Electronic Speedo/Tach

[g15usmc]

I found this Speedo/tach and i'm wondering what everyone else thinks about it...



I sent an email to ask if it would work with the amazing XS1100 and haven't recieved a reply yet but if they say it will work, I'm thinking for 99 bux this would be a pretty sweet mod...so I'm wondering if anyone else has switched to electronic speedo/tach's and if they have what issues they have with them...

[CatatonicBug]

It looks pretty spiffy, but the XS uses a mechanical speedo (at a strange 2.9:1 gear ratio), and a tach run by pulses from the alternator. Not sure how you would get that unit to work on our bikes... I'm not saying it's impossible, but it would not be easy.

[cywelchjr]

Actually at least the tach part of it is probably easy, since it likely works off the primary of the coils (using the input signal from the TCI), the speedo may be more problematic, as it could either be electronically driven with it's own pickup system or mechanically off the cable (since most bikes use the same basic system), it's just a matter of whether it supports the XS's odd gear ratio for the speedo or not.

[Jamie]

I have some experience with "aftermarket" speedo/tach assemblies. I restore old Honda's and put high end aftermarket parts on them and speedo/tachs are just some of the items I put on them. They too use the gear driven speedo drive off of the front wheel. Most of these and the KOSO ones, have adjustment knobs to indicate cylinder choices and size of tires. Send me a PM and I can help you out. If you choose to go back with the XJ computer speedo/tach, I have several spares all in good shape and working.
Thanks
Jamie

[cywelchjr]

I looked up these units and it looks like they use their own pickup system, using a sensor and magnets, they say it will work with ANYTHING with a wheel. I didn't see tach functions on the one pictured, but they do have one for about $30 more that does. It sounds like this thing would work, and it sounds like the tach works like most, being electronic and works off the primary for the coils.

[Jamie]

I normally wrap the sensor/pickup around the coil wire about 4 -7 wraps as close to the coil as possible. Sometimes you have to adjust the amount of wraps and the location also. I will find some pics of the other "aftermarket" setups some of my buddies use and post them for you to look at.

[fredintoon]

It depends on your motivation.

I found this Speedo/tach and i'm wondering what everyone else thinks about it...

Hi Nate,
Yes, it will work on an XS11. There's a magnet that sticks on the front wheel to trigger the speedo and a coily thing to wrap around a plug wire to work the tach.
And a leaflet that tells you how to set it up.
If your stock gauges are fritzed that $99 unit is less than the cost of used gauges.
If your stock gauges are OK and you just like the way that digital unit looks, that's fine too.
You can sell off the stock gauges to finance the purchase or keep them as spares or to re-install if you change your mind.
Downside:-
You lose the mileage reading (or can you set the new odometer to that number?)
You will lose the stock tach's other function of being a de-facto alternator charging failure detector.

[mds2004]

It will work. As others have mentioned you will put a magnet on a part that rotates (wheel or disc brake) and there will be a wire that runs down from the unit. You will mount the sensor where the magnet will trip it, about ~5mm away. I fabbed a bracket out of some metal in the hardware isle at Lowes. I just cut and bent it to take s dremeled hape, and to trim the rest.

As far as the tach goes, I just tapped it into one of the grounds on the coil. I believe you can choose the grey or yellow wire.

[g15usmc]

Fred, Jamie, CY and anyone else who replied Thanx...Originally I was thinking I wanted to stay stock...and though i still kind of want to...I'm thinking It might be cool to go with a stock look that is modernized...I was looking at stock tach's and speedo's and found that they were running at over 100 for new ones and around 60 for used ones...but i couldn't find any that said guarenteed to work...except the new ones...that is all the used ones i looked at said they had been on a bike that was sitting around for a year or two and the owners didn't know if they worked or not, but were selling as is products and for 60 bux i can't afford for the product to not work...then i looked to see if i could find a rebuild kit for the ones i had and i couldn't find anything...so i started looking and i found that one there for a decent price and more up to date with a lot of features. I do have some questions about them though on the side of electronics...Can someone break down how the tach actually works... the reason i ask is because im curious as to whether my tach is actually broken or if maybe it just an electrical thing...if its electrical then it wont matter if i get a new tach or not because i'll have to fix the electrical side first...and as an electronic tech that side shouldn't be too hard anyway, i just dont know how the tach actually works, i just know what its telling me...

[fredintoon]

- - - Can someone break down how the tach actually works... the reason i ask is because im curious as to whether my tach is actually broken or if maybe it just an electrical thing...if its electrical then it wont matter if i get a new tach or not because i'll have to fix the electrical side first...and as an electronic tech that side shouldn't be too hard anyway, i just dont know how the tach actually works, i just know what its telling me...

Hi Nate,
electronics work on compressed smoke, eh?
But how the XS11 reads rpm is by counting the pulses from one of the alternator wires.
So if your alternator ain't putting out any power the tach will read zero rpm.
As it will if any of the connectors between the alternator and the tach are not connecting.
Or if the tach itself is fritzed.
First check the alternator.
The battery Voltage should jump from ~12V at idle to ~14V at ~2,200rpm.
Then the connector under the tank.
If the Voltage is good and the connectors are clean & contacting, suspect the instrument itself.

[Stoffa]

Hi Nate - The only problem is usually the speed display - these 2 digit ones only read to 99 (OK in miles) Kms = 60MPH though. Other than that as long as the unit has backlighting they are very good replacments. I have installed many Bicycle computers on XS650's.

[skids]

I don't know what it will look like on the xs11, but it look pretty good just sitting there...

[g15usmc]

Fred...I like the canadian speak...Eh?...yeh i didn't really have any idea how a tach really worked...but now that you've explained it a little im thinking it is the tach itself because i didn't find any issues with the wires or alternator...so thanx for the insite...

Stoffa I think i read somewhere that it will read up to like 200 something MPH...i can't find it again so it might be a different computer from the same company...

and Skids if i get these I think I will install some straight handlebars...like possibly some Dirtbike Protapers or something...i also have seen some interesting cafe racer handlebars that looked pretty neat...

[fredintoon]

- - - i didn't really have any idea how a tach really worked... - - -

Hi Nate,
AFAIK it's only the XS11 tach that counts pulses off the alternator. Electronic tachs usually count pulses off the ignition.

[g15usmc]

Fred, so is it possible to switch how the tach on the xs11 works?