Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

all this talk of pressure gauges......

well, i'm gunna go get one of those gauges ya'll been speakin' about, so what pressures are best front and rear, cold and hot, zx6 versus zx9 vs. zx12, etc.....

I could just go with what the book says (F= 36psi R=41psi COLD), but wanna get your opinions as "aftermarket" stuff is usually better that kwaks suggestions (advice, parts, etc.)
also, while i'm at it.... when i get new tyres the steering/handle bars move the front tyre from side to side really nicely and quickly (ie: correct pressure) and smoothly, give it a day or two of riding and it's back to slow heavy turning of the wheel (while just standing).... so, i'm losing air. does it normally happen this quickly????

Yankee

I run 34 front and 36 rear cold.



mario

ZX12R~BT014's and ZZR1200~Pilot sports front~Pilot road rear, both are 42psi front and rear cold as stated from the owners manual.

If you measure pressure in a tyre when its hot, you will get the wrong reading, best to measure before moving off on the bike for the first time.
Don't release air from a hot tyre, I do not know why but all the tyre manufactures say it. At a guess it could have something to do with the tyre being hot and deforming if pressure is released dunno.

Last of all NEVER EVER trust a service station guage; digital or anologue as just about all I have used are out of calibration and one in particular was out 10psi I always carry my own guage.

If you're a cheapskate like me, just whack us much air in as humanly possible. I find it makes the tyre last longer.

I usually run 36 front and rear as a baseline, and then alter to suit from there.

It really depends on your tyres though as well.

Certain tyres like being run at lower pressures than others. If you run Michelin Pilot Powers say, they like being run pretty low, say around 33f, 35r. (that's what I run, ZX10R, spiritited sport riding) However, Bridgestones would probably run a bit higher and be quite ok. It's all rather a lot of experimentation.

Play around with the pressures, when you get off the bike from having a bit of a scratch, feel the tyres and see how hot they are. If they're still cold, drop the pressures to try and get a bit more heat into them and it'l help.

It's a million dollar question, but really, it depends on the tyre, and the riding style too. Be prepared to have a play around and see what suits you, as well as giving them a bit of a feel to see how hot they're getting, and you should get some progress.

i usually do 36 front, 38 rear

mrmina wrote:i usually do 36 front, 38 rear

Pressures without the tyre are useless. Tell us what tyre, and why you put those pressures in, and what bike. Otherwise you might as well just pluck numbers ouf a things that has numbers in it.

FuTAnT wrote:

mrmina wrote:i usually do 36 front, 38 rear

Pressures without the tyre are useless. Tell us what tyre, and why you put those pressures in, and what bike. Otherwise you might as well just pluck numbers ouf a things that has numbers in it.

Thats what i did. Just plucked numbers

BT012SS front and back.

why did i put in that much pressure. NFI. It works ok i guess

i like ardvarks answer the best so far!!!

atm i have ~35 Rear and ~31 Front (BT012ss R and BT014 F).... measured by the servos thingy.....

i shall increase pressure next outting as this heats up quickly. feels fine, but may be able to prolong life a bit by increasing pressure...???

Bridgie 012SS 33F 36R, i found the 020 rear liked about 38 though.
Cheers Brett

Marty

I run 36 front and 40 rear in my Pilot Sports...

Seems to work okay but open for suggestions...

D208GPs

30 front , 28 rear

marty run 36 f 38 r if you want them to last or 33front 29 rear for the track where you dont go, I Find they last for ages on the higher settings and have that shagged out balls of rubber on the edges look on the lower settings so its all about footprint on the road lower presure= bigger footprint. Go for 36/38 and give that a go as that will make them last longer.

Yeah up the temps a bit yanks round to round mid 30`s. 30 front to soft for the road.

Cya