How do l know if my motorcycle valves are bad?
Compared with cars, motorcycles are small and light. In the case of urban traffic congestion, motorcycles can easily shuttle between vehicles, change lanes quickly, turn around, and avoid traffic jams. With its small body, motorcycles can move quickly along the roadside or in the gaps between vehicles, saving a lot of commuting time. It is becoming more and more popular.
The motorcycle tire valves is one of the most important parts to ensure the safety of motorcycle driving, so how do we judge whether the valve is broken?
1. Appearance inspection
First, you can directly observe the valve. If the motorcycle tire valves has obvious cracks, damage or deformation, it is likely to be damaged. For example, the rubber part of the tire valve is torn, just like the rubber is scratched by a sharp object or cracks after aging, which is a more intuitive damage.
Check whether there are signs of leakage around the motorcycle tire valves. If you find oil or water stains around the tire valve (if it is a motorcycle with a water cooling system, coolant leakage may leave traces near the valve), this may indicate that the valve is not sealed well and there is liquid leakage.
2. Air pressure check
You can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the tire pressure regularly. If you find that the tire pressure drops significantly in a short period of time (such as within a few days), and the tire itself has no other obvious reasons for leakage such as nails or damage, then there may be a problem with the valve. For example, under normal circumstances, the tire pressure of a motorcycle should be relatively stable, and the pressure should not drop by more than 0.1-0.2 bar within a week (the specific value varies depending on factors such as tire type). If the drop is far beyond this range, you should suspect whether the tire valve is leaking.
You can also use a simple soapy water test method. Apply soapy water (you can mix detergent with water) on the valve, and then observe whether bubbles are generated. If bubbles keep coming out, it means that the tire valve is leaking, because bubbles will form when gas leaks from the tire valve.
3. Riding experience judgment
When riding a motorcycle, if you feel that the vehicle is unstable, especially the tire feels soft, as if the air pressure is insufficient, and after checking that the tire has no obvious flat tire (such as puncture, etc.), it may be that the motorcycle tire valves is slowly leaking air, causing the tire pressure to be insufficient.
If you hear a hissing sound of air leakage from the tire during riding, after eliminating the tire puncture and other situations, it may also be that the motorcycle tire valves is damaged and leaking. However, this sound is relatively subtle and needs to be listened carefully in a relatively quiet environment.