F3-T: Accessing the Rear Tire Valve

[newbert]

My 2016 F3-T has permanent non-removable (as far as I can tell) storage bins on each side of the back seat.

These make it difficult to get to the rear tire to even simply check the tire pressure. So, does anyone know of any tricks to gain access to the rear tire valve more easily? I'm an old fart who isn't able to get down to floor level and back up that easily. I can get to the front tire valves OK of course, but the rear tire is too long a reach for me.

Thanks.

[pegasus1300]

All big touring bikes have the same problem RT,Goldwing,Harley Ultra. Royal Star Venture, Indian,they all have the same problem,PITA to check rear air. I went to my local Harley dealer and bought a valve stem extender for a Harley Ultra. It is about $10.00 (maybe a little more now been a couple of years since I bought it).Anyway you can screw this on and it makes it much easier to check the air. It is also a Zero loss unit so what you see is what you have. It is about 6" long and I keep it with my air gauge.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...stem-extension

and still the same price amazing

[Copperman]

All big touring bikes have the same problem RT,Goldwing,Harley Ultra. Royal Star Venture, Indian,they all have the same problem,PITA to check rear air. I went to my local Harley dealer and bought a valve stem extender for a Harley Ultra. It is about $10.00 (maybe a little more now been a couple of years since I bought it).Anyway you can screw this on and it makes it much easier to check the air. It is also a Zero loss unit so what you see is what you have. It is about 6" long and I keep it with my air gauge.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...stem-extension

and still the same price amazing

I have and use the same thing.

[jcthorne]

Add a set of FOBO sensors to your bike and check the pressure from your kitchen before you ride.....

[KJWEB]

Add a set of FOBO sensors to your bike and check the pressure from your kitchen before you ride.....

Ditto!

[nhoj]

https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...stem-extension

and still the same price amazing

+2 on this. I use it on the fronts as well.

[SpyderHands]

Add a set of FOBO sensors to your bike and check the pressure from your kitchen before you ride.....

Who has the best price?

[Highwayman2013]

My 2016 F3-T has permanent non-removable (as far as I can tell) storage bins on each side of the back seat.

These make it difficult to get to the rear tire to even simply check the tire pressure. So, does anyone know of any tricks to gain access to the rear tire valve more easily? I'm an old fart who isn't able to get down to floor level and back up that easily. I can get to the front tire valves OK of course, but the rear tire is too long a reach for me.

Thanks.

http://www.lamonstergarage.com/fobo-...et-of-3-black/

[newbert]

Add a set of FOBO sensors to your bike and check the pressure from your kitchen before you ride.....

Been considering this, but I don't have a smartphone and don't want one. (Yes - You can call me a Luddite.) Do the FOBO sensors work with an iPad though? (THAT I have.)

Thanks.

[JayBros]

FOBOs as well as the Garmin TPMS option for my GPS are nice to have but are really just shuffling the deck furniture on the Titanic, IMO. If the TPMS says you have a tire that is low you still have to get down on the floor and do the inflation routine. On my tires the valve stems seldom are in the best position for me to check and add air if necessary. That means at least once a week the tires get a 360 roll around and tread inspection before I do a pressure check. I think I learned that in some class somewhere. YMMV.

[jcthorne]

Been considering this, but I don't have a smartphone and don't want one. (Yes - You can call me a Luddite.) Do the FOBO sensors work with an iPad though? (THAT I have.)

Thanks.

Yes, they will work with an ipad. There is an IOS version of the app to install.

[jcthorne]

FOBOs as well as the Garmin TPMS option for my GPS are nice to have but are really just shuffling the deck furniture on the Titanic, IMO. If the TPMS says you have a tire that is low you still have to get down on the floor and do the inflation routine. On my tires the valve stems seldom are in the best position for me to check and add air if necessary. That means at least once a week the tires get a 360 roll around and tread inspection before I do a pressure check. I think I learned that in some class somewhere. YMMV.

I check the air pressures on mine and Louise's bikes every time we ride. I can go weeks to months before needing to add any air to them....except for the rear shock on her F3T. By not removing the cap and not loosing air to check them, the do not loose pressure.

[UtahPete]

All big touring bikes have the same problem RT,Goldwing,Harley Ultra. Royal Star Venture, Indian,they all have the same problem,PITA to check rear air. I went to my local Harley dealer and bought a valve stem extender for a Harley Ultra. It is about $10.00 (maybe a little more now been a couple of years since I bought it).Anyway you can screw this on and it makes it much easier to check the air. It is also a Zero loss unit so what you see is what you have. It is about 6" long and I keep it with my air gauge. https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...stem-extension and still the same price amazing

I'll have to check that out, thanks.

[UtahPete]

You can do this .... When you need to get a new rear tire .... I put an 85 degree angle steel tire valve ( from Kurvygirl.com ) on the other side of the rim ..... you need to put this at least 2 inches in from the curved part of the rim to facilitate tire removal and putting it on ..... get the STEEL one ..... Mike

I can't quite picture what you are suggesting. Do you have a link or a picture?

[SpyderNeil]

All big touring bikes have the same problem RT,Goldwing,Harley Ultra. Royal Star Venture, Indian,they all have the same problem,PITA to check rear air. I went to my local Harley dealer and bought a valve stem extender for a Harley Ultra. It is about $10.00 (maybe a little more now been a couple of years since I bought it).Anyway you can screw this on and it makes it much easier to check the air. It is also a Zero loss unit so what you see is what you have. It is about 6" long and I keep it with my air gauge.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...stem-extension

and still the same price amazing

That's what I use as well, works perfectly and cheap too!

Neil

[UtahPete]

Has anyone tried anything like this? They also come in a 45-degree bend.

[newbert]

Has anyone tried anything like this? They also come in a 45-degree bend.

Hmm....Looks interesting. Got a link?

[UtahPete]

Hmm....Looks interesting. Got a link?

This is one on Amazon. They have a bunch of different types, styles, angles, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Fontic-Motorc...xtension&psc=1

[newbert]

This is one on Amazon. They have a bunch of different types, styles, angles, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Fontic-Motorc...xtension&psc=1

Thanks for that link. But, after reading some of the reviews, I wonder whether it's a good idea to leave it on the valve stem. Some say that it destroyed the valve stem, and another says that it's puts the tire out of balance.

Thoughts?

[Trapdoor]

I use a Stop & Go (stopngo.com) product to easily check the tire pressures on my F3S and on my previous two-wheelers. IMHO, it should also work on the F3-T. The product is the EZ-Air Tire Gauge (quick release with gauge). The gauge-less version is the 10-inch Mini-Air Compressor Air Hose Extension w/Quick Release. The valve stem is on the sprocket side of the rear wheel and is accessible through the opening in the sprocket when the valve stem is at it's lowest point. Hope this answers your question.

[UtahPete]

Thanks for that link. But, after reading some of the reviews, I wonder whether it's a good idea to leave it on the valve stem. Some say that it destroyed the valve stem, and another says that it's puts the tire out of balance.Thoughts?

Yeah, that's why I was asking if anyone had tried it.

[Hey Yu]

My 2016 F3-T has permanent non-removable (as far as I can tell) storage bins on each side of the back seat.

These make it difficult to get to the rear tire to even simply check the tire pressure. So, does anyone know of any tricks to gain access to the rear tire valve more easily? I'm an old fart who isn't able to get down to floor level and back up that easily. I can get to the front tire valves OK of course, but the rear tire is too long a reach for me.

Thanks.

Back the Spyder up on a car ramp. Thus, giving you better access. Also, when the tire wears out, replace the valve stem with a right-angled valve stem.

[Bob Denman]

Tire valve access on a Touring F3?

Go check the rear tire pressures on a couple of RTs, and then be thankful for what you've got!

[UtahPete]

Thanks for that link. But, after reading some of the reviews, I wonder whether it's a good idea to leave it on the valve stem. Some say that it destroyed the valve stem, and another says that it's puts the tire out of balance. Thoughts?

I'm inclined to agree with you. One of the products states clearly that it's for steel stems only, not the rubber ones. I'm going to check into Blue Knight's solution.