Rear Tire Pressure Survey

[runnerhiker]

I like how this evolved into specifics. If I'm riding loaded (meaning partially filled panniers or 2 up, not drunk) I'll always run the recommended pressure. But solo in the twisties, I tend to run F-34psi / R-38psi. I like the added compliance that slightly offsets the harsh compression damping, while in Dynamic mode.
With the same size tires on my Ducati (almost 100lbs lighter), I run F-32psi / R-34psi. On the track, less, as Ray has stated already.

This is what I do. I read an article by Dunlop on the Dunlop site (article no longer available) that explained that the recommended pressure by the bike manufacturer was to carry the maximum allowable load on the motorcycle. But that it did not mean that was the recommended pressure all the time for all circumstances. The lower the pressure, the lower load carrying capacity and the better the traction - they did not offer a graph or chart for guidance. As I remember, the only guidance was that around 30 psi would be as low as they would go, and that experimenting at a track was the best thing to do.

My biggest takeaway was that the 42 psi was important for a loaded bike and that anything lower than that would give better traction and do no harm if the pressure was not too low (like 30 psi).