Topic: Anyone Ride With No Gauges? (Pics)

[no718.com]

I was thinking of just completely taking off my gauges to give my '78 750 a more simpler look. Anyone done this? Have pics? I think I want to go for that low, Wrench Monkee Bratstyle look . . .

Here Is my motivation:


I just ordered a seat that looks like my terrible photoshop rendering of my bike here (notice with gauges very front end heavy):


Now here with gauges gone (alot cleaner and lighter):


Thoughts . . . .

[andy750]

NO gauges look much better. Get a bicycle computer and install somewhere discreet to prevent getting caught speeding. Of course you are then without a tripometer and this may be illegal in some states(just guessing here  -otherwise whats the mileage on the engine?/bike?).  For tach listen to the sound of the engine for gear changes etc. Easy enough.

[no718.com]

Good point on not knowing how many miles i'll have on it . . . I checked the DMV website for NY and speedometers are not required for motorcycles prior 1980:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv529b.pdf

[kck3]

There are brackets you can buy to lower the gauges.  This gives the bike a better look if you are lowering the bars.

[swellguy]

I was thinking of just completely taking off my gauges to give my '78 750 a more simpler look. Anyone done this? Have pics? I think I want to go for that low, Wrench Monkee Bratstyle look . . .
<snip>
Thoughts . . . .

Four of the Harleys I built have no gauges except maybe oil pressure, but these were custom ground up builds registered as special construction. I get a sense that no speedo at least on a "stock" bike might result in a ticket if you happen to be pulled over by the fuzz.

[kerber]

If you do some googling, there are some really really nice looking after market guages that are much smaller. There are even some electronic kits that combine everything into a single discrete LED display. Here are some examples: http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/cmn/prodlist.jsp?store=Main&category=41011,410&_requestid=542769

[no718.com]

Kerber those are some very nice gauges.

Lets say I went with a single gauge of a smaller size, is there another location on the frame where I could mount it that would be visible yet not in the way of the rest of the bikes functionality?

[kerber]

As long as the cables reach, I don't imagine it matters much where you put it. If you can, take some tape and scrap wood or something approx the size of the gauge you are looking at and go spend some time trying places out. If you find a spot that looks promising, tape the dummy gauge there, get on your bike, and check the visibility. It's really going to depend on your bike and your personal preferences. One last thing; make sure that you can either find or fabricate a mount so that the actual gauge will work in your preferred spot.

If you are really a hardware hacker, maybe you could even integrate one of those electronic all in one gauges with the back of a riding glove, then run the cable up your sleeve and have a connector near your waist that attaches to the bike...

[78CB750CAFE]

NO gauges look much better. Get a bicycle computer and install somewhere discreet to prevent getting caught speeding. Of course you are then without a tripometer and this may be illegal in some states(just guessing here  -otherwise whats the mileage on the engine?/bike?).  For tach listen to the sound of the engine for gear changes etc. Easy enough.

bicycle computer will give you an odo and trip meter

[FunJimmy]

I mounted a tach only and put it quite low between the top triple and headlight.
Looks very clean.

You can then have a buddy clock you at typical street speed and again at a typical (legal) highway speed both in 5th gear and put a red dot on the tach for each one. That way if you suspect radar, shift into 5th and drop your RPM to the speed markings.

Just a thought.
FJ

[motocyconomad]

I have some extras i cut tach spedo brackets at work (69-76)I took one cut it in half and used it to mount my tack center and low  still need to cut the 77-78 I have a program to cut for both gauges and one for a single   though cutting one in half works just as good

[Bob Wessner]

Good point on not knowing how many miles i'll have on it . . . I checked the DMV website for NY and speedometers are not required for motorcycles prior 1980:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv529b.pdf

Might want to print and carry a copy of part that addresses this, just in case some officer is not up on all the DMV codes if you get stopped. 

[kerber]

Registration... check
insurance... check
printed rules explaining that your bike is legal.... check

[Jim F]

Just the tach

[no718.com]

Kerber you're too funny man lololol . . . Yeah with the way Porky's are here in the city they usually don't know their asses from elbows so I'll stuff the print out in my jacket somewhere