2003 HD XL1200c TYRE PRESSURES (Solo) PLEASE?
Just keep in mind that the tire pressure shown on the side of the tire is for the maximum load rating. In other words, say the tire says 600 lbs40 psi. If you have a fat girlfriend and with her on the bike the load on the rear tire is going to be around 600 lbs, then you certainly need to run 40 psi cold. If you weigh 110 lbs, your girlfriend left you and the rear tire load never exceeds 400 lbs, then 40 psi is too much and 32-34 psi would probably be more in line. Air pressure higher than needed tends to wear the center of the tire, rides harshly and reduces the contact patch size. Lower than needed wears the outsides of the tread patch, reduces stability and will overheat the tire with potential catastrophic failure (blow out). If you must, it's better to run a bit on the high side than the low side. If you want to weight the front and rear wheels on your bike, look aorund for a grain elevator that buys and sells grain to farmers. Go in, be friendly, tell them you want to see what the front and rear wheel weights are on your bike and see what they say. If they are agreeable, with you on the bike, run the front wheel onto the end of the scale, have them see what it weighs and then run the entire bike on. Most bikes are heavier than what people think they are because they go by what the dry weight or the manufacturers weight is and I've found those are often way off. Most scales like I described above are accurate + or - 10 lbs.
motorcycle tyres should always be checked when they are cold with the front at 31 psi ,and the rear 36 psi ,this is what it has in the owners manuel ,the tyre's have a maximum pressure on the side wall ,I usually run my tires at 32 in the front and 38 in the rear for a smoother ride on highways and it also increases the mpg by just a little bit
It should be listed on the sidewalls of your tires.
