Speedo/Tach Gearing Ratio???

[XSLuigi]

So I am wanting to put some new gauges on the XS to match the new cafe look. Without the ferring and everything the factory ones look like two giaint boxes plopped on top of the forks haha. I've looked all over but haven't found anything to tell me what the gearing is on both of these units.

I found a set that are said to work on our Yami's.
The speedo has a Mechanical Drive, Ratio: 2:1
The tach has 5:1 Ratio, also Mechanical Drive

Unfortunately they dont have any pics or details on the drive input either Anyone have any idea if these will work? I have found literally ZERO info on a gauge swap.

[DGXSER]

Well, the tach is electronic, so there is no ratio for it, and no drive for a mech tach. I am not sure what the ratio is on the speedo.

[XSLuigi]

yeah I thought the tach was electric! I'm not at home so I couldn't go check it out. Didn't really look at it before. Wonder what the deal is with the pair I found then...

In that case, has anyone replaced their instrument cluster with a dif set up???

[DGXSER]

The XS750/850 had a mech tach. They look pretty much the same as the XS11, however I believe the speedo only goes to 120 or 140 IIRC. Though I believe the XS850 speedo only went to 85 like the XS11 units in 80-81.

[crazy steve]

You're pretty much stuck with OEM units... Look here: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ed+drive+ratio

That oddball ratio makes it nearly impossible to find an aftermarket speedo unit as they're nearly all designed for Harleys. MikesXS sells aftermarket speedos but he's really murky about ratios. Any aftermarket unit can be connected, but how accurate it'll be....

Same thing goes for the tach. Yamaha used a even more 'different' system here; it's electrical, but rather than get the signal off the ignition coil(s) like most everybody else, they use a raw AC voltage signal from the alternator and use the AC frequency to determine rpm. You may have more luck here as there may be a tach that will work if you use a coil connection but whether or not you can find a 'matched set' remains to be seen.

If you want round gauges (but they won't be much smaller), you can swap to the XS11 Special gauges. Getting hard to find though, and most speedos you'll find will be the 85 mph version; a 160 mph one was only offered one year (79) and is rare and usually expensive if it's in good shape. You can substitute earlier OEM 650 (120 mph) or 750/850 (140 mph) speedos if you can find one. Not all dial faces match, look carefully...

To be honest, I haven't found any mini-gauges that will work correctly/accurately on a XS, and I've looked.

One thought.... if you move the gauge mount from the top of the tree mounts to the bottom, that lowers the gauges and they're not quite as noticeable.

[fredintoon]

yeah I thought the tach was electric! I'm not at home so I couldn't go check it out. Didn't really look at it before. Wonder what the deal is with the pair I found then...
In that case, has anyone replaced their instrument cluster with a dif set up???

Hi XSLuigi,
they only made the Standard in 1978 so you must have the square gauges.
The little round gauges from MikesXS will work if you get the electronic tach but be warned, they are cheap to buy and you don't get what you don't pay for.
A round speedo from any XS11Special/850/750/650 will be work and be accurate on your bike.
Note that the speedos from smaller engine capacity XSs will have lesser top speed readings (140mph/120mph) and that any speedo from 1980 onwards will max out at 85mph.
The round tach from any year XS11 Special will work.
Note that the Special tachs do not have a fuel gauge. They have a red "low fuel" warning light instead.
To work the red eye you will need to install the thermistor fuel sender from a Special tank.
Most likely the gauge set you found came off an XS650/750/850, they all have mechanical tachs.

[XSLuigi]

Well all that info was very informative guys, thanks... unfortunately though it was slightly disappointing haha. I always seem to pick the odball bikes and cars that are impossible to find easy swaps for.... guess thats why all the hot rodders just drop in small block chevys for their cars haha.

I had the same thought about mounting the gauge pack under the triple tree top for now to make it not so out there, however I do not feel that a permanent solution as I will still have these massive square boxes up front

I'm not as concerned about the fuel gauge, after a single run on the tank with the factory set up I should be able to get a darn near close estimate on fuel consumption and range, trip can then be my new fuel gauge. I've only had one bike with a fuel gauge so far

Getting a tach that lets me know when I'm actually redlining and a speedo that lets me know when im encroaching jailtime speeds is number one i guess... but man do these things look hideous haha. In a close second is anything round or smaller...

I'll look into some 650 gauges, sound the most painless to get a cleaner look. However fining a tall top ended speedo sounds tougher by the day. also the idea of an electronic unit is nice. Make me feel like im on a newer rocket again haha. Probably wil be the best bet, but doesnt have that cool cafe look to it, maybe I can hide it haha. I'll also check out Mike SX, does he have a vendor account or is that a website? Ill do a google and forum search in a sec here...

[CaptonZap]

Getting a tach that lets me know when I'm actually redlining and a speedo that lets me know when im encroaching jailtime speeds is number one i guess... but man do these things look hideous haha. In a close second is anything round or smaller...

...

Here is another hidious thing that might solve the speedo problem.
http://http://www.yotatech.com/f116/...l-pics-195986/
This is just to get the idea across. Stewart Warner made boxes, and I sure there are some out there. Finding a speedometer shop that still has the steam gauge stuff might be problematic, but Bing is your friend.

CZ

[BA80]

I run a XS 650 speedo on my SG. It goes to 140. The needle has never seen that number. 125 is as high as it's gone.

Another note, the 100/90/19 tire on the front of the XS is too small for the speedo gear ratio. It reads about 5 mph higher that your really going and screws with your odometer. I run a 110/90/19 on my SG and the speedo is dead on now.

[XSLuigi]

yeah i found this guy which looks pretty sweet, from the one blurry pic haha. bunch of Chinese writing on the website and no order forms thouhg, plus a lack of info has given me a lack of confidence in this product, but along the lines of what I'm looking for.
http://www.acewell-meter.com/c0_1.php?pid=16&bid=16

most of the new electronic speedo set ups come with a magnetic speed sensor you put on the wheel and you can adjust the unit for the diameter tire you're running. I just want something that has that old school round gauge look with all the sensor inputs in it.

Checked out Mikes XS mini gauges, really liked the white faced ones, but he only offers an electric tach in black, so that sucks. plus they are crazy small. im not trying to add led lights all over for indicator lighting either, defeats the purpose of a streamlined unit. and those original units i mentioned in the first post were from mikes site, but a dif vendor site haha

contemplating a new sportbike style unit that has everything enclosed in one unit. this guy can run all the indicator lights, gives you a digi speed readout and digi tach as well as fuel and odo and trip and all that jazz. figuring out how to mount it low pro and clean will be tricky though haha
http://www.bikebandit.com/koso-db-01...ic-speedometer

found this one too which is best of both worlds, but you get what you pay for, and this isnt cheap. especially considering the matching tach is the same price!
http://www.bikebandit.com/koso-dl-un...ic-speedometer

i shall keep searching. I can't even ride much now as I have no tail light or license plate bracket so this isnt my number one concern lol. ordered a sweet all in one led tail light assy with plate bracket, but its coming on a slow boat from china i am sure. amazon is usually pretty quick but the estimated ship time was high on this item. may need something temp in the meantime. should be getting my vintage plates this week too. still working on hunting down a headlight too.... lots of parts haha