How do you put air in your tires?

[kramnala58]

.... I've read that using 90 degree stems will offset the balance of the rim/wheel. Is there truth to that? I refrained from doing that for that reason.

I had them installed on mine a couple of years ago, and I have not noticed a difference with balance. Everything seems okay.

[Ishkabibble]

Is this a US thing - only hear of problems filling up tyres from US garages

It absolutely must be a US thing. Apparently the desire to make a buck at all costs forces the oil companies to charge for even air.

Haven't seen a regular "gas station/garage" since Girardey's closed up in the early 1990s. They were the real deal. Old-time Texaco dealer, two bay garage, and a guy came out to check your oil, washer fluid, and clean your windshield if you filled up. Free air and water too.

Now, it's all quickie marts where they charge you even for the thing to wash your windshield with. Profiteering...

[iceman]

Is this a US thing - only hear of problems filling up tyres from US garages

It absolutely must be a US thing. Apparently the desire to make a buck at all costs forces the oil companies to charge for even air.
Haven't seen a regular "gas station/garage" since Girardey's closed up in the early 1990s. They were the real deal. Old-time Texaco dealer, two bay garage, and a guy came out to check your oil, washer fluid, and clean your windshield if you filled up. Free air and water too.
Now, it's all quickie marts where they charge you even for the thing to wash your windshield with. Profiteering...

Most garages in London seem to charge for air/water and many supermarkets - Sainsburys used to (still may) give free air/water with paid for vacuuming but many others charge a nominal fee - say 20 pence for a few minutes use.

[honkerman]

It all depends on where you go. Here in PA, Sheetz and Wa-Wa still have free air pumps. I've also had no issue just going to either my auto mechanic or the local Honda dealer, neither have ever charged me to fill my tires. There are still some good people around and some independent garages that haven't succumbed to the societal drift toward the mega-chain.

[Lanesplitter]

quote]


I find I lose a bit of air when the tire chunks against potholes, so I need to check and refill them fairly often.[/quote]

That could explain it. I put on 200-400 miles per weekend sometimes over very rough pavement.

[Lanesplitter]

I doubt it will matter at the speeds we run....

What speeds are "safe" for underinflated tires? I run 67 mph on the freeway. 55 mph sweepers, 40-45 mph in "25 mph" curves.

[iceman]

I heard that under-inflated tyres grip better as some people were doing that - to my mind the handling goes down when the tyres lose more than a few psi.

[Jge64]

I doubt it will matter at the speeds we run....

What speeds are "safe" for underinflated tires? I run 67 mph on the freeway. 55 mph sweepers, 40-45 mph in "25 mph" curves.

My comment was not about underinflated tires it was about adding a right-hand valve.

[kramnala58]

I heard that under-inflated tyres grip better as some people were doing that - to my mind the handling goes down when the tyres lose more than a few psi.

They might grip "better," but I have found that an under-inflated front tyre can tend to grip so much that it almost wants to dig in and pull the handle bars around. I have a slow leak in the front (4 or 5 psi every three or four weeks), and I can tell when it is hitting the 4-5 psi range just by the way the steering in changed.

[gagazman]

I hope you're being facetious.

Nope.
I don't check tyres unless they start to look or feel soft.
Checking them lets air out.
If you don't check them the air stays in.
Other things I never check: oil level, coolant level, spark plug gap.
TBH I just don't do maintenance, I bought it to ride it, not fart around with it.

I'm pleased someone thinks along the lines of me. I have no idea about maintenance and, as it is still in warranty, if anything goes wrong I will just call the dealers.

[Jge64]

I hope you're being facetious.

Nope.
I don't check tyres unless they start to look or feel soft.
Checking them lets air out.
If you don't check them the air stays in.
Other things I never check: oil level, coolant level, spark plug gap.
TBH I just don't do maintenance, I bought it to ride it, not fart around with it.

I'm pleased someone thinks along the lines of me. I have no idea about maintenance and, as it is still in warranty, if anything goes wrong I will just call the dealers.

You're pleased you found someone as ignorant about maint as you?

Ok....

Sure I don't do major stuff myself as I don't want to ,but checking oil and air will keep you from spending big money, and in the case of air, injuring yourself....

Your choice....

[you you]

I hope you're being facetious.

Nope.
I don't check tyres unless they start to look or feel soft.
Checking them lets air out.
If you don't check them the air stays in.
Other things I never check: oil level, coolant level, spark plug gap.
TBH I just don't do maintenance, I bought it to ride it, not fart around with it.

I'm pleased someone thinks along the lines of me. I have no idea about maintenance and, as it is still in warranty, if anything goes wrong I will just call the dealers.

You might need to learn how to inflate your tyres at some point as going back to the dealers with a warranty claim for under inflation might cause laughter and incontinence

[honkerman]

Incontinence is funny...until you're the one cleaning it up...still kinda funny.

[gn2]

You're pleased you found someone as ignorant about maint as you?

I'm well aware of what should be done regarding maintenance, but have found from years of experience that what suits me best is to leave things alone as much as possible.
99.99% of owners never open the bonnet of a car for anything other than to top up the screen washer fluid, why should a scooter be any different?

[honkerman]

You're pleased you found someone as ignorant about maint as you?

I'm well aware of what should be done regarding maintenance, but have found from years of experience that what suits me best is to leave things alone as much as possible.
99.99% of owners never open the bonnet of a car for anything other than to top up the screen washer fluid, why should a scooter be any different?

I feel like we're being trolled...Are we being trolled?

Just because many cagers are idiots and don't attend to their vehicle's upkeep, doesn't mean it's safe for motorcylists (scooterists included). Not attending to the simple things like, say, chain lubrication, cable tension, and tire pressure on a bike can have disastrous consequences. in a car, if you crash because something fails or a tire blows, you'll probably escape with a few scratches. On a bike, if a cable fails, a chain breaks, or a tire fails, you're likely to get a lot more than a few scratches. I know from experience how badly one can be hurt from a low speed fall off a scooter, I'm not about to take chances with preventable things.

Hell, maintenance stuff, like carbs, belts, valves and spark plugs, a good mechanic can usually tell if they need to be looked at by how the bike runs. And yes, a rider can tell the tires are low if they feel squidgy in the corners, but by then, they are too low. if you want to take risks on your own, that's fine, but with the tag-line you sport in your sig, you're setting yourself up to be an expert and someone may take your suggestion as gospel. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes if they got hurt because they followed your example on this issue. Just sayin'.

[JIMJFOX]

With a simple compact foot-pump which fits easily in the underseat.
Has a right-angled connector so is perfect.
Also invested in an electronic pressure gauge which reads in PSI, KPA, etc.
Far more accurate than the mechanical type.

"Mechanics" here in Thailand I find untrustworthy and/or inexperienced young boys.
For instance the bike was delivered new with 46 PSI in the front tyre!!
This is plain B dangerous in the wet! Their compressors don't have gauges so they
just let rip; I tried using it myself but the flow rate was so high that tyre pressure
was uncontrollable.

With my foot pump and gauge I can now set pressures absolutely accurately, with no
real effort- I am 70+ by the way...

As for service, the bike just had it's first at 950 km. I have little confidence they did what
the manual demands, other than the correct new oil. Originally it was over-filled by an inch
on the dipstick but by letting them know what I expect, they were more careful. Did they
clean the metal filter? Who can tell? Getting them to fill in the service book is impossible.

The good news- price was 75,500 Baht, about 2,145 USD today. Hondas, almost indestructible
are built here so OEM parts are dirt cheap too. Lucky Ol' me!!

[JIMJFOX]

[quote="Lanesplitter"]quote]

WOW!- What a fabulous landscape. Is it real or photoshopped?

[WhiteNoise]

quote]

WOW!- What a fabulous landscape. Is it real or photoshopped?

I know right? I drool everytime I see this landscape view! Rolling hills - beautiful! Bit jealous too

[gagazman]

You're pleased you found someone as ignorant about maint as you?

I'm well aware of what should be done regarding maintenance, but have found from years of experience that what suits me best is to leave things alone as much as possible.
99.99% of owners never open the bonnet of a car for anything other than to top up the screen washer fluid, why should a scooter be any different?

I feel like we're being trolled...Are we being trolled?

Just because many cagers are idiots and don't attend to their vehicle's upkeep, doesn't mean it's safe for motorcylists (scooterists included). Not attending to the simple things like, say, chain lubrication, cable tension, and tire pressure on a bike can have disastrous consequences. in a car, if you crash because something fails or a tire blows, you'll probably escape with a few scratches. On a bike, if a cable fails, a chain breaks, or a tire fails, you're likely to get a lot more than a few scratches. I know from experience how badly one can be hurt from a low speed fall off a scooter, I'm not about to take chances with preventable things.

Hell, maintenance stuff, like carbs, belts, valves and spark plugs, a good mechanic can usually tell if they need to be looked at by how the bike runs. And yes, a rider can tell the tires are low if they feel squidgy in the corners, but by then, they are too low. if you want to take risks on your own, that's fine, but with the tag-line you sport in your sig, you're setting yourself up to be an expert and someone may take your suggestion as gospel. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes if they got hurt because they followed your example on this issue. Just sayin'.

Agreed! Preventative measures are important like tyres, checking the coolant, basic things. I know how to check tyres and i have even put a wee bit of air in them using a foot pump. But when it comes to things like valves and spark plugs, that is for the dealers to do!

[tjlayden]

I use this. It sits under the seat at all times. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L3 ... UTF8&psc=1