This will make about 10 times I have posted this. I guess everbody thinks I am a dolt and ignores me. There is nothing wrong with the battery. It is the computer programming that falsely gives a low battery warning that is the problem. The battery is designed to go dormant when the bike is parked and wake up when it is in motion. Mine continues to do just that after 4.5 years and 65,000 miles. Where else will you find a coin size, non rechaheable battery that will last for 5 years of 2 to 8 hours of daily, constant use?.
I don't think you are being ignored, nor do I think you are a dolt
However, I don't totally agree with your assessment (I just partially agree with it). I don't think it is a programming error- I believe at cold temperatures, when the circuit is first awakened, the battery voltage *is* probably low enough to fall below spec. Being low when cold and first used is typical for older batteries. Also, people have reported total battery rundown after just a few years or less which probably is a problem with battery size/capacity. So the battery low messages are not really "false", they are just too sensitive and perhaps not necessary at that point in the battery's life. I do believe a programming change to give the sensor another moment to "warm up" (actually, voltage up) would help suppress unnecessary messages when the battery is near the tail end of its service life (regardless of how large the battery is).
As for your question- battery service life is a function of capacity (amp hours), how much power is pulled and how often, and some environmental factors. A larger battery will last longer, it is just that simple. Lithium batteries can easily be made to last 10 years in any application, as long as you are free to increase the size/capacity of the battery pack. In this example, had they used TWO coin cells in parallel, it would last exactly twice as long. There is some magic formula the designers used for how large a battery they wanted in the sensor, and I just think they picked a bit too small. A larger battery might cost a bit more and will have a bit more volume and mass. Considering what a PITA it is to replace such a device, it seems to me it would be worth the extra cost/volume/mass... but I don't know exactly what constraints they were working with at the time. I can't image cost would be THAT important, since I estimate that the cost of doubling the cell capacity in the sensor would be less than $1.
As for the TPS concept itself, I have been save from being stranded twice, once while 400 miles from home on a trip in the middle of nowhere. Both times I got the alert in time to get to a service station where repairs could be safely and easily made. A third time I was 5 miles from home and knew the leak was slow enough I could ride home safely. A great featue in my opinion. When I ride my other bikes I miss the TPS.
Couldn't agree more, of course.