You just purchased a used bike , and the tires are not original..... now here is the question:

What psi is required, is it the suggested psi by that particular motorcycle manfacturer or is the psi stamped right on the tire by that particular tire manfacturer?

I would go with the manufacturer's stamp on the tire.
Fully inflated to the max pressure.

If you have the Owner's Manual for this bike, it should provide some guidance here. Absent that, you probably won't hurt anything going with the sidewall pressure.... perhaps a bit less, if the bike is relatively light....

Well, as in instructor, I tell them to use the suggested psi on the tire.
I think here, not for certain, that the psi is also on the serial no. card on most bikes.
It is the only time I tell them not to to use the manual, go by the tire. Then on a course (at another site) I was corrected by another instructor. Who upon looking up the info on the net, wasn't really sure, but said he would stick with the manual.
So I thought some of you might know.
Thanks.

I would personally go with what is on the frame... just like you should look at what's posted on a car, not on the tire. For example, Bridgestone and Avon don't have a clue what bike you will be putting the tire on and they don't know how much the bike will weigh etc. Of course, I say this assuming that you are putting on the same size as the original tire. If you are going bigger, then I would go slightly lower in pressure and vice versa. I'm not a pro by any means, so this is just my .

2nd on the psi thats on the tire.

I'm not so sure I would ALWAYS go with what's on the tire... That is a rating for maximum load at maximum pressure (cold). I usually check the owner's manual and compare it to the tire manufacturer's recommendation for THAT specific bike. It just so happens that Honda and Pirelli agree on the 42 psi for the Diablos on the Bird. But if I went by the sidewall pressure for the Mezelers on the Ducati, I'd be riding on rocks.

Hi all --

I'm a new 'bird owner and wonder about tire pressures as well. On my Triumph Sprint RS, it was 36 front/ 42 rear. From what I'm reading on the frame of my 'bird -- and the on the Dunlop Sportmax tires it has -- it looks like 42 front and rear... can that be right?!?

Thanks for the clarification!

Originally Posted by 1100xxben

I would personally go with what is on the frame... just like you should look at what's posted on a car, not on the tire. For example, Bridgestone and Avon don't have a clue what bike you will be putting the tire on and they don't know how much the bike will weigh etc. Of course, I say this assuming that you are putting on the same size as the original tire. If you are going bigger, then I would go slightly lower in pressure and vice versa. I'm not a pro by any means, so this is just my .

i was told to go by the manual/sticker on bike by my teacher in a motorcycle repair class i took.

Go with what it says on the frame.

I prefer to work from experience/ride preference.
Example, the specs for a Blackbird call for 42 PSI front and rear. I believe that that pressure is necessary to accommodate the top speed capabilities of the bike. Sustained speeds of 170+ will put a bunch of heat in the tire. I rarely ride at those speeds and never for any length of time. Spend most of my time at an indicated 90 to 110 mph. I run 37F/39R around town, 34/36 for twisty riding and 39/42 when loaded for a trip (80+ lbs of gear).

I got pretty good tire mileage out of my recent set of BT-014 so far. 9K on the rear and it is down to the wear bars in the center, 7.5K on the front and it is starting to get that damn center stripe so it will probably get swapped at the same time. This is getting expensive, tires are only 2 months old.