TPMS for <$50...

[SgtSlag]

I took a chance and bought a TPMS system off of e-Bay: $47.82, delivered from China...

Got it today, installed it in 1/2-hour. It works! The sensors on the valve stems have replaceable watch batteries inside; special wrenches for removal came with the kit. The receiving unit has a rechargeable battery, which utilizes a standard USB phone charging cable.

It gives a real-time pressure reading. You set the upper and lower pressure limits before it alarms -- moderately loud beeping codes indicate pressure out of range, sudden deflation, and overheated tires -- you set the temperature limit. Did I mention it gives a temperature reading for each tire, in real time?..

In alarm state, the tire symbol flashes (front, back, or both), as well as a red LED inside the display face flashes, with the affected tire's symbol flashing on/off indicating which tire is out of spec. Temperature and pressure can be set to English PSI, or Bars, as well as Fahrenheit or Celsius.

I pumped my tires up to 42 PSI each, then I screwed the sensors on until they released air. I watched the numbers on the receiver slowly drop to 40 PSI, then I tightened them, and I locked them with the supplied hardware.

The receiver also has three brightness settings, changed with one of two buttons. A handlebar mounting system is included. No more fumbling with a gauge! No more wondering about the tire pressures...

I compared the readouts with a traditional pressure gauge: they matched! For the price, I won't ride without a TPMS, again! Cheers!

[cranky]

... part number / make / model / source? TIA!!! It sounds interesting,
knock on wood, I haven't had a problem yet, check 'um @ every 2
weeks and good.... the info is for other interested folk...

[cushman eagle]

I have been wondering if something like that existed I would like to know more about it

[alta drifter]

i just purchased what sounds like the same unit
I too am happy with the performance of it
for the last 5 years I had a doran TPMS on it
it also worked great and I had no issues with it other than the sensors had built in batteries and have to be replaced
the sensors are supposed to have a life span of 5 years (this would be my third time replacing them in 5 years), so when they died this spring (they are removed from the bike during winter) rather than spend the $130.00 (Cdn((cost of the batteries and shipping) I thought I would try something different
I have put about 3000 kms on my new TPMS and checked it against my gauge (on both hot and cold tires) and the readings have been within .5 PSI
I have also heard that some people have gotten units which are inconsistent so I am not sure if it is a hit or miss situation on what you will get

[cranky]

... brand / type / model / source / etc... please? TIA

[SgtSlag]

Here is the link to the set I purchased off of e-Bay. The e-Bay photo's do not show the handlebar mounting system included with the kit. It is all plastic, but decent, and fully functional, and complete. No need to buy anything outside of the kit.

Have not ridden the bike since I installed the system, yet. Planning to take an overnight trip, likely 200+ miles, this weekend. Checked the unit's readout's this AM, as the bike is parked next to the cage: pressure remains the same: 40 PSI for each tire; the temperature readings dropped from 80 F, to 77 F, so the temperature sensing appears to be working. At least I know they are holding pressure, no leaks from the sensor caps.

Not sure, but the sensors might off-balance the tires, due to their weight (not excessively heavy, but it doesn't take much weight to throw a tire out of balance, at speed). Got some Ride-On Motorcycle Tire Balancer and Sealant coming from Amazon. Should be here, tomorrow. Planning to empty the tires of air, remove the wheel weights, and squeeze the goop inside. Tires will auto-balance every time I ride. Will not need to worry about sensors' effect on tire balance after I install the Ride-On. Used it in my last set of tires, without issue. No hazard to my mechanic opening up the tires, either, as it is non-toxic, and non-flammable. Cheers!

[SgtSlag]

We rode over 400 miles on the bike this weekend, with the TPMS in place. Here is what I learned in riding with it, long distance...

The front tire was fine, its temperature remained below 100 F, and its pressure from cold (41 PSI) only ran up to 44 PSI. Neither alarm for this tire went off.

The rear tire went from 41 PSI to 50+ PSI, hot! The alarm works. I dropped the pressure in the rear tire to 39 PSI, cold, and I adjusted the alarm threshold on the pressure up to 50 PSI. On the second day, the pressure ran up to 49 PSI, and the temperature on the rear tire reached 105 F (default alarm threshold is 150 F?), but it was stable thereafter. The tire pressure behavior was a little strange, but there were numerous variables involved. Time will tell if it was a fluke, which I suspect it was. It was interesting to see the dynamic differences between the front and rear tires, under load, at highway speeds (55-75 MPH), with a heavy load on the bike.

My biggest take-away from the TPMS system has nothing to do with the TPMS system at all -- it is the tires that truly impressed me! We have ridden for years, with sketchy tire pressure corrections/monitoring, and yet, they never failed, other than one inner tube blowing out (EDIT: 1979 Honda, back in 2010; mechanic said it was a factory defect, a week spot which gave out -- I believe he was correct). The modern motorcycle tire is quite a marvel of engineering, IMO.

On day 2, Sunday, for the 200-mile+ ride home, the pressure seemed to peak at 49 PSI, for the rear, while the temperature hit the usual 100-105 F. No alarms, no issues, whatsoever.

I did manage to forget the locking wrench for the Sensors at home... I used my mini-Leatherman tool's pliers to loosen the locking nut, so I could bleed off some pressure on the rear tire. I then tightened it back up. Made it home without losing the Sensor, so it must have tightened properly.

The display was fairly easy to read while riding. It is not super-bright, but typically bright enough. The temperature readings are quite small, and they are an orange color, so they are more challenging to read, but it can be done, with a little squinting -- on a straightaway, with light traffic.

My real concern was that I find it tedious to check the tire pressure. I had a 90-degree valve stem installed on the rear, which helps. It seems easiest, and best, to pull the left saddlebag, to read the pressure on the rear tire, and that is a hassle. I do not enjoy getting on my hands and knees, anymore. That faded with my youth, sorry to say. This inexpensive TPMS system will allow me to stay on top of tire pressures, which is critical from a safety standpoint, as well as extending the longevity of the tires -- more miles before I need to put new skins on.

out of five

I also put the correct amount of Ride-On in each tire, before the trip. Gotta say, I am sold on this stuff. Auto-balances each tire, on each ride, dynamically. Perfect balance every ride, without muss, without fuss. Great product, as well. Worth every penny.



Anyway, I thought I would post my experiences and thoughts for those viewers who might wonder how they ride. Cheers!

[triton28]

Thank you for the link and taking the time to post an update.
Dave

[cushman eagle]

Thank you for posting your results I was surprised that the rear tire pressure raised 20% I expected a little more than the front did (10%) But not that much.We aught to try one of those on a truck and see if they go up that much,that would raise a rear tire from 90lbs up to 110lbs

[SgtSlag]

My Jeep has factory TPMS. I rarely look at it (have to scroll through multiple options on a lengthy menu, to get to them). I'll have to check the front/rear cold, and hot, to see how it compares. I suspect it will be apples to oranges, though: 4 wheels, versus two wheels; motorcycle versus jeep, with four-wheel suspension, rather than two. Still, it will prove interesting, nonetheless. Cheers!

[Thadbaker86voyager]

I have a car with 4 wheel tire pressure monitoring and have watched from cold start to operating temperature. On an all day trip of 500 miles at freeway plus speeds (75-80 mph) and 100 degree temperatures, tire pressure only increased about 4 psi. However 4 wheels verses 2, so not exactly the same thing. No temperature monitoring either.

[alta drifter]

i got very similar readings when I still had my Doran unit
I would start the day and 40 PSI and typically would run between 45 and 48 depending on temperature, load and road condion
on the front I run 32 PSI and it goes up to 35 or 36 usually

[Barry]

How often do you have to recharge the battery? Is there an off switch for when it's not in use?

[SgtSlag]

Excellent questions, Barry! I forgot to cover those points.

The battery, within the receiving unit, is rechargeable, by using a standard phone charger USB cable (included). The unit has an auto-standby feature, which is awakened by movement, or a button push; in stand-by mode, it draws around 2 micro-Amps! When the unit is actively displaying, it draws around 40 milli-Amps. How long does it last? I don't know, yet. After having it "on" for over 14 hours of driving time this past weekend, the life meter for the battery charge level, never dropped at all (3-segments).

The sensors, on each wheel, have a lithium battery inside of them. They are always on and transmitting, I believe. The kit comes with special 'wrenches', to open the sensors, to allow battery replacement. I think the documentation included with the kit, stated that they should last 1-2 years -- I think. Cheers!

[Orangejbird]

I wonder how accurate the temp reading is on a 90 degree valve stem. I'm not sure how the internal temp of the tire will reach the unit.
Looks like a nice setup though.

[SgtSlag]

The temperature reading on the 90-degree valve stem is likely accurate: the rim is metal, which conducts heat, quite well; the valve stem is metal, screwed into the rim, with locking nuts, all metal (thin rubber O-ring seal will transmit most of the heat into the valve stem). The rear tire reading was much higher than the 80 F ambient temperature, and it was much hotter than the front tire's temperature reading. That heat had to come from somewhere, and the rear tire was extremely hot to the touch. I put my hand on the rubber sidewall, when I stopped one time, when the gauge said it was over 100 F... It sure felt like it was 100+ F to my bare hand -- Ouch! In the morning, with cold tires, both read the same temperature. As we rode, the rear tire went much higher than the front. Not an engineer, just stating my observations and edu-ma-cated guesses. Cheers!

[cushman eagle]

Thinking about the difference between the front and rear tire temperature,the rear carries more weight,and is shielded from the airflow much more than the front.

[doug of so fla]

Thinking about the difference between the front and rear tire temperature,the rear carries more weight,and is shielded from the airflow much more than the front.

PLUS ++ ENGINE heat is transferred through drive train to rear wheel & to tire.

[cushman eagle]

Thinking about the difference between the front and rear tire temperature,the rear carries more weight,and is shielded from the airflow much more than the front.

PLUS ++ ENGINE heat is transferred through drive train to rear wheel & to tire.

Yah Doug,that too

[Nails]

Sorry to resurrect this old post.
I bought the same unit and got it last week. Didn't work -- I couldn't "assign" the sensors to the right position on the screen. I could set units and limits, but couldn't get really anything out of the sensors.
The sensor batteries are replaceable, but CR1225 batteries are "rare". I had to go to a dedicated battery store, and then they had to root around in back. But they had new ones.
Back home, I still had a lot of trouble. Not in the directions, but I had to start the ID process with the sensor on the valve, wait many seconds, take the sensor off, wait a few seconds for the display to freak out, and then put the sensor back on the valve. Then, finally, it actually read the tire pressure.
Now it seems to be working.
Also, I don't have a place to mount it on my narrow bars. I put a 1/4" bolt sticking out of the plastic handlebar mount cover, and screwed the display on there. (It is small to read.) It sticks out kinda weird in front of the key. I'll probably screw the display down permenantly and just take the cover and all off to charge it (two easy screws).
I also bent a thin, stiff wire to hold the two tools together, for carrying on the bike.
I think it'll be swell. But I'll stock up on batteries.