KLR650 Tire Pressure

toole · 03-23-2007, 04:40 PM

My owners manual says 21 psi front tire, 28 psi rear tire. Are these good numbers for general rode riding or have others found a better pressure to control the dreaded "wobble".

This bike still has 2005 stock tires

Gadjet · 03-23-2007, 04:48 PM

I ran about 26-28 psi in the front and 28-30 psi in the rear with my stock tires. seemed to handle well enough (well enough that I managed to scrape the pegs on occasion without dumping the bike)

VegasKLRider · 03-23-2007, 05:06 PM

I run 28psi front and 30psi rear for the street. I air down to 15 front and 20 rear for the dirt. I tried the factory recommendations and tire wear was horrible. I think the factory numbers are a dirt and street compromise.
I carry a portable air compressor in my tailbag when I go offroad.

Paper · 03-23-2007, 05:16 PM

Don't get me wrong, I love my KLR, but the factory suggested pressures are a compromise, just like the bike is..

Road riding, I run the same pressure that I would if I were riding a street bike. 32Front 34Rear.

When I get off road I air them down to around 18psi.

I've found better wear at high pressure for road riding, and better grip off road when aired down.. Then I just stop in at the next gas station to bring them back up when riding road again.

Fitty · 03-23-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paper

Road riding, I run the same pressure that I would if I were riding a street bike. 32Front 34Rear.

When I get off road I air them down to around 18psi.

Ditto

judjonzz · 03-23-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paper

Don't get me wrong, I love my KLR, but the factory suggested pressures are a compromise, just like the bike is..

Road riding, I run the same pressure that I would if I were riding a street bike. 32Front 34Rear.

When I get off road I air them down to around 18psi.

I've found better wear at high pressure for road riding, and better grip off road when aired down.. Then I just stop in at the next gas station to bring them back up when riding road again.

Yup.

klm4755 · 03-23-2007, 08:28 PM

I run 30 psi for both tires, mainly street. Great to have 12v air compressor with hook-up.

You can make yourself a trail electrical kit containing:
1. air compressor, jumper cables, GPS attach and such, see example here:
http://klrworld.com/forums/index.php/topic,2077.0.html

strip all the useless housing, fans, and gages. Throw away all this stuff

compressor after current test

like so. This compressor will fill the front tire in 55 sec from flat to 24 psi! Rear tire will take 2 min exactly to fill from flat to 24 psi. The compressor draws less power than the KLR headlight.

attach that 10AWG here. A direct connect to the battery (fused at 25 amps).

all adapters
Keithm

Subcanis · 03-23-2007, 11:51 PM

Thats a hell of a setup.

I just got back from an 800 mile trip. 20 front and rear offroad, 30 front and rear onroad. Stock front, K270 rear. YMMV

supermancam · 05-27-2013, 07:26 PM

Great modification you've done. I like the direct connect on the battery cover, leaves it tidy with no wires hanging around.

I connected a 12v power outlet to the "accessory" wires behind the front faring of my 03 KLR650 and learned quickly that rain and vibration aren't it's friend. Ordered twist lock with waterproof o ringed connections already so should be ok for the gps, phone, compressor etc.

Had I seen your post before I would have done it that way with a wire coming up to the handlebar from the outlet on battery cover.

Beezer · 05-27-2013, 09:25 PM

wobble..... one big source is insufficient fork oil. my new brand new 05 wobbled like hell at hiway speed. I did a bunch of stuff, like take off the guards & windshield etc. then somebody said check the forks... the manual says 190mm (remove spring, collapse fork, fill until 190mm from the top). I was 50-60cc low each leg. fixed that & much better... so then I started adding until it was really good. then.... somebody says bring oil up to the original setting which was 170. so I check... I'm at 165mm. since then I have done dozens at tech days... none had even the 190 measure unless done by the owner. 170mm & maybe 10 psi air on top. stick with 10 weight oil (atf)

get Ricor valves when you can afford it.... total different front end with that upgrade.

the stock tires are very mediocre... probably the least favorite of all the tires I have tried on my klr.... the list... TKC, 606, GP1, AT90 Scorpion, MT21, Bridgestone 40s, Gripsters, Tourance.

I also run 18psi in the dirt but if you have trouble remembering things like do...... 30psi on the pave and 20 in the dirt

03-23-2007, 04:40 PM	#1
toole ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Boise Oddometer: 63	KLR650 Tire Pressure My owners manual says 21 psi front tire, 28 psi rear tire. Are these good numbers for general rode riding or have others found a better pressure to control the dreaded "wobble". This bike still has 2005 stock tires

03-23-2007, 04:48 PM	#2
Gadjet Gadget Freak Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Oddometer: 115	I ran about 26-28 psi in the front and 28-30 psi in the rear with my stock tires. seemed to handle well enough (well enough that I managed to scrape the pegs on occasion without dumping the bike) __________________ The whole wide world An endless universe Yet we keep looking Through the eyeglass in reverse Rush, Territories IBA#20953 My Pics

03-23-2007, 05:06 PM	#3
VegasKLRider Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Oddometer: 2,812	Higher for street I run 28psi front and 30psi rear for the street. I air down to 15 front and 20 rear for the dirt. I tried the factory recommendations and tire wear was horrible. I think the factory numbers are a dirt and street compromise. I carry a portable air compressor in my tailbag when I go offroad. __________________ I was born... I shall die... but the time in between is mine. WWJWD? What Would John Wayne Do? Southwest Riders visit www.my2wheels.com.

03-23-2007, 05:16 PM	#4
Paper Multibike disorder.. Joined: Feb 2003 Location: IL/WI Border Oddometer: 2,805	Don't get me wrong, I love my KLR, but the factory suggested pressures are a compromise, just like the bike is.. Road riding, I run the same pressure that I would if I were riding a street bike. 32Front 34Rear. When I get off road I air them down to around 18psi. I've found better wear at high pressure for road riding, and better grip off road when aired down.. Then I just stop in at the next gas station to bring them back up when riding road again. __________________ Give the gift of Bacon.. Nobody will ever ask for a return receipt.

03-23-2007, 11:51 PM	#8
Subcanis Flunking social studies. Joined: Jun 2006 Location: SLC Oddometer: 1,079	Thats a hell of a setup. I just got back from an 800 mile trip. 20 front and rear offroad, 30 front and rear onroad. Stock front, K270 rear. YMMV __________________ Znl5ZmY= Id rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting at church thinking about my motorcycle.

03-23-2007, 08:28 PM	#7
klm4755 Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Oddometer: 538	I run 30 psi for both tires, mainly street. Great to have 12v air compressor with hook-up. You can make yourself a trail electrical kit containing: 1. air compressor, jumper cables, GPS attach and such, see example here: http://klrworld.com/forums/index.php/topic,2077.0.html strip all the useless housing, fans, and gages. Throw away all this stuff compressor after current test like so. This compressor will fill the front tire in 55 sec from flat to 24 psi! Rear tire will take 2 min exactly to fill from flat to 24 psi. The compressor draws less power than the KLR headlight. attach that 10AWG here. A direct connect to the battery (fused at 25 amps). all adapters Keithm

05-27-2013, 07:26 PM	#9
supermancam Adventurer Joined: Mar 2013 Location: Perth, Australia Oddometer: 39	Great modification you've done. I like the direct connect on the battery cover, leaves it tidy with no wires hanging around. I connected a 12v power outlet to the "accessory" wires behind the front faring of my 03 KLR650 and learned quickly that rain and vibration aren't it's friend. Ordered twist lock with waterproof o ringed connections already so should be ok for the gps, phone, compressor etc. Had I seen your post before I would have done it that way with a wire coming up to the handlebar from the outlet on battery cover.

05-27-2013, 09:25 PM	#10
Beezer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Anchorage, formerly Spenard (hub of the universe) Oddometer: 4,477	wobble..... one big source is insufficient fork oil. my new brand new 05 wobbled like hell at hiway speed. I did a bunch of stuff, like take off the guards & windshield etc. then somebody said check the forks... the manual says 190mm (remove spring, collapse fork, fill until 190mm from the top). I was 50-60cc low each leg. fixed that & much better... so then I started adding until it was really good. then.... somebody says bring oil up to the original setting which was 170. so I check... I'm at 165mm. since then I have done dozens at tech days... none had even the 190 measure unless done by the owner. 170mm & maybe 10 psi air on top. stick with 10 weight oil (atf) get Ricor valves when you can afford it.... total different front end with that upgrade. the stock tires are very mediocre... probably the least favorite of all the tires I have tried on my klr.... the list... TKC, 606, GP1, AT90 Scorpion, MT21, Bridgestone 40s, Gripsters, Tourance. I also run 18psi in the dirt but if you have trouble remembering things like do...... 30psi on the pave and 20 in the dirt

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