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[moscooter]

 
Has anyone purchased one of these deals or another brand like it to keep up with tire pressures without the hassle of pulling off a saddlebag and/or crawling around trying to find that valve stem that's always anywhere but at the bottom where you could get to it.

I like to know the psi is what it should be but don't like the hassle to make sure.   

[Twolanerider]

Has anyone purchased one of these deals or another brand like it to keep up with tire pressures without the hassle of pulling off a saddlebag and/or crawling around trying to find that valve stem that's always anywhere but at the bottom where you could get to it.

I like to know the psi is what it should be but don't like the hassle to make sure.   

These things have come up before.  While not a universal opinion the concensus seemed less than enthusiastic.  Problems were that they report over a range.  Thus accurate pressure at any one given time isn't their bread and butter.  My personal opinion, however, was that I don't want one because they would work just well enough for you to get used to them.  And I don't want to.

If a car has a flat it's generally not that big a deal.  You stop and fix it or stop and call road service.  If a bike has a flat while on the move it's not always a big deal.  But it certainly can be. 

There are few things we can do to prevent road hazards to tires.  But one of the things we can do is the visual and tactile inspection given to the tires at the same time a regular pressure check is done.  I don't want anything that gets me out of the habit of looking for bulges or foreign debris or rubbing my hand over the tire with some regularity.

[dayne66]

I agree, vigilance in tire inspection is key to safe riding.....I'll be back in a minute, I'm going to check the PSI in the tires and give them a good lookin' at on my bike AND my Wife's bike. That being said...I'll decline on any type of monitor that reduces my time getting up close and personal with my tires.

These things have come up before.  While not a universal opinion the concensus seemed less than enthusiastic.  Problems were that they report over a range.  Thus accurate pressure at any one given time isn't their bread and butter.  My personal opinion, however, was that I don't want one because they would work just well enough for you to get used to them.  And I don't want to.

If a car has a flat it's generally not that big a deal.  You stop and fix it or stop and call road service.  If a bike has a flat while on the move it's not always a big deal.  But it certainly can be.  

There are few things we can do to prevent road hazards to tires.  But one of the things we can do is the visual and tactile inspection given to the tires at the same time a regular pressure check is done.  I don't want anything that gets me out of the habit of looking for bulges or foreign debris or rubbing my hand over the tire with some regularity.

[grc]

There's another brand in another active thread today.  About $275 for the monitor and two sensors, and replacement of the batteries in the sensors costs $35 each (return to company, not user serviceable).  Accuracy is listed at +/- 3% of full scale, and full scale is 120 psi, so that sounds a lot like +/- 4 psi.  Whoop de doo doo.

Install a center stand on the bike so you can pop it on the stand whenever and wherever you want to check the air pressure, then rotate the wheel by hand until the valve is in a handy location.  Haul out your $30 hand held gauge with the +/- 1 psi accuracy, apply to the valve, and read the pressure.  As noted by 2lane, take this opportunity to inspect for foreign objects in the tire, splits/cracks, bulges, and any other abnormal conditions.  Spend your time in the saddle looking at the road and surrounding idiots, not studying a tire pressure monitor.


Jerry

[MUFFMAN]

Monitors are too sensitive for my liking. I have them on 2 of my cages from factory. I like to run a few extra lbs than is recommended. Not an issue until its very hot and then the monitor acts up.For my piece of mind I'll check them manually on the bike.

[GaLonghair]

I use them on all my bikes for several reasons. 1: they give a constant read out when moving and have alert systems so that if you have a tire going down you know before it get critical. 2: While it is smart to check your tires every time you ride, how many of us really do this. You are in a hurry for some reason or another, your buddy shows up and sais lets go, what ever. 3: You can monitor pressure change as you ride and this indicates if your tires are properly inflated. While not exactly cheap its better than dumping your ride when that slow leak due to the nail you picked up 20 miles back gets critical at 70 mph on the interstate.

[spydglide]

I use them on all my bikes for several reasons. 1: they give a constant read out when moving and have alert systems so that if you have a tire going down you know before it get critical. 2: While it is smart to check your tires every time you ride, how many of us really do this. You are in a hurry for some reason or another, your buddy shows up and sais lets go, what ever. 3: You can monitor pressure change as you ride and this indicates if your tires are properly inflated. While not exactly cheap its better than dumping your ride when that slow leak due to the nail you picked up 20 miles back gets critical at 70 mph on the interstate.

Yeah, I think I'd like that feature.  I had two flat rears last summer and one was a slow leak that I didn't notice on a day run until it started squirming and got squirrelly (rear on the softtail).  I was glad to get it off the hwy. w/o dropping the scooter.  The other was on the SEEG (rear also) and it was so slow that I was able to ride it about a half-mile to Cox's HD  without needing assistance.  Course the tire was dogmeat by the time I got off.  In both cases it would have been nice to know the pressure was falling before feeling it in the seat of the pants.  spyder

[FAST380]

How about a link to some different models you guys are running/thinking of. Also how about a picture showing where you put the monitor?

Thanks

[Twolanerider]

Thought of this thread this afternoon.  Checked tires on old SERG and felt a little bump in sidewalk.  Nearly worn out tire so no great loss.  But felt it before I saw it.  Time to use Jim's old tire machine. 

[bandit]

Use this one since more than a year:

http://www.tyredog.com.au/store/2-wheel-wtpms/

[Diamondback]

 

Very nice product.  Had them on my last two bikes.  Still should be smart about checking the tires.

That said, my buddy (who is anal about tires) had his TPMS indicate a leaking tire. We stopped and filled it up with the portable tire inflater several times until we got to the dealer.  Without the TPMS, the chance is good the tire would have been ruined and we would have to wait for the Wrecker.

I replace the batteries every year when the bike is inspected.  No good if the batteries are weak.