FOBO Tire monitoring

[Spaceman7015]

I was reading a forum post about the FOBO Tire monitoring system and wanted input from the forum also any input on other ways to get constant on instant tire pressure. I have a 2005 Navi ABS...

[Spaceman7015]

I did a major boo boo.... I SHOULD have said 2008,Navi ABS......

[AZgl1800]

I like the FOBO but, it required that I have my Cellphone up to look at the app.

I decided to go with a tpsi system that just uses a little keychain FOB instead.

I can click it on while riding if I want to...
usually though, I just look at it before I ride and turn it off.
I see that CycleMax does not carry the one I bought anymore,

they have gone straight Bluetooth.

https://cyclemax.com/inc/sdetail/blueto ... tor/265199


I had given thought to using them on my Toy Hauler, but it has 90 psi tires on it, and they are set to 80 psi...

that is near the top of the FOBO's range of 87 psi, and I think it would probably ruin them.

just did a search, they have a special model for trucks tires... up to 188 psi
https://my-fobo.com/Product/FBULTRA
FOBO Ultra monitors up to 1296 kPa(188 psi)

[Spaceman7015]

Thanks for the input. Any other products you recommend?

[Spaceman7015]

Thanks for the input. I will keep looking for now.

[keithg64]

I use the tiregard from cyclemax. Its larger then the fob style so I can read it easier and I didn't want the fobo because of the phone app use.

[MikeB]

I do not know of anyone that has the need know what their tire pressure is while they ride. Most riders are primarily interested in their tire pressures before riding, when stopped for fuel or to get a bite to eat and in the morning after a long ride while on the road. If that is you, then the FOBO is for you. Just look at the app on your phone and it will tell you pressure and temperature of your tires as well as the battery condition of the sensors on each tire.

If you have the need to monitor the pressure as you ride, then you should look at a different system other than FOBO.

[Spaceman7015]

OK, finally got the FOBO tire monitoring. Very easy to monitor tire pressure, quick check before heading out and set to alarm on phone when pressure drops.

[Elrod]

A variety of factors led me to another system. Like some have mentioned, the FOBO isn't exactly convenient to monitor while riding. As the owner of a 2008 Level 3, I am one of those that now has an essentially useless GPS. I got the Garmin 390 and the Garmin TPMS sensors, and mounted the sensors on T-valves. Now I can monitor the tire pressures whenever I want (with programmable alarm points) and change sensor batteries in a snap. Works very well for me.

[kw1m]

Also have the Fobo gen2 monitors on the trike. Question -- what is a reasonable upper range? Lower too?

I run 40psi in the front tire and on these hot days up in NH, I start getting fobo warnings exceeding pressure limit. Pretty sure I only set it to 45 at upper. Don't want to go too far and miss a real problem... Thoughts?

Thanks!
Martin in NH
2005 GL1800 trike

[MikeB]

Also have the Fobo gen2 monitors on the trike. Question -- what is a reasonable upper range? Lower too?

I run 40psi in the front tire and on these hot days up in NH, I start getting fobo warnings exceeding pressure limit. Pretty sure I only set it to 45 at upper. Don't want to go too far and miss a real problem... Thoughts?

Thanks!
Martin in NH
2005 GL1800 trike

The front tires pressures can esceed45 psi when you have them filled to 40 psi cold. I set my high pressure to 52 psi
The rear tires can exceed 50 psi when set to 40 psi cold. I set my high pressure to 56 psi.

[kwthom]

I do not know of anyone that has the need know what their tire pressure is while they ride. Most riders are primarily interested in their tire pressures before riding, when stopped for fuel or to get a bite to eat and in the morning after a long ride while on the road. If that is you, then the FOBO is for you. Just look at the app on your phone and it will tell you pressure and temperature of your tires as well as the battery condition of the sensors on each tire.

If you have the need to monitor the pressure as you ride, then you should look at a different system other than FOBO.

Agreed.

The only time I've actively monitored the output of my Fobo2 sensors was shortly after getting them setup & installed, when that ride told me what my typical pressure rise was actually measured, along with a good tire temperature when it's 105°air temperature on a ride.

With the s/w version I'm using, you can set it up to alarm if the pressure is outside of your predetermined pressure window. Thus, no need to have the screen active with the pressures displayed.

I've only done this a handful of times, myself. TCLOCK the bike, and go!

[AZgl1800]

I have quit trying to check the TPSI each day before I ride.

A hammer and a good thunk is pretty damn accurate once your ears get tuned up right.

each time you push that pressure gauge on, the tire looses a bit of air...
and as small as m/c tires are, on the 2nd or 3rd day, they need more air.

I never, ever, reduce the air pressure. They are made to run at whatever temperatures you might meet up with...
it is a fallacy to reduce the air pressure, just because today is 115*F and not 70*F

I use an IR Temp Gun to check the tires and wheel bearings, on a 100*F day, the tires are running about 127*F

[bstig60]

On the ST Owners site, we just did a group purchase of the Fobo 2 TPMS system for my ST1300. I replaced my Tyregard system, so it will be for sale soon. I paid $84 USD for the sensors with free shipping and the order arrived in 3 days. It came with valve stems, and all the stuff shown on Cyclemax site, plus a spare set of batteries. I like being able to check my tire pressure before a ride from my easy chair and not having to move the bike to get a reading. I have them mounted on T valves. My GL1800 has a Garmin 390 on it and it works well. The problem is I have to get down on my back and remove the sensor to add air, so I will be adding T valves when I replace my tires.

[Terry D]

Mike B and others. I have the TireGuard units on my 05. I've had that setup for years on a 01 GL, VTX, Burgman 650A, Harley Sportster, Harley Low Rider, and now back on this bike. I have actually looked at it several times during a ride and three time over 150k miles it came in handy. Those three times I had picked up a nail and saw pressure slowly going down. The last time it happened was last Sunday. Pressure was 39 in rear when I started out. It was up to 40.5 3 miles later. Stopped for gas, the met up with the riding buddies 5 miles later and while kicking tires, etc. We mount our bikes and I looked at the TPMS and it read 25 psi. I got off, spun the rear tire, saw a nail head, and said. Guys I've got a nail and heading back home. I got home and pressure was being monitored the whole time. When I got home I had 12 psi. So, maybe watching the pressure more often that just in prep to leave the house can save someone a headache some day. Sweet story. I get home, put the new E4 on the bike that I keep on a spare rim I purchased off a triker just for this type of event. Took me 35 minutes to R & R the rear tire. On Tuesday, I took the flat tire and rim and purchased another E4.

My FOB monitor is mounted to my RAM Mount. I made drilled a hole in the flat plate for a zip tie, and another hole for a cotter pin. The zip tie is used for the little antenna to stick through and the cotter pin goes through the small key chain loop, through the flat plate and secured. The monitor can not fall off and takes no tools to change out it's battery which seems to last 6-9 months.

[Terry D]

The only negative things I can say about the TireGuard is: 1. On first turn on in the morning it shows the pressure when you parked the bike and shut the monitor off. I don't get a good reading until I get the bike out of the garage and it sits while I get ready. 2. It is slow in reading the pressure of the rear tire. During a ride the pressure goes up due to heat, etc. That is why I start out at 39 in the summer months because the tire pressure will sometimes get between 46-49 psi and the monitor starts flashing a warning. However, a good thing is when the pressure begins to fall, it tells you sooner and flashes a warning at a preset psi level.

[kwthom]

Update...

I put the Fobo2's in service back in Feb. of 2019.

I'm still using it much the same way - pressure check, then hit the road. Sometimes I have the app running to monitor pressures in the background, sometimes not.

On yesterday's ride, I got an indication that the batteries in the sensors are getting a bit low (~2.7V), but are still reading pressures accurately.

Eighteen months of service. A two-pack of batteries is about $5. I figure about 20 minutes to replace the batteries, do an update to the sensors, and get everything set back up.

Not too shabby.

[Markylee]

I bought this for mine, the module lives on the left hand glove box lid, screwed through, with a small hole for the cable running to the accessory supply.
The bars are in the way for constant monitoring but do you need that?
The important thing is the pressures can be monitored without letting air out of the tyres and it is cheap. I’ve only had one outing and haven’t noticed any vibration due to imbalance.