[dklanecky]

Since the dealer agreed to replace my terribly cupped d407 front tire on my 09 RG, I decided to try and fix the difficulty I was having checking the pressure and or filling the tire. I found and bought these:

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm

Got the replacement D408 tire installed last week at the 10K service and had them install these valves. Now I can check air pressure with one hand. Might be a bit expensive for some, but I check my pressure every week and it was driving me crazy. Front is fixed, now I'll do the rear when it wears out.

 

[BillyBob]

Look nice.Will have to get me a pair.

 

[Guest]

not a bad price for a pair, will get some when I replace the tires. It is a little difficult to check the tire pressure, and I also do it weekly. I got a good tire pressure gage that helped a lot. http://www.getagage.com/. the E-Z model.
Back tire is still difficult, but not a big deal to remove the saddle bag.
thanks for the heads up. --Bill

 

[BillyBob]

Nice gauges.What is the pressure suppose to be on a RG?

 

[Guest]

The owners manual says 36 front and 40 for the rear. I run that and on mine and no cupping issues at 4500 miles on my 4 month old 09. --Bill

 

[Sonar_Chris]

Nice gauges.What is the pressure suppose to be on a RG?

I'm running 38-40 front and 40-42 rear. My front tire cupped pretty good and the dealer replaced it for free.

 

[Guest]

First off, thank you for your service.
I have heard about the cupping issue, and keeping waiting for mine to start, but it has not. I'm at 4500 miles on the original tire. Check the pressure weekly, (36-40). Purchased the bike the first of June. The tires are wearing very well. When did yours start cupping?
--Bill

 

[dklanecky]

I check my pressure every week at least once, and RARELY found any variance from the suggested 36 front and 40 rear. Never in the first 11,000 miles did I need to add more than 2lbs in the front or rear. That only occured when the abmient air temps would drop significantly over night.

My original D407 front tire started showing cupping at about 3,500 miles and by 8,000 felt like I was rolling on a dedicated mud and snow tire from a truck WHENEVER I was not rolling straight down the road.

ANY turn or curve at a speed of 40mph or greater (that gets you off the center tread) is where the howling noise would appear on mine. The insidious thing about the tire cupping is that it is slow and progressive, and I had no idea how bad the tire was until the new one went on, now I realize just how bad it had become.

I had never had a "cupped" tire but when someone showed me what the issue was, it was very obvious once I knew what I was looking to find.

 

[dklanecky]

I uploaded some pictures of the bike including a closeup of how the 90 degree valve stem looks on the 09 RG wheel in my gallery.

 

[sagalong]

Thanks for the link. That is one of a couple things that the moco could have given a little more thought. I'll be getting two.

 

[Jayray]

Does this valve affect the balance?

 

[dklanecky]

Not one bit. I forget just how nice a piece this thing is until I check my tire pressure, then I remember. One handed operation, to check and or fill now, and I have also noticed, I rarely add air now. I think it seals tighter than the stock rubber piece.

 

[sagalong]

I put those valve stems on last month. The moco should have put those on from the factory. They work great. I also have noticed that my tires don't lose much air after sitiing for a while. Thanks for the tip.....

 

[09Sharknose]

The rear tire is pretty easy once you remove the bags. The front is a flat out beast! I picked up the new HD compact air compressor, PN 12700020. It plugs into the battery tender and has the recommended pressures (36-40) marked. It was hard as hell to check/fill the front. I slid the metal spring on the end of the hose back about an inch and that made it easier to manipulate the pump so I could attach it to the valve stem without letting your air out of the tire. Just my $.02, hope it helps.