31 Jan 2008
Installing the rear sensor
Ready to mount rear sensor
It took a lot of effort to break the bead on the rear Tourance. Once it was broken the tire came off the rim in less time than it took to clean the rim before adding the sensor.
Sensor opposite valve stem
Bridge over valve stem
The rear sensor went on the same way as the front. I simply followed the Smartire instructions. I didn’t bother seeing where the rear wheel balanced.
Sensor warning label
Blurry picture, but you get the idea. I mounted the warning labels on both tires where they won’t be scratched by tire irons or rim protectors when changing rubber in the future.
Installing the display
Display location, riders view
Display location, top view
After a few false starts I decided to mount the display as shown in these images. The double sided tape that comes with the kit is probably all that is needed to keep it in place. The cable tie is just an extra bit of safety. The display is partially protected from the elements by the windshield.
Power wiring will go here
The power for the display will be taken from the pictured bundle. The bundle is the fuse holder and unused loose ends of the GPS power cable. It is connected through the distribution box that comes with my radar detector. Power to the distribution box comes from the accessory socket.
Display Power
Friday I went out to the garage with soldering iron on hand after taking my grandson home post baby-sitting duties. The display needs power and ground. I’m tapping into the same bundle that powers my GPS. I thought of a nicer way to do this, but will save that until I feel like re-wiring all of the gadgets on the front of my bike.
Anyway, I got it done, turned on the ignition and…. nothing.
Also nothing to the GPS and nothing to the Radar detector. I did have
something at the accessory socket so it’s not the GS that shut me down,
it’s my “power distribution box”. Maybe I’m lucky and it will just be a
blown fuse. It was too cold in the garage to do any more.
Saturday I picked up a parking light bulb (plus a spare) at CalBMW after breakfast. I noticed the “light burned out in the front” icon when I turned on the ignition yesterday evening. When I got home I checked the fuse to the Radar Detector/GPS/Smartire display and found it blown. I replaced the fuse and tried the ignition again. OK! Everything works this time. I think I blew the fuse yesterday by accidently shorting power and ground when removing my meter after turning off the ignition. I forgot that there is still power for a minute or fifteen.
Wiring
The picture shows the bundle of wires after everything was routed and cable tied so it does not interfere with the handlebars.
With the ignition on the Smartire display asked for the rear wheel info. I spun the rear wheel, but apparently not fast enough to get a reading. OK, start the bike, put it in gear, let out clutch. Rear pressure is read and the display asks for front tire info. I put the bike back in neutral, jacked the front end up an inch, and spun the front tire by hand. The display says I have 39 pounds in each tire. I didn’t think I filled the front that much.
Cockpit
It’s wet and windy this afternoon. The first ride with the system will be tomorrow morning’s ride to breakfast. I’m curious as to what I’ll find with respect to tire temperature changes. In the mean while I took one final picture of the cockpit with the windscreen re-installed. Everything is quite readable.