14 replies to this topic

[TKH]

Has anyone had any experience of tyre pressure monitoring systems? I've been looking at one for the bike and they start from about £20 but that those that use an app. Given my phone will be tucked away in my leathers and I don't want to mount that one anywhere I was looking for the slightly dearer ones. I've seen a few but had my eye on this type:

https://www.ebay.co....ToAAOSwi6NbeqJ2

 

I plan on doing a few long runs over the spring and summer. My tyres seem to be magnets for nails, screws and bassads who like to let the air out of them so wanted a fairly accurate real time backup to my routine manual checks.

[steve27bha]

My reading of the eBay item is that the sensor is in the valve cap. That - to me - implies the cap holds the valve open so the pressured can get to the cap. So the valve is negated and the only thing retaining the pressure is the seal on the cap.

Hmmmmm.

OK, if the cap falls off the valve will do its job but the cap seal itself could form the source of a leak.

 

Another query - if the cap has the sensor how does it monitor the air temperature in the tyre?

Hmmmmm again!

 

A better design with the sensor built into the base of the valve unit - or so it seems to me - is this one:- https://www.ebay.co....5.c100010.m2109

 

That seems OK but needs the tyre displaced to insert it, and it doesn't have a right-angle valve stem like I find so useful. Also there is a battery on the internal sensor and the claimed life is two years so that replacement would need to be taken into account. Maybe coordinate with tyre change?

Maybe such a combo. (internal, right angled) exists, but I'm not in the market so someone else can go search if they want.

Edited by steve27bha, 18 March 2019 - 11:42 am.

[TKH]

My reading of the eBay item is that the sensor is in the valve cap. That - to me - implies the cap holds the valve open so the pressured can get to the cap. So the valve is negated and the only thing retaining the pressure is the seal on the cap.

Hmmmmm.

OK, if the cap falls off the valve will do its job but the cap seal itself could form the source of a leak.

 

Another query - if the cap has the sensor how does it monitor the air temperature in the tyre?

Hmmmmm again!

 

A better design with the sensor built into the base of the valve unit - or so it seems to me - is this one:- https://www.ebay.co....5.c100010.m2109

 

That seems OK but needs the tyre displaced to insert it, and it doesn't have a right-angle valve stem like I find so useful. Also there is a battery on the internal sensor and the claimed life is two years so that replacement would need to be taken into account. Maybe coordinate with tyre change?

Maybe such a combo. (internal, right angled) exists, but I'm not in the market so someone else can go search if they want.

 

Cheers I'll look at that one.

 

In terms of temp I would only guess at it being the valve temp?

 

Fitting one in with an internal sensor isn't too big a job as I do my own tyre changes. Either one I think would affect balance of the wheel so it would be wheel off for whichever. Would be more secure theft wise with the internal sensor. 

 

Agree about the right angle valve, although there are right angled extensions that can be added to pump up the tyre. They can be a pita sometimes though.

 

I wonder what happens when the sensor battery dies? New sensor? How does new sensor get linked to the existing system. mmmm indeed.

Edited by TKH, 18 March 2019 - 12:29 pm.

[Favs]

Ideal for local runs I guess.

 

Love em in the car, but I still inspect the tyres when washing it.........always a hand job.

 

If ya going on long runs, use your normal gauge to monitor pressures, you can give the tyre/ brakes/ wheel a visual and tactile inspection for pad wear, defects & FO which haven't become punctures yet - you know the kinda stuff you probably do routinely when washing the bike.

[TKH]

Ideal for local runs I guess.

 

Love em in the car, but I still inspect the tyres when washing it.........always a hand job.

 

If ya going on long runs, use your normal gauge to monitor pressures, you can give the tyre/ brakes/ wheel a visual and tactile inspection for pad wear, defects & FO which haven't become punctures yet - you know the kinda stuff you probably do routinely when washing the bike.

 

I tend to check my tyres same as you when washing (car and bike), before a run and whenever something looks or feels wrong with them. The hope is to pick up issues that probably will cause problems when on a ride before I get home - punctures, etc.

 

I tried the valves which show green - if the pressure is ok, amber if it's lost pressure ad red for a problem. What a load of rubbish. I bought them for the cars and bike. I noticed the wife was driving around with a flat tyre but the valve showed green, and many other problems with them. 

[Apache]

[quote name="TKH" post="368781" timestamp="1552905089"]Has anyone had any experience of tyre pressure monitoring systems? I've been looking at one for the bike and they start from about £20 but that those that use an app. Given my phone will be tucked away in my leathers and I don't want to mount that one anywhere I was looking for the slightly dearer ones.

TKH
Did you ever get round to trying the cheap and cheerful kit ??
I've had Tyrepal on my camper van for years. They just replace the dust caps and the van runs at 5.5 bar. They don't lose pressure and are deadly accurate pressure and temp but too expensive for the motosickles. Loads around but they just seem too cheap to be good.......anybody else tried one ?

[DeeBee]

I have been using a cheap TPMS system I got from ebay in 2017 (about £35 if I remember correctly) 

It has a small (40mm x40mm) screen clamped to handlebar and the valve caps send signal to unit.

I am very pleased with it, it is very accurate (I kept checking the pressure against another gauge, but it was always consistant)

I changed the batteries in the valve caps a few weeks ago as one tyre was not registering. 3 years is ok for batteries I think.

Now all fine.

It gives good peace of mind.

[Apache]

I have been using a cheap TPMS system I got from ebay in 2017 (about £35 if I remember correctly) 
It has a small (40mm x40mm) screen clamped to handlebar and the valve caps send signal to unit.
I am very pleased with it, it is very accurate (I kept checking the pressure against another gauge, but it was always consistant)
I changed the batteries in the valve caps a few weeks ago as one tyre was not registering. 3 years is ok for batteries I think.
Now all fine.
It gives good peace of mind.

Thanks for that....just easier when touring as a daily start out check....I'd be grateful if you could check your purchase history for a product detail or ebay number.....3 years service and still good is better than a random purchase....

[steve27bha]

Howzabout this by Michelin. Dunno if they do a 2-cap version, but no batteries in the caps. Will fit on 90' valves.

 

https://www.demon-tw...wE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[TKH]

[quote name="TKH" post="368781" timestamp="1552905089"]Has anyone had any experience of tyre pressure monitoring systems? I've been looking at one for the bike and they start from about £20 but that those that use an app. Given my phone will be tucked away in my leathers and I don't want to mount that one anywhere I was looking for the slightly dearer ones.

TKH
Did you ever get round to trying the cheap and cheerful kit ??
I've had Tyrepal on my camper van for years. They just replace the dust caps and the van runs at 5.5 bar. They don't lose pressure and are deadly accurate pressure and temp but too expensive for the motosickles. Loads around but they just seem too cheap to be good.......anybody else tried one ?

 

Sorry for not getting back, other things going on.

Similar to DEEBEE. I got one from ebay for £32. Screen on your bars which can be detached and two pressure sensors replace the valve caps. Seems ok but a weird thing, after running for about 5 minutes the pressure drops about 1 psi. Would have expected it to go up if anything. But they do the job I want fine. They give me a good indication of tyre pressures and an early warning of gradual deflation. Much more accurate than giving the tyres a kick before riding!

[DeeBee]

Apologies not getting back sooner

I can't check my ebay history as over 2 years ago but I had a quick look and is was like this one

https://www.ebay.co....aMAAOSwgiRZv2Um

Hope that helps

[Snowbird]

How long do the batteries in the caps last?

[Apache]

How long do the batteries in the caps last?

2 - 3 years seems average. They're only active when motion detected....
Thanks for the replies gents.....I'll ebay and see ....

[Snowbird]

I take it the batteries in the caps are replaceable???

[Snowbird]

Took the bike out yesterday and had a squirmy feeling on a couple of roundabouts so got home and checked tyre pressures, 10psi down on the rear so have ordered a tyre pressure monitor from the bay of fleas.

£23 sounds cheap enough for me.