Angled valve extenders are the pits

[Kookaburra]

I think this is a tyre rant, if not it is close to one. From my aging and stiffening perspective, the worst aspect of the snow flake wheels on the R65 is having to find, fit and unfit the right angled valve extension to check and pump up the  tubed tyres at the service station. The clear advice seems to be to not leave the extensions on the valve during travel so I have this on and then off again sweaty struggle every time I take the bike out.

Does any one have an alternative solution to this minor but time consuming irritation?

[Tony Smith]

I use tyre valve extenders intended originally for use on dual wheels on trucks.

The link below is not the ones I have, merely to give you the idea of what to look for. I'd suggest you go to your nearest truck tyre place and buy one there, not only will it be cheaper than Fleabay, you can also get longer ones.

The one I carry is 12" long which is kinder on my 60 year old bones when putting air in. They are also easier to fit than those blasted 90 degree adaptors because there is more to hang onto.

Last comment, I carry these for putting air in on the road. At home I use a bicycle pump with a Schrader adaptor - the one I have has a pressure gauge built in - it proved wildly optimistic but I have "calibrated it with pieces of tape for 30/32/34/36/38 psi. Quick, easy and you are not buggering around at servos with all your riding clobber on.

[Tony Smith]

Forgot the blasted link didn't I!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4x-Tyre-Valve-Extension-Motorcycle-Tire-Stem-Extender-10-7-Steel-w-Clamp/142643375342?hash=item2136352cee:g:bhgAAOSw~B1aS7dX

[Tony Smith]

Brain fade is setting in, one more thing I forgot to mention.

The best bicycle pump is not necessarily the best pump for pumping up motorcycle tyres (and occasionally car tyres too). You see a "proper" bicycle pump needs to allow a slightly built, possibly female, rider to pump their 23C racing tyres up to 125psi. Some of them are even designed to pump up shocks and forks and given that those can have pressures up to 300psi the bore of the pump is minuscule to allow the previously mentioned slightly built, possibly female rider to reach those pressures.  (I have a foot pump for pumping up Fournales shock absorbers  and using it to pump up a motorcycle tyre is an exercise in extreme frustration - 700 strokes to get to 36psi).

No, what you want is a cheap Chinese made foot pump with around a 40mm bore - that will pump up a motorcycle tyre easily, for example going from 28 to 36psi on a 4.00*18 takes exactly 10 strokes. Try and buy one that is set up for Schrader valves and has a Presta adaptor, not the other way around.

[Matt Chapter]

I'm not sure where that advice is found - I've run a 90 degree extender on my rear tire for thousands of miles.  I have tri-y tubeless rims, of course, but I haven't had any trouble, even up to vehicle max speed.

[Barry]

My bike came with one of those angled extenders in the tool kit.  I only carry it in case I come across an inflator that wont fit as at home my car type foot pump works fine.

Some years ago I had a rough stab at what what the bending force on the valve stem would be at high speed if the adaptor was left on.

http://www.bmwr65.org/YaBB2.612/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1394735933/30#30

[Justin B.]

I plan on running tubeless on my R100, if I ever get around to it, and ordered 45 degree valve stems to install.

[Kookaburra]

I again followed the sage advice of my recent barrel benefactor Tony Smith-
What you want is a cheap Chinese made foot pump with around a 40mm bore - that will pump up a motorcycle tyre easily, for example going from 28 to 36psi on a 4.00*18 takes exactly 10 strokes. Buy one that is set up for Schrader valves and has a Presta adaptor.

Having googled Schrader and Presta I purchased said device with a pressure gauge and it has transformed the riding life of we historic vehicles. Now able to get pumped up in the comfort of my own shed and reserve the pesky angle extension for checks on the road. I still need to calibrate the pressure gauge with an accurate reference gauge.

[skippyc]

I just cheat and use the compressor. I have no problems with the 86 mono.

[Tony Smith]

I just cheat and use the compressor. I have no problems with the 86 mono.

Yep, XT350, KLE500, R1150GSA & G650GS absolutely no problem usign a standard tyre chuck. But the three bikes fitted with snowflakes - not so much.

I did have a tyre chuck that I bent specifically so it would chuck a valve in a snowflake, but I haven't seen it for a while since the rubber part failed and I didn't immediately fix it.

Besides, using a hand pump is quiet, I doubt the neighbours would appreciate the noise of my compressor at 5:30am.

[donbmw]

All I can say is I have had my 1982R65 since new. Have always used a standard air chuck.

[Tony Smith]

All I can say is I have had my 1982R65 since new. Have always used a standard air chuck.

Photo of it, preferably chucked on a valve - or it isn't real.

[BPT]

I bought an 90 degree thing from Motobins and I keep it in the tool kit, just take it out when I need to add air.

Does anyone know why they chose to put the hole for the valve stem so close to structure parts of the wheel?  What an unbelievable pain in the ass.  Without an extender you can be screwed if you need to air up somewhere and can't find anything to fit.

Also, does anybody use/know of an accurate digital gauge the will fit?   

[donbmw]

Attached are pics of the air chuck I use at home. Couldn’t find the other style I have but when I get to work Monday will take pics of it.

[Bob_Roller]

If you have twin discs on the front, it complicates tire servicing .
I bought a tire gauge from Harbor Freight, it has about 10 inches of hose with a 45 degree chuck at the end works good .
Also checked it for accuracy against calibrated tire gauges at work, reads 2 pounds low .


https://www.harborfreight.com/tire-gauge-with-flex-hose-92955.html