When was the switch made to the potted style as OEM production run fitment?
Recently had Fred replace the batteries in my '08's sensors. The ones in my '12 keep on going just fine but eventually will need attention...
The switch was made sometime during the 2013 model year. I have an early 2013 model with the old style but later 2013's have the new style. So far I haven't heard of any of the new style potted sensors failing.
Hmm... I just got word that everything will be covered under warranty including the fork oil leak and parts are in stock. I like the idea of being able to replace the batteries but not if I am doing it all the time. So its temping to let them replace it under warranty and hopefully be able to keep the old ones just in case. It sounds like there must of been issues with them and switched to a new style that last a lot longer.
Old style worked fine, no issue with them, they had a "5 year" warrenty/life expectancy, which was well defined by Kaw from the start...
Now, think about this, when the actual TPS unit was manufactured, may have been a year prior to installation in the bikes first released.. so add that into the equation.
My '08 purchased spankin' new 7/7/07 sensors lasted until 2012, and were replaced under my extended KPP warranty, for free.... luckily at that time, they were replaced with the original style ones, which I can service when I need to... and are working fine so far...
My bike was always stored in a non heated garage also. There was nothing wrong with the originalnsensor design... it worked...
BUT.... Kaw saw that we were cracking into the sensors on early failed ones, and replacing the batteries... and followed up with the sefond gen sensor.. not because it was better, just because it forces you to buy a new one at Kaw prices... they always want the money for upkeep, and proved it by that simple change...
Which by the way, came out right after eople here began doing their own battery replacements...
Soooooo.... you bet yer sweet bippy they saw it here, and made the change, to keep that parts income cash flowing...
Most of the time I praise Kaw for using us as an information exchange, and all the "improvements" that have come about are flearly a result of them keeping a finger on the pulse of this group, as owners... but with regard to the TPS modules, they put the "wrong finger" on the pulse point, and pretty much screwed everyone by their "improvements"... nuff said..
When I worked out the deal with Ultimate Cycle on a great priced KPP extension, which i shared with this group, this was a big concern, as the price of the 3 year plan was just about equal to the cost of a pair of sensors..
Had I been posed with "new style sensors" when mine eventually failed, even for free, I would have passed on them.. luckily my replacement timing was to my advantage...
If you get replacements under warranty, kiss the idea of getting the old ones back, goodbye, as they will not give them back to you.. Kaw has mandated that they must keep them, and either send them back, or destroy them, so unless you pass a case of beer to the Tech, you ain't getting the old ones when theynreplace them.
The new ones are no better than the gen one version...they are just "new"... that said, don't give up your old sensors, and the ability to fix them, for $10..