Rear Tire Pressure Survey

[Ray]

After the reminder I do remember in 2017 a rider showing up who I had never seen. The first morning he was out in the parking lot while it was cold and raining with a $4 bicycle pump attempting add some air to a tire. I assumed he had borrowed his dads bike, pulled the pump from his bicycle and took a day of vacation from riding his bicycle to his blue collar minimum wage job at some packing plant. Made this assumption based on the fact if he was a professional say him the medical field he would have the funds to have something more electronic to pump up his tires. Kind of like Lee, Terry or Wayne had with them....

Good memory for detail. Nice image.

If it makes you feel better, the electric pump sits in the right pannier with all the other anxiety-generated "stuff" I've collected over the years. (On that trip, which saw me run down to Texas for a week, I was also carrying a bead breaker.)

The hand pumps's faster for those few extra PSI. That particular model actually has a foot peg for upright use, but agreed, looks like a toy in the hands of someone as tall as you and I.

And as a belt and suspenders guy, I also have a bunch of 45 g CO2 cartridges scattered around the bike....

[Grumpy Goat]

[PlacidoD]

Very informative and food for thought. I run 36/42 but perhaps need to be less anal about the rear (If you will pardon the expression!) as I ride mainly solo with small tank bag and top box albeit that I weigh quite a bit.

I wonder how many of us have a mains compressor? They are cheap enough to buy. My car and bikes only go near a garage forecourt airline in an emergency. No sense in checking pressures on warm tyres!

And I have a small plastic foot pump with me when touring. I have blown endless fuses using small electric pumps (some of which were inline and I could not find to replace and so lost my auxiliary socket).

Chris

[36654]

The bike is parked with the rear wheel within 1-ft of this quiet beauty. I have no excuse for not checking the pressure before a ride.
   

I carry a motopressor on the bike but never needed to use it

[Grumpy Goat]

The bike is parked with the rear wheel within 1-ft of this quiet beauty. I have no excuse for not checking the pressure before a ride.

I have something similar. I release the pressure in the tank after use, so that means if I need to inflate before going out I have to turn it on to fill the tank and then inflate. Do you leave your tank under pressure?

[Lee]

The bike is parked with the rear wheel within 1-ft of this quiet beauty. I have no excuse for not checking the pressure before a ride.

I have a similar size compressor, 1.5 HP and 4 gallons.
Normally I don't buy cheap tools but when we moved into this house in 1998 Walmart had it at a cheap price. I thought it might not last more than 10 years because it did not have a way to bleed off moisture in the tank but it's still good.
Mine is not quiet.

   

[Lee]

Do you leave your tank under pressure?

Mine will bleed down if I leave a chuck on the hose.
If I do not leave a chuck on I pull the spring loaded valve to empty the tank.
I do this hoping it lets moisture out.

I use small diameter green hose.

[36654]

The bike is parked with the rear wheel within 1-ft of this quiet beauty. I have no excuse for not checking the pressure before a ride.

I have something similar. I release the pressure in the tank after use, so that means if I need to inflate before going out I have to turn it on to fill the tank and then inflate. Do you leave your tank under pressure?

My garage (when it's not an art studio) is also my woodworking shop. The compressors are on all the time for nailers/staplers and, therefore, the quiet aspect is greatly appreciated. Previously, I had pancake units (Porter-Cable and el-cheapo Harbor Freight) that I used in the same way. They were "Harley straight pipe" noisy but the only failure was a compressor crank bearing after 10-yrs in one of the PC units.

The quiet compressors use a low rpm, high torque motor to drive large diameter pistons. Very nice to work around vs the old loud units.

[Lee]

The quiet compressors use a low rpm, high torque motor to drive large diameter pistons. Very nice to work around vs the old loud units.

I'll add it to my Amazon Wish List in case mine craps out.

[36654]

The quiet compressors use a low rpm, high torque motor to drive large diameter pistons. Very nice to work around vs the old loud units.

I'll add it to my Amazon Wish List in case mine craps out.

If there's a Lowes store near you, they have a similar Kobalt brand unit that's occasionally on sale.

[MrVvrroomm]

https://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-mini...essor.html popped up on my Facebook page today.

I carry this one: https://www.aerostich.com/cycle-pump-air...essor.html

[36654]

https://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-mini...essor.html popped up on my Facebook page today.

I carry this one: https://www.aerostich.com/cycle-pump-air...essor.html

I'm not sure how the Aerostich unit differs from the similar RockyCreek motopressor.
https://www.rockycreekdesigns.com/collec...ocket-pump

Both, seem to be "barebone" units in the $40~50 range. Wrapped in the neoprene bag, the motopressor fits in that tray under the pillon seat.

[Lee]

I carried this for quite a few years, 10 bucks.
Not pretty but it worked.

   

[36654]

I carried this for quite a few years, 10 bucks.
Not pretty but it worked.

Could be the RockyCreek unit without a cover or two............

[BobAin'tStoppin']

[quote='MrVvrroomm' pid='3380' dateline='1595622785']
https://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-mini...essor.html popped up on my Facebook page today.

This is the compressor I carry on the bike. Has worked the few times I needed it. But one time I opened the bag and found all the screws had backed right out. Put it back together and all was good.

In my garage is this:


With all that, I'm not too picky about pressure. A couple pounds either way is fine with me.

[Lee]

With all that, I'm not too picky about pressure. A couple pounds either way is fine with me.

On trips I don't change tire pressure unless it's more than 2 psi off.

[darrell]

I carry the Cycle Pump and their air branded air gauge I attach in line when adding air. I have checked all my gauges against another persons calibrated gauge so know the adjustment factor for each one. My 3 gauges have a range of 2.5 psi difference between them. When traveling I check tire pressures every 2 - 3 days adjusting if a ½ # psi off my 38 and 42 setting. If significant elevation or temperature change from day to day I check daily. The reading from the bike is strictly to verify I’m not leaking air and a close to 4# difference remains front to rear otherwise useless to me. Pressures are always checked when tires are cold.

[Ray]

I carry the Cycle Pump and their air branded air gauge I attach in line when adding air. I have checked all my gauges against another persons calibrated gauge so know the adjustment factor for each one. My 3 gauges have a range of 2.5 psi difference between them. When traveling I check tire pressures every 2 - 3 days adjusting if a ½ # psi off my 38 and 42 setting. If significant elevation or temperature change from day to day I check daily. The reading from the bike is strictly to verify I’m not leaking air and a close to 4# difference remains front to rear otherwise useless to me. Pressures are always checked when tires are cold.

You know..., I'd love to think I'm fastidious about tire pressures, but I can't match that....

I mean, on the road, I USED to do a daily quick check of cold pressures (with a calibrated monitor) and once in a while hot, to double check my running pressure. I ride all year. Hot days, I might start a little higher and cold days a little lower, but admittedly, TPMS/Reifendruck-Control pressure calculations to temperature of 20 deg C all tend to be the same when I am done fiddling with pressures..., so probably just another habit that will die as the TPMS becomes more reliable and I become more comfortable with the technology. Eventually, I will probably only check to make sure the TPMS is functioning and then use the TPM pressure reading to determine if I need a little change in pressure for the day.

In the past, I'd air up or down on the road one or two pounds depending on road surface, temperature, and my feeling on the bike, but I realized the other day that with this big beast, I hardly ever feel the need to make significant changes while riding, and to be honest, as I just ordered another heavy weight (2-ply) Metzler for the rear, I have to admit, I'm probably not the sensitive, tuned-in rider I was or would like to be. (Or, the tires and adaptive suspension have become really good).

(Side note - went to the dealer today to look at their new line of Beta off-road bikes. Though it's still two wheels and the basics are the same, there is no question that the 150 pound lightly sprung, 300CC trials bike ain't an RS.)

Darrell - Maybe I've asked this before - do you aim for different pressures without the 40 - 60 pounds of luggage (which would be under 10% of total weight)? I still do this out of habit, but can't say I'm feeling the difference at speed.

(And MrVvrroomm - now I know you are a real mechanic; I've never been able to wear out a Porter Cable tool or compressor.)

[Grumpy Goat]

Fired up the ol' Harbor Freight 125 psi 8 gal compressor for maybe the third time, and adjusted all 4 moto tires. I noticed a leak at all the quick connect connectors in the hose from the cylinder to the chuck. I disconnected the hose when done and left 100 psi in the tank, and 5 hours later it is still at 100 psi. Will check again tomorrow to see if it is still holding and then I will let the air out. Unless used daily it seems prudent to drain the tank to prevent rust inside from condensed water.

[Lee]

In the past, I'd air up or down on the road one or two pounds depending on road surface, temperature, and my feeling on the bike, but I realized the other day that with this big beast, I hardly ever feel the need to make significant changes while riding, and to be honest, as I just ordered another heavy weight (2-ply) Metzler for the rear, I have to admit, I'm probably not the sensitive, tuned-in rider I was or would like to be. (Or, the tires and adaptive suspension have become really good).

I'm not good enough to feel a 1 psi change in pressure and not good enough to feel 2 psi.
I have the 2 psi rule hoping to extend tire wear.
With the TPM measuring at 20 C, I think that's 68 F, it's surprising how the TPM tire pressure rarely changes on a trip.
I saw little change in the TPM reading with temps ranging from 41 to 107.

A few miles from the house after the TPM readings have settled out I check the display and ask Debbie to check her display. After that I try to keep the display the same. I rarely have to change tire pressure on a trip with this method.

The gauge I use at home reads the same as our TPM readings if the temp is close to 68F. The pencil gauge I use on trips surprisingly reads the same as my home gauge.
I carry the pencil gauge on trips just in case I doubt the TPM reading.
I used to carry digital gauges on trips but they seem to give bad readings after a few years.