1980SG speedo gauge

[Macamon]

Did they change the gauge for the 1980SG or was it the same as the SF? Mine shows a redline at 55mph and I think tops out at 80mph where the speedo on my SF maxxed out at at like 160 and has no redline. Perhaps this is not the right gauge?

[cywelchjr]

Did they change the gauge for the 1980SG or was it the same as the SF? Mine shows a redline at 55mph and I think tops out at 80mph where the speedo on my SF maxxed out at at like 160 and has no redline. Perhaps this is not the right gauge?

Yes, it's the right one. They changed the speedometer for 80 because federal law required a max of 85 Mph on the speedometer and a red line at 55 because that was the national speed limit. This was true on both cars and bikes. That doesn't mean the bike won't go faster, just that unless you use a gps or something else you won't know how much faster.

You can swap in a 79 gauge if you want the 160 speedo, but if I want to know my speed above 85 I'll put one of my GPS's on the bike in speedometer mode.

[fredintoon]

Did they change the gauge for the 1980SG or was it the same as the SF? Mine shows a redline at 55mph and I think tops out at 80mph where the speedo on my SF maxxed out at at like 160 and has no redline. Perhaps this is not the right gauge?

Hi Mac,
it's the gauge that US model SGs came with, yes.
But it's wrong, all wrong, a permanent in your face example of how the Government can fritz things up.
You can replace it with any XS series round speedo that has higher numbers on it, they will all read true on your bike.
Even the metric ones but you need to be able to multiply by 0.6 in your head.

[CatatonicBug]

Though the numbers are different on the display, they guts are the same. However, they are all relatively inaccurate - especially at higher speeds. I know a few here have reported only a few MPH discrepancy between the speedo and a GPS, but others have seen up to 15-20 MPH difference. I know mine starts to drop off around 50mph, and by the time my GPS says I'm going 80-85, my speedo still says 70-75. YMMV

[Macamon]

I think I may try both and see which one is more accurate. The 75 reported vs 85 real would be a problem. I at least want to change out the gromets, as the ones on the bike are not fitting correctly :/ Thanks for the input guys
/out

[XJOK2PLAY]

I changed out my speedo from the stock XJ 85 mph to a 160 unit.

Works great except I do have a little discrepancy... mine reads 5 mph fast.
But it could be worse... it could be reading 5 slow...

Bug's right, seems like the 160's suffer a little with the spring tension as they age. Several have posted in the past there's are off just a bit... one way or the other.

Don't know if the 140's have the same problem...

I say who cares... if ya can get a 160, do it.

I think most of these 30 year old speedos will be off some. GPS takes care of that.

[fredintoon]

I think I may try both and see which one is more accurate. The 75 reported vs 85 real would be a problem. - - -

Hi Mac,
seems like XS speedos get tired with age. All 4 of our XS speedos show lower than they should (that, or the little old ladies in K cars are all going between 100 & 120kph in the 90 zones) but their odometers are all still spot on, showing 10 km between the 10km highway markers. Except for the US gauge which shows the little old ladies going 65mph and the markers being 6.3 miles apart.

[Macamon]

Just got the ohter cluster, Did the '80 have directional signal indicators or just one light in the middle that says turn?

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Just got the ohter cluster, Did the '80 have directional signal indicators or just one light in the middle that says turn?

You can just put the speedo guage on YOUR cluster and eliminate that problem. My speedo is from a 79 XS850. It only goes to 140 but that is fast enough.

[Macamon]

my consern is what's stock. The gauge on the bike has 4 indicator lights:
Left & right
Brake/Tail
Headlight

Whereas the one I have has 3:
Turn
Brake/tail
headlight

[XSokieSPECIAL]

my consern is what's stock. The gauge on the bike has 4 indicator lights:
Left & right
Brake/Tail
Headlight

Whereas the one I have has 3:
Turn
Brake/tail
headlight

This is in the center correct? If so just remove the SPEEDOMETER guage from the mounting bracket and replace it with the one with higher MPH readings. Two nuts.

Maybe I'm not understanding what your trying to say.

Can you send a pic?

[Macamon]

Look at the layout of the words: put lights where the words are. I'm talking about the light tree in the middle.

[bikerphil]

The 79 Special pilot box only has one bulb for turn signals. The later models used 2, one for L and one for R.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Look at the layout of the words: put lights where the words are. I'm talking about the light tree in the middle.

Ok. I have a SG and all I am saying is take the speedo off of the mount with the'
turn
brake/tail
headlight

and put it on the bracket with the

turn turn
oil
headlight-------(this is what is on the center of my SG)

[Montreux_Blue]

Bug's right, seems like the 160's suffer a little with the spring tension as they age. Several have posted in the past there's are off just a bit... one way or the other.

I think mine is way off because when I flew past you it only read 110. I need to check it with my gps.