If I buy one of those Presta valve adapters can I just screw it on and leave it on while I ride? Will I lose air pressure at to fast of a rate?
I own a 1998 Bandit 1200S. These bikes have inherently noisy valves. As has already been said, loose is much better than tight. You can run with loose valves for a while without any major damage resulting (unless the screw comes out of the rocker and lodges in an oil passage...very rare) If you don't hear a clicking then the valves are tight and major damage can occur. The Bandit does not have shim under/over bucket. The valves can be adjusted with a $10 tool from Suzuki (or one can be made for a couple of bucks). I adjusted my own, as a novice mechanic, and it isn't that difficult however you should synch the carbs after the service which requires a $30 - $100 set of gauges. Don't forget the feeler gauges either. Along with the Suzi tool, Guages and new gaskets from Suzuki you should have a shop manual or haines manual that will describe the process as well as appropriate tools like a torque wrench. This can also be time consuming for a beginner with many pit falls along the way and you have to measure with the engine cold, that means at least 24 hours since the last start up. The long and the short...You can ride it for a while and (most likely) will not have a problem.
Yes, just leave it on the valve while you ride. I tuck mine in my seat pack, but there's no reason you can't put it on the valve. The presta valve should be screwed shut like normal, then just put the adapter on over it. One of the best little gadgets to have if you ride in the country. Lots of people have portable or shop air compressors, but only *real* cyclists will have a pump or air chuck to fit a presta valve. If you inflate your tube with CO2, be sure to let it thaw out before you unscrew the adapter to close the presta valve. It's easy to lose air or tear the rubber at the base of the valve if you don't. I rode with a guy that used to just tuck his adapter and a patch kit in the leg of his shorts because he wanted to travel ultralight. I guess you could do that, too, but I'd worry about driving them into your flesh if you happen to crash and land on them.
Nope! I always ride with one screwed onto each tire. The schrader adapter screws over the presta. Always good to have one incase you're near a gas station and may need air.
If ya want to leave an adaptor on you could. I would close the valve though. That way you would have the adaptor always available. It only takes a few seconds to open the valve to fill the tire. Or, like most people, simply buy a punp that fits presta.
