Topic: HOW FAST was I going??? Speedo issues & bicycle computers....

[grumpy]

My speedo periodically freaks out.
It's usually off by about 5 mph - which seems normal for a SOHC.
On the way into work today I was on the fwy, cruzing with traffic, my speedo was reading 95mph.
Yesterday it read 80-85 in the same situation.
I was in 5th at about 5,000rpm so I was prolly really going about 70.

I've replaced the cables w/ Honda OEMs, cleaned, recleaned, re-recleaned cable & housing. No change.

So, rather than mess w/ the gauges I was gonna get a bicycle computer as a backup for when the speedo acts up. Anybody had any luck with any particular brand/model?

Some guys say Sigma brand computers... Are they working OK?

[domer]

i have an early model sigma 1200. works great, only issue i have is it is kind of slow to react, so if you gas it from 65 to 85, it'll be 2-3 seconds before it catches up. other than that i love it!

[gerhed]

My speedo periodically freaks out.
It's usually off by about 5 mph - which seems normal for a SOHC.
On the way into work today I was on the fwy, cruzing with traffic, my speedo was reading 95mph.
Yesterday it read 80-85 in the same situation.
I was in 5th at about 5,000rpm so I was prolly really going about 70.

I've replaced the cables w/ Honda OEMs, cleaned, recleaned, re-recleaned cable & housing. No change.

So, rather than mess w/ the gauges I was gonna get a bicycle computer as a backup for when the speedo acts up. Anybody had any luck with any particular brand/model?

Some guys say Sigma brand computers... Are they working OK?

Have tried a couple different bicycle speedos I bought at Target and Wallmart
--they seem to stop working at around 45mph

[Kong]

Sounds to me like a very good excuse to buy yourself (the bike) a dedicated GPS.

[Skunk Stripe]

I'm thinking a nice KOSO speedometer may be in your future!
http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/
A little expensive but less than the acewell kits.
I was looking at one but I think some coils and led lights and hid kit are in my future for spring.
I, myself, like the RX-2 model

[MCRider]

The stock speedo can be serviced for about $85 last I checked.  Unless it was already a stripped cafe or such, I'd look into reconditioning the original speedo.

[fire113]

Hi grumpy,

...Sigma is a very good brand, waterproof and very exact.
To check my speedo I use a mobile phone with GPS so I don't have to put a sensor and rout a cable to the front wheel.

Good luck...Georg

[wannabridin]

if you go with a bike speedo, make sure to pick up a couple small Neodymium (rare-earth) magnets from radioshack.  replace the stock pickup with these because they will give you a much greater hall effect, and help the pickup sensor measure your speed more accurately.

MC, where can you get your gauges recondition??  i'm just going to check mine for play, clean clean clean them and hope for the best!

[Duanob]

I've got speedo issues as well. I can't find it!

[andy750]

Ive used a Sigma computer on my CB750K4 -works fine up to and above 100 mph. No problem.

[grumpy]

MC, where can you get your gauges recondition??  i'm just going to check mine for play, clean clean clean them and hope for the best!

Yeah, do tell!

Ive used a Sigma computer on my CB750K4 -works fine up to and above 100 mph. No problem.

Oh, and just how would you know this  

I'm thinking a nice KOSO speedometer may be in your future!
http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/

Hey, they have some cool stuff!
I'd like to keep it quasi-stock, though.
Yeah, I know. Like running a bicycle computer is stock. But at least the OEMs would be there for show.

[domer]

I'm rockin stock gauges and the sigma. They are supposedly accurate up to 145 or something stupid fast. I tested mine next to my tacoma up to 95... My speedo fails after 60.

[dave500]

i put a cheap k-mart bicycle speedo on my bike about two years ago ,so long as its calibrated right itll be ok,they are a little slow to keep up with accelleration but my idea was for when its a slow zone and you know cops hover there you can keep legal, my stock ones a little shaky,mine only reads to 99.9,so if im over 100 kays(or miles per hour it has that choice)it stays at 99.9,,pretty fast for a bicycle.

ive though about a better magnet aswell,and screw mount,this has a lucky to live plastic spoke mount.

[bryanj]

Dave like the volt meter but be careful if its a cheap moving iron one as they take about 1/2 amp, which you can't really spare on the 500. More expensive moving coil meters take lass

[ivanhoew]

im using a sigma ,stayed fine to 155.8 mph...

[dave500]

thanks bryanj,its a vdo one,i always have plenty of charge on the go,ive deleted any instrument illumination aswell for a slight gain.

[MCRider]

SNIP
MC, where can you get your gauges recondition??  i'm just going to check mine for play, clean clean clean them and hope for the best!

I've used Foreign Speedo: 2246 University Avenue San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 298-5278  to recondition the speedo/tach combo on my 68 CB77 (305 Superhawk). They did a fine job. Recently they gave me the price of $85 per instrument for CB750. I've always talked to Preston there.

[q2418130103p]

Why not use a GPS speedometer?  And I dont mean a full GPS unit, I mean a small gauge that looks like a speedo but gets it's signal from GPS.

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge_products-gauge_type-speedometer_GPS.htm

They are a bit pricey.

[grumpy]

I've used Foreign Speedo: 2246 University Avenue San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 298-5278  to recondition the speedo/tach combo on my 68 CB77 (305 Superhawk). They did a fine job. Recently they gave me the price of $85 per instrument for CB750. I've always talked to Preston there.

RIGHT ON!

thanks!

[MCRider]

I've used Foreign Speedo: 2246 University Avenue San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 298-5278  to recondition the speedo/tach combo on my 68 CB77 (305 Superhawk). They did a fine job. Recently they gave me the price of $85 per instrument for CB750. I've always talked to Preston there.

RIGHT ON!

thanks!

You're welcome. I can't remember where I got their name to begin with. Probably from the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC.org) as I was active with them back when I was working on my 305.

Let us know if you use Foreign Speedo as to your experience

[dave500]

if you drive the speedo or tacho with a power drill(make sure its spinning in the correct direction)and the reading is steady the problem is in the cable drive,in the speedo drive unit check the end float on the worm gear,if its sloppy itll cause a non constant output speed as it backlashes a little,you can take it apart and shim the worm gear a little to fix it,might save your self some money.

[grumpy]

icheck the end float on the worm gear,if its sloppy itll cause a non constant output speed as it backlashes a little,you can take it apart and shim the worm gear a little to fix it,

Cool - thanks for the tip.

[Anti-Johnny]

Sorry for digging this up, but has anyone got a lighted bicycle speedo? I am thinking of deleting mine and this seems the easiest way to go.

[dave500]

i have a ten dollar one from kmart ,i only have it for speed zones where i know cops patrol,i didnt know you could get lighted ones?

[Anti-Johnny]

Ive been looking for something to replace my speedo. There are some neat setups of uncertain but likely crappy quality like this one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Digital-Cockpit-Speedometer-Tachometer-Gauge-SP8-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem564340ce28QQitemZ370495508008QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_4538wt_922

and some that are straight electronic. But I dont think that will work on our bikes.

I found on DTT that some people were using this one. Its hard to verify the quality though. Alot of people on that site seem to make a couple posts then disappear into the internet.

http://www.amazon.com/SIGMA-BC1606L-Wireless-Bicycle-Speedometer/dp/B000GHHUXM

I dont know if the backlight has an always on button but there are a few people that use it. My stock tach is not very accurate after about 45 and needs a new bezel. I figured the bicycle computer would free up some space and I could move my tach to the middle. Now I am looking into how to make the tach electronic.

This gadget looks like it might work to transfer the tach to digital...
http://www.autometer.com/download_instruction/0776A.pdf

so thats what I have been doing for the last three hours haha.  

[Gaither]

im using a sigma ,stayed fine to 155.8 mph...

Ivan, I don't want to ride with you, I just want to watch you come by!

[ivanhoew]

im using a sigma ,stayed fine to 155.8 mph...

Ivan, I don't want to ride with you, I just want to watch you come by!

no fairing and a rucksack on as well ! chasing a nitroused gsx r .didnt catch him till he slowed down ..he WAS very suprised though ,forst thing he said when he got off his bike was bloody hell that thing goes well .not bad for 498cc.

[Gaucho]

SIGMA computer, they are accurate to three digit speeds.
Just buy some rare earth magnets at Radio Shack; the original ones that come in the box are too weak.
In my case I've been running the Sigma on the RC51 since new and it is accurate all the way to 150mph (checked with GPS).
Gaucho

[Bankerdanny]

If you happen to be a cyclist in addition to a MC guy, this issue is the perfect excuse to pop for a GPS based cycling computer.

I've used a Garmin 305 for the past 4 years. Not only was I able to confirm how incaccurate the speedo's on my Enfield and FJ were, it also maps your ride for future reference.

[q2418130103p]

Why not use a GPS speedometer?  And I dont mean a full GPS unit, I mean a small gauge that looks like a speedo but gets it's signal from GPS.

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge_products-gauge_type-speedometer_GPS.htm

They are a bit pricey.

I posted it a couple months back, and I'll post it again.  I think these things are awesome.

[FunJimmy]

I love those GPS speedos from Speedhut.
They look great, but I didn't know about them when sorting my needs out, so I went for the full GPS setup.

It should be better at tracking distances between fills too. I hope.