Topic: Looking for speedo cable advice

[sparty]

I am contemplating removing the front fender from my 72 CB750K2 and need some advice on what to do with the speedo cable.  The current cable is much too long to hang from the front fork without it possibly binding.  If you have faced the same dilemma, how did you solve it?  Thanks.

[Terry in Australia]

You're right mate, it is a problem, there's nothing in that area that you can hang a bracket off to hold it out of the way, although I've seen plenty of CB750's fender-less with that cable swinging in the breeze, with apparently no ill-effects.

The outer sleeve is quite rigid so it's reasonable to assume that it won't get sucked into the wheel, but you might have to make a wire bracket from heavy guage welding wire (brazing rod? Stainless?) and anchor it to the redundant brake caliper mount on the right fork leg to hold it out of the way for a little extra insurance? Cheers, Terry.

[sparty]

I was thinking of something similar.  I was wondering if I can find a shorter cable and rotate the speedo hub assembly to a more vertical position so that the cable will run closer to the right side fork.  Can the speedo hub assembly be rotated? 

[Tim.]

If you're removing the front fender, I'd assume you're going for a trimmed down 'cafe' or 'boober' look (typo intentional )?  If so, just get rid of the speedo and be done with it.

I've seen people use bicycle computers to replace speedos.  You can get wireless ones which are pretty cool.  I was looking at some last night while on a quest for parts for my wife's bicycle, and learned that the sensor on the spoke and the pickup plate have to be within a few mm of each other though, making mounting difficult.  Of course it can go on either front or rear wheel.  Something I'm going to look further into.

[ProTeal55]

If you're removing the front fender, I'd assume you're going for a trimmed down 'cafe' or 'boober' look (typo intentional )? If so, just get rid of the speedo and be done with it.

I 2nd that. I tore my speedo off and havent looked back.
Before I did it, I did some test rides so I would know at a given rpm, in a given gear, how fast I was going. I usually dont speed anyways, and jut keep up with the flow of traffic, so no need for a speedo...

[Tim.]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/billingsley/sigma.htm

Looks like a good choice.  For super cheap ($20 or less) you can have a nice little accurate speedo/clock etc. on your bike to satisfy the fuzz.

[AntiRiceCRX]

my speedo cable is just hanging there, it works fine all the way up to 100mph 

[ProTeal55]

While I was running a speedo without a fender, I just zip tied the speedo and tach cables
together. Didnt look to bad, and did the job. 

http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/PROTEAL55/1955/1972/O+L+D.jpg.html

Looking at that pic I see how far my bike as come...

[sparty]

Thanks guys, these are all great ideas on how to keep my speedo on the bike.  I may mess with it tonight.  I'll snap a few digital pics if I can.

[Noel]

I'm running a bicycle speedo because I didn't want the big old speedometer can on the front of my bike and I didn't want the cable running up from the hub.

The bicycle speedos are also pretty much perfectly accurate -- down to the tenth -- if you take care setting 'em up right.

I tried the wireless one first and it didn't work. I mean, it worked as long as the engine was off, but running, it went haywire. Unshielded HT leads is my guess.

So I replaced it with a "wired" model, hid the wire behind the fork, no problems.

Keep in mind, though, you are going to have to modify a sensor magnet (that's how electronic bicycle speedos work) and glue it to your spokes or hub. I ground off the mounting tabs on mine and JBwelded it to the right side of the hub in between the rotor mounting bolts.

[ProTeal55]

Good idea on the bicycle speedo. 
Would be really stealthy to mount it on the rear tire, then no-one would
see it...

[Tim.]

Unfortunately I don't think the wires from the sensor to the speedo mount are long enough for rear wheel mounting.

The people who have documented their installs on the web have used a rare-earth magnet from Radio Shack - two of them actually.  One gets epoxied to the brake rotor somewhere and then another just sticks to the first to bring it out towards the sensor.

I'm going to look more into this, even with my stock speedo in place.  Even though I've had a MPH only speedo for years, and I rarely concern myself with how fast I'm going (I live/ride in Toronto where speed limits are optional - I hit 100MPH on the way to work daily), it would be nice to have KPH, max speed/average speed etc. etc. that you can get on some of these computers.

[ProTeal55]

Unfortunately I don't think the wires from the sensor to the speedo mount are long enough for rear wheel mounting.

Why can't you just lengthin the wires ?

[Tim.]

I've never looked at one closely enough to know if it's possible.  If it were, and if you could get the sensor and magnet close enough I'd do that for sure.

[Noel]

BTW, there are several bicycle computers which will read higher MPH than your bike can go. I bought a Sigma brand because it reads to almost 190 MPH and was still only $25.

Why a bicycle computer is designed to read up to 187 MPH I have no idea.

[sparty]

I pulled the front fender off last night and I am in the process of fashioning a cable hanger/support.  The hanger will mount under the fork brace.  It should keep the cable from being sucked into the wheel at speed.

I'll be removing the rear fender next.

[ProTeal55]

I'll be removing the rear fender next.

Ya, strip that #$%* !!!