes had rim clamps to stop the tyre shifting on the rim and the tyres had 'grips' inside to stop the inner-tube shifting; on the new export bikes these are 'tubeless' tyres which presumably have their bead slot into a groove in the rim to stop them shifting.



Much is made of the 'contact patch' area, especially if racing, this is (proportional to) the gross wheel load [lbs] divided by the tyre pressure [psi], answer in square inches [lb/(lb/sq.in) = sq.in*lb/lb = sq.in]. This is how much rubber sticks you to the road.

Elsewhere in http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/fo ... post_92860 ChrisD tells us that his 1996 Bullet 500 weighs just 65kg on the front wheel, 'cos he weighed his bikes (thanks Chris) which means about double that is on the back wheel, but that is without the rider, I.E. the front tyre pressure should be a lot less than the rear.



Tyre makers tell us to use manufacturer's recommended pressures, by that they mean Royal Enfield.

[jefrs]

typo - it is of course a PDF file, I don't know where I found it, I think a dutch site, but if you search on "royalenfieldhandleiding.PDF" it should turn up. Do note the bike does differ from the indian home market model.



Notably if the 2007 Bullet 350 is an import from India and still on original rubber ... OMG!

[jefrs]

I found the linky straight away

http://www.spcschoone.nl/Royal-Enfield/ ... eiding.pdf



It does cover both old (bent end) and new (straight) forks. So it's the current book for the EFi models; I've not found a later one.

Some differences between import and export models are different ECU, some different wheel sizes (18/18 or 18/19 or 18&19), and tyres fitted. India do get given cheapo tyres, we get nice posh Avons, CGT gets fancy Pirellis.

[jefrs]

Another tpyo doh! 18/18, 19/19 or 19/18. Arthritic typong. Exports - last model C5 ran on 18/18, the current 2013-? C5 is 19/18, the current Bullet B5 19/19. Not sure when the 350 was last a proper export model, now only 500s are.