speedometer

[bigchopperguy]

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some info regarding the speedometer assy on my 1979 special. the existing speedo is pretty much toast. I'm wondering if anyone knows of another unit with which I might replace it as a temporary fix until I find a good 160 mph unit. some of the 120 mph units from other models looks the same I'm just wondering about drive ratios and such. If anyone has a reasonably priced working 160 piece let me know!!!!!thanks, johnny

[natemoen]

The xs11 has a oddball ratio of 2.9:1 and most aftermarket stock is 2:1. They do make adapters to adjust for that but it is kinda expensive to buy those adapters.

[CatatonicBug]

Any of the speedos from any of the XS's will work, no matter what the MPH range is.

[fredintoon]

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some info regarding the speedometer assy on my 1979 special. the existing speedo is pretty much toast. I'm wondering if anyone knows of another unit with which I might replace it as a temporary fix until I find a good 160 mph unit. some of the 120 mph units from other models looks the same I'm just wondering about drive ratios and such. If anyone has a reasonably priced working 160 piece let me know!!!!!thanks, johnny

Hi Johnnie and welcome,
to clarify what the 'Bug said, any speedo from any year XS series bike at all, the XS650, XS750, XS850 or the XS11, will work and will read correctly.
So will these guys from MikesXS:-
http://www.mikesxs.net/products-46.html#products

[scrapvalue]

Hi Johnnie and welcome,
to clarify what the 'Bug said, any speedo from any year XS series bike at all, the XS650, XS750, XS850 or the XS11, will work and will read correctly.
So will these guys from MikesXS:-
http://www.mikesxs.net/products-46.html#products

I just recieved an email back from mikesxs about using there speedo,
Part #03-0729 on my XS1100 and they said they don't have any information on whether it will work on my bike or not.
I believe you guys know what you are talking about, but has anyone actually tried to use one?

Thanks

[natemoen]

I just recieved an email back from mikesxs about using there speedo,
Part #03-0729 on my XS1100 and they said they don't have any information on whether it will work on my bike or not.
I believe you guys know what you are talking about, but has anyone actually tried to use one?

Thanks

miles xs will absolutely not deal with other bikes. Some people have even been refused sale for saying it was for something other than an xs650. Mikesxs has some good stuff and quite a bit works on the 11 but he IS 6ţ0 only and will not assist or advise on anything that is not am xs650.

[crazy steve]

I just recieved an email back from mikesxs about using there speedo,
Part #03-0729 on my XS1100 and they said they don't have any information on whether it will work on my bike or not.
I believe you guys know what you are talking about, but has anyone actually tried to use one?

Thanks

Mikes is selling what appear to be 'common' custom speedos (including the one you mention) but what isn't mentioned is their calibration. You'll find many of the same speedos sold elsewhere, but ratios are stated there. Only the ones meant as 'OEM replacements' are listed by Mikes as having the correct '60mph = 2240' (the 2240 refers to speedo cable turns in one mile) calibration, something that is conspicously missing from the 'custom' models info. Most of these I've seen are calibrated for a 2:1 speedo drive, or 60 mph = 1728 turns per mile.

So don't ask if a particular speedo will work on a XS11; instead, ask if it's calibrated for a 2.9:1 drive or the above 60=2240 number if it doesn't specifically say so. If you don't get a clear answer, it's probably not. The 2:1 units will hook up and work, but will read about 1/3 fast (60 mph actual will show about 80 mph indicated, 90=120, etc).

[fredintoon]

Mikes is selling what appear to be 'common' custom speedos (including the one you mention) but what isn't mentioned is their calibration. - - -

Hi Steve,
while MikesXS don't quote a ratio what the catalog does say is this:-
"Speedometer - Chrome Mini - 2.25" Dia. - Black face, 0-140MPH.
For Yamaha 650's. Internal illumination and Indicator lights.
(High Beam, Signal & Neutral Light). Resettable Tripmeter. "
The other small speedos are quoted the same.
So if it reads right on an XS650 it'll read right on any other XS series bike including the XS11.
Whether those small low-cost speedos will stand up in use or just shake to bits after a few hundred miles, I dunno.
As Nate sez, MikesXS insists that their products are for the XS650 only and denies they'll fit anything else.
Selling mostly into the litigation-crazy USA, who can blame them?

[old_chopper]

Hi everyone, I'm in need of some info regarding the speedometer assy on my 1979 special. the existing speedo is pretty much toast. I'm wondering if anyone knows of another unit with which I might replace it as a temporary fix until I find a good 160 mph unit. some of the 120 mph units from other models looks the same I'm just wondering about drive ratios and such. If anyone has a reasonably priced working 160 piece let me know!!!!!thanks, johnny

Check out Ron's Cycleland in Tulsa. I found a great 160 mph unit there but it took a lot of searching. They did have many of the 145 mph units off the 750's. They are very reasonable in price and I am sure they would ship to you. Their phone number is 918-835-8125.

[crazy steve]

Hi Steve,
while MikesXS don't quote a ratio what the catalog does say is this:-
"Speedometer - Chrome Mini - 2.25" Dia. - Black face, 0-140MPH.
For Yamaha 650's. Internal illumination and Indicator lights.
(High Beam, Signal & Neutral Light). Resettable Tripmeter. "
The other small speedos are quoted the same.
So if it reads right on an XS650 it'll read right on any other XS series bike including the XS11...

Ah, but they don't say that it's calibrated correctly; simply that it 'fits' a 650. One thing that makes me very skeptical is that they show the calibration for the 'non' custom speedos, but fail to do so for the custom units. These will fit, but they don't say they'll be accurate.

The other thing that makes me question these is I've seen these identical units in many other catalogs, but the listed available ratios don't include 2.9:1. You can get these in 1:1, 2:1, and an oddball 2240:60 ratio, but not the one needed for a Yammy...

[fredintoon]

Ah, but they don't say that it's calibrated correctly; simply that it 'fits' a 650. - - -

Hi Steve,
there's been several posts on the XS650 site complaining about the quality of Mikes mini-speedos but nobody said they weren't accurate.
However, I've never used one so I'm just guessing.
My son is going to get a mini-speedo & matching tach (and NOT tell Mike they're for his XS750) to replace his dead stockers. If & when he does, we'll see how they work.

[crazy steve]

Fred, the interesting part is the 'oddball' 2240:60 ratio uses the same numbers as what's listed as calibration on Mikes site (60mph=2240 cable rpm) for the 'replacement' speedos. But 'calibration' and 'ratio' aren't the same thing, or somebody is misusing the term.

I'm not saying these speedos won't fit; they will, as these are made for Harleys primarily and HD got their gauges from Japanese sources, so the cable connections are pretty much the same. But a speedo that's off by 1/3 isn't overly useful IMO....

If your kid buys a set of these, for sure run it through a measured mile and see what he gets; then we'll know...