hot tire pressure

[Nails]

For those with TPMS, what pressures do you run with the tires warmed up? About 45# for both?

[Mr Jensee]

Front cold is 38 lbs. Rear Cold is 40. Warm the front is about 42 and the rear is 46.

[Barry]

With TPMS it's impressive to see how weather and road temps effect the readings. I'm comfortable as long as both tires stay above 40. That being said, my front usually is 38-39 when cold and warms up to 41-42. The rear tire heats up to 45-48. It will be interesting to see where the pressures go once summer gets here.

[Nails]

In the summer mine can get into the 50s. I agree that the TPMS seems to argue against getting too fussy. Basically good to know when it's way low.

[Mr Jensee]

Nails make note that we havent experienced the brutal summer road temps as of yet in Louisiana.

[SgtSlag]

My thermal results are similar. The rear tire gets up to much higher pressures, and temperatures, than the front tire ever does. Last year was my first year with the TPMS system in place. I was very nervous watching the numbers climb, both temperatures and pressures. Now, I just relax, and ride.

I had to air up the tires, two weeks ago, to prepare them for the elusive Spring, which seems to have moved out of state... Temperatures are warming again, so I hope to ride soon. The sensors triggered the alarm when I unscrewed them to add air. It was a loud experience to air up both tires.

I did discover that fussing over 39#, versus 40#, or 41#, is a bit ridiculous. Your tire pressures will vary, dramatically, depending upon air and road temperatures! As long as they are close, you will be golden. The tire manufacturers built in a generous fudge factor, or more properly known as, a safety factor. As Nails posted, the real purpose, and benefit, of the TPMS system, is to know when your tires are losing pressure quickly. They can be a case of TMI.

Like I posted last year, I bought a TPMS set off of e-Bay for around $50. I still feel pretty good about it. The rear sensor's temp gauge was way off when I filled the tires with air,two weeks ago, but the pressure readings were spot on. After watching the tire temperatures while riding last year, I have learned to ignore them, mostly. "Much ado about nothing," as Bill Shakespeare wrote a few centuries back. Cheers!

[Nails]

I bought that same system on your recommendation -- thanks.
I've found that after sitting, the initial pressure/temp readings are whatever it was when parked. It takes a while to see what it really is now. Like sometimes after I'm underway.
I have a slow leak in front. Great un-hassle to just look to see how low it's gotten; but an extra hassle to deal with the sender lock to air it up. (Really should just get it fixed.)
Generally TMI, but some peace of mind too.

[Mr Jensee]

I was wondering where you guys mounted your TPM? I mounted mine on the left pocket door. This way it doesn't interfere with anything and I can see it while riding.

[Nails]

I put mine here. This was because I could take the whole cover off with two screws, to charge it up.

But since I got a heated jacket liner and gloves, I put an electrical pigtail behind the left faring door -- not the one in your photo, but the lower one that used to have the CB crap. I mean, I can hook up a battery tender, heated clothes, or a USB port to a loose wire stuffed behind that door. So I can recharge it on the bike. (All those leash connectors go straight to the battery, so I can charge it when at the restaurant or wherever. Or deal with the wire while riding.)

Note the vent where the stupid radio used to be. And the map holder where the cruise crap used to be -- those switches and lights are moved to the left fairing. Except the master "on" switch, which used to be the radio/tape button on the left switchset, but otherwise did nothing since I got rid of the stupid radio. And that whole second-story of switches on the left.

I've generally gotten rid of all insignia on the whole bike. That's so when dumb-asses ask if it's a Goldwing, I can say "yes, but with a Fireblade motor".

[Mr Jensee]

Where mine is located I can now just used the supplied charge cable which of course is USB and plug it into one of 2 USB ports I now have in place of where the CB radio door was. Easy Peasy.

[SgtSlag]

I'm boring. I mounted mine on the handlebars, using the supplied mount. On a side note, I pulled it off the bike two weeks ago, to charge it -- it was still working after being parked, and untouched, since October! Color me impressed! It is a very inexpensive system, but the piece of mind it provides, is worth every penny.

My tires ran down, over the winter months. I aired them up, comparing a manual gauge to what the sensors showed: within one PSI! I'm a happy camper.

I lost my special wrench, to loosen the lock nut... Quickly realized I could use any pliers which could reach around the thin nut, so I used my Mini-Leatherman Tool, and got 'er done. A hassle, to be sure, but it worked. Demonstrated how difficult it would be for someone to take them -- if they even realized they were there.

Glad to know my recommendation was taken, but even happier to know people found them useful after they spent their money on my word... Thanks. Cheers!

[Nails]

I lost my special wrench, to loosen the lock nut

I have a slow leak in the front, so my wrench doesn't ever get very far. I figured out how the round plastic unit is supposed to hold the small wrench. I wire-wrapped it together; and I think I stashed spare sender batteries in it. Those batteries are not widely available.

On a recent miserable rainstorm ride, the front pressure started reading "--". Was pretty bummed about losing the sending unit, but happy to find that it didn't get lost after all. I put "fresh" batteries in it when I bought it. I recommend carrying spares, else looking for a special battery store on the road.

A hassle, to be sure

Airing these XII tires is a hassle already. Screwing with the senders adds to that.

Was at the shop yesterday getting a new back tire. The old rider working there said he disabled the TPMS in his truck because it was too annoying. "I prefer to just check the tires." But since we can set the alarm limits, I don't really share that experience.

With the TPMS working as soon as I wiggle the bike, my new battery monitor working as soon as I turn on the ignition, and both working for a few minutes after I shut down -- I do like seeing at a glance that all is well. Sure glad I don't have to crawl around just to find out the tire pressure.

Glad to know my recommendation was taken

Of course your word is golden here.

[Nails]

I have fairly new rubber on front and brand new on the back, both from a good, local shop (I took in the wheels). But both had slow leaks, so I took the bike to them.

Actually, they did not leak. My TPMS rather suddenly started reading low. It was right-on when I first got it, but yesterday read 35 on front (really 38) and 29 on back (really 36). The sender batteries are just a year old -- but I have no idea how long they were on the shelf at the battery store. Maybe riding through that deluge did some damage. Dunno, but I'll start by replacing the batteries again and checking for corrosion.

I want to mention that the thing that sold me on this particular TPMS is the ability to change sender batteries. Most aren't, and they've been "on" since leaving the factory.

[Barry]

On mine the sender sensors 'go to sleep' when no movement is detected. So I don't get any readings until I roll the bike out of the garage. Still haven't had to recharge the battery on the meter. I guess that means I need to go out and ride!

[Nails]

My receiver "sleeps", but I'm pretty sure the sending units are always "on".