Speedometer/Tachometer

[elgranjefe]

Hello XS Nation,

Got a ‘79 Standard and I have a question that doesnt seem to have a definitive answer in the XS threads: Can the round XS Special speedo/tach be used on a Standard?

If not, are there any aftermarket speedo/tach direct fits to the Standard?

Apologies if I missed the answer in my searches....

Thanks,

Jeff

[DiverRay]

You can use the round tach/speedo, but you will loose the gas gauge/light. The floats are on different sides of the tank, and work differently. You will need to adapt some of the plugs on the wires as well, to keep all the signals going to the correct bulb.
The pilot box is also different, and the turn signals will need a little work on the indicator if you use the early special box. The later ones, '80/81, would be easier.

[sethhope]

I guage swapped mine early on. If i remember correctly, all the colors match for all the wires. The turn signals just get connected together, i believe. As for the fuel light, youll need a new sensor in the tank. I haven't done that yet, so someone else can advise there. Also you may need a longer speedo cable. Round guages have a quarter inch difference (at least mine did, idk if i had the right cable in the first place).

[elgranjefe]

Thank you. My gas gauge stopped working 20 years ago. Odometer works well for tracking gas level, until it broke last week 😎.

Any further technical tips for making the swap to round speedo/tach is appreciated.

Thanks again,

Jeff

[sethhope]

My old gauges were still usable, so i didnt want to cut connectors there. I had an old special wiring harness so i stole the connectors from there and spliced the bike to match the gauges. That way i can just plug them in without changing either set of guages.

[DiverRay]

The turn signals just get connected together, i believe.

If you do this, both sides will flash. You can put a diode on each wire and then connect them, and that will keep them working correctly. Post if you need a little help with the electronics, but you can also find the answer with a quick google search. Just make sure the diode is rated for at least 15V. and 1 amp.

[sethhope]

If you do this, both sides will flash. You can put a diode on each wire and then connect them, and that will keep them working correctly. Post if you need a little help with the electronics, but you can also find the answer with a quick google search. Just make sure the diode is rated for at least 15V. and 1 amp.

Ill have to check after xsne, but i never put diodes in or anything and my turn signals work fine.

[7 Lakes]

If you do this, both sides will flash. You can put a diode on each wire and then connect them, and that will keep them working correctly. Post if you need a little help with the electronics, but you can also find the answer with a quick google search. Just make sure the diode is rated for at least 15V. and 1 amp.

I used Special gauges on my '80 and all that was required was to snip off the plugs from the gauge harness and re-route the wires to the correct location in new plugs which match the frame harness and everything works just fine with no electronics added. Everything is the same except the wires/plugs are configured differently and the polarity of the fuel light is reversed from the gauge. This causes the fuel light to glow brightly when full and gradually dim as the level drops, I left it that way 'cause I thought it was funny and now I've gotten used to it and it's just my quirky fuel gauge.

Tim