Tri Glide Valve Stems

[rangemaster728]

Question regarding valve stems on Tri Glide Ultra Classic (same stock wheels apparently on 18-21 models)...

Anyone know the valve stem hole sizes in the front and rear wheels? I believe Harley wheels may have two different stem hole sizes - 8.3mm and 11.3mm.

Reason I ask is I’m getting ready to go down the goat trail of investigating retrofitting TPMS (internal) as I know the BCM and instrument cluster for my 21 FLHTCUTG is compatible...

[windsurfed]

I looked into getting that set up (TPMS) on my 2020 TG. I was told that cpu has the capability to do that but the stock front wheel cannot be equipped with HD sensors I had to buy a new HD front wheel set up. I know the CVO‘s TG‘s come standard equipped with TPMS. So I did the next best thing and bought this set up;

SYKIK Rider tire Pressure Monitoring System for Trikes. (Amazon)

The gauge mounts to the handlebars and is in view all the time for monitoring. I found it to be highly accurate also. 3 little pressure sensors mount to the top of your valve stems.

On the HD set up I believe, you would have to scroll through the menu to find the pressure sensor indicator numbers. Correct me if I’m wrong. But I do just like glancing over at the gauge on my handlebars to look at my tire pressures.

[windsurfed]

The system also gives the temperature of your tires.

[rangemaster728]

I looked at Sykik...and FOBO.

While I like the idea of external sensors (I did this with Garmin sensors linked to my Garmin GPS on my 2009 BMW R1200RT) I have two concerns using Sykik/FOBO on my 21 TG:

1. Sensor clearance - I’ve heard the sensors can hit the front wheel caliper; if your experience is different please advise...pics would be great as well!

2. All these aftermarket TPMS external sensor setups require (or strongly advise) metal valve stems as opposed to the rubber ones that are standard on the OEM wheels - did you retrofit metal stems?

Thanks for your input and ride safe!

[Gorilla]

I looked into getting that set up (TPMS) on my 2020 TG. I was told that cpu has the capability to do that but the stock front wheel cannot be equipped with HD sensors I had to buy a new HD front wheel set up. I know the CVO‘s TG‘s come standard equipped with TPMS. So I did the next best thing and bought this set up;

SYKIK Rider tire Pressure Monitoring System for Trikes. (Amazon)

The gauge mounts to the handlebars and is in view all the time for monitoring. I found it to be highly accurate also. 3 little pressure sensors mount to the top of your valve stems.

On the HD set up I believe, you would have to scroll through the menu to find the pressure sensor indicator numbers. Correct me if I’m wrong. But I do just like glancing over at the gauge on my handlebars to look at my tire pressures.

Charles, A couple of questions. How long have you had them? The monitor does it have an on/off switch? or does it come on and off with motion of the sensors? or stays on all the time?

[Trampas]

What is wrong with regular valve stems???. Just use a gauge and test them and air up and go, don't need any of that fancy stuff, that is me I guess, no harm no foul, go for it or not, me NO.

All for now Trampas

[windsurfed]

First off the gauge reader on the handle bars can be shut off and on. You must turn it on then the bike needs to be driven about 100 yards and the unit will pickup the current pressure in the tires. When you first turn it on from your last ride it will read the last recorded tire pressure. The pressure reading valve caps weight 6.7 Grams. A regular plastic screw on valve cap weights 3 grams. I believe the Gauge on the handlebars automatically shuts down after the bike has been sitting for a prescribed amount of time. I think it is like 3 hours. I will look an the manual when I find it. There is a lock nut under the TPMS valve sensor cap to prevent it from unscrewing itself and falling off the bike. That nut weights 1.6 grams. I have had it installed since March 29, 2021. I probably put around 1200 miles on them. I read all the info about the rubber valve stem somehow ripping because of the added weight of the valve cap pressure sensing unit and causing rapid air loss which would created a potential catastrophe. That being said, those proponents claim the safe route would be to install a metal valve stem. I agree with them, that that would be a good thing to do. And there could be some of those people that would claim that the bad incident happened to them. I just haven't found those people yet. So I decided to go with chinese technology and take a gamble on the rubber valve stem setup. I weighed all the pro's and cons and that is my final conclusion. If you don't hear from me in awhile you probably know what happened to me.

[windsurfed]

Just an additional note: You can set a warning alert for high pressure and a warning alert for low pressure. Also Hi and low tire temperature alerts. Has a low battery alert for the valve sensors. There are small batteries in the valve pressure sensing units that are replaceable. The gauge unit on the handlebars is rechargeable and battery amount level is indicated. I have used mine for a little over 2 months and the battery indicated I still have 71%. Remember that is just for the Gauge unit. I do quite a bit of riding. I really like how you can quickly glance at the gauge and see your tire pressure. However, there is some points when the sun light hits it that you won't be able to see the numbers. To me, that is a small sacrifice to pay for my mental peace I get from seeing it at other times.

[windsurfed]

Crap, I have to admit when I am wrong: I went out and weighted these valve stem caps. The plastic black screw on one weights .3 grams not 3 grams.

[rangemaster728]

Just an additional note: You can set a warning alert for high pressure and a warning alert for low pressure. Also Hi and low tire temperature alerts. Has a low battery alert for the valve sensors. There are small batteries in the valve pressure sensing units that are replaceable. The gauge unit on the handlebars is rechargeable and battery amount level is indicated. I have used mine for a little over 2 months and the battery indicated I still have 71%. Remember that is just for the Gauge unit. I do quite a bit of riding. I really like how you can quickly glance at the gauge and see your tire pressure. However, there is some points when the sun light hits it that you won't be able to see the numbers. To me, that is a small sacrifice to pay for my mental peace I get from seeing it at other times.

Charles:

OK...please verify that you are using the original (OEM) rubber stems that came with your Tri Glide wheels...and no interference w/the front caliper?

[windsurfed]

Charles:

OK...please verify that you are using the original (OEM) rubber stems that came with your Tri Glide wheels...and no interference w/the front caliper?

Yes they are the OEM valve stems that came on the bike when I purchased it off the showroom floor. They is no interference with the front Caliper. You have the 2021 model and I would think they are the same.

[windsurfed]

Charles:

OK...please verify that you are using the original (OEM) rubber stems that came with your Tri Glide wheels...and no interference w/the front caliper?

You got me to thinking about that clearance from the caliper so I decide to go out and check it myself. Wow, it was closer than I expected. The feeler gauge measurement was probably realistic.

The other pictures show the clearance but not to the degree I was looking for. I measured with the feeler gauge from the closest point of contact with the caliper. There is a little bump towards the top and one at the bottom of the caliper, and that is where I inserted the feeler gauge. (see pictures)

[rangemaster728]

Thanks...that’s what I suspected.

I might try this...and later install angled steel stems (especially for the front!).

[windsurfed]

Thanks...that’s what I suspected.

I might try this...and later install angled steel stems (especially for the front!).

I am getting a new front tire installed on 6/11 and I am going to request just what you stated.

[rangemaster728]

Charles:

Please let me know how the steel valve stem retrofit went, if you have more clearance...and WHAT stems you had installed...it may be awhile before I can continue my project to retrofit internal TPMS sensors so a Sykik/FOBO install may be an interim solution for me...

Another thought occurred...it appears neither the Sykik or FOBO 2 apps are Carplay compatible, so I wonder if I would get an on-screen alert on the GTS radio display...hmmm.

Ride safe!

[windsurfed]

Charles:

Please let me know how the steel valve stem retrofit went, if you have more clearance...and WHAT stems you had installed...it may be awhile before I can continue my project to retrofit internal TPMS sensors so a Sykik/FOBO install may be an interim solution for me...

Another thought occurred...it appears neither the Sykik or FOBO 2 apps are Carplay compatible, so I wonder if I would get an on-screen alert on the GTS radio display...hmmm.

Ride safe!

I did not know sykik even had an app. Nowhere in these small funky Chinese written instructions did it say to download an app. That’s hilarious. I went online and found it but I won’t be able to try it till I get my bike back the shop tomorrow. They are putting the new front tire on. I requested a steel 90° valve stem but they weren’t sure they had one in stock. If that is the case and I will not be getting a steel valve stem installed. I should’ve been ahead of the game but I wasn’t.

[rangemaster728]

I did not know sykik even had an app. Nowhere in these small funky Chinese written instructions did it say to download an app. That’s hilarious. I went online and found it but I won’t be able to try it till I get my bike back the shop tomorrow. They are putting the new front tire on. I requested a steel 90° valve stem but they weren’t sure they had one in stock. If that is the case and I will not be getting a steel valve stem installed. I should’ve been ahead of the game but I wasn’t.

Did you get the stems installed? How do they look...

[windsurfed]

Did you get the stems installed? How do they look...

Got tire installed they did not have any in stock metal 90° valve stems. They put a new stock rubber one and said the old one look fine. Service manager said they should’ve had some in stock as he gets request for them all the time when he was working at another dealership. Kind of disappointing but will live with it. Someday I may take the front tire off myself and take it to a other shopped it does worked on Harleys and just have them dismount the tire and put a metal valve stem in and re-mount the tire. Who knows though? If I would’ve had my head cut in, I would have ordered one in advanced.

[rangemaster728]

I know what you mean...

I just received 90-degree steel stems I ordered from Kurveygirl.com; Julie was great to deal with and answered all my questions.

I’ll try to get mine in next week...will likely just pull the wheels and take them in to get done.

Also ordered the FOBO 2 for Trike setup so we’ll see how that goes.

Ride safe!

[rangemaster728]

Got metal stems installed last week.

Used the straight stems that came with the FOBO 2 Trike kit on the rear wheels, and an Enkei 85° stem I ordered from kurveygirl.com on the front. Had them angle it in towards the wheel centerline.

Everything worked well, and had no problems with clearance then when I went to screw in the FOBO 2 sensors.



Now for my next project...long-term one; trying to find in-wheel sensors that fit and eventually get the bike to utilize the TPMS system I know is in the BCU/instrument cluster of a standard TG.