Under Pressure

[peter altas]

So is that the three of us then (so far)?

Phil??

RocketRod??
Peter Altas
BUSA-1<i></i>

[SubRX]

I did a Honda Ride Day at Eastern Creek a couple of years ago. Limited test rides to two laps, hardly worth it. 20 minute sessions though for own bike.

Went for a ride a couple of weekends ago with Biker Anon. Sat down for lunch at Kangaroo Valley with a couple of guys, never met them before. Started talking, mentioned I rode a Bus. They started to take the piss out of me, I turned it around and one of the guys wanted to flog me. Couldn't understand it, every one else was laughing, and he was the one that started the whole thing.

Anyway, having riden both, (and sticking a Blackbird in the kitty litter at 180 in the aforementioned Honda ride day) I am more than happy to stick with the Bus and accept any Blackbird challenge.

PS. Had my first run against an R1 the other day. Admittedly he pick the front up fairly substantially, but when he pulled up next to me at the following lights, the look said it all, WTF!!!!!:">

All in good fun. Keep up the humour guys, roll with the punches Pete, if you couldn't ride you wouldn't have a Bus, and you'd be "in plaster, not riding".

Cheers Guys,
Goldie <i></i>

[rocket rod 7777]

You are right about the 2 lap thing on their demo bikes,but in the latest Red Rider they have changed the format so that you can do a 20 minute session,because so many people complained about the old system! <i></i>

[DrHuxtable]

we tend to get ice and snow on the road in the mornings so i've been told to run it with lower pressure in the winter Dorothy

Red and Black flash across I70<i></i>

[tenacious]

People will probably think I'm crazy but I run 60 psi in both my front and back tyres......

It works for me though - I'm a lightweight rider so I can get away with it, plus I get extended tyre life and the bike feels a whole lot better to me.

Paul. <i></i>

[Maggot1300]

60psi!!! <i></i>

[kawasuki]

very small patch on the corners mate. Cheers,
Kawasuki<i></i>

[RuffRed]

Tenacious - A couple of psi higher is acceptable but 20 to 25 over is just dangerous
Any bike let alone a busa needs correct tyre pressures at all times as it affects stability,cornering, braking all of which (as kawa points out) comes from the amount of tyre patch on the road. This is no toy you are playing with here mate - if you dont look after it and treat it with respect it will throw your 60kg ass straight into a hospital ward in the blink of an eye and you really dont want that do you

Ruffy

<i>Edited by: RuffRed at: 24/12/06 16:50
</i>

[glen66]

Good points that you have bought up John. I see you have nothing better to do today either. 60psi is way to high there Tenacious. I can't imagine how how high it gets when the rubber is hot. I'm only a little bloke, like you, and you have to watch your setup more than most because skill and settings are all you have when you can't muscle a large cube sportsbike. You probably think you can but you can't. Not like the bigger blokes can anyway and a lot of them have lost the big girl over the years. Take em down to 42 on the knocker and you will still be around next year like we want you to be. <i></i>

[rocket rod 7777]

60?????????
Why not make it 100,then its a nice round number.
The Phantom is back<i></i>

[spamanglenn]

I used to go to track days with 30 psi cold and come in with 38-40psi hot.Last time i had 32-33 psi cold and came in with 38 psi hot.The more air the less flexing of the carcass hence the less heat in the carcass means less psi increase.However the more psi means a smaller contact patch for a same given speed,means MORE contact patch heat.Either way the arse was hanging out after about 6 laps yet the the tyre pyrometer showed about 55-65c carcass temp??One important point i did discover was if a tyre at 40psi hot slides,its alot more sudden than if a tyre at 36psi hot slides, because of the smaller contact patch at 40psi.Coming out of a corner in 2nd with bridgestones 002 street compound(hot) felt like a slipping clutch. .front was good though.All tyres vulcanise(dry out) and lose their cold grip and upper limit grip first.So a pure road tyre has lots of cold grip so run street pressures on the street 38-42psi.As they get a bit older and have less cold grip perhaps drop them a little 36-38 to heat them up a bit more as your cold grip depletes.Road legal track tyres have alot less cold grip in their composition.Hence running 40psi on cold mornings wouldn,t be wise.36psi front and back would be a good starting point.It,ll turn a little sluggish for a while but it,ll come good.60 psi would have a contact patch of a mountain bike.Thats only for those who like mountn men. Glenn the Spa Man<i></i>

[tenacious]

Like I said guys, I had a feeling you might think I'm a bit crazy for what I'm doing, but the truth is it really does work and feel good for me.

O.K. granted, when it rains the bike becomes dangerous as anything, but when this happens I slow down considerably (not that I go too fast in the first place anyway), keep a considerable gap between me and other road users, and get to a servo A.S.A.P, dropping the tyres back to 42.

The thing you guys probably don't know is that the only time I really give the bike anything is in a straight line on a straight road. So there are no serious issues with regards to cornerning for me. I really don't feel like - it just doesn't do it for me to tell you the truth. There is also an element of not being confident enough to take corners at speed, but this is heavily outweighed by the abovementioned factor. I really have no desire to do it to.

With regards to braking, well I keep a huge gap between myself and road users (especially in Canberra where people can't drive properly), so I try not to get myself in a position where I have to pull up in a hurry.

Bottom line is I'm as cautious as anything despite the bike I ride, and because of this I feel justified in choosing the pressure I do. I derive the most enjoyment riding the way I do (safely for the most part), and would not feel comfortable doing it any other way.

Hope this clears a few things up with everyone. You can call me a soft little pee wee / gutless wonder / whatever (definitely not implying anyone will though), but I don't really give a rat's $"£& to be honest. I'm comfortable with myself and what I do, and that's all that matters in life if you ask me.

Paul. <i></i>

[RuffRed]

The thing is Paul it's not only what you do but what what the other road users do that you have to watch out for. When you ride any bike you are always put into situations where you have to take some sort of evasive action whether it be a little or a lot and your ride has to be able to handle it when you ask it to stop hard, swerve etc. The other point is that if you have an accident whether its your fault or not and the insurance assesor cheks your bike one of the first things they do is check your tyre pressures - they find 45 plus psi in there well you can kiss your insurance goodbyeand you will more likely get blamed for the accident.

Anyway - its your funeral mate.

P.s Merry Xmas

Ruffy

<i></i>

[BUSGO]

I have read over this discussion a couple of times and although I respect your decision to take the pressure up, I really can't follow the logic.
I am also a light rider (77kg) and use the recommended pressures on the busa. I find that it handles and responds much better than at any other pressure, either higher or lower.

I tried using it at 32psi front and back over some very tight twisties and had a great run but then found it wallowed around town.
I tried going up to 46psi and couldn't get it to respond the way I like.
So for me 38 to 42 PSI front and back seems perfect.


Rgds BUSGO

"TAKE MY ADVICE"
I'm not using it anyway!<i></i>

[spamanglenn]

When it gives way, front or back for whatevever reason it will happen so fast with no warning,that you will not be able to catch it.On a rs 125 you might be able to catch the bikes momentum.A small guy on a 250kg busa?Perhaps you should take up bull riding,or wear a superman cape.If you want to be a better rider,at least listen to those that have fallen before you and learned why.Buy some pilot powers with a 180 rear if you want it to turn faster,then run them at the right pressures.Lighter wheels help too,or buy a 600.Higher psi=smaller contact patch=sudden slides with no warning.If you have to ride so carefully to avoid this,your mind is focussed on the wrong things and you won't progress as a rider.If you end up riding scared(and you should be)wheres the fun in riding?Your your own man, but motorcyclists look out for each other,dangerous is dangerous. Glenn the Spa Man<i></i>