your tire pressure? With the brake rotors in the way, I could not use my normal gauge or air nozzle. It was a pita.
Why didn't they put 90 degree stems on the wheels?
What are you guys using?

 

You are right, it is a pain for sure. Another stellar HD design concept.

What I do is rotate the front tire until you can see the valve at about 4 o'clock. Then with your right hand, go around the tire and come in from the opposite side with a little pressure and bend the valve stem out enough to get a pressure guage or your air hose tip on the end of the valve stem with your left hand.

I find that I usually lose a couple of pounds or more of air because of this stupid design when trying to check it, so I bought one of those little portable 12V cig plug pumps from walmart with a built-in air pressure guage. I don't even waste time checking anymore, I just plug up the pump and top the front and rear off, if needed, about once per week.

The rear valve is offset a little and is much easier to get to than the front.

I promise you I will go to 90 degree offsets at the first tire change....that is if I keep these wheels.

 

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden...tml?cid=123620

 

I have a digital gauge I bought at Lowes that fits.....not easily though, and I don't loose any pressure when I check them. I also hace the short 90 degree tire chuck on my air compressor that works just fine for filling. I even use the same tire chuck for my rear shocks. I just turn the compressor output down to whatever PSI I want in the shocks and it is dead on accurate without over filling and blowing the air bladders.

 

I got one similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Slime-20017-5-...2082210&sr=8-1


...

 

I find it's all in the angle that you take.

 

Harley also sells an extension hose about 6" long. Attach that to the valve stem and makes for checking and adding air much easier.

Yeah, I'm with you on the design flaw. Seems that all departments could communicate on this one and overcome the frustration instead of selling the hose aftermarket.....Of course, that would cut into their retail sales on parts by $10/hose.

 

On the 11 RKC, the rear wheel is damned near impossible! It's low, straight up and wedged between 2 spokes. You have to have a gauge that has a flexible extender on it. The old fashioned pen style won't work.

 

I've noticed that for every little problem like this, Harley is glad to sell us a part to make it easier...

 

Get the Harley 90 degree pen style gauge, then get these on at your next tire change... http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm