The CB1100 Community Forum

Thought I'd ask to see what some experienced opinions out there were.

My rear tire looses a few psi per day. 2 or 3 days and it would be about 8 or 9 psi low. I inspected the tire pretty closely and can't find any damage or anything. It's not the valve core. The tire has ~1,200 miles on it. Front tire holds 36 psi reasonably long.

Question is: should I take it in to have it checked out or just deal with a slow leak?

It is common for motorcycles to lose air pressure in the tires while sitting and especially when the ambient air temp is changing a lot..winter to spring, fall to winter. I inspect whichever bike I am riding every ride and it's not uncommon to find both tires 2 or 3 or 4 pounds shy of where they should be depending on how long it's been since I rode that bike.

I think 2 or 3 PSI a day is way more than a slow leak, I check air often and only need to add a lb or two every few weeks.

(03-17-2014, 07:00 AM)HikerToo_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I think 2 or 3 PSI a day is way more than a slow leak, I check air often and only need to add a lb or two every few weeks.

I agree. Get yourself some soapy water and sponge it on the tire and see if you find any bubbles. Wouldn't hurt to check the rims as well.

Have you checked your tire's valve? Also run a ring of soapy water around the rim where it seals on the tire. If you are losing that much air per day there is a leak. I had a similar problem with a rear tire on my Moto Guzzi, losing a couple pounds of air per day and found a small piece of copper staple buried in the tread that showed a stream of tiny bubbles when soaped.

Could be a leak at the rim, remounting the tire after cleaning the rim (and checking the bead area of the tire is one thing to do.

Slime won't help the bead area (I don't think) but would cure any leak in the tread area (my money is on the tread area) and a new valve stem would be the third thing I'd do (they are cheap).

But a good soaking in a kiddy pool with soap has a LOT of promise.

It's a long shot but the wheel casting could be faulty and the leak could be in that.

Mystery solved. Don't know how I missed seeing it before. There's a staple or something like that in my tire. I put a soapy solution on it and there's a little bit of bubbling. Ill try to get it looked at this weekend.


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I personally would never repair a motorcycle tire unless I was on a trip and had no other recourse. I just don't feel its safe, but maybe thats just me. I would replace it if I were in your situation.

My $.02

(03-18-2014, 12:08 AM)Pauley_imp Wrote: [ -> ]

Mystery solved. Don't know how I missed seeing it before. There's a staple or something like that in my tire. I put a soapy solution on it and there's a little bit of bubbling. Ill try to get it looked at this weekend.


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Man, I hate it with that happens. I am not as paranoid as Randy though and have ridden thousands of miles on plugged tires. Hate to have 2 holes next to each other like that but at least it's in the tread and not down in one of the sipes or the side walls.

I'll probably replace it. This sucks. 1500 miles on it.


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