TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR

[FrancoisJ]

I plan to fit a tire pressure monitor on an RT and need some advice on the best gadget, where to fit the monitor, etc.

[Ken H.]

Here's the one I have on our GS - Doran

[jjg3]

I use the Tiregard.

[marcopolo]

Here's the one I have on our GS - Doran

 

According to a technical bulletin on Doran's website, their product is not compatible with a number of BMWs:

R1200R;

R1200RT;

F800ST;

K1200R; and

K1200S.

 

http://www.doranmfg.com/PDF/Doran360MtechnicalbulletinBMWcompatibility.pdf

 

 

[Paul Mihalka]

I think it is not compatible with the bikes that have a valve stem coming out the side of a spoke.

[Peter Parts]

Does it weigh enough to mess with balance? I like real good wheel balance.

 

Tire pressure is a kind of monthly thing. But might be nice to see when my sticky tires are warm enough to do their magic or for other researchy interests.

 

I bet like most tire gauges, it produces consistent results but not necessarily on the same mark as other gauges.

[Ken H.]

I think it is not compatible with the bikes that have a valve stem coming out the side of a spoke.

Oh yeah, you're right, I forgot about that. But that's going to be an issue with any on-stem sender. Clearing the brake rotor is the issue. (The Doran can be mounted on the inside with a provided dual-threaded stem, that's what I did on our GS, but that's out with side spoke stems too.)

[Ken H.]

Does it weigh enough to mess with balance? I like real good wheel balance.

Yes to some extent. My wheels end up with a lot of weights on them. Especially since I switched to non-lead ones. Takes more to get the same weight where you want it. But it’s an acceptable compromise to me.

[Peter Parts]

Does it weigh enough to mess with balance? I like real good wheel balance.

Yes to some extent. My wheels end up with a lot of weights on them. Especially since I switched to non-lead ones. Takes more to get the same weight where you want it. But it’s an acceptable compromise to me.

 

Thanks for reply.

 

I don't believe in balancing (despite being compulsive about dynamic balancing)... well, not in the sense that balance can work for all speeds. So when you run modern tires that are super balanced from the mold, that's great. But as soon as you are sticking on weight after weight compensation, you are going to go funny at some speed or road condition. I think that follows from the math even if balancers say no.

[Claudio]

I use the Tiregard.

 

I have a Doran on one of my bikes but am considering the Tiregard for my new F800GS.

 

How do you like the tiregard? Do the caps have any special threadlocker/safety system to prevent them flying off or loosening and deflating the tire?

 

[jjg3]

Reviews of the TireGard include a pretty good number of dissatisfied customers from unit failures. I got it because it's easy to install, the batteries are replaceable, and most importantly (for me) it was the cheapest. In a useless survey, 3 coworkers (connie, wing, FJR13) and I have experience with it. The connie user's receiver unit failed after he allowed it to get wet. It was under warranty but he has not sent it back. I'm #2 (almost a year), and the other 2 purchased TireGards based on my experience. So far I've had 1 alert, and that was a valid low pressure indication from a nail in the tire. The valve stem units come with a lock-nut device which does the job. Balance has not been an issue (although truth be told, I haven't balanced a tire... ever, and if the tire doesn't bounce at 80... they haven't, it's good enough for me).

[Paul Mihalka]

If the sensor head on the tire valve gets lost or stolen, the regular valve is still in there maintaining tire pressure. The only worry would be if the sensor gets loose but still holds open the original valve, pressure may be lost.

These are only assumptions as I don't have the device - but think of getting it. Are my assumptions correct?

[Chooch]

your assumptions are correct.I have the tiregard system. Its pretty simple to install and use. I've only had it on for the last five or so rides. So far so good. I only wish it didn't take a couple of miles till it displays the information. I would like to know what the pressure is before i ride without checking it manually. Hope mine doesn't fail early. It is a nice little unit.

[Peter Parts]

snip

The valve stem units come with a lock-nut device which does the job. Balance has not been an issue (although truth be told, I haven't balanced a tire... ever, and if the tire doesn't bounce at 80... they haven't, it's good enough for me).

 

Maybe it is just an old problem with spoked wheels and I am showing my age... but anybody who has ever had a speed wobble from imbalance just might put wheel balance higher in safety priority than wearing a helmet.

 

I have some 90 degree tire valves. But considering the forces on a wheel, I am so cautious about any kind of weight or deviation or fuss or balance issue with my tire air that I haven't yet installed them. That's my perspective on going hi-tech for a once-a-month chore.

 

Likewise with forces, big difference between the minor role of lock nuts on old tube valves versus the critical role of the lock nut on the pressure gizmo.

 

Seems a big drawback that you are a mile from home before the gizmo tells you that you have a problem.

 

Yes, I'd like this sensor on my bike but not until further developed. Something permanently installed in the rim, not piggy-back on the filler valve, might be great.

[jjg3]

Paul: "if the sensor gets loose but still holds open the original valve, pressure may be lost"

If this were to happen, the unit would give you a low pressure indication. With the locknut in place I suspect it would be very unlikely (not impossible) the unit would loosen.

 

Cooch: "only wish it didn't take a couple of miles till it displays the information"

Agreed. The motion required to 'wake' the transmitters is not reliably standard, IMO. The one time I was alerted to a low pressure condition (a nail in the tire), I turned the unit on (I do this first thing in the garage) and rolled the bike into the driveway. Before I rode away the unit alerted so it didn't take long.

 

Peter: "going hi-tech for a once-a-month chore"

I would certainly suggest if you're not comfortable with the technology for balance or any other reason, stick with a tire pressure gage. They're reliable, cheap, and easy. But I would submit that the technology is by now proven, and the once a month check will not tell you that you've picked up a nail during a ride and the air is ever so slowly going away... the TireGard will do this.

 

I recall a couple of years ago SmarTire was pretty popular (a somewhat permanently installed TPMS) and that unit used rim bands and in tire transmitters (only for tubeless tires) but they seemed to have left the market.

 

[Paul Mihalka]

"Yes, I'd like this sensor on my bike but not until further developed. Something permanently installed in the rim, not piggy-back on the filler valve, might be great"

 

Peter, you can buy it but it is a little bit pricey, from about $11.000 up. The good thing is it has a new BMW motorcycle attached to it free

 

I have mine on order. As for taking some distance to wake up, I think checking it before shutting down should reduce the problem. Even if I pick up a nail just before stopping for the night or the week, tires with a nail usually loose less air when standing than rolling.

[Ken H.]

"Yes, I'd like this sensor on my bike but not until further developed. Something permanently installed in the rim, not piggy-back on the filler valve, might be great"

That’s what I like about the Doran, the senders can optionally be mounted on the inside.

 

As for taking some distance to wake up,

If the Doran senders sense a low pressure that in itself wakes it up, and it sends a message to the display that it stores. So you get an instant ‘still in the garage’ warning.

 

[Tim Wilson]

I recently installed the Kisan Tire Alert on my RT.

It uses passive sensors that require a small antenna to be located where the sensors will pass close by when the wheel turns.

 

Advantage vs. active sensors is that the pressure is detected as soon as the sensor passes the antenna one time.

 

Disadvantage is added complexity of placing the antennas and wiring on the bike.

 

The install was only a minor PITA and thus far, I am satisfied with its performance.

[Don_Eilenberger]

If you dig enough here - you may find the report I made on the ZADI TPMS system.

 

ZADI uses internal sensors, mounted about how BMW mounts theirs (and in the same spot) comes with a mount for the front rim with the valve in the spoke (mounts to a pre-threaded hole in the spoke..)

 

Upside - great user interface and very useable. Rapid updates on pressure, and has been dead on with the readings (compared to 3 gauges I trust.) Also displays tire temp, which tells me when I can start having fun on a cold morning ride to work.

 

Downside - short sensor life. Part of this is apparently QC problems with the sensors - somehow the batteries aren't lasting. They are designed to last for 12,000 miles.. which is still awfully short, but if reliably - would be fine since I swap tires about at 12k, and could change them with the tire swap.

 

The battery in the sensor isn't replaceable, but looks as if it could be (it has a welded on contact - I'm going to disassemble a dead one to see how it might be modified.) The sensors are a fraction of the cost of the BMW ones (about $35/each shipped from Europe) so that isn't a huge problem.

 

I've been in touch with the engineer who designed the system, and they are working on a new version with a much longer projected battery life. If it retains the other good features, it would be worth getting IMHO.

 

I have a friend who has tried multiple systems (Kisan - was a nightmare, never got it to work on his GS due to antenna mounting problems) Doran (the sensors started leaking air, and required an TINY allen wrench to remove.. simply wasn't very good) and the ZADI. He had sensor failure as I did - but the shop we bought them at got replacement sensors from the US distributor and is going to provide them to everyone who purchased a system. Other then that - he likes the system.

 

Oh - wakeup time? My driveway is about 35' long. It's activated before I leave the driveway in the morning.

[Ken H.]

Doran (the sensors started leaking air, and required an TINY allen wrench to remove.. simply wasn't very good)

I’m happy with my Doran on our GS. But the key to success is mounting the sensors on the inside using Doran's own metal stems that are threaded on the inside too.

[Baja 65]

Hello Tim I was thinking of the Kisan Kit also do you have any pictures of the set-up?

[jjg3]

For those still looking there is apparently another (possibly new entrant) in the market that uses an internal (to the tire) transmitter. I currently have a tiregard that I'll move to the DR650 since it has tubes and is not suitable for in-tire (was going to get another set anyway). But the Tire Watch looks like something worth trying, so I will.

 

From a Connie rider:

Tire Watch

[jjg3]

Update on the Tire Watch, made by LDL. LDL apparently provides OEM TPMS for several bike makes. The sole North American distributor is Murphs' Kits who recently pulled the units from sales due to poor performance (early battery failures). My front tire unit battery failed less than 4 weeks after installation. Murph sent a replacement and it works fine. I prefer the internal Tire Watch unit to the stem mounted TireGard. The failure was disappointing especially given the tire units supposedly have non-replaceable batteries. After the failure, Gary Murphy of Murphs' Kits called and talked to me for about half an hour about this unit. He explained the tire units actually use OTS batteries (CR2032) that are simply soldered in. They're suppose to be good for maybe 4 years. I'll replace them myself next time. So until the price gets down to something more reasonable and the battery life issue is resolved, I would not recommend these units. Well, the point is moot since you can't get them in the US anyway.