This! A $5 dollar tire gauge doesn't cut it. You can get an accurate one for $30-$50 dollars, that ill give many years of service.

 

Not so! A cheap guage will tell you if you have roughly 40psi or only around 20psi. A decent gauge will plainly be more useful in setting the correct pressure but isn't essential in this situation if, as many of us suspect, pressure was way below what it should be.

 

Just an update on the mystery that is still a mystery. I was able to speak with the tech last week and explain what was going on. He went back through the bike this week (wheel bearings, motor mounts, axel, swing arm bushing, etc., etc. and yes tire pressure) and he found nothing abnormal. I picked the bike up today and it rides normal. Just checked the pressure and got 36.5 in the rear and 33 in the front. The gauge that I have is a digital one that I bought a few years ago at a local auto parts store and assume that it is accurate, but thought I would go get another today to keep on the bike and check it against it. The only thing I can come up with is that it somehow it was the tires. Now I'm not sure how they can react like they assumably did after over 100 miles on them, but thats all I can figure out at this point. My plans are to ride as much as possible on Sunday and see if any issues arise.

 

Those pressures sound low to me. I have an earlier bike than yours, but mine should be a little higher, how do those figures compare with your owners manual?

 

 

if that was the pressure in the tires when the tech checked it, then he isn't worth much. that pressure is low in the front. (i keep mine at 38/38). presumably, you got hd tires since you got them from the dealer. if not, then these pressures won't apply, but don't go above the max pressure on the sidewall of the tire.