Forum

[Bullet Whisperer]

I would consider 18psi to be worryingly low. I have been 'off' bikes more than once, due to tyre issues in my younger days. I never go lower than 26psi front and 28psi rear on the Bullets, the Honda CB500T and other, similar sized bikes, regardless of the make of the tyres. It is your own neck you put on the line, though! Regards, Paul.

[rog]

My 2012 EFI B5 (ie the one that looks like an old 350) came with the old fashioned AVON SMs fitted and the handbook quotes 18psi front and 28 rear for one-up riding. I'm pretty sure the handbook of my 2007 Electra X also quoted these figures for the Avon Roadunners it was fitted with. Therefore I'm inclined to believe that RE India quote the same figures for all Bullet models regardless of tyre type. I think 18 is a bit low so I've used 26 front, 28 rear on both bikes and that includes the MITAS tyres I now have fitted.

[Dennis C]

I think that the possible reason for RE pressure advice is due to the probability that most REs are made with Indian high mileage tyres fitted, these are a lot like our old 1950s tyres Ie very hard rubber, I once made the mistake of buying one of these tyres on the internet, not a mistake I will make again its more like plastic than modern rubber.

[ric]

"I still think 18psi is a misprint in the manual, it is worrying low for a front tyre pressure for on road use"


No not a misprint, it was first established over 50yrs ago. However one conspiracy theory is that because both tyre carcass rigidity and tread compounds have vastly improved since the RE factory test rider came up with 18psi we might need to use a slightly different pressure to benefit from the vastly superior tyres which are now available in this century.

[papasmurf]

Ric, I am old enough to have been riding motorcycles 50 years ago, 18 psi would have been a low pressure for a front tyre back then. I still think it is a misprint that has been kept going for a long time.

[Dennis C]

No way back then most bike makers would advise pressures that low, you only need to look in the original manuals to find out.

[Bullet Whisperer]

As an example from 'way back then', last year I finished part restoring a 650 Panther, one of the jobs was to rebuild the wheels and fit new K70 tyres. This machine was last on the road in 1971 and the K70's that came off were absolute murder to get off and about three times as heavy as the new ones that went on - you could have probably ridden it with virtually no air in the originals, but the new ones had very thin and soft sidewalls and carcasses by comparison and I put 26 and 28 psi in them. Regards, Paul.

[Rattlebattle]

The tyre pressures in the contemporary manual for my 1954 Tiger 100 are 17 psi front and 19 psi rear. They were a lot lower then than now. RE the Classic EFI don't forget that they are tubeless tyres but have tubes fitted, so the pressures will be lower than tubeless without tubes. I run mine quite happily on 20/30 ie pillion pressures ridden solo. These bikes are hardly cutting edge nor very sensitive to incorrect pressures, unlike some I've owned. Run what suits you, within reason.

[Gwilly]

I wouldn't give too much credence to whats written in the various RE manuals..

Proof reading is not their strongest point. Over the years there have been ludicrous figures given for things like thread torque values, front fork oil capacities and tyres pressures.

Not only is the contact area compromised with too low an inflation but also an increased risk of tyre creep taking out the valve on acceleration. (BW's bikes anyway)

The advent of disc stopping power may do the same to the front end..
I think i would advise sticking with the tyre makers recommendations.. Stuff the Indies..

[Trev]

My tuppence worth ....... I run 28F/32R with Michelin Anakees on EFI and that seems to work pretty well handling wise. I'm about 16st fully kitted and usually ride the RE at 'high speed' ie try to keep up with modern traffic and even the odd over take ; ) Could probably run with a couple of psi less in the rear but wife (thankfully a svelte gym bunny so the RE still gets up most hills) often rides pillion so saves me adding an extras puff of air every other week.

Like others I wouldn't consider running as low as 18 psi on a modern tyre on the road although probably is manufacturers recommendation, my 1977 Suzuki twin has 22/24 recommended in manual but feels way better on modern rubber (Avon Roadriders) at the same 28/32.