Thanks, Cortez, that's pretty much what I've been doing (using the 32 rear, 29 front manual recommendation as a starting point and coming down a pound or so). I am relatively new to two wheelers in general, and I wasn't sure if the difference in tire brands would invalidate the manuals recommendations (I'd assume based on the stock Kendas) or not (obviously, you don't want to exceed the sidewalls in any event, which on the Michelin PPs is 33 max PSI front and rear, I think...do you know for sure offhand? It's difficult for me to find and read the max PSI on the sidewall of the mounted tires even with reading glasses..the dealer tech that mounted the Michelins inflated them to something like 29 rear and 25 front, which seemed too low to me). The manual recommends the same pressure for 1 or 2-up riding.
I did ride 2-up the other day (for the first time, ever), adjusted the suspension to the maximum of 5, and used the 32 rear and 29 front pressures and it all went well. The suspension adjustment (which was set at 3) was a bit of a bear to get to turn, going upward to 5, the first time with the spanner, but adjusts more easily now. What do you normally leave your suspension set at for riding one-up? (You and I are approximately the same size and weight, I believe, which makes reading your postings and replies very useful for me). The 3 setting? (That is what mine came set to initially). That 300cc engine seemed to have no trouble at all up hill and down on 2-lane backroads maintaining 55MPH with little effort (it sounded a little throatier than riding one-up) and got up to 70 (and would have gone further) 2-up on the straight level (I certainly didn't try for more and was actually a little surprised when I realized that it had gotten to 70 because I wasn't really trying to, just accelerating to maintain speed with traffic at the time). I did find I am shifted a little further forward in the seat 2-up and getting my feet back up was a little more effort than riding solo.