tyre pressure
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 438
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I almost started a thread on this same topic. The FX front end means a thinner tire with smaller contact patch than something like a fatty or heritage. My owner's manual says 38 in front, but when I bought mine the dealer said "HD says 38 front, we recommend 30". He didn't say why. I assume that with 30 lbs he is trading a bit of extra wear for maybe better traction and braking. So I normally run something in between, like 33 or so.
Like you, I'd be interested in other opinions.
Like you, I'd be interested in other opinions.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
A higher pressure will yield a bit less traction, but much longer life. 30 sounds excessively low to me. I run my front at 42 and my rear at 40, although I am sure my bike heavier than a standard softy as well. Experiemnt with different pressures and see how it feels.
I used to ride sportbikes in the canyons at excessive speeds and one friend would always run a bit of a lower pressure in his tires to make them stick a bit better. The less pressure, the bigger the contact patch.
I used to ride sportbikes in the canyons at excessive speeds and one friend would always run a bit of a lower pressure in his tires to make them stick a bit better. The less pressure, the bigger the contact patch.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 438
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I just got my owners manual out and looked again. It says:
30 front/ 38 rear for solo,
30/42 for 2-up.
It was the dealer who suggested 38 in the front instead of the 30 in the book. I had it backwards up in that earlier post when I was wondering about the difference.
30 front/ 38 rear for solo,
30/42 for 2-up.
It was the dealer who suggested 38 in the front instead of the 30 in the book. I had it backwards up in that earlier post when I was wondering about the difference.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 1
From: Paola, Kansas
I've always run 30 front and between 38-42 rear. My front overall wear is fine, though it's choppy. I noticed it with about 7000 miles on it, and a few buddies said it was somewhat normal, but I think it's the new tread design myself.