Thermometer inaccuracy

[EricV]

Ok, I searched, I really did, but I didn't see this covered. My thermometer is very slow to adjust to changing temps and wildly inaccurate at times. Never seems to go below 52º and isn't nearly as helpful as it could be if it was more 'real time'. It takes like 4 seconds or more to change when you feel the temps dropping or raising dramatically, and then only goes two degrees at a time. Often, the temp has gone down, then back up as I cross a pass and the actual temp reading hasn't changed. Is this just me, or do others experience this too?

And naturally, anyone dive into this and figure out a fix or adjustment that helps?

I'm embarrassed to admit that my SO's BMW actually reads temps better than my Yamaha.

Thanks!

 

[markjenn]

There at least two previous threads on this subject.

The bottom line is that Yamaha didn't give us a separate external air temp sensor - they just display the temp of the airbox temp sensor used by the FI system. As such, it seems to be subject to heat soaking, lag, and general inaccuracy compared to the true outside temp. I've noticed too that it doesn't change in one-deg increments - this may be a artifact of whatever algorithm or lookup table they used to convert the sensor's voltage readings to an actual human-understandable temp reading.

I doubt anything is wrong - it just isn't really a very robust external temp system.

There are lots of things that BMW does better. Also lots they do worse.

- Mark

 

[Poohbear]

Who cares? :-\

 

[Tremor38]

Just echoing what Mark said. The readout for the inlet temp is mainly for the FI system. I really think Yamaha should not have bothered converting that signal to any kind of readout. I was thinking of adding one of the widely available OAT systems that give you the icing warnings...havent made up my mind yet because I'm really anal about getting a clean look to the mount.

 

[colorider]

There are lots of things that BMW does better. Also lots they do worse.

- Mark

One of the best statements i have ever seen concerning BMW!!!

(and yes, I have owned several)

Good explanation of the thremometer Mark.

 

[EricV]

There at least two previous threads on this subject.

The bottom line is that Yamaha didn't give us a separate external air temp sensor - they just display the temp of the airbox temp sensor used by the FI system. As such, it seems to be subject to heat soaking, lag, and general inaccuracy compared to the true outside temp. I've noticed too that it doesn't change in one-deg increments - this may be a artifact of whatever algorithm or lookup table they used to convert the sensor's voltage readings to an actual human-understandable temp reading.

I doubt anything is wrong - it just isn't really a very robust external temp system.

There are lots of things that BMW does better. Also lots they do worse.

- Mark

Thanks for taking the time to write a clear, concise explanation Mark. I figured it had come up before, but just couldn't find the previous threads with different searches. It's not like the feature is important, but it is less useful/entertaining than it would have been if it worked well. Never had ambient temp on the Gen I FJR. <shrug> Maybe if I get all the other things done on my to-do list, I'll dig in the shop manual and figure out if a second sensor can be spliced in. Too bad moto manufactures don't just offer options instead of a 'feature package' that attempts to suit everyone.

@Poohbear - Go back to sleep! :-*

 

[Old Git Ray]

The temp displayed in 2 deg increments is probably because it has been converted from Deg C.
No one, no not even us stuffy old Brits use deg F anymore. Just you lot in the good old USA. AFAIK, mine does it in single degrees C but I am 2000 miles (we still use them!) from it so I cannot look.

Anyway, its still crap.

 

[tc9988]

Who cares? :-\

+1 why does anyone think a thermometer on a motorcycle is a useful option? stuff the thermometer and give me an accurate fuel guage or an accurate speedometer

 

[markjenn]

why does anyone think a thermometer on a motorcycle is a useful option? stuff the thermometer and give me an accurate fuel guage or an accurate speedometer

It's certainly not a "must have", but I think it exceeds the bar of "useful". It's certainly interesting. And if you ride in cold weather, it can be very helpful to know if you're approaching freezing so you can start worrying about black ice.

- Mark

 

[Boondocker]

Just to pile on here, neither of my current bikes have a thermometer or voltmeter, so I added this $25 gauge. These aren't rated for motorcycle use because they are subject to dust and water invasion, but I've run them for years. I look at this gauge a lot, so at $25 plus my install, it's a terrific value. I might do something more robust when I get the S10, but I definitely will install a voltmeter (good to know) and a thermometer (fun).

 

[HoebSTer]

i too have wondered about a handlebar mounted thermometer. Often at times, the engine heat would rise producing a false indicator anyway.

 

[EricV]

+1 why does anyone think a thermometer on a motorcycle is a useful option? stuff the thermometer and give me an accurate fuel guage or an accurate speedometer

Look at it another way, why have a feature that doesn't work well enough to be useful? You have two complaints in this regard, though I have to wonder why anyone would need an accurate fuel gauge. Don't you know your range to reserve and on reserve and various given speeds? I've had lots of bikes that didn't have any of this stuff, but the point is that now I have one that does, and gee, it would be nice if it all worked well, eh?

Accurate speedometers seem to be governmentally regulated against. ??? Never had one. Solved that problem with a tire change on the FJR, but on the S10, I just sprung for the SpeedoHealer. It's off a lot, compared to some other bikes I've owned.

 

[markjenn]

Accurate speedometers seem to be governmentally regulated against.

That's sorta true. The vehicle safety regs say that a speedo can never read low, so to cover mfg tolerances, tire variance, etc., the mfgs build them to read a little high. It's typically 5%, but the S10 is a little worse - I measure around 7.5% high. It is annoying.

- Mark

 

[Rasher]

I find a temp gauge useful, but hardly essential, I have always found when riding a motorcycle I get a good idea of when the ambient temperature is hot and cold as my body heat seems to go up and down in a fashion that appears to be related to this ambient temperature - weird eh?

 

[Tremor38]

I find a temp gauge useful, but hardly essential, I have always found when riding a motorcycle I get a good idea of when the ambient temperature is hot and cold as my body heat seems to go up and down in a fashion that appears to be related to this ambient temperature - weird eh?

Expept for those who ride with electric everything and a big, barn door of a wind screen.... and climb through fairly high altitude or get into freezing conditions when the sun goes down. Essential?.. no, I agree. Maybe just a good back-up to keep your head in the right place.

 

[colorider]

For the most part, all a thermometer gives you is something to talk about after the ride. You know the routine.... "My thermometer was showing 28 when we hit the top of the pass!"

As for keeping an eye on when things are beginning to freeze, I monitor the water coming off the tires of the vehicles around me.

YMMV

Rod

 

[rem]

I've done a lot of outdoor winter work up here (not so much lately since I've entered my codger phase) and sometimes it's best not to know the temperature. It can scare a guy. R ::024::

 

[Tremor38]

I've done a lot of outdoor winter work up here (not so much lately since I've entered my codger phase) and sometimes it's best not to know the temperature. It can scare a guy. R ::024::

For guys who watch for water coming off the car tires, how well does that work a night? Not that you could enter a shaded, wind swept area that might be holding a surprise.

 

[RIVA]

::002:: ::021:: ::002::

 

[stevepsd]

I got fed up trying to use the intake air temp display as a thermometer that I installed one of these from TrailTech. It works, just wish it was backlit for night riding.

http://trailtech.net/tto_temperature.html