No TPMS system I have ever used can be calibrated by the end user. I have them on my truck and 5th wheel. No I suppose, if the battery was running low, it MIGHT give a false reading, but in that case changing the battery OUGHT to correct that.

Just a note here on TPMS systems in general. I took my 5th wheel in for wheel bearing service, before a 3 week road trip. On the way home, I got a low pressure alert. System said I had 74 psi instead of my 80. Which when hot, 80 is low. It said left side, front tire. I checked it and it showed 79 on my gauge. So I decided to keep going. I drove home the remaining 140 miles, and when backing the trailer into my parking spot at home, I noticed the left REAR tire looked low. Got the gauge and sure enough, 54 psi. THEN the light came on, the tire tech had swapped the tires, but never swapped the sensor. I did check the other side and they were correct.

Looked the tire over, and sure enough, there was a nail it in. Glad I had upgraded my tires when I did. These are Bridgestone Duravis 250, full steel belted LT tires. Not the crappy ST tires. These tires were almost $250 each, and that was over 5 years ago. The same tire shop near home that swapped them, was able to do an inside patch.

My point being, the TPMS did its job, and if they alert, and nothing seems wrong, investigate. Now, I know on bikes no one will swap wheels, when changing tires, but I suppose there is a possibility of someone swapping sensors. Probably slim though.

 

41psi = "Low pressure" message for rear tire. up to 45psi after riding for many hours in sun on highway. Still complaining "low pressure."

Got home and parked for 15+minutes as I re-hydrate and check this thread for ideas since dealer says "we know of it, but not how to fix at this time".
Tire gauge 1 confirms 40.5 psi
Tire gauge 2 confirms 41.5 psi

1. Start and drive bike over 25mph, for 30+ seconds. Display still shows "low @ 41psi.
2. WHILE STILL IDLING, drop pressure to 30psi, drive for 30+ seconds over 25mph (might not have been required). Display still complains "low" and shows 30psi.
3. WHILE STILL IDLING, air up to 42psi. Display stops complaining, but still shows 30psi.
4. Wait 10+ seconds, psi shows 42, and not complaining anymore.

***As noted elsewhere in this thread, TPMS checked every 7seconds after 25mph and 30+ seconds.

Worked for me, YMMV.

 

Starting to have second thoughts about adding tpms, to my '14 Ultra Classic. One big reason, is it does not update, after sleeping overnite, until you do the 25mph-20 second thing. Well if mine ARE low I want to know before I leave the house, otherwise I either ride 10 miles to get air, or go back home. Don't like either option.

Sooo, I guess I will wait a bit. Might do my upgrading in lights instead. Maybe invest in a speedy mini compressor.

 

IF the bike is under warranty be sure you have a record of where you told the dealer about it & your concerns....

 

TPMS is a tool for when you are underway. It does not replace good practices and basic inspections prior to your ride. I have TPMS, but I still check tire pressure before each ride. My TPMS triggered in the middle of the second to last 150 mile leg home from Sturgis. Next stop didn't have air. Checked the pressure manually, found the TPMS was right, but didn't worry too much about 40 PSI. Still, I kept an eye on it.

Once home, with cold tires, I aired it up a little and viola - no more warning.

 

On the HD, it is for underway. I has aTST System on my truck and 5th wheel trailer. It checks pressures static, without having to move first. The sensors on those respond to signals sent from the display, and not bassackwards like these seem to do. I am starting to think I might just buy a couple more thread on sensors and use the display from my truck. Its a small screen. All I would have to do is rig a mount for it. Sensors are like those on the FOBO unit.

I have used it for several years now and its dead accurate.

 

I recently received a FOFO system and also bought their T valve stem.

 

A TPMS is a tool, but poor design should not mean you have to get on your hands and knees to check pressure before you start a ride. As I mentioned, my TST system starts checking the instant it is turned on, so I would know pressures before ever getting on the bike.

When taking RV trips, I have had low pressure alerts due to low temps. Set "cold" pressure to 40 PSI, at 70*F, and when camping in the mountains, I turn the system on in the 45* air, and the low pressure alert goes off. These parameters are adjustable on this system as well, for each tire (or axle in this case). TPMS is a good tool, but there is no reason one needs to get on their knees before every ride to do what a good TPMS SHOULD be doing.

 

Just so you know, I've used several TPMS systems, having to "wake" them is not unusual on in-tire sensors... and usually its in the small print somewhere if thats how they work. There are plenty that do it both ways, but read the small print lol I used one in-tire sensor system by Orange Electronics that did not require "waking", but they advertised life of sensors battery was 3 years but it was more like 2 years, so I replaced the sensors when I changed tires (which is about every two years) and the sensors were just $35 each. It was a great system with a great display, and it gave a lot of info, that updated about every 10 seconds, and I hard wired it into the bike. Then a couple years ago getting sensors became a hassle. When looking for a system with a display I saw a lot that went dormant when the bike sat and they had to be "woke", the thought is to prolong battery life because they do not have replaceable batteries, and even if they did getting to the batteries would require breaking the tires down.

On the valve stem cap systems (like FOBO) that is not a concern, once installed the batteries are easy to access, so its more common that they do not go to sleep. But you have the app/phone thing to deal with once you're actually riding. There are those type of systems with their own displays too, and the displays are usually battery powered now too. I have not used one with a battery powered display though.

I recently switched over to the HD system thru the head unit, and really like it. Its clean and un-noticeable, no extra displays, no phone, no apps. To wake the sensors, when I roll the bike out to ride I do a loop around the block (literally) and pull back into the driveway to clean bugs off the shield. If I need air (hadn't yet) I'll add it. So far the max it has changed when "waking" it is 1 pound, if at all. Remember they go into "park" mode after 7 minutes of inactivity, but they still report every 4 hours while in park mode, so the max that the pressure is "off", of actual, is just for what's happened in the last 4 hours (maximum, and could be less) that the bike has sat. I regularly come in from riding with heated tire pressures at 42F/47R and in the morning, when I first turn the ignition on, it's showing 39F/40R, and usually doesn't change when they are "woke".

One thing is for sure, it sounds like whatever system you decide to go with you'll appreciate the convenience of it.

 

I might have missed the 4hr report on some of the threads. That does help. Doubt it would sit for 8 hrs or more and not lose air if it had a nail in it, so if it did, sounds like it would still show up, from the 4hr report.

Yea I have no desire to go phone app. Personally I am about over "apped" anyway. Seems to me half the systems that are linked to my phone turn out crappy in the long run. As I mentioned, I am very pleased with my TST system, but it does require another display, which can be battery or hard wired. Sensors are screw on or internal, with the screw on band that goes around the rim. Mine are several years old now, so far running fine. They advertise 3-5 yrs for those, but you replace the sensor, at $62 each.

Built in to the bike is ideal, no doubt. Have to give it a think.