Wow! Im an Idiot dont you be one too!

[hifiman]

Well I do not know if I am an idiot but sure did or did not do something that deserves me the title. I picked up my new to me 2005 LT in Feb. from a dealer. When I got it home I checked all fluids and things like that even though it had just had its 6k service. One thing I did not check was the tire pressure. Just forgot (like an idiot) and have been riding it for the last couple of months. Well I checked the pressure this morning and what did I find 27psi in front and 32psi rear. Filled it to 42 fr and 48 rear and what a difference. Its like having a new LT again. Everything is different and much much better.
Please fellow newbies take my lesson and check that tire pressure!!

[LarryP]

A Weekly etc Tire pressure check is probably ignored by most riders. Same with the auto

[dwsdad]

Well I do not know if I am an idiot but sure did or did not do something that deserves me the title. I picked up my new to me 2005 LT in Feb. from a dealer. When I got it home I checked all fluids and things like that even though it had just had its 6k service. One thing I did not check was the tire pressure. Just forgot (like an idiot) and have been riding it for the last couple of months. Well I checked the pressure this morning and what did I find 27psi in front and 32psi rear. Filled it to 42 fr and 48 rear and what a difference. Its like having a new LT again. Everything is different and much much better.
Please fellow newbies take my lesson and check that tire pressure!!

Been there, done that..right after having tires installed by the dealer. I normally check the tires about once a week, or right before along trip. In this case, I made the assumption the dealer properly inflated them. NOT!!! I'll check them right there in the shop next time.

[jorawro]

One of my favorite mods was the "smart tire" monitor. Piece of mind in a small package.

[paalao]

Well I do not know if I am an idiot but sure did or did not do something that deserves me the title. I picked up my new to me 2005 LT in Feb. from a dealer. When I got it home I checked all fluids and things like that even though it had just had its 6k service. One thing I did not check was the tire pressure. Just forgot (like an idiot) and have been riding it for the last couple of months. Well I checked the pressure this morning and what did I find 27psi in front and 32psi rear. Filled it to 42 fr and 48 rear and what a difference. Its like having a new LT again. Everything is different and much much better.
Please fellow newbies take my lesson and check that tire pressure!!


I am one to, have still not done it :p (heh) and I am almost riding two up with my size!

[Diehly]

You are not an idiot, just more honest than most of us. It got me off my butt and I went out and checked mine. While they weren't as low as yours, both took a little air. Thanks for humbling yourself for the benefit of the rest of us.

[DarkMeister]

There's worse: a lazy idiot (yours truly).
Took a 300 mile spin yesterday two-up. Kept thinking "...hmm. Sitting all winter. I should really find two quarters and a service station and check the pressure."
Still haven't done it. Bought a gauge last year that won't fit through the wheel hardware. Replacing it is another idiotic postponement. Yet, that's how I ruined the tires last year. Think I'd learn?
I'm a committed procrastinator: "Never put something off till tomorrow if it can be avoided all-together".

[garry_kramer]

One of my favorite mods was the "smart tire" monitor. Piece of mind in a small package.

Bought one off EBay, now just need to install them.

[garry_kramer]

There's worse: a lazy idiot (yours truly).
Took a 300 mile spin yesterday two-up. Kept thinking "...hmm. Sitting all winter. I should really find two quarters and a service station and check the pressure."
Still haven't done it. Bought a gauge last year that won't fit through the wheel hardware. Replacing it is another idiotic postponement. Yet, that's how I ruined the tires last year. Think I'd learn?
I'm a committed procrastinator: "Never put something off till tomorrow if it can be avoided all-together".

Hey Darko

You mean the snow melted over there in Kingston?

Garry

[Buchnerb]

+1 on the Smart Tire monitors. Bought one off e-bay and had it installed with my new tires last month. Works great.

Bruce

[rodneyinmaypearltx]

+1 Yeah, I gotta raise my hand on the tire checking. I keep telling myself to do it but am always in too big of a hurry.

My brother arrived one day on his Sportster while I was standing outside, him having just come off the highway at 70 mph. Looking at his front tire, I said: "looks a little low". 17 psi!

It's amazing what these tire manufacturers have done with bead retention.
Makes me not complain as much when wrestling the bead across the rim during tire change.

I'm in the 42/48 club. It give you a bit of leeway for dropping a few pounds and still be rideable.

[vernvernvern]

Point to ponder................

Let's remember to check tire pressure COLD.

If you do it hot, it only tells you that there is air IN your tire.................can't get the proper pressure when they(tires) are hot.

I found out that the hard way.....................I rode to town(service station) and checked my tires.......not good.

The Bridgestone Tire man at CCR '07 set me straight last year. CHECH THEM COLD! :bmw:

[Bobnoxous]

+1 on the Smart Tire monitors. Bought one off e-bay and had it installed with my new tires last month. Works great.+2 on the tire monitors. They are the main reason I went with the loaded GT.

On my previous bike (HD, RIP) while riding to work 1 day, traffic started backing up, and I was indecisive about whether I should split on the left, right or stay put. Any one of those 3 would've been better than a half each of staying put and passing on the right. I made my decision too late, and had to try a quick stop as things came to a halt and I was not in a clear spot yet. I was not able to stop in time, and side swiped the car in front of me, knocking off my left turn signal and scuffing things up.

No bodily harm, and the bike was still drivable, albeit not road legal. The couple in the car I hit was very nice, and since their damage was minor, they agreed to settle it w/o insurance getting involved (Hence, my support for Gail doing something similar when she was swiped a couple weeks ago).

Funniest part of the story (in hindsight) is that my headlight had apparently shorted when the turn signal was knocked off. I didn't know this during the day. I taught a class in the evening. When I got on my bike to ride home at 9PM, I realized I had no headlight. What to do?

Towing it would've been safer, but if I could just get it home, then ride to the dealer during the day, it would be so much simpler. So, I ride it home, taking the freeway, thinking that would be safer than city streets with cross traffic. It was about a 15 minute ride. I don't know which of those to silly options was less silly. 2 cars yelled at me that my lights were out. Yes, I know this, I can see that it's quite dark in front of my bike (but the 405 is well lit by streetlights and there are a myriad of cars to follow).

I get it home, exhale, and take it to a dealer that week, where I'm told my back tire needed replacing because it was cupped. It was a fairly new tire, and I asked what might cause this, and he told me it was probably under-inflated. This may have increased my stopping distance. Maybe the accident could've been avoided entirely.

So, check the tire pressure, or a chain of unfortunate events could unfold in front of you.

[paalao]

I'm in the 42/48 club. It give you a bit of leeway for dropping a few pounds and still be rideable.

Why do you ride with those high psi numbers?
Are they not outside the recomended values?
And is it common to ride with such high numbers?
And last, what is the consequenses with same high numbers, compared to what recomendations is ?

I just put in 36.2/42 on mine and I ride two up all the time (well me alone but big guy)

[cws]

Why do you ride with those high psi numbers?
Are they not outside the recomended values?
And is it common to ride with such high numbers?
And last, what is the consequenses with same high numbers, compared to what recomendations is ?

I just put in 36.2/42 on mine and I ride two up all the time (well me alone but big guy)Group consensus is around 42/48 Paul. Lots of older threads on this. You will find the ride a little harder, but I think I get more feedback from the tyres.
I'm about to swap out for a new front Metz, got over 22,000km out of this front tyre, could probably 25,000km or more out of it. I run Ultraseal in them which I think has helped tyre life, 42 front, 48 back, cold measure. Mind you, cold is never below about 10 Celcius here at the coldest mornings, usually more like 17-20C :p .

[dandiver]

You are not the only idiot in the village! Checking the tire pressure on this bike is a pain in the ass and has almost become a ritual for me. Pull out the carpet so I can lay down, get the air ready, make the checks and then add or not. Never easy and as soon as I'm ready for new tires, an auto monitor will be installed. Can't believe I've waited this long..... Guess after my next trip to WV.

[dandiver]

+1 on the Smart Tire monitors. Bought one off e-bay and had it installed with my new tires last month. Works great.

Bruce

Bruce, Where did you install the monitor?

[paalao]

Group consensus is around 42/48 Paul. Lots of older threads on this. You will find the ride a little harder, but I think I get more feedback from the tyres.
I'm about to swap out for a new front Metz, got over 22,000km out of this front tyre, could probably 25,000km or more out of it. I run Ultraseal in them which I think has helped tyre life, 42 front, 48 back, cold measure. Mind you, cold is never below about 10 Celcius here at the coldest mornings, usually more like 17-20C :p .

Thanks, I will try til put in that amont, I guess it is safe to ride the bike that high, but what in wet road condition? does it still have sufficient road grip?
I use the Metzler 880s and they are fairly new.

And heck yes, they are a paint to fill! :mad:

[AlaskaFish]

Well Dano, I'm not Bruce, but I do have a Smart Tire Monitor mounted on top of the Glareshield (Instrument Panel cover, or hood) just to the right of center with some sticky backed velcro, and it has worked great there for quite a few years.

John
Bruce, Where did you install the monitor?