Digital Speedo and Tacho

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Jerry Doe said:
I installed digital gauges on my MK3. What a great upgrade. Now I only have 2 cables (Throttle/choke). I purchased the gauges from Tom:
http://smithsgaugesusa.com/- I wrote more about the gauge install here:
http://jerrydoe.com/MK3-Norton-Rebuild/NortonCommando-MK3-Rebuild.php#Commando-Digital-Gauges

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9XaTBy1qx0[/video]
Click to expand...

Joe, does the speedo work from a satellite signal? If so, what happens when there's no, or only a weak signal?
 
The speedo can sense from a mag pickup or the original drive-- see Tom's website for details
 
This is the 2nd Golden age for Commando having available upgrades that retain the qaint super bike sensations. Been on look out for the digi dials that also keep tract of mileage/distance/speed and G force performance data. The world just seems better to us all when something works out really well.
 
hobot said:
This is the 2nd Golden age for Commando having available upgrades that retain the qaint super bike sensations. Been on look out for the digi dials that also keep tract of mileage/distance/speed and G force performance data. The world just seems better to us all when something works out really well.
Click to expand...

Best thing I have ever heard of, especially dispensing with that oh so long speedo cable. I can certainly live without "original" items like that.

Hobot, what do you want with a G Force recorder?
Decellerating from 60mph to 0 mph, when you hit a tree, can be calculated.
But the results won't do you much good at all.
 
I want to beat the elites in 0>140-0 and wipe the smirks off those like you so real time road dyno data needed to dial in Peel's engine and pilot skills to pull off and give some numbers to report. On my other bikes I'm like you, why bother.
 
Mr. Yates;

It's a "G's" meter. It measures the number of $1000's you have spent so far on your bike.
 
Very nice!
On my list of future upgrades.
After recently spending well over $200 for speedo repair and a new drive unit, I wish I had known about this alternative.
 
Diablouph said:
Mr. Yates;

It's a "G's" meter. It measures the number of $1000's you have spent so far on your bike.
Click to expand...

You don't mean like the Jesus nut do you?
If it comes off, it matters not how much you've spent on your shiny helicopter.
Like Hobot in the tree, nothing much matters anymore.
 
Each of us is unique, and each has his preferences, likes, and dislikes.

As for me, the clocks (I have a chronometric speedo and magnetic tach) are some of the coolest mechanical devices on our old Nortons, and some of the least troublesome!

I have no problem replacing the Lucas rectifier with a Boyer PowerBox or equivalent Podtronics. I replaced the Lucas Brake switch with a Honeywell micro switch. I have replaced the original front brake hub for the more efficient 2LS Dunstall, the headlamp for a Cibie.

In short, if it is troublesome, I'll replace it. If something offers better performance, I'll consider replacing it.

But the clocks are almost part of the soul of our beloved Nortons....I'll stay with mine!!!

Slick
 
hobot said:
I want to beat the elites in 0>140-0 and wipe the smirks off those like you so real time road dyno data needed to dial in Peel's engine and pilot skills to pull off and give some numbers to report. On my other bikes I'm like you, why bother.
Click to expand...

A good little project for you Hobot.
Keep you off the streets.

I think I broke that record back in 1980. I'll check my log book.
I can offer you some pilot tips if you are planning to do it airborne?
 
texasSlick said:
Each of us is unique, and each has his preferences, likes, and dislikes.

As for me, the clocks (I have a chronometric speedo and magnetic tach) are some of the coolest mechanical devices on our old Nortons, and some of the least troublesome!

I have no problem replacing the Lucas rectifier with a Boyer PowerBox or equivalent Podtronics. I replaced the Lucas Brake switch with a Honeywell micro switch. I have replaced the original front brake hub for the more efficient 2LS Dunstall, the headlamp for a Cibie.

In short, if it is troublesome, I'll replace it. If something offers better performance, I'll consider replacing it.

But the clocks are almost part of the soul of our beloved Nortons....I'll stay with mine!!!

Slick
Click to expand...
Hi Slick,

Assume you are riding a Commando as this is the Commando forum. Chronometric speedo, on a Commando? For me I get tired of having to rebuild the clocks every five years. For the rebuild cost you can buy one of these digitals and they look very original. A good story about the magnetic speedo. Cop pulled the Commando rider over for speeding and asking "do you know how fast you were going". Rider wagging his finger said "about this fast".
 
I found it rather satisfying plugging the tach drive. It just seem so right, particularly after properly setting the cam endplay.

I have a mag and it requires a special conversion or pickup to function. I had the KOSO HT lead sensor and I really wanted to keep it hidden. It didn't work well in the location on the lead that allowed for this, seemingly hunting for a signal all the time.

I got a Joe Hunt converter and it is butter smooth. However, it does not seem to work well below 1500. Must be all that conversion crap going on. I guess that's ok though because my cam doesn't idle below 1500 anyways.

My speedo is quite fresh from Nisongers and although it would fetch good money to offset a purchase, I would really like to eliminate another mechanical line/drive. Although the GPS unit are a little pricier, they are loaded with function. I love functions. The issue/fear with these is the placement of the GPS device. They speak of and boast about the functionality while tucking them under fiberglass fairing, tanks, seats, etc. I would and I believe I have seen them peek-a-boo-ing out the back of the seat. I am not so sure I like this but that is my concern.
 
A good little project for you Hobot.
Keep you off the streets.

Hehe phil someday i hope it will sink into whole world sneering at an old clunker and me that it ain't me at all but the fantastic capability of proper compliantly tri-linked isolastic with some extra engine punch going against the grain of ordinary cycle mods. I've a GPS in car so can tell ya that on steeps the GPS does not resister actual ground speed so can miss lead by enough to get a ticket. Some GPS speedos take a min or so to pick up signals and only while sitting still and never does if moving off too soon. I want to let others ride Peel on track with data logger as she's so secure even a novice can compete with corner cripples w/o knowing how to handle skips and leaps fun beyond that as can't slip or leap Ms Peel by accident only on purpose extra fast and furious over doing things only a hi end data logger can keep track of. I really am fearful of being on streets so my main interest in Peel is her off road capacity as road race stuff is so so solved its not that thrilling to run away from over powered too rigid balloon tire corner cripples. I never pressed them very close in turns so not to force them into errors and once in front I took my time getting some lead on them so as not to tempt them over their heads before I was out of sight to really let Peel's hair out for my all alone solo flings though many miles of chicanes.

Here's some options to hang on digital data calculating speedo's if not concerned with vintage looks.
https://www.google.com/#q=performance+l ... peedometer
 
hobot said:
A good little project for you Hobot.
Keep you off the streets.

Hehe phil someday i hope it will sink into whole world sneering at an old clunker and me that it ain't me at all but the fantastic capability of proper compliantly tri-linked isolastic with some extra engine punch going against the grain of ordinary cycle mods. I've a GPS in car so can tell ya that on steeps the GPS does not resister actual ground speed so can miss lead by enough to get a ticket. Some GPS speedos take a min or so to pick up signals and only while sitting still and never does if moving off too soon. I want to let others ride Peel on track with data logger as she's so secure even a novice can compete with corner cripples w/o knowing how to handle skips and leaps fun beyond that as can't slip or leap Ms Peel by accident only on purpose extra fast and furious over doing things only a hi end data logger can keep track of. I really am fearful of being on streets so my main interest in Peel is her off road capacity as road race stuff is so so solved its not that thrilling to run away from over powered too rigid balloon tire corner cripples. I never pressed them very close in turns so not to force them into errors and once in front I took my time getting some lead on them so as not to tempt them over their heads before I was out of sight to really let Peel's hair out for my all alone solo flings though many miles of chicanes.

Here's some options to hang on digital data calculating speedo's if not concerned with vintage looks.
https://www.google.com/#q=performance+l ... peedometer
Click to expand...


Well I agree with you Hobot. The Japanese have had nearly forty years to produce something like a modern Commando in pure feel but they can't or aren't interested in trying. The market has driven motorcycle production in a different direction. The same market that by and large turned away from the Commando in the 70's. Those folk know not what we know about how a motorcycle should look and feel.
 
Ok phil regardless of how snooty you can be I recognize a fellow Commando man and having clocks that don't destract from ride time is a winner if ya can get past leaving some old fashioned Norton behind. i have not ridden like i've bragged about since Peel over rev'd in 2005 [though she still leaves 24/7 highs] so stuck in same corner crippled raod hazard world as everyone else so just enjoy the quiant time on factory Combat once in a while here and there kicking up heels safely but most just trying to nurse tires and chains and innards economically. I've gotten about 10k miles out of Trixie Combat speedo drive but broke a speedo cable and did the tach cable prior and crack speedo glass fitting a winter wind screen, so more wrenching to get back function but don't really need em just going by ear and wind to stay in 'safe' zone. Ms Peel will get some digit display and data logging but don't know what to spend on yet. I just feel like on an appliance on my capable handy semi-sport bike so its Commandos on my mind thankgoodness.
 
illf8ed said:
Hi Slick,

Assume you are riding a Commando as this is the Commando forum. Chronometric speedo, on a Commando? For me I get tired of having to rebuild the clocks every five years. For the rebuild cost you can buy one of these digitals and they look very original. A good story about the magnetic speedo. Cop pulled the Commando rider over for speeding and asking "do you know how fast you were going". Rider wagging his finger said "about this fast".
Click to expand...

No Ill8fed, I ride an Atlas. Sometimes, actually many times, reading the Classic Commando Forum leaves me wondering why I don't have half the problems you Cdo guys seem to have. Rebuild my clocks every 5 years?.....Mine just turned 50 with 85k miles....the mag tach is rock steady, and the chrono jumps to speed on acceleration, then settles down to steady. I love it...it is part of the soul!

Cheers

Slick
 
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