gear position indicator

[nervous]

Ive noticed these as an option on new and expensive bikes- does anyone know where I can get one for the honda? from what i can see, there are a lot of systems which guess the gear based on the revs, which doesnt seem ideal to me. does anyone know of a system that is more accurate? I think Id find it really helpful.

Thanks in advance,
N.

[Rubin215]

Press down once and you're in first.
Lift up once and you're in second.
Again and you're in third.

Etc, etc, etc.

At any stage, if you press down then just take one off the previous number; you can't get much more accurate than that.

[UpTheIron]

I got hung up on the "gear indicator" thing when first riding...but you soon learn that it doesn't really matter...concentrate on being in the correct gear for your speed and ignore the number.

[y2blade]

ive got a datatool digi gear on my blade...works great

hth

[black-k1]

y2blade said:

ive got a datatool digi gear on my blade...works great

hth

I've also got a datatool digi gear indicator on my Firestorm. I'm very pleased with it. The only thing to remember is that it 'stops working' (ie it no longer knows what gear you're in) as soon as the clutch is pulled in.

[rsv gone!]

nervous said:

Ive noticed these as an option on new and expensive bikes- does anyone know where I can get one for the honda? from what i can see, there are a lot of systems which guess the gear based on the revs, which doesnt seem ideal to me. does anyone know of a system that is more accurate?

You got your licence yet, old boy?

There are a couple of suppliers of these aftermarket ones;

Datatool Digi

Acumen DG8

They work by comparing inputs from the speedo and the rev counter to determine gear. They need to be taught the ratio between these pulses when you first install them.

Edited by rsv gone! on Tuesday 1st April 08:11

[y2blade]

black-k1 said:

y2blade said:

ive got a datatool digi gear on my blade...works great

hth

I've also got a datatool digi gear indicator on my Firestorm. I'm very pleased with it. The only thing to remember is that it 'stops working' (ie it no longer knows what gear you're in) as soon as the clutch is pulled in.

all the aftermarket ones work the same way.

ive never found it a problem

[black-k1]

y2blade said:

black-k1 said:

y2blade said:

ive got a datatool digi gear on my blade...works great

hth

I've also got a datatool digi gear indicator on my Firestorm. I'm very pleased with it. The only thing to remember is that it 'stops working' (ie it no longer knows what gear you're in) as soon as the clutch is pulled in.

all the aftermarket ones work the same way.

ive never found it a problem

I've only found it a problem if I've suddenly come to a near stop from a reasonable speed. Then, it would be nice to know where you are as you work down through the gearbox without having to go all the way to first or having to let the clutch out. It doesn’t happen often but I find it a little frustrating. (Especially as my BMW’s tell which gear even when the clutch is in.)

[y2blade]

black-k1 said:

y2blade said:

black-k1 said:

y2blade said:

ive got a datatool digi gear on my blade...works great

hth

I've also got a datatool digi gear indicator on my Firestorm. I'm very pleased with it. The only thing to remember is that it 'stops working' (ie it no longer knows what gear you're in) as soon as the clutch is pulled in.

all the aftermarket ones work the same way.

ive never found it a problem

I've only found it a problem if I've suddenly come to a near stop from a reasonable speed. Then, it would be nice to know where you are as you work down through the gearbox without having to go all the way to first or having to let the clutch out. It doesn’t happen often but I find it a little frustrating. (Especially as my BMW’s tell which gear even when the clutch is in.)

ahh yeah i see what you mean, i tend to change down while i'm braking so unless its an emergancy stop situation im usually in the right gear once at a standstill

[black-k1]

y2blade said:

ahh yeah i see what you mean, i tend to change down while i'm braking so unless its an emergancy stop situation im usually in the right gear once at a standstill

It is only for sudden or emergency stops. I too normally go down through gearbox as I slow, blipping the throttle, which can also give some funny results on the gear indicator. I will, for example, come down through the gearbox 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 but as I blip the throttle in between gears (particularly the lower gears) the indicator will read something like 6 – 5 – 6 – 4 – 6 – 3 – 5 – 2. (Bold numbers are ‘false’ readings while the clutch is in.) It all adds to the excitement.

[y2blade]

black-k1 said:

y2blade said:

ahh yeah i see what you mean, i tend to change down while i'm braking so unless its an emergancy stop situation im usually in the right gear once at a standstill

It is only for sudden or emergency stops. I too normally go down through gearbox as I slow, blipping the throttle, which can also give some funny results on the gear indicator. I will, for example, come down through the gearbox 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 but as I blip the throttle in between gears (particularly the lower gears) the indicator will read something like 6 – 5 – 6 – 4 – 6 – 3 – 5 – 2. (Bold numbers are ‘false’ readings while the clutch is in.) It all adds to the excitement.

i've never watched mine while braking and changing down

guess i was busy looking ahead at the time

Edited by y2blade on Tuesday 1st April 09:00

[nervous]

thanks folks, thats great.

those ones above and the links provided look like they work on bikes with digi speedo AND rev counter tho, and my 04 has a digi speedo but analogue rev counter. will i still be able to train the bike to know the gear position (somehow relative to the revs)?

[y2blade]

nervous said:

thanks folks, thats great.

those ones above and the links provided look like they work on bikes with digi speedo AND rev counter tho, and my 04 has a digi speedo but analogue rev counter. will i still be able to train the bike to know the gear position (somehow relative to the revs)?

have a look here mate...hope this helps

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/products/produc...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/index.p...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/pdfs/03005003_digi_stand...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/pdfs/cable_digi_ii.pdf

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/faq.php...



http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/how_to....

[Busamav]

When the GS750 Suzuki came out in 1976 they had gear position indicators fitted as standard , as did a few other bikes in that range .

The press and " hardcore " bikers rediculed them .

I do struggle to understand the need for them , you are either in the right gear for the predicament or you are not , it doesnt matter what number is attached to it .


The only time I would have benefited from one , was flat on the tank going up to the timing lights at Woodbridge , when you are doubting if you have snicked into 6th ,
Knowing that if you go for a 6th and you are already there , the slightest of flinches on the gas will kill your top recorded speed

[nervous]

y2blade said:

nervous said:

thanks folks, thats great.

those ones above and the links provided look like they work on bikes with digi speedo AND rev counter tho, and my 04 has a digi speedo but analogue rev counter. will i still be able to train the bike to know the gear position (somehow relative to the revs)?

have a look here mate...hope this helps

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/products/produc...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/index.p...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/pdfs/03005003_digi_stand...

http://www.datatool.co.uk/pdfs/cable_digi_ii.pdf

http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/faq.php...



http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/how_to....

excellent stuff, thanks Y2.

[nervous]

Busamav said:

When the GS750 Suzuki came out in 1976 they had gear position indicators fitted as standard , as did a few other bikes in that range .

The press and " hardcore " bikers rediculed them .

wheras, ironically, every review I read of new bikes now describes them as a must. funny how times change, huh?

[hornetrider]

I'm gonna go against the grain here. I reckon I would find one useful on the ol' 'priller.

Many's the time I've been tooling along the autobahn at 90 leptons thinking how quiet and smooth the bike is in top, only to double check and find I'm in 4th

[nervous]

hornetrider said:

I'm gonna go against the grain here. I reckon I would find one useful on the ol' 'priller.

I think Ill find it helpful too- im sometimes forced to look at the gearstick in my car for a visual clue- I see no harm in having that ability on my bike.

[y2blade]

nervous said:

Busamav said:

When the GS750 Suzuki came out in 1976 they had gear position indicators fitted as standard , as did a few other bikes in that range .

The press and " hardcore " bikers rediculed them .

wheras, ironically, every review I read of new bikes now describes them as a must. funny how times change, huh?

perhaps more people enjoy knowing they are in 1-2-3rd so wheelie time

[nervous]

I will admit im slightly confused- my bike has a digital speedo and analogue (ie needle based) rev counter. According to the links above, they can accomodate this.

however, a digital speedo'd bike is more prevalent and therefore the kits are more widely available, and the kit looks like this:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDeta...

which shows an analogue speedo'd bike, doesnt it?