Front Tyre Losing Pressure

[peterbiker]

Hi Guys
Has anyone had this problem?
I have an 08 GS 1200 (not the Adventure) so has a cast wheel. I seem to always be losing pressure in the front wheel. I changed the tyres in May before a trip to Germany and every week I have to top up the pressure.As it happens I had to do it before the tyre change. Now I have to put air in every day!! I have looked for leaks ie. soapy water around the valve and the tyre but no sign of air leaks. The tyres are metzler Tourance and I have no problems with the rear. I did get a pucture in the front a few weeks after the new tyre was fitted and had it plugged (you know tyre off and repaired from the inside) I have checked the repair several times and there is no leak there. Any ideas??

 

[Beemerman59]

Maybe the plug is losing air when it's "loaded" under braking or general riding which doesn't show up on a static test. I had the same on my K11 cast wheels - turned out to be the valve on both front and rear had slight cracks. If it's only one or two psi it may just be that the weather is getting cooler as the pressure will drop a bit anyway as we move towards winter.

 

[peterbiker]

Hi
Thanks for the reply, How did you solve the problem on the K11?

 

[Beemerman59]

Hi
Thanks for the reply, How did you solve the problem on the K11?

Fitted new valves......

You have checked the bead around the rim for leaks as well? Just put some soapy water around the rim where it meets the tyre and see if you get any bubbling. Failing that submerse the wheel in something so you see where the air is escaping.

 

[peterbiker]

Ok will try that next. If no air escapes I may have to replace the valve.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Slime it.

 

[Packer]

Take the wheel out. Inflate to maximum permitted pressure, (printed on the side wall somewhere). Fill your bath with water. Insert wheel in water as far as possible and look for bubbles. It may be a porous casting or damage to the area where the tyre bead seats.

Remember to a) mark the position of the leak and b) restore the pressure to a bit over what it should be.

 

[peterbiker]

Thanks guys. Will give it a try yhis weekend

 

[de crowe]

tyre losing pressure

my front wheel on the anniversary GSA was replaced under warranty by BMW. apparently the rim itself was leaking air. Mine was the second front wheel that the dealer had to replace because of the same problem

 

[Rocky Mountaineer]

my front wheel on the anniversary GSA was replaced under warranty by BMW. apparently the rim itself was leaking air. Mine was the second front wheel that the dealer had to replace because of the same problem

I had same problem with 2009 GS, front cast wheel. Tyre was fine on side-stand but as soon as you put it up on the main stand it lost pressure. Took it to Dundee a few times, warranty guy tried to suggest that I'd hit a curb (with 100mi on the bike?). Brian intervened and they replaced the wheel on warranty, apparently cast was faulty ....

 

[clivewhilde]

Stick an innertube in it. I've been running an innertube on a 17" Megamoto rim rebuilt around the 1150 hub for two years now. No issues.

 

[Scotriders]

Was loosing air in my GSA's front last week after having the tyre's replaced.
Turned out to be a very, very small leak on the rim.

Tyre off, cleaned and replaced.
Problem solved

Guessing it was a tiny bit of dirt between the tyre and rim.