Tire Pressure Monitoring System - worth the wait?

[romanr]

I would be interested in hearing the opinions on/experiences with the BMW TPMS. Apparently, there are no R1200Rs in the US with TPMS or ASC and I will have to ordrer (and wait until October) for a 2009 to get it.

Of course, that means I'll probably have to pay full MSRP whereas I could get a bit of a discount if I buy a 2008 without the TPMS.

Do you think it's worth the wait?

Can you set the thresholds for low pressure warning?

If you can't set thresholds, are the pre-set values realistic?

Thanks in advance
roman

[deilenberger]

Tough question.. if you have a satisfactory ride at the moment, it would make waiting easier. In my case, I was in a heavy case of hating my old ride (R1150RS), so as soon as I rode the R12R I *had to have one NOW*..

I would love to have the TPM and ASC. I looked into retrofitting TPM to the bike (as the sales dood said would be able to be done when I bought the bike) - and BMW Motorad claims "impossible".. I call BS on that since I retrofitted ABS to an '85 K100RT so I know anything is possible given determination, $$$ and stupidity.

Anyway - I really WANT TPM (yes - I've been looking at and talking to the aftermarket) - so my suggestion would be - if you want it - wait for it. Ditto on ASC, if it saves your butt once, it was worth the wait.

[MikeCam]

I have a K-R Sport with TPM included in the OBC stuff.

Accurate based on my Accugauge and shop gauges. Occasionally, reports an error (low or no pressure reading) of either front, back or both during first ride out after sitting for 2 or more days. I wonder if the thing is powered by a small battery that takes a charge from the inertial force of the spinning wheel. The problem fixes itself after several miles. No easy way to reset the base levels.

I consider it a gizmo rather than a fully useful element of the bike. I'd hate to rely on it as my sole means of knowing my tire pressure. OTOH, if during a ride the thing suddenly came up with a low pressure warning, I'd pay attention to it.

[mtl-R12R]

I would be interested in hearing the opinions on/experiences with the BMW TPMS. Apparently, there are no R1200Rs in the US with TPMS or ASC and I will have to ordrer (and wait until October) for a 2009 to get it.

Of course, that means I'll probably have to pay full MSRP whereas I could get a bit of a discount if I buy a 2008 without the TPMS.

Do you think it's worth the wait?

Can you set the thresholds for low pressure warning?

If you can't set thresholds, are the pre-set values realistic?

Thanks in advance
roman

I wanted and have both TPM and ASC on my bike.

The TPM saves me the hassle of checking my pressures before riding and I love it for that reason alone. The other point about TPM that I like is that in the past I've sometimes wondered if my pressures had changed while riding when external factors such as differant road surfaces or side winds start to affect the handling of the bike. I've actually pulled over to visually check my tires during a ride on at least two or three occassions over the years because the handling felt strange or differant . This way I just have to check with the TPM and I don't stop ... the big plus is a warning if the pressures do drop while riding.

As for ASC it has already saved my butt once.

I suspect that the parameters for the TPM could be changed while hooked up to the computer at the dealer, I do know that things such as temperature display can be changed from F' to C' degrees, and the fuel consumtion can be displayed in differant formats as well.

You'd have to ask a tech at the dealer who is familiar with the programming options.

Howard

[Bill Stevenson]

My partner and I were talking about this just yesterday. He likes the idea of the monitor and has this feature on his car. I like the idea of checking my tires once per week with gauge in hand and looking carefully at the tires to make sure there are no cuts, nails, or other problems. I think the monitoring system would make me lazy. The thing is, these new tires don't lose pressure from one month to the next. If you are really anal about it, use nitrogen gas instead of air and the pressure will stay at set point indefinitely.

So with all that off my chest, my advice to you is to forgo the convenience gadget and get the new scoot while the summer is young. Life is too short to wait until October to get one of these magnificent motorcycles.

Regards,

Bill

[famousperson]

So with all that off my chest, my advice to you is to forgo the convenience gadget and get the new scoot while the summer is young. Life is too short to wait until October to get one of these magnificent motorcycles.

Regards,

Bill

I agree with Bill in that TPM is a "gadget" that one can do without. I use the pressure caps that show green when the tire is at the proper pressure and red when it has lost pressure. That's my quick daily check. Once a month I do a double check with the gauge.

The heck with waiting. Go for the bike without the TPM!

And let us know what you decide...

[deilenberger]

I disagree - I'd wait. I've experienced a rapid-deflation at speed on the NJ Turnpike.. which would have been detected before I left the rest area if I'd had a TPM system. I really don't want to do that again. The little red/green caps used to be popular with a friend who is also a wrench. Not any longer after he had several people get flats due to the cap leaking. I don't consider them an option.

I'm looking into retrofitting a system to my bike.. I've found an Italian system that looks good, but I can't get anyone to import it to the US. Perhaps one of our Euro friends could help out? Touratech in the UK carries it.. Touratech in the US refuses to. The system won't be cheap, but it appears to use the same internal tire transducers BMW uses, which is the route I want to take.

[Graf]

So with all that off my chest, my advice to you is to forgo the convenience gadget and get the new scoot while the summer is young. Life is too short to wait until October to get one of these magnificent motorcycles.

Regards,

Bill

I agree with Bill in that TPM is a "gadget" that one can do without. I use the pressure caps that show green when the tire is at the proper pressure and red when it has lost pressure. That's my quick daily check. Once a month I do a double check with the gauge.

The heck with waiting. Go for the bike without the TPM!

And let us know what you decide...

....yep....just like a fuel gauge discussed in another tread.....sorry....couldn't help myself

[Graf]

I disagree - I'd wait. I've experienced a rapid-deflation at speed on the NJ Turnpike.. which would have been detected before I left the rest area if I'd had a TPM system. I really don't want to do that again. The little red/green caps used to be popular with a friend who is also a wrench. Not any longer after he had several people get flats due to the cap leaking. I don't consider them an option.

I'm looking into retrofitting a system to my bike.. I've found an Italian system that looks good, but I can't get anyone to import it to the US. Perhaps one of our Euro friends could help out? Touratech in the UK carries it.. Touratech in the US refuses to. The system won't be cheap, but it appears to use the same internal tire transducers BMW uses, which is the route I want to take.

Hi Don.....do you have a linky?

thx...alex

[celticus]

Do you think it's worth the wait?"

No.
You asked. Just something else to break.
Mark

[MrChicken]

My R12R has all the fruit including TPM and I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again. It's already saved my bacon once when I picked up a nail into the rear tyre. I could feel the bike wasn't itself, but it was reassuring to know how much pressure I had and that helped me decide whether I could make it to the next service station for air. I was also able to limp the bike to a tyre place the next day by keeping an eye on the pressure and topping up when needed. The system not only provides tyre pressure, but also a system of warning lights going from orange to red as the tyre deflates. I think it's worth it, and in a year's time you won't even remember the wait.

[deilenberger]

Hi Don.....do you have a linky?

thx...alex

Alex:

http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/prod ... cb32c4c8e0

http://www.touratech.com/shops/001/prod ... ts_id=4250

Not cheap.. about 170euro without VAT. The 2nd link also has a link to the instruction manual.

[AllanCook]

My tire pressure monitoring system:

[deilenberger]

Allan,

Difficult to use when moving. Useful in the garage though..

[famousperson]

My tire pressure monitoring system:

[icecave]

The TPC is useful while on the road (I had a nail in the tire for few thousand miles). When getting ready to leave in the morning, its a bit of pain to be 'suited up', ride out to spin the tires around a few times (driveway) and then return to fix the air pressure. Overall, I'm glad I have the feature.

[Graf]

Hi Don.....do you have a linky?

thx...alex

Alex:

http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/prod ... cb32c4c8e0

http://www.touratech.com/shops/001/prod ... ts_id=4250

Not cheap.. about 170euro without VAT. The 2nd link also has a link to the instruction manual.

thanx Don!

[MJB]

Last night on my way home I had the Tire Pressure warning light come on showing low air in the rear tire.
Only down a few PSI.
When I checked my gauge and the reading from the Tire Pressure Monitoring System were the same, so it seems to work.
Went to the closest gas station and toped up.
No problem since.

I'm sure it was just a temperature difference and the tire pressure went down a bit.
My pressure was always on the low side, never bothered to top up until now.
It was nice to know that even if the pressure drops a bit, the system lights up.

[Graf]

i found something that may be worth looking into.......its a TPS from SmarTire http://www.smartire.com/products. I saw an old add on Motorcycle Accessories magazine....it was listed for $199

UPDATE: here it is http://www.vulcantire.com/smartire_mc_sys.htm $169 buys it.....looks like an excellent deal.....Don what do you think?

[deilenberger]

i found something that may be worth looking into.......its a TPS from SmarTire http://www.smartire.com/products. I saw an old add on Motorcycle Accessories magazine....it was listed for $199

UPDATE: here it is http://www.vulcantire.com/smartire_mc_sys.htm $169 buys it.....looks like an excellent deal.....Don what do you think?

I know some people who tried this one. Price is great - but they had problems with the transducers when mounting/dismounting tires - they stand up sorta high - and get bashed by the tire machine. When they went to replace them - the place that sold them had no replacements (and had actually stopped selling the product.) Wonder if it's really available?

The one in Europe uses what looks like the same transducers as BMW does. The rear one replaces the rear valve stem, and the front one bolts inside the rim (there is a threaded hole in the rim just for this purpose.) No big band to play with.. I'm guessing BMW is buying the transducers from the same source as the Euro one and then doing their own receiver/coding/display setup. If I understand it correctly - the BMW receiver is made as part of the alarm system.. The parts listings have two alarm boxes - one for with the TPM and one for without it. Not hugely more expensive with it - but dunno what additional coding has to be done to the bike to get it all to work. And BMW is mum when I ask the question.