Ducati Monster Forum

Ok, so I hadn't checked my tire pressures in a coupla weeks.  Bad, bad me.  And the last time I checked 'em, it was pretty warm out.  I could feel the bike handling was way off.  With the much colder temps recently and the fact that I hadn't topped 'em up in a while, I knew that my pressures were fuxored.

Front?  24 psi.  Yowzah.  Bad Spidey.  Hey, at least my chain is all lubed, my bike is relatively clean and it has new oil.  But that's dumb.

Check your pressures, folks.  'specially with the colder weather.  Remember, only you can prevent forest fires. 

Anyone ever used something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAFETY-TIRE-GAUGE-PRESSURE-MONITOR-VALVE-CAPS-36-PSI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem180304867487QQitemZ180304867487QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAFETY-TIRE-GAUGE-PRESSURE-MONITOR-VALVE-CAPS-36-PSI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem180304867487QQitemZ180304867487QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

No, and I wouldn't go anywhere near those.  I'd hate to rely on something like that instead of doing a hand check before riding. 

Just check your tire pressures with a good gauge.  And do it more often than I have in the last coupla weeks  [roll], particularly if there are changes in temp.  If you ever go to the AFM races, the Dunlop vendor has a gauge where you can test the accuracy of your tire gauge.  You'd be suprised how off even a good gauge can be.  My gauge reads .5 lb high.   

I make it a habit to always check them when I do my chain. [thumbsup]

check tire pressure before each ride [thumbsup]

She rides everyday-bit overkill, no?


Weekly/bi-weekly should be fine.

depends ... tire pressure can drop from a puncture overnight (i know that sounded dirty ... but try and keep it clean) ... so a check before each ride is not too much effort.  look at what pilots do each time they fly private planes ... total ground check takes a lot longer than 2 minutes to check tire pressure in two tires.

I ride to work pretty much every day, either on the bike or the scooter.  But it's pretty much straight up n' down and just in the City.  I'm not about to check the tires every day and don't.  Cuz that's two minutes I could be thinking about my genitalia.   ;)  I am in the habit of giving each tire a quick push to make sure they're not flat.  I check once a week normally ('cept for lately, which prompted this thread) and try to check before any ride in twisties.

I also used to be really rigid about doing a comprehensive pre-flight check of my bike before every ride, but other than at the beginning of a track day, I don't really do it as a matter of habit anymore.  Instead, I try to clean my bike more often and lube the chain more than I should.  That's when I take the time to look things over and make sure everything is peachy.

stop thinking about your package so much ...  ;D

seriously, giving the tires a push is akin to a check, although not as accurate ... so you do actually check your tires every time you ride  [thumbsup]

If kicking counts, the neighbor's cat's pressures get checked pretty routinely.  ;D

excellent ... no one wants an under-inflated pussy ... way too much danger of crashing. 8)

+1 same deal last week. The warm garage kept tires fine. Then leaving from work I noticed they were feeling mighty spashy. Down to 25psi front and back.  :o
I give mine a visual/feel every ride. And not just the neighbor's pussy.

Anyone run lower pressure in the Winter for traction?

very accommodating neighbor you have there   [roll]

Nope. I've ridden on a tire that was....er...deflating every twelve miles or so on the highway. Less tire pressure is not something I would call pleasant or confidence inspiring.

I've also ridden through tons of crap weather-normal tire pressure should be fine, assuming you're not a 'tard with the throttle.

Thanks Spidey - needed that reminder!  Went and did SF-Tomales today with Yeloducnymph and remembered your thread... Before my ride this am, front and back tires? 25 psi.  Yechhhh.  Bad Me!  Guess that time in Thailand really emptied out the tires...

To clarify: I do the kick/look-see before every ride, but actually get out a tire gauge and properly set the pressures when I do my chain.

+1

Thats what I do basically. I normally press on the tire or see how it looks with me sitting on the bike etc.

+1 on tire pressure....it's a crazy feeling to feel a tire go flat on you and get squirrelly while riding:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2797428283_110a758b63.jpg?v=0)