tpms DIY handlebar mount
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What brand TPMS did you buy. The one I bought starts giving warnings at 50 psi on the rear tire. Well once the tire heats up and the pressure rises, the **** things is beeping continuously. Seems the maximum "range" of the one I bought is 50 psi. So what happens with your make?
thanks
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There are no markings on this tpms. It came with the bike, but it looks a lot like the 25$ ish units on amazon. As long as I'm alerted to pressure changes, I'm ok with it not being that accurate. I'll still rely on my manual tire pressure gauge to set baseline pressures
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If anyone's interested in my experiences in this regard:
I think this is an area of you-get-what-you-pay-for. I've seen a lot of write-ups on assorted bike forum of cheaper systems, with or without separate display modules, and I think that's what you wind up with: cheap systems, with assorted quirks (such as those strange limits), reliability problems, and so forth.
With the FOBO sensors, no problems, no quirks, whatever.
Now, since they don't have a separate display, you need a smartphone. And if you want real-time info, you would need to have to a helmet with Bluetooth speakers, that sort of thing. I don't (yet), so what I use them for is a pre-ride pressure check; the pressure is displayed on my phone, which saves me from bending down, and saves me from attaching a gauge:
BTW, as you can see in that half-minute video, you get a current reading without having to rotate the tires some number of times. That is, one of the quirks of some units is that the wheels have to have moved recently, to wake up the sensors. Not the case with the FOBO.
(You can also see one of the few things that pissesmeoff about my new C 400 GT: I can only mount a sensor on the rear wheel, because of BMW's decision to be weird. Yet I STILL invested in a new pair of FOBOs -- I like them that much, i.e., even if I can't use one of them. I'm still considering potential work-arounds.)
Back to checking pressures. Yes, the built-in sensors inside the sensors are accurate, so I can use them for an accurate check that way. I have compared and contrasted them with assorted gauges. Here's a pic I took for that article back in 2014:
![Wood Audio equipment Bicycle part Electrical wiring Hardwood]()
And that doesn't even show the gauge I use almost all of the times I use a gauge for the last half dozen or so years, a KTI 89001:
![Automotive lighting Audio equipment Jewellery Automotive tire Body jewelry]()
You can read about that here:
www.ktoolinternational.com
The bottom lines are:
That's my story.
- Back in 2014, I wrote a pretty favorable review of the Doran TPMS for webBikeWorld. A year or so later, I changed my tune on that system -- I no longer recommend it, and I think Doran stopped selling it for motorcycles -- even though it had a separate, bike-powered (i.e., 12V) display. I did a fair amount of research on bike TPMS for that write-up.
- Since 2017, I've been using FOBO sensors -- recently acquiring their second-generation sensors, after using the first gen for five years -- and I strongly recommend them:
I think this is an area of you-get-what-you-pay-for. I've seen a lot of write-ups on assorted bike forum of cheaper systems, with or without separate display modules, and I think that's what you wind up with: cheap systems, with assorted quirks (such as those strange limits), reliability problems, and so forth.
With the FOBO sensors, no problems, no quirks, whatever.
Now, since they don't have a separate display, you need a smartphone. And if you want real-time info, you would need to have to a helmet with Bluetooth speakers, that sort of thing. I don't (yet), so what I use them for is a pre-ride pressure check; the pressure is displayed on my phone, which saves me from bending down, and saves me from attaching a gauge:
BTW, as you can see in that half-minute video, you get a current reading without having to rotate the tires some number of times. That is, one of the quirks of some units is that the wheels have to have moved recently, to wake up the sensors. Not the case with the FOBO.
(You can also see one of the few things that pissesmeoff about my new C 400 GT: I can only mount a sensor on the rear wheel, because of BMW's decision to be weird. Yet I STILL invested in a new pair of FOBOs -- I like them that much, i.e., even if I can't use one of them. I'm still considering potential work-arounds.)
Back to checking pressures. Yes, the built-in sensors inside the sensors are accurate, so I can use them for an accurate check that way. I have compared and contrasted them with assorted gauges. Here's a pic I took for that article back in 2014:
And that doesn't even show the gauge I use almost all of the times I use a gauge for the last half dozen or so years, a KTI 89001:
You can read about that here:
Digital Air Inflator Dual Head Chuck
Digital Air Inflator Dual Head Chuck
www.ktoolinternational.com
- That KTI is spec'ed at ±1% + 0.5 PSI at 100 PSI and ±2% + 0.5 PSI at 150 PSI. That works out to witin ±0.8 PSI for the ranges we work in.
- The FOBO sensors are always within half a PSI of the KTI (I note the readouts of the two devices, when I have to add air, being both retired and persnickety about pressures). The actual spec for the first-gen sensors is ±0.4 PSI, with a resolution of 0.2 PSI. Try to find that info for a cheapo TPMS.
- The sensors use a common button battery, which lasts about a season.
- The sensors won't work for someone else if stolen, as they're linked to a (transferable) account number.
That's my story.
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Great writeup and photos! I think I will get the FOBOs for my Burger. Need to check my Android version to make sure they will work with my phone. Looks simple enough to install...just replace the valve stem caps with the FOBOs...right? Then install their app on my phone. It's not easy checking pressure in the front tire as the valve stem sits straight up and it's difficult to get a gauge on since its between the brake rotors. I really need to invest in a better air compressor too. The little 12v unit I got from Walmart is great and cost about $75 but you cant interchange chucks on it and I don't really like the screw-on chuck it came with.....
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Short Answer:
First of all, thank you for the kind words.
Second, yep, just get the sensors as replacements for the valve-stem caps, and I predict you'll be very pleased.
Long Answer:
Some additional details:
Android:
I'm an iPhone guy (as I noted in an unrelated recent thread), but according to the FOBO page (my-fobo.com/product-family/FOBO_Bike_2):
FOBO Bike 2 is a SMART tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for every biker (two-wheeler) using the latest Bluetooth 5.0 that works directly with your smart device using Android 5.0 and iOS 12 or later.
Valve Stems:
I have recommended, and continue to recommend, high-quality, 80-something-degree, valve stems, particularly from Kurvey Girl. I have used these on a lot of bikes. See my most recent rant on this:
Dash flicker?
Hahaha! We moved into this crib 3 years ago the garage was one of the top reasons I gave the nod, figured the PO was a likeminded man. I’ve been very fortunate In adulthood not have any parts left but back in the 80’s different story. I found the fancy plugs cheap on eBay they don’t look like...
www.burgmanusa.com
However, those angled stems are for folks who won't be adding a TPMS sensor.
For TPMS sensors, you must have a straight metal valve stem.
(I have never tried to add a sensor to an angled valve stem, as I used them before I started messing with TPMS. I doubt a sensor will fit between an angled stem and the rim, and in any case it would put the sensor offset pretty far from the center of the rim, and I think that might introduce interference with a rotor or something.)
So if you have rubber stems, replace them with metal ones.
On the Victory that I had for five years, I used FOBO's T-valves. See:
If you go that route, you will need, duh, two of them (and they fit either the less common 8.3mm or the more common, e.g., Suzuki size, 11.3mm rim holes.) The sensor goes on the top part, i.e., farthest away from the rim. When adding air, you leave the sensor alone, and unscrew the cap on the side, and add (or release) air.
In one of my few emails to FOBO, this was a topic. I was told that the sensor batteries actually last a tiny bit longer the fewer times you unscrew and then re-screw them on. So the T-valves are a good thing, besides being very convenient (assuming there's no clearance issue on a 400, given their length -- I'm not familiar with the 400s).
Point that middle cap sideways, for max convenience. And at tire changes, have you or a tech snug up the T-valves underside bolt, as they tend to very slightly loosen over time.
Screwing On And Battery Replacement:
When tightening on or unscrewing a sensor, grasp a knurled ring underneath the cap, i.e., not the cap itself. The ring is for that purpose, not the cap. Don't use any tools, and don't go all Charles Atlas when doing that. We're talking snug.
If a sensor does get loose -- well, I've never had that happen, any more than I've had a valve-stem cap get loose. If it does happen, you'll have a very slow leak, or, if the sensor falls completely off, no leak at all, because the original Schrader valve is still in the valve stem.
The battery slides out sideways, which is not completely intuitive, unless you have very good eyes.
On my Vic, I used the included anti-theft device -- a plastic nut, is all it is -- underneath the sensor. I did this not for anti-theft purposes, but just because it was sort of a backup, to keeping the sensor on tight.
On my new Beemer scooter -- the one where I just have a sensor on the rear wheel -- I don't use the plastic security nut. That's because I'm also not using a T-valve (I can't replace the valve stems on that bike), so I have to unscrew the sensor to add air, and I just can't be bothered to mess with an extra step. (I'm pretty persnickety about tire pressures -- perhaps you've seen my pressure-calculation page, www.billanddot.com/tire-pressure-vs-temp-calc.html). By the way, I put more than 4,000 miles (in day trips only, no superslab days) on that scoot this summer, and no issues.
Bending Down:
When first pairing the FOBO sensor with a phone (after downloading the app, and setting up an account -- no big deals), you need to place the phone right next to, abutting, touching, each sensor. This is a security deal, and is also required if you want to transfer the sensors to a new owner (which I did, when selling my most recent Exec).
But just that one time. You don't go through this again when just changing batteries, etc. After that one time, you get to stand up, just as I showed in that video.
Compressors:
I've got a small collection of 12V air compressors, including one in a car and one on the scooter. I also had a giant house-current compressor in the garage, given to me years ago by a friend, when he upgraded (because he uses air-powered tools a lot).
A year or two ago, I replaced that garage compressor -- I gave it to my next door neighbor, who took it to his camp or something -- with this one:
2 Gallon 135 PSI Ultra Quiet Hand Carry Jobsite Air Compressor
Amazing deals on this 2Gal Oil-Free Air Compressor at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
I really like it. This is much less powerful than the old big freebie I had, but all I use it for is pumping up tires and pool floats -- no big air tools. And it's fine for that. But more importantly, for my use, is that it is very quiet: you can carry on a conversation, I don't jump when it kicks on again while I'm using it and the tanks are depleting, etc. Compared to the old biggie, I consider it whisper quiet.
So if you're in the market for a house-current, non-industrial-use, quiet compressor, I can recommend that.
Gauge:
And as I mentioned earlier, I am very pleased with the KTI 89001. Repeatable readings, stated accuracy, common button battery, and, to address one of your points, an excellent chuck. This is what I use, with the compressor above, to add air to the Beemer. I also use it to add air to the car tires, when they need them.
I'm careful not to drop it (even with a rubber covering) or otherwise abuse it. But it has served me very well for four or five years now, and I would get another one if it disappeared or something.
That's the end of the long answer.
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Hello,
Hope it's ok to ride that thread...otherwise I'll create a new one
Got my FOBO 2 today and couldn't install. Got an "undetectable sensor" that I couldn't fix. Started a ticket with the company. We'll see. I hope it's just a dead battery
What I noticed tho is that the valve on my Burgman 200 seems too short to instal the antitheft device they provide
Anyone has experience installing the FOBO on a 200?
Hope it's ok to ride that thread...otherwise I'll create a new one
Got my FOBO 2 today and couldn't install. Got an "undetectable sensor" that I couldn't fix. Started a ticket with the company. We'll see. I hope it's just a dead battery
What I noticed tho is that the valve on my Burgman 200 seems too short to instal the antitheft device they provide
Anyone has experience installing the FOBO on a 200?
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I have installed two sets of FOBO sensors now: their first version, and their second (current) version. I haven't received any errors, so I can't directly help you.
I do have these two comments:
- You realize that you have to put your phone right next to, abutting, touching -- that sort of thing -- the sensor, to establish that linkage between phone and sensor (just that one time, or when releasing the sensors when selling them to someone else)? I mean, it's certainly possible that you got a rare defective product, but I just wanted to emphasize how physically close you have to be, when making that first connection. After that, you can stand up like a normal person to check pressures.
- On the occasions -- three, as I recall -- that I have emailed them, they have been very prompt in responding to my questions. So I would anticipate the same, re your problem, or be very surprised, if not.
It's not what I'd call a robust security system, so I wouldn't worry about it. I'd worry more about an entire bike being stolen, being carted off in a van, for instance.
One other thing. I've not familiar with the 200, but I hope it has metal valve stems. Like every other TPMS sensor manufacturer I know of, FOBO recommends in the manual NOT to use rubber valve stems.
When I had FOBO sensors on one of my former 650 Execs, I had their T-valves installed. I thought those were the bee's knees, because you can add (or subtract) air without touching the sensors at all. These have an adapter, such that they fit either the common 11.3mm rim hole that Suzuki uses, or the less common 8.3mm hole. You may want to consider changing to them, next tire change (and they certainly have enough room and threads for the extra plastic nut). See FOBO
Okay, one last note: make sure you grip the sensors by the knurled ring when tightening or loosening -- the area below the cap -- and not the cap itself. You need to grasp a cap only when changing batteries.
And probably rebalance the tire/wheel?
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That's correct. I had the FOBO T-valves installed with a new set of tires -- I used to go through tires about once a year -- and when I had the shop add them I also included the sensors, so that the tires were balanced in the condition that they would be used in. And of course I told them to be careful with the sensors (and the rear wheel ABS ring -- unsupported, out there in the wind, so to speak -- which is a warning I added to my instructions whenever I had new tires mounted).
The sensor goes on the end of the T, and you'll want the middle to point sideways -- left or right, according to one's preference -- to make adding air easier. There's no issue with the 650s, but as I'm not familiar with the smaller Burgies, you'll want to make sure that there's sufficient clearance with brake rotors and suchlike.
Here's a shot of the front wheel on my now-sold second 650, so you can see what I mean:
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Thanks for your input.
I definitely have the phone touching the sensor while setting up but doesn't change the result. And the valve is metal on my 200
I'm currently trouble shooting with the company so I'll come back her to share when it comes to a conclusion
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Did you get the other one to register, or are you having the same problem with both of them?
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