Tyre pressure affects how a motorcycle carries weight, brakes and responds in a corner. For road riding, find the correct figures in the motorcycle owner’s manual or on its frame placard. A pressure marked on the tyre sidewall relates to the tyre’s rated maximum load and may differ from the setting specified for your motorcycle.
Use a reliable gauge while the tyres are cold, for example after the motorcycle has stood for at least three hours. Riding warms the tyres and raises their pressure, so do not bleed air from a hot tyre to reach a cold-pressure figure. Replace the valve cap after checking.
If you ride regularly, check pressure at least weekly and before a long trip. Look at the tread and sidewalls at the same time: cuts, bulges, uneven wear or unusual pressure loss call for a professional tyre inspection. Appearance alone is not enough; a tyre can look inflated even when its pressure is low.