Modern Vespa

I've finally got around to getting a reliable digital tyre pressure gauge/pump combo thingamagig which claims accuracy up to +/- 1 PSI. Checked my little scooter's tyre pressures last night and gosh... it's only 22 PSI rear, 33 PSI front (tyres says 70)! That sure is a fair bit off what I was expecting it to be...

So I had them pumped up again to approx 70. Rode to work this morning and noticed my little scoot being zippier than usual (but also bouncier!). I'm now looking forward to even better fuel economy and speeds

(ps. I checked the car tyre pressures and they were also way below the recommended pressure levels, pumped them up and woah! )

Is this a little gadget you can carry with you? I need something of that sort. Can you post a link of what you purchased?

Those little digital gauges are great. I use one all the time.

But I think you may be reading something wrong. My LX150 owner's manual says 23.2psi (1.6 bar) for the front and 34.8psi (2.4 bar) for the rear. I can't imagine the LX50 would be so much higher pressure. You may be looking at the maximum inflation on the tire itself. I don't think you want it that high. Another place to look is on your VIN plate above your glovebox. Mine shows a little different from the book, but I can't remember what it is. I know it's nowhere near 70psi, though.

I still use an old analog tire pressure guage,
Tried the digital ones, But they keep going blank by the time I hold them up to eye level.

The best analog one comes with an air pressure let off button valve on a hose,
Handy when you over installed too much pressure and you want to let off some.

What!!!????

The manual states 1.6 bar front, 2.0 bar rear - that's 24psi front, 30psi rear. The 70psi on the tyres is the *maximum* they can take under *maximum* load. Lethal on your scooter. Words almost fail me...

WTF do some Merkins (and it only seems to be them) pump their tyres up to the maximum as marked on the tyres?

What!!!??? When did we invade and annex New Zealand???!!!

Better check out some maps before your visit next year....

Bad jimc, making assumptions and not reading properly.

I'll sit in the corner for a few minutes....

Here while you're waiting....

No,no. He wasn't refering to "Americans". I am sure he was referring to pubic toupees known as "Merkins."

Sorry guys you're all obviously right with regards to the tyre pressure. It's over inflated and didn't think anything was wrong until I read danny*h's post... Tuesday blues? Will leak the air out of the tyres before my next ride I wonder where I get that 70 PSI from - I'm probably confused with the tyre pressures required on the mountain bike! Gosh...

Stanny: I got this tyre inflator with a detachable digital gauge. The gauge is powered by three LR44 button batteries when detached from the compressor which is powered by a 12V socket. I believe they sell the gauge separately as well if you don't need the compressor.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/michelin/12260-digital-tyre-inflator-and-detachable-digital-gauge.aspx

write the correct tyre pressures on the rim, next to the valve, with a marker - I've heard of sheep in NZ breaking out of their fields and letting down the tyres on bikes, revenge, apparently, for all the times you guys mollest 'em. and don't try to deny it.

Reminds me of a section in that book "Fear and Loathing" where the character is high as a kite and decides to fill his tyres with as much pressure as the air machine can provide, explaining to the attendant that these tyres are a special military technology.

Now check your car tires as well. The number molded on the sidewall is not the proper pressure--there will be a plaque on a door jamb or in the glove box stating the proper pressures for your car. If you can't find it, please get out the manual or go on line. I'm just imagining you've got 50+ pounds in your poor car when you should be in the 20s or very low 30s.

P.

Have you seen the movie Black Sheep? If deflating tyres is all they do I'm not too worried

Thanks, Paul. Yes the car tyres are properly inflated - 30 PSI front 35 PSI rear (Toyota MR2 with 15" wheels). I had a bit of a senior moment when inflating the tyres of the little Vespa - for some reason I thought 70 PSI is the correct pressure and didn't think twice until I read danny's post! I'm used to pumping really high pressure into my road bike (bicycle) tyres which is about 110 PSI so 70 didn't strike me as a dangerously high pressure at that time - obviously the two bikes are different and I'm glad it didn't blow up under me when I rode her to work yesterday

Yeah man - I need to purchase a couple of these thingamajigs.

I have this one:



Marketed under the name "Slime." Bought it at O'Reilly's Auto Parts for about $10.

You can also get it from amazon.com:

http://tinyurl.com/lc5qvx

I just ordered two of these (one for car). Looks like you might have to buy 25 cent rubber seal, but reviews are generally good. $12 per.

http://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4350B-Programmable-Digital-Gauge/dp/B000B6JJUK/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_b

I sitll don't know what Merkins means..but it sounds funny, hahaha

From the thread Why don't people wear full face helmets?:

New Zealand is more closely associated with the UK and therefore I'm not a Merkin but a Muppet

Some interesting reading for the curious 8)

We've all displayed muppetry at one time or another.

My apols again to both you and the Merkins.

Has anyone tried nitrogen in there tires. You should all think about getting your tires filled with nitrogen. I switched about three years ago and it all but eliminated the normal leak down.
Chris

I typically just go with the 78% Nitrogen setup...

I would, too, but how do you get it to exactly 78%?







Oh, yeah. Never mind.