Right angle valve stems

Aluminum billet 83 degree Ariete stems.
 
Same here. Check the price at your local bike shop and then on ebay or amazon.

Given how important it is to check tire pressure on a bike, it never ceases to amaze me that Honda, in its infinite wisdom, makes checking and adding air so difficult. You might note a bit of sarcasm here.
 
I don't remember now how I ended up with a mixed bag, but I have a shorty valve stem on the front wheel and an 85? Enkei on the rear wheel, both from kurveygirl.com. Both of them are metal valve stems. Don't get anything but metal valve stems. DAMHIK.
 
Thanks everyone. Sure wish I would have thought of this BEFORE my last tire change....
 
Seems I'm absolutely the only one who appreciates the OEM, short rubber valve stems cause I can easily flex them to mate-up with just any tire-inflater I might get confronted with down the road/across Europe... :confused: :wink: smiley-face-fuzzy.gif
 
ST1100Y said:
Seems I'm absolutely the only one who appreciates the OEM, short rubber valve stems cause I can easily flex them to mate-up with just any tire-inflater I might get confronted with down the road/across Europe... :confused: :wink: smiley-face-fuzzy.gif
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I don't live in Europe but since changing to right angle stems 8 years ago I don't think I have ever encountered an inflater where the OEM rubber ones had any advantage.
 
dduelin said:
I don't live in Europe but since changing to right angle stems 8 years ago I don't think I have ever encountered an inflater where the OEM rubber ones had any advantage.
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Basically we're confronted with 3 different types of inflate adaptors:

the most conveniant and widespread in continental Europe:
werkzeug.jpg
attached to a portable pressure container with manometer and + - buttons
The adaptor fits on both ends, I use the rearward pointing one, the flexible rubber stems ease alignment largely.

Then the ones, probably more suited for farm-vehicles and trucks (you will find those at the diesel pumps for trucks/semis):
Reifenfuellgeraet_great.jpg
When bending the hose to place the adaptor on the stem, hub and rotors limit the avail space; again bending the stem eases attachment


Then the ones you get literally confronted with in the UK:
99-1409.jpg
Mostly the piece of hose shown here is removed (for whatever reasons) and the pipe/adaptor sans handle is bolted directly into that huge armature shown...
Far worse are they connected to an asthmatic, stationary compressor requiring to insert coins to operate for anything between 10 to 30 seconds...
So by the time you get down on the floor, reaching the worship-position below your motorcycle on knees and elbows to place the like 3kg/6,5lbs hulk of an adaptor on, time's up... :wink:
Or if you manage to get the whole thing set up to deliver air into your tire, you waste like 4~5 coins into the machine to realize that darn thing just doesn't go over 26psi... :roll: so instead of topping your tire up, you've actually deflated it... :lol:
Understandable that I threw quite some fancy language at those rattling but totally deaf, red, pitfall-boxes them station tenants have placed... :cool:


Angled valve stems:
Is the aluminium cast not prone to corrosion/cracking at some time?
How long will the O-ring sealing towards the bed hold up in there?
How about rocks knocking when getting caught in another roadwork to cross?

I get my rubber stems replaced at every tire change and trust them a lot.
 
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I don't mind the rubber stems either. The ST is actually one of the easiest bikes to check the pressures on too, in my opinion. No more rolling the bike back and forth to find the stems, simply put it on the center stand and rotate the tire until the stem is in whatever position you want it in.

The hub on mine has a cut out directly above the stem so if I have to, I'll stick the guage or inflator end up into the hub.

Now, having said that, when I replace my tires I'll probably put either 90* or metal stems on just because they are more durable.

Brian
 
ST1100Y said:
Angled valve stems:
Is the aluminium cast not prone to corrosion/cracking at some time?
How long will the O-ring sealing towards the bed hold up in there?
How about rocks knocking when getting caught in another roadwork to cross?

I get my rubber stems replaced at every tire change and trust them a lot.
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I have not noticed any corrosion or cracking. Anodized aluminum is very durable but all metals are subject to it at some point. If the O ring begins to leak air from deterioration it will not be a sudden failure. I check the tire pressure weekly so if I notice a slow leak I investigate. So far any slow leaks have been foreign objects in the tire. I haven't noticed rocks knocking the valve loose yet but I generally ride on hard surfaces.

After about 18 rear tires I've paid for both billet stems at least a couple of times on the rear tire alone. The metal ones went in at the first tire change. I like the look of the Ariete stems and can appreciate your trust and need for rubber ones with different inflators you come across.
 
dduelin said:
I have not noticed any corrosion or cracking. Anodized aluminum is very durable but all metals are subject to it at some point.
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The only metal stems I've on a vehicle are on the wheels of the panel van... their very short (only stick out the length of the dust-cap thread), and pretty thick (IIRC a 13mm nut holding them on the bed)
Dunno about the metal, could be chromed steel, or maybe some brass/bronze-alloy...
And the tires on that rig require up and over 50psi...

Haven't seen angled valve stems for motorcycles over here, could be legal/insurance/homologation issues...
 
rhc said:
I am using some valve stems sold thru BikeMaster.com. (http://www.bikemaster.com/valve_stems.html) our local Honda dealer had them in stock
I had them installed at the last tire rotation. Solid aircraft aluminum. Much nicer to check the air pressure with.

Ken
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Be careful of the Bike Master valve stems. Unless they have changed them they are not the same size as the other stems sold by Kurvey Girl. I checked these before we closed shop and they are not the same. Just a little difference in size. They are smaller and don't fit as tight as the other ones. FYI
 
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