Garmin GPS speedo...(also Speedhut GPS speedo))

picked one of these (Garmin Edge 200 bicycle computer) up today to try on my Commando (since the stock speedo does not work so good), it works fine and has some other features that are good for MC use...a quick release twist mount, a backlight, and it would be easy to wire the mini USB charging cable to the bike if desired, otherwise battery life is supposed to be up to 14 hours....it does many other things too, too much to get in to here but there is a good review at: removed broken link
Anyway, at $130 might be a good option for those with bad speedos and especially if you ride bicycles too, it can be moved from one to the other very easily. Two mounts are included and Garmin sells extras of various types. Rides can be uploaded to garmin connect, google earth, etc. which is a very cool feature but have only dabbled with that so far

Re: Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo...

My brother has one on his bicycle and there is a lot of information which can be downloaded from the unit after a ride. I am thinking of a GPS speedo from Legendary Motorcycles ( http://legendary-motorcycles.com/miscparts.html ) for my next build.

Jean

Re: Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo...

Nice Link Jean,

It's just been saved in my favorites, I'd like a pair of those clocks for the Triton!

Thanks

Webby

Re: Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo...

Jeandr said:

My brother has one on his bicycle and there is a lot of information which can be downloaded from the unit after a ride. I am thinking of a GPS speedo from Legendary Motorcycles ( http://legendary-motorcycles.com/miscparts.html ) for my next build.

Jean

Click to expand...

Intersting! I was curious, did some Googling and it looks like those are rebadged Speedhut units, they are a bit less expensive from them ($259) and there are options on size, max speed, km/hr. etc there is also a video demo of the speedo on their site and FWIW thehey also sell combo GPS speedo and tach units
I'll email them and see if the units work with positive ground and what they think about motorcycle use

http://www.speedhut.com/ecommerce/category.i?p=1&i=12&filtering=1&sortby=customer_price&filter_1=1:3

the 120 mph 3 3/8" model

http://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR338-GPS-01/1/GPS-Speedometer-Gauge-120mph

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgHV3v7ZYDM[/video]

Re: Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo...

I have a 2 5/8" inch 120 MPH Speed Hut GPS speedo I'm currently working on for my 1969 Sportster. A lot of the XLs of that vintage have non-functioning speedo drives in the gearbox. A stupid design (one of many!), but hey, I love them anyway. The nice part about ordering from Speed Hut is that you can choose the dial size, face color, font, MPH, and bezel material. I went with a very basic 120 mph gauge. $179. I've done some testing in my car prior to the mount being finished. Amazing how accurate it is, and how fast the needle moves up and down. I was expecting slower movement, but it followed what the car speed was doing almost exactly. I'll have to post some pictures when I get it done. I just can't ride without some sort of speedo. Could be going 60, could be going 40, I have no idea. Never been good at that, and I try not to ride (or drive) by feel. The areas I ride at a lot in the South edge of town are loaded with radar, and cop cars.

ETA - on their website Speed Hut says they are useful for bike, and ATVs, but only waterproof from the front. I'm not using positive ground, but the housing on them is all plastic with a small plug and a ground and 12v lead, so I don't know why they wouldn't work either positive or negative ground.

Re: Garmin Edge 200 GPS speedo...

Nice work spotting the origin, their web site does not work, but they have a facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Speedhut Looks like they do special orders for the face, it would be tempting to have a face like a Smiths Cronometric. They also have 4" gauges, so it would be possible to have a big Vincent like speedo :wink:

Jean

Re: Speedhut GPS speedo...

I got this reply from Speedhut...
Bill,
Unfortunately, our gauges will not run off of a positive ground. They will hold up well with vibration. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Ammon

also searched here and Stuart SS installed one awhile back and did a great writeup http://www.accessnorton.com/new-option-electronic-speedo-t11308.html

I don't claim to have any familiarity with the device being discussed, but anything powered by D.C. does not care which side is grounded. Only the correct input polarity. Problem is, most modern devices are using the case or enclosure as a conductor and having contact with ground and the input terminal of the device requires a positive polarity. If you can isolate the device contact from ground, then a positive ground Norton supply can be used. A conductor needs to be connected between the frame of the positive grounded Norton and the positive terminal of the device, the negative terminal or case of the device would then be connected to the negative supply. That being said, I think it would be a hell of lot easier to switch polarities at the battery and the associated devices that were running with a positive ground system, making the Norton compatible with today's electrical devices.

JimC said:

I don't claim to have any familiarity with the device being discussed, but anything powered by D.C. does not care which side is grounded. Only the correct input polarity. Problem is, most modern devices are using the case or enclosure as a conductor and having contact with ground and the input terminal of the device requires a positive polarity. If you can isolate the device contact from ground, then a positive ground Norton supply can be used. A conductor needs to be connected between the frame of the positive grounded Norton and the positive terminal of the device, the negative terminal or case of the device would then be connected to the negative supply. That being said, I think it would be a hell of lot easier to switch polarities at the battery and the associated devices that were running with a positive ground system, making the Norton compatible with today's electrical devices.

Click to expand...

That is dead wrong and very bad advice. Polarity and ground BOTH matter on some (not all) devices. This speedo appears to use a coax cable to connect the GPS antenna to the head and the sheath side needs to be at ground potential. An LED headlight or complete taillight is another example, the common connection must be negative PERIOD. Speedhut told me and StuartSS separately that the speedo will not work w/ positive ground.

bluto said:

JimC said:

I don't claim to have any familiarity with the device being discussed, but anything powered by D.C. does not care which side is grounded. Only the correct input polarity. Problem is, most modern devices are using the case or enclosure as a conductor and having contact with ground and the input terminal of the device requires a positive polarity. If you can isolate the device contact from ground, then a positive ground Norton supply can be used. A conductor needs to be connected between the frame of the positive grounded Norton and the positive terminal of the device, the negative terminal or case of the device would then be connected to the negative supply. That being said, I think it would be a hell of lot easier to switch polarities at the battery and the associated devices that were running with a positive ground system, making the Norton compatible with today's electrical devices.

Click to expand...

That is dead wrong and very bad advice. Polarity and ground BOTH matter on some (not all) devices. This speedo appears to use a coax cable to connect the GPS antenna to the head and the sheath side needs to be at ground potential. An LED headlight or complete taillight is another example, the common connection must be negative PERIOD. Speedhut told me and StuartSS separately that the speedo will not work w/ positive ground.

Click to expand...

An electrical device does not discriminate from where it gets its power. DC devices must have the correct polarity, regardless what polarity is grounded . As I said, most DC electrical devices use the case as a conductor with the input terminal requiring a positive voltage. That being the situation, it is indeed possible to use a Norton's positive ground system to power a negative ground device. The case of the device MUST be totally isolated from the Norton's ground or frame. I would never recommend running a negative ground device on a positive ground system. I only meant to point out it is possible.