Air Pressure - On and Off Asphalt

[fberna]

Wondered how many folks air down when traveling gravel and dirt roads?



I air down to 18 psi front and rear and the handling improvement is incredible. The improvement is so huge, it makes not airing down seem down right dangerous.



This comes from years of off-roading Jeeps and when I got my Tiger, I did it without thinking twice.  The guys I was with were wondering what I was up to  :? .



Of course when back on the asphalt, it's time to air up again.  Don't crank it and bank it without proper air  :shock: .  This is why I only air down when I spend hours on back roads (not for gravel driveways   ).



I've talked to many riders and they don't cause they've never heard of such a thing .



My recommendation.... Air Down, You'll Luv It!

[Dick Boyer]

Great for traction but easy to get a flat at 18 psi. Ok with a 200lb dirt bike but not with a 500lb Tiger.

[Sasquatch]

I go down to 30/34 f/r when I go off road.  Lots more traction in the stutter bumps.

[owen]

I also drop  my f/r tyre pressures when leaving the seal to around 18-20psi.  The difference in steerage is dramatic and so far(touch wood) I havnt punctured.

Biggest problem is that when you return to the seal is reinflating the tyres to their normal pressues and I occasionally I have had to ride considerable distances on low pressures - but very gently. When I know that its going to  be a while before  a pump, I sometimes compromise at around 22-25 psi.



I have investigated pumps and have thought that a mini bike pump might be enough to just get that extra pressure back in but a baby electic one would be just the business if plugged into the extension socket.

  Owen

[ridin gaijin]

When Desert Shield was in full swing (before it became Desert Storm, which thankfully solved all our Iraq problems), they told us to reduce tire pressure in the HUMVEEs when crawling over the rocks. That seemed like a sensible thing to do although it was new to most of us...it was probably standard in the off-road world, and the Army just hadn't gotten around to digesting the practice for a while. We sure never used to do it on field exercises stateside.



I know lots of people carry mini compressors to accomplish the Tiger re-inflation--though could use Viagra or similar I suppose--I'm sure the answers as to what compressor brand are to be found if we scour the Tiger forums in Triumph-Rat or in the Equipment sections on advrider?

[ridin gaijin]

Found anice one, (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62825&highlight=compressor)if I do say so myself

[Sasquatch]

Exactly what I did.  Found a small project box from Radio Shack to put it all in.  I cut off the cig plug from the compressor and installed the bmw type on the Tiger.  Just plug into the acc socket and air away...

[fberna]

What I do is try and ride for most the day on the same pressure.  It's mostly gravel and doesn't present a puncture problem.  I do hit some asphalt between park roads but typically it's a mile or two at 45 mph, just mellow driving.  Back at the hotel, I air up with on board air

[fberna]

Where do I get an attachment for a cigarette lighter to Tiger power output??

[Mr Mistoffelees]

Nothing wrong with a good Air Down  .... but the wife don't like it   :?

[Guest]

Where do I get an attachment for a cigarette lighter to Tiger power output??

I know Touratech do a short cable thing with a plug that fits the power socket on the bike, one end and a cig lighter socket the other end. I suspect that you could make your own up if you could source the components.