Installed my Orange Electronics TPMS

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Thanks to Gordon at RRR Tool Solutions for making this kit available again.

I knew that fitting the rear sensor was going to be the most difficult due to the narrow gap in the center rib that carries the spokes. A 3/4" wide bastard file did the job widening the gap and only took a few minutes.





Job done:







The front sensor was straightforward to install:





The display was mounted to a bracket I made for my thermometer using heavy duty scotch lok



Once installed and wired up, I found setting the various limits pretty intuitive. The settings for the front tire come up first, in spite of the values appearing in the rear location of the display. I got that wrong the first time through, no problem to re-do it though. I had to extend the red power wire as it would not reach from the left handlebar, where I placed the display, to my power distribution box next to the battery.

I've been running a SmarTire system on my ST1300 for years and it has saved my bacon a few times. No matter how religious you are checking your pressures before each ride, only a TPMS system can warn you of a puncture sustained in the middle of your ride. This gives you enough time to find a safe place to pull over or even to reach a shop.

Road test to come later.


-Jeff
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Rode the bike today. I set the TPMS display to alternate between pressure and temperature. On my 46 mile mostly highway ride, rear temp reached a maximum of 100F (ambient temps were in the 50s) Front temps rose to about 88-89F. The system does not correct for temperature as the pressures rose from 42 rear/ 36 front to 48/40 evidently showing actual pressure. I'm not yet clear whether the alarm settings correct for temperature or not. This is fundamentally different to the SmarTire system on my ST1300 that will display pressures corrected for temperature. Wonder why Orange went this way with it, since they are measuring all the required parameters? Given this behavior, I've a mind to set the low pressure limits a bit higher. The system seems to take a few seconds before both pressures are displayed but by the time I suited up both were present. The large display is really easy to read but the labels for the Function "Fun" and Set buttons are almost impossible to read. Since there are only two buttons you quickly learn which is which.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Not really. There was already a cut there for the rubber stem, I just widened it a bit at the bottom only to accept the fixing nut for the sensor stem. It's not as though I cut all the way through that rib. Here's what it looks like stock:






-Jeff
 

Attachments

Chuck B

New Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2014
Messages
301
Location
Flagstaff AZ
I just installed Gordon's TPMS yesterday myself. Pretty straight forward install and as you notated a bit of filing needed on the rear wheel around the valve stem. Took all of 5-10 min to file, clean up and dab a bit of paint on the raw aluminum. Usage was very easy/intuitive. I use to run a TPMS from KisanTech.com back when I was running long distances. Saved me a number of times. Gordon's unit is easier to set up, use and install.

Here is why you need to do a bit of filing...easy enough

][URL=http://s190.photobucket.com/user/aprilia063/media/Bike%20Projects/S10/TPMS%20Before_zpslh6kthad.jpg.html]]

And like Jeff's pix...the after pix

][URL=http://s190.photobucket.com/user/aprilia063/media/Bike%20Projects/S10/TPMS%20After_zps4sw6oe6y.jpg.html][/url]
 

fredz43

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
3,297
Location
IL, the land of straight, flat, boring roads
I have had my Orange TPMS system on my 14 ES for about 2 years? Time flies when you're having fun. :) The only change I made was that I initially had the display mounted on a Ram arm on my bar clamp, but this year moved it to the screen crossbar so that if it alarmed, it would be right in my line of sight. Been working great. I like that I can turn the key on and use the display while I am adding air to the tires, as it doesn't have to be ridden a bit before registering psi.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
My system has been going strong since installation at the top of this thread about 2.5 years ago now. Earlier this year I had to replace the front sensor because the battery died. So far, strangely, the rear sensor is still going strong and showing 2.9V still. Strange that the front one went so much sooner. Gordon sent me two new sensors but I've only replaced the front one so far. Syncing or pairing up the replacement sensor with the monitor per the instructions worked as advertised. Wish the batteries were longer lasting or replaceable but otherwise I'm well pleased. So far I have not suffered any punctures (knock wood) and the only warning and red screen incident was caused by me accidentally over-inflating the rear tire. That pressure gauge I used that time has since been binned if you will.
 

SilverBullet

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
1,171
Location
Harmaston, TX
How much are the replacements sensors.
I'm interested to know also since I will need to buy an extra with initial purchase. I cycle back and forth between two rear wheels. Don't want to have to move the sensor each time. Does it use adhesive on the inside of the rim in addition to valve stem locknut?

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 

SilverBullet

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
1,171
Location
Harmaston, TX
I'm interested to know also since I will need to buy an extra with initial purchase. I cycle back and forth between two rear wheels. Don't want to have to move the sensor each time. Does it use adhesive on the inside of the rim in addition to valve stem locknut?

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
No answers here so I Googled and found an old webpage for RRR that had sensors for $37 each. But no longer available from them and they dont sell the entire kit anymore either.

Ebay has the kits for $179 from Taiwan. I messaged them regarding sensor availability. One other seller has the 8mm sensors, two for $79.

I was finally ready to go on this product but now appears I would be buying a disposable system when the batteries die in a few years.

I would consider stocking up some on replacement sensors but read somewhere the battery life starts when manufactured and not with install and use.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
Missed these posts somehow, sorry about that. Gordon at RRRtoolsolutions.com has discontinued carrying this system. in addition Orange Electronics has discontinued the M203 system all together. This system came with the straight stem sensors. According to Gordon, the sensors are no longer available either. Orange have a new system (M207) but the valve stems on the sensors are 90 degrees and there's no straight option. These would probably work fine for the rear wheel, but not on the front with the valve nestled between the wheel flanges the way it is. Allegedly the new sensors can be read by the older M203 head unit if one could figure out how to fit them.

The always on sensors are one of the features that I have a love/hate relationship with. The always on thing means you have pressure readings shortly after the head unit powers up and before getting underway, but it also means the sensor batteries don't last very long. I had a SmarTire system on my ST1300 and those sensors were going strong 7 years later. They had a centrifugal switch in them an only turned on when the wheels began rotating. The pressure information would generally appear within a block of my starting point if not before and I never found that to be an issue.

Since the sensors are always on, it makes no sense to stock up on them sadly. Wish they had some kind of pull tab or similar that would keep them off until installation.
 

SilverBullet

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
1,171
Location
Harmaston, TX
So thinking about this a few minutes more, any M203 kit or sensor you could buy today would be NOS. Since out of production for awhile batteries would be half life already or worse at time of install. Hope they release a new m/c friendly sensor.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
It's a great bit of kit, and I hope I'm wrong about it being discontinued, at least for sensor availability.
 

bnschroder

2014 Super Tenere ES
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Messages
559
Location
Atlanta
It would truly be a shame if the sensors are discontinued. The system is truly great, minus the battery life.
I wonder if anybody tried to pair the receiving unit with one of Orange's generic automotive sensors that can be head for about $25 and also last much longer.
 

Don in Lodi

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
5,780
Location
Lodi Kalifornia
Automotive sensors are hung differently on the inside.
 

Pdrhound

Active Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Messages
335
Location
High desert
Temp corrected PSI....:confused:

Anyways, juat installed my TPMS as well. Got home with 50 miles on new rear tire and woke up in the morning to the read our at "0"! Couldn't believe the new TPMS system was already malfunctioning!

Yep, drywall screw in brand new tire....

Yes, tires gain PSI when hot, at variyng levels. Thats why they get checked when cold.......

Anyways, my pressure read outs do not seem accurate. I just happened to have 6 (yes 6) guages that all read 41 while the TPMS reads 38.......It seems consistent though and I can correct.
 

Grumpy

Getting old is not for wimps
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
411
Location
Surbiton U.K.
My TPMS has warned me of a slow leak at the rear valve seat. After not riding for a week or so, I set off and immediately saw the rear was 6psi down. Back in the garage, I could not find anything stuck in the tread, so I slapped soapy water over every part the of tyre and rim. And there it was, the tiniest of leaks at the valve, losing about 1psi a day.
 
Top