Topic: Downsides to Removing Tachometer?

[DurangoCB]

I like the cleaned up look of bikes without a tach, but I’m sure there are times I would miss having one.

In your experience, what would those times be? 

[AirCanuck]

What about when you’re doing Any of your engine tuning work, adjusting idle screw etc? How will you know when it is set correctly? You could consider an acewell all in one gauge

[Stev-o]

For me, a tach is nice to have so I know when to safely shift, I prefer to shift my vintage bikes under the redline by about 1000 R's or so...unless racing, ha!
Once you know your bike's motor, you could do this by ear.

As far as using the tach for tuning, an inexpensive dwell meter could be used, just hook it up when needed. I typically set the idle by ear, I like it a little higher than spec.

These 40+ year old gauges are not precise by any means, they are known to be off by 10% or more.

If you dont want a tach, take it off!  I dont have one on my K3 Park Racer.  However, you may want to leave options available in case you ever want to remount it.

[kerryb]

I don't have a tach on my harley, wish I did, may have to buy one.  I took the tach off my 550, knew I would never get near enough to redline to need one.  But I prefer having both clocks on my bikes cause it looks right and I like having the info.  I never use the bike tach for tuning, thats reserved for the tach/dwell meter.

[AirCanuck]

For me, a tach is nice to have so I know when to safely shift, I prefer to shift my vintage bikes under the redline by about 1000 R's or so...unless racing, ha!
Once you know your bike's motor, you could do this by ear.

As far as using the tach for tuning, an inexpensive dwell meter could be used, just hook it up when needed. I typically set the idle by ear, I like it a little higher than spec.

These 40+ year old gauges are not precise by any means, they are known to be off by 10% or more.

If you dont want a tach, take it off!  I dont have one on my K3 Park Racer.  However, you may want to leave options available in case you ever want to remount it.

Hmm interesting point. I have an acewell Gauge. How do I even find out what redline is on my bike? 78 CB550k

[DurangoCB]

Thanks, everybody.

[DV Red Herring]

Ha! How about this... All I run is a tach. No speedo

[Scramps]

My suzuki ls650 doesn’t have a tach, it’s never been an issue. Tuning and redline shifting aside, there aren’t a lot of occasions I can think of where it’s 100% necessary


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DurangoCB]

Love it.  Nice bike. 

I love that you're still using the original clamp.  I'm torn because there are sleeker options for clamps yet I have such deep nostalgia for that indicator panel because I grew up with a dad who chopped CBs in the garage (and sometimes in the living room) and I used to sit on his choppers and turn the key just to make the panel light up, then sit there making engine noises. 

I am definitely at that critical point in a project where I have to make some difficult decisions and just remind myself that it ain't life or death.  It's just an old motorcycle. 

[seanbarney41]

DSCN1182 by Sean Barney, on Flickr
look at the turn look throttle blip down shift look look through the turn look not at the speedometer

[strynboen]

the tack gives a fine idea of the clutch vork perfekt..and if the engine have problems get to max rpm.
.i dont use it for gear thange.(only in extreme sitations).have run a year vitaut ..and miss it in that time..spedo/tack gives a fine indikation ..if somthing thange yoy vil spot it fast.not have to guess if all is ok..just a kvik look..

[fourintofour]

Nice!!

[Stev-o]

look at the turn look throttle blip down shift look look through the turn look not at the speedometer

Wat???

[PeWe]

I smashed mine 1982, missed it during the next 8 years. I bought one when it returned to the streets 2014.
It depends on your build. CB750 speedo and tacho is one big part of the design and the feeling to ride it.

[evinrude7]

For me, a tach is nice to have so I know when to safely shift, I prefer to shift my vintage bikes under the redline by about 1000 R's or so...unless racing, ha!
Once you know your bike's motor, you could do this by ear.

As far as using the tach for tuning, an inexpensive dwell meter could be used, just hook it up when needed. I typically set the idle by ear, I like it a little higher than spec.

These 40+ year old gauges are not precise by any means, they are known to be off by 10% or more.

If you dont want a tach, take it off!  I dont have one on my K3 Park Racer.  However, you may want to leave options available in case you ever want to remount it.

Hmm interesting point. I have an acewell Gauge. How do I even find out what redline is on my bike? 78 CB550k

ac, i think it's around 9200 according to two tired.  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,122133.msg1385487.html#msg1385487

[seanbarney41]

look at the turn look throttle blip down shift look look through the turn look not at the speedometer

Wat???

sorry Steve-O, just bein' weird

[AirCanuck]

For me, a tach is nice to have so I know when to safely shift, I prefer to shift my vintage bikes under the redline by about 1000 R's or so...unless racing, ha!
Once you know your bike's motor, you could do this by ear.

As far as using the tach for tuning, an inexpensive dwell meter could be used, just hook it up when needed. I typically set the idle by ear, I like it a little higher than spec.

These 40+ year old gauges are not precise by any means, they are known to be off by 10% or more.

If you dont want a tach, take it off!  I dont have one on my K3 Park Racer.  However, you may want to leave options available in case you ever want to remount it.

Hmm interesting point. I have an acewell Gauge. How do I even find out what redline is on my bike? 78 CB550k

ac, i think it's around 9200 according to two tired.  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,122133.msg1385487.html#msg1385487

Many thanks

[dave500]

I know what seanbarney means,just watch the #$%*ing road and listen to the engine,ya don't need to watch the tacho you can feel the torque peter out,they where a big thing in the day as they looked like added value in the day,wow a tacho,only sports cars had them?they wernt real good new and way worse now as far as accuracy,i like mine though,i glance at it now and again when really hauling if I can take my eyes of the road!

[PeWe]

I could verify the rpm afterwards when I finally got a tacho. I remember that I shifted to 4:th at 160kph, gearing 17:48.
This means 9000-9500 rpm. This when enter Autobahn again after a gas stop leaving other bikers with shocked faces.
That old CB750 had som power, not only wonderful screaming 4-1. Overloaded bike with 2 guys and lots of luggage.
This was + 30 years ago when CB750 was not that common here anymore, more Kawasaki/Suzuki 1000 my bike could run with.

[DurangoCB]

Appreciate it- thank you. 

My own experience with tachometers on any type of vehicle (at work we have an ever-rotating fleet of 34 vehicles that I am responsible for monitoring/purchasing) including the motos I've owned is that I glance at them sometimes out of curiosity but I don't base my riding on them.  I trust engine feedback (vibration, sound, torque) over tach feedback whenever the two don't jive. 

But, especially being new to CBs, it means a little something to me that I may have a harder time learning where the idle should sit.  Still, not sure the benefits outweigh the allure of a simpler, sleeker bike so I ordered a tach delete plug from JWebster Designs.  http://jwebsterdesigns.com/shop/honda-cb750-tachometer-drive-plug/

[Dunk]

Tach is more important than a speedometer. It's silly not to have both gauges though.

[DurangoCB]

Tach is more important than a speedometer. It's silly not to have both gauges though.

Well, I never!   

“Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.”
-Shel Silverstein, CB750 owner