knowles24
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
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posted September 21, 2010 07:03 AM
ZX-14 Tire Pressure / Air or Nitrogen Preference
Here's my situation and questions:
I have some questions on tire pressure and whether or not I should fill my tires with air or nitrogen.
My 2008 ZX14 SE is riding on Michelin Pilot Power tires. They were on the bike when I bought it from the original owner. The tires have excellent tread. The bike has 4800 miles and I think these tires were put on around 3500 miles. I bought the bike 5 months ago with just over 4000 miles.
For everyday cruising, what's the best tire pressure?
I am 300 lbs. (That's why I picked the 14 over a 10, it's much more fat-boy friendly)
If I were to have a 150 lb. passenger, should I adjust the tire pressure accordingly?
My bike will never see a track and I don't hang every corner as fast as possible.
I would love to get good tire life, but not at the risk of over inflating and laying it down.
Obviously if saving money was the big issue, I wouldn't have bought my dream bike.
I know nitrogen boast a lot of benefits. I have it in my truck and it really seems to have extended the tread life on my expensive 22" tires. My main concern with putting nitrogen in the bike is that it is inconvenient to add psi. If some of you who have more experience tinkering with tire pressure think there's an ideal psi for my situation, then I would like to get nitrogen. If it's something that I may need to adjust by 10% here and there, I may just stick with air.
Thanks!
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'08 ZX14 - Special Edition
  
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted September 21, 2010 09:04 AM
I'm not far from your size myself..........6ft @ 280lbs........and I air up both of mine to 40psi (cold), they usually heat up to 42psi (recommended) -- I've never ran nitrogen in mine and not sure what the benefits would be?
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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knowles24
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
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posted September 21, 2010 10:03 AM
Do you ride aggressively or casual sport touring?
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'08 ZX14 - Special Edition
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted September 21, 2010 10:34 AM
I'm pretty good to my bike, I take it easy on her until it's up to temp and got a mile or 2 on it before I start rippin'...........But most every time I'm out on it, I'll push it pretty hard here and there...........I don't sport tour with it, plan on getting a C14 for that purpose eventually............
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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oilfieldtrash
Zone Head
Kawasaki enthusiast
Posts: 506
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posted September 21, 2010 10:42 AM
Should of bought a chromed out Busa if you just want to cruise around. The 14 is made to be rode hard.
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'09 zx6r lime green bone stock
'07 white S.E. ZX-14 sold
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knowles24
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
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posted September 21, 2010 10:43 AM
From things I've read, most people would consider your tire pressure high. Do you ever feel that the tires are too stiff?
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'08 ZX14 - Special Edition
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oilfieldtrash
Zone Head
Kawasaki enthusiast
Posts: 506
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posted September 21, 2010 10:58 AM
You should run 42/42 psi on your bike on cold tires. You're a big guy and the 14 is a big bike. That's alot of stress on the tires.
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'09 zx6r lime green bone stock
'07 white S.E. ZX-14 sold
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted September 21, 2010 10:58 AM
quote:
From things I've read, most people would consider your tire pressure high. Do you ever feel that the tires are too stiff?
Not really stiff, but handles so sweet at that pressure..........I've had it at 36psi (hot) on my last set of tires, but not for long -- put it up to 40psi (cold) right after trying to carve up some backroads.........bike just didn't seem to handle as well at the lower pressure, turn speed felt "sluggish" to me.
With guys our size, we tend to give the tires a bit more footprint with our "gravitational advantage" 
42psi with me on a bike is probably equivalent to a 180lb rider on a bike at 36-38psi? Can't guarantee that, just seems to be the way tires feel and wear for me over the years
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted September 21, 2010 11:03 AM
quote:
You should run 42/42 psi on your bike on cold tires. You're a big guy and the 14 is a big bike. That's alot of stress on the tires.
You got it! Guys our size really put the G's to the tires in hard corners -- centrifugal force X2! Hahaha
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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knowles24
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
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posted September 21, 2010 01:52 PM
Thanks for the input! I appreciate it!
What do you think about nitrogen? "They" claim it is suppose to have virtually no expansion whether very cold or very hot. It's only $12 to fill the bike with nitrogen...
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'08 ZX14 - Special Edition
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Quarter Pounder
Pro
with Cheese
Posts: 1069
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posted September 21, 2010 02:05 PM
 Edited By: Quarter Pounder on 21 Sep 2010 22:06
I'm 160lbs and run 38/40 for normal day to day riding. Pilot Road 2's Bump up to 42/42 for touring.
As far as nitrogen goes.....how much nitrogen is naturally in regular air? hmmmmmmmmmm Waste of time and money IMO.
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SWB 2008 ZX-14
9.19 @ 151
5.98 @ 123
1.53 60'
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icarus
Expert Class
Posts: 344
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posted September 21, 2010 02:05 PM
This is somewhat on topic. I use nitrogen in my tires for drag racing and it is true that
there is little to no change in pressure from hot to cold. I usually set my pressure at
the beginning of the test session and after I determine what pressure I need for the day
I never have to adjust it after that.
Later...
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8.820 @ 161.05
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Vertigo99
Novice Class
Posts: 52
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posted September 21, 2010 02:17 PM
Running Pilot 2CT's at 42/42, 220#. The bike just handles better with the tires at recommended pressure, quicker turn-in and overall maneuverability is maximized for a big bike - experience gained from by 7000 miles. Get your own compressor and check 'em before every ride.
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08 Atomic Silver
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WARBIRD
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted September 21, 2010 02:26 PM
Quote:
we tend to give the tires a bit more footprint with our "gravitational advantage"
Bahahaha...................good one Hellmutt................ 
42/42 here with good results.
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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LeonidasZX14
Pro
Posts: 1277
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posted September 21, 2010 02:58 PM
I also run nitrogen in my tires due to the fact it doesn't expand like air when it gets hot.
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09' ZX14
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted September 21, 2010 09:17 PM
38/34 works for me . I'm running 2ct front and pilot race in the rear .
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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