Jeff Q
Well-known member
If these work might be just the ticket...
https://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/Product.asp?item=TPMS
https://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/Product.asp?item=TPMS
Tire pressure monitor
- Thread starter Jeff Q
- Start date
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BrunDog
Well-known member
The price is right, but personally, I prefer my TireWatch system, which has worked flawlessly so far, and is "permanently" installed.
-BD
Big-D
Well-known member
Like many on the Forum, I've been riding street bikes since 1970 and have never had a TPMS. I'm sorry, but to me it's just something to break, give false readings, require repairs, increase tire replacement costs and not provide any viable information. I check my tire pressure each time I ride if my rides are more than a week apart; always have. If I ride every day, I check the T.P. every other day. If you are going down the road and suffer a sudden tire pressure loss, you'll know it as soon as someone would if they have a TPMS. If your tire is losing air slowly, you'll catch it during your air pressure checks or in the way your bike handles.
My wife's car came with 4 wheel TPMS and when I looked into buying her some after market wheels, the price was almost double. It's kind of like paying $1500 for a driver side electrically adjustable seat and no one drives your vehicle except you. So it sits there year after year and does absolutely nothing. The old fashioned tire pressure gauge is the way to go.
My wife's car came with 4 wheel TPMS and when I looked into buying her some after market wheels, the price was almost double. It's kind of like paying $1500 for a driver side electrically adjustable seat and no one drives your vehicle except you. So it sits there year after year and does absolutely nothing. The old fashioned tire pressure gauge is the way to go.
Groo
The Endless Font of Useless Knowledge...
Different strokes for different folks. I found myself neglecting to check, and so having a TPMS gives me a lot of peace of mind. Not to mention the fact that it alerted me to a slow leak in my rear tire at 2 AM in BFE Nevada and saved my ass, or that it alerted me to a relatively rapid front tire pressure loss that let me slow down and get off the highway without dumping the bike in the middle of nowhere New Mexico with a thunderstorm approaching. I love my Smartire system, and just last week ordered and installed a replacement receiver (the original one got water inside the casing during EOM and the ride home... but lasted a good 4 years prior to that).
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meosborn
Well-known member
johndaub
Well-known member
I bought these for $159.95 from CruiserCustomizing.com. I do not know what their current prices are.
My only issue with them is either the units do not turn on easily when the bike starts moving or the hand held unit has trouble picking up the signal. I am on the verge of calling cutomer service to find out. how to solve this problem.
I do like them since I rarely check the pressures. With these I check them if the units turn on.
buf2phx
Well-known member
TruWrecks
Still chewing thru the Restraints
I installed a Kisan TPMS and I like the display. The sensors are a PITA to install though. I have a SmarTire system on my Busa. Unfortunately they no longer make the motorcycle systems. They've gone all OEM only.
As for a waste of money? I got a low pressure warning on my Busa 30 miles from Eureka, NV. At 20 miles to Eureka I got another warning. My tire pressure had dropped from 38 PSI to 32 PSI in 10 miles. The bike still handled fine, but I knew I had a leak that wouldn't allow me to make it to Eureka, and it was 7:30 PM and getting dark. I pulled over in a safe area to find that a small piece and sharp of gravel had punctured the tire. I got the Slime pump and my tire plug kit out and was back on the road 30 minutes later with a tire pressure of 39 PSI.
If it wasn't for the TPMS I would have been stuck with a flat tire on HWY 50 (named the loneliest highway in America) a few miles walk from Eureka, NV at night in the rain. The SmarTire system has been a sound piece of mind since. I check the display every time I start my Busa to make sure the tires are at their correct settings.
As a bonus the SmarTire system also gives me the tire temps. That was handy info on the track last year to get the tires properly inflated for the track without needing to rush to measure the hot temps in the pits before they cooled off. I can just pull off the track and push one button to know how hot the tires are, and whether I need to add or reduce pressure if any.
As for a waste of money? I got a low pressure warning on my Busa 30 miles from Eureka, NV. At 20 miles to Eureka I got another warning. My tire pressure had dropped from 38 PSI to 32 PSI in 10 miles. The bike still handled fine, but I knew I had a leak that wouldn't allow me to make it to Eureka, and it was 7:30 PM and getting dark. I pulled over in a safe area to find that a small piece and sharp of gravel had punctured the tire. I got the Slime pump and my tire plug kit out and was back on the road 30 minutes later with a tire pressure of 39 PSI.
If it wasn't for the TPMS I would have been stuck with a flat tire on HWY 50 (named the loneliest highway in America) a few miles walk from Eureka, NV at night in the rain. The SmarTire system has been a sound piece of mind since. I check the display every time I start my Busa to make sure the tires are at their correct settings.
As a bonus the SmarTire system also gives me the tire temps. That was handy info on the track last year to get the tires properly inflated for the track without needing to rush to measure the hot temps in the pits before they cooled off. I can just pull off the track and push one button to know how hot the tires are, and whether I need to add or reduce pressure if any.
happyPuppy
Well-known member
Interesting....the article gives a .5 psi difference/accuracy. I've had it a couple months now, and found it to be about 4 psi off, consistently.
Big Shasta
Well-known member
Wow...that's a lot of years riding.....Like many on this forum, I've been BREATHING since 1971.
wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
When did they start letting children on this board???!??!!?! We're not gonna have to report this to Net-Nanny or anything, are we?????
On-topic: TPMS on cars usually come on cars with run-flats, because a casual glance will not let you know there's no air in the thing. No air gauge, no knowledge.
Our tires aren't run-flat. Still, you can't look at it and tell it's down 10 pounds. But a tire gauge is sure an awful lot cheaper than a monitoring system!
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Groo
The Endless Font of Useless Knowledge...
Unless the incovenience of getting out the gauge, taking off the valve cover, gaging the tire, figuring out if you let too much air out in the process, replacing the cover, then repeating on the other tire, then washing your hands from the tire smut makes you say F*$& it and it doesn't get done...
To me, the convenience is worth every penny.
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TruWrecks
Still chewing thru the Restraints
I have checked the SmarTire system a couple of times against a calibrated gauge and it has been consistently 0.5 lbs lower. That's probably just because the SmarTire setup only gives whole numbers. I haven't checked the Kisan system beyond the install yet. It does require that you calibrate it the first time it's installed.
I would like the convenience of these but the cost is too high for me to consider it. I've just gotten to the the stage of having put 90* valve stems on my wish list. Will probably install them during next tire changes.
As for the age comments, I bought my 1st street bike in 1965.
As for the age comments, I bought my 1st street bike in 1965.
CAJW
Well-known member
Hey Big D! I believe they're jealous that they don't have the wisdom and experience (read:scars) that us guys that started riding in the 70's did. Man I'm glad fashions changed, got tired of pulling my bell bottom pants outa my chain. Oh yeah, back on topic, I check my tire pressure once a week religiously.
cota95
RI Beach Pop
+100 on the Smartire. I had exactly the same thing happen 1500 miles from home. Kept me from possibly wrecking a tire on a Sunday morning in Butfuk SD. I don't have one yet on my 07 (left it on my 06 when it went to my son). I will be following this post for suggestions. I'm not crazy about getting any unit that's not mounted permantly on the bike.
johndaub
Well-known member
Stephen
Well-known member
I got that info email, too. I have two bikes so this system would allow me to move it around.
