Monitoring tyre pressure with sensors isn’t just for cars. Motorcycles are growing in popularity as are the number of safety measures to help protect their users. Although a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for motorcycles is not mandatory to pass an MOT like cars, motorcycles remain one of the most dangerous ways to travel on the road, so it pays to monitor the tyres on your motorcycle.

The current trend shows a decrease of 17% in road fatalities for motorcyclists in the UK, it does remain a vastly different experience to other forms of personal transport. 353 motorcyclists were killed on UK roads in the latest available figures for 2018 and tyres continue to be a cause of a significant number of accidents.

It is therefore critical to ensure tyres are at the correct pressure. Among frustration of underinflated tyres, you could be fined £2,500 per tyre if they are under or over inflated to such a degree, they are considered unsuitable for UK roads.

TPMS Options for Motorcycles

TPMS overall and across all vehicles plays a significant part in helping to prevent many road accidents. These days, many OE (original equipment) manufacturers of motorcycles have TPMS integrated into the vehicle for added safety and convenience.

There are plenty of aftermarket TPMS solutions though when choosing a retrofit solution, you should pay due care to pressure ranges, warning strategy and other variables.

When it comes to motorcycles, not every sensor is going to suit it well. You can, however, start by researching your manufacturer and obtain the right parameters for the correct sensor type. From there, you should be able to research your options.

A few criteria to look for:

Original Manufacturer Hardware: For the perfect TPMS fit, hardware from your motorcycle’s manufacturer is the safest option as it ensures the optimal fit for your motorcycle.

Alert Strategy: Check that the sensors meet UK and/or EU standards – this will ensure your TPMS works and is of high quality.

Battery Life: As with many TPMS sensors, they are laser welded shut or use another form to keep them permanently attached, which means when the battery life ends, the sensor needs to be replaced. Longer battery life as a result, will be saving you money in the long run.