Interesting 'discussion' going on here. I also keep mine inflated to 36F/42R per my owner's manual recommendations for a single rider with cold tires. After nearly 10,000 miles I've never felt the need to change it.

 

Do what you want R Dub.

But ask yourself why the tire pressure for a single rider would be the same for a rider with passenger. Considering all manufacturers have load ratings at different pressures, why do you think Honda would recommend 42PSI for a single rider AND a single rider with passenger.

From Dunlop:

Check your pressures daily when you are on a trip and remember that every 4 psi of inflation air lost is approximately equivalent to losing 60 or 70 pounds of load carrying capacity. That means that if your tire pressure is 36 psi instead of 40 psi, then you need to take 60 or 70 pounds of load off the motorcycle.

Why would you recommend the same pressure for a possible load increase of say, 140 pounds from the extra rider (passenger). That doesn't make sense unless you are protecting your *** to include every weight of rider. A rider who is 320 pounds should NOT have the same pressures in the bike as a rider who is 160 pounds for optimum performance (and who wouldn't want the optimum performance?????).

If you don't believe me, go ask your local TIRE rep. Would you run the same pressures in ANY tire you put on the bike just because the manual says so? I would hope not...

Again, do what you want.

 

I once rode on 14 psi in both tires on the first ride of the spring when I was still a bike noob.

 

Coming in a year late just to post. I agree with DrAwkward: the Honda manual isn't the be-all/end-all. The TIRE people are. I talked with a Michelin rep years ago, and they recommended 31F/22R for the Power Race. Now, I know no one who's recommending 36/42 has ever raced, but if you've ever even done some spirited riding you know 30R feels a LOT better, and safer, than 42. Same with 31 vs. 36 on the front.

Here's what motorcycle-usa's 2010 tire review did:
"After acquiring a suitable base suspension setting with the standard OE tire, the test tires were then randomly mounted to the CBR according to group while the rider was out of sight. No additional suspension changes were allowed. Cold tire pressure was set at 32 psi in the front and 30 in the rear and then each set was pre-heated with tire warmers for a period of 20 minutes. The motorcycle was then fully re-fueled to ensure minimal changes in the weight of the bike. "

 

Gomer I don't mean to bust on you too hard but is your 1st post ever seriously bringing back a year old thread

The bottom line is you are free to run whatever tire pressure you want. Hell you can run 2 psi in both tires for all I care but running the recommend pressures that are clearly stated in the owners and service manuals published by Honda is not unsafe. It might not be the ideal pressures for the style of riding you do and that is perfectly fine. The best thing to do is to play around with the pressures and see what feels most comfortable to you. There is no magic number which is why you see every rider in MotoGP and every driver in NASCAR for that matter running different pressures and switching them up to see what feels best for them and to make their equipment the fastest. My biggest issue is saying that running the pressure Honda recommends is dangerous. It might not be ideal for you but it is not dangerous. Discussion over. Mods please lock.

 

Covered, recapped, & closed.