Datatool gear inidicators
Datatool gear inidicators
Author
Discussion

hobo

Original Poster:

6,367 posts

269 months

Sunday 7th May 2006
quotequote all
Anyone got one ? If so, what do you reckon ?

Mines booked in this week for one fitting, just in time for Cadwell on Thursday.

rumpelstiltskin

2,805 posts

282 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
They're ok,fitted one to my GSXR 600.easy enough to fit,only thing is they're not as instant as i would like,especially coming down the box,takes a second to catch itself up as to what gear you're in.You'll know what i mean once you have it.

pesty

42,655 posts

279 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
I have one and like it.

There is sometimes a lag but for me that is not an issue.
when changing I usualy allready know what gear more of the time because of the indicator.

mine was a plug and plat fitment. very easy dont know if its the same for Yamaha

hobo

Original Poster:

6,367 posts

269 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
Its in having it done at present. Will see what its like in an hour or so.

I understand that there's a big of lag, however, you still know what gear your in as its shown before the previous change (if you get what I mean).

Suspect on road it will make not a blind bit of difference, however on track when you don't want to change into 1st & lock rear wheel, etc, etc, then it will be more useful.

If nothing else, its a new toy !!!

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

264 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
It's one of the few mods I usually do to my bikes; Gear indicator, braided hoses and crash bobbins (R&G)

Handy on motorways for reminding you you're only in fourth on a 1000 or that you're definitely in sixth on a 600.

I've used the Datatool one but my R1 and Aprilia both have the Acumen equivalent as you can get it in blue (matches the R1 clocks)

>> Edited by rsvmilly on Monday 8th May 13:24

catso

15,834 posts

290 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
I like the look of the translogic one, with shiftlight, lap timer etc although it is a bit more pricey.



www.translogicuk.com/in_detail.htm

hobo

Original Poster:

6,367 posts

269 months

Monday 8th May 2006
quotequote all
Did see that one, however the R6 already has shift light, lap timer, etc, so seems a bit pointless.

Also its a tad BIG

blade7

11,311 posts

239 months

Tuesday 9th May 2006
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I also fancied one of these, handy I thought when you approach a very tight corner and need to change down several gears quickly to keep the engine on the boil for a smooth entry/exit the question of delay in showing the correct gear has put me off somewhat, suppose I will have to keep on counting those downshifts then.

Carrera2

8,352 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
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I like the idea of one as they look quite cool but I've never understood the point of them really. You don't *need* to actually know what gear you're in - as long as the revs are giving you the power desired then I'm happy.

I guess it would be handy on a motorway however....

Am I missing something? Bear in mind I would quite like one - can someone persuade me that they're usefull?

muffles

516 posts

245 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
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i've only had my licence for 2 weeks so maybe i'm doing it wrong...but if i'm riding fast, and for example i'm slowing down "forcefully" for a roundabout, i'd love to be able to switch straight to 2nd (seems a nice gear to go round most roundabouts in) from 4/5/6 or whatever gear i'm in, in a block change, cos i don't have time to change gear, engage clutch, check power/revs, etc for each gear. And it wastes time to go all the way to 1st then up one gear...

i know they teach you - or at least, they taught me - to change only one gear at a time, but it is so tediously slow sometimes!

Carrera2

8,352 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
muffles said:
i've only had my licence for 2 weeks so maybe i'm doing it wrong




Use engine braking!!!

black-k1

12,656 posts

252 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
muffles said:
i've only had my licence for 2 weeks so maybe i'm doing it wrong ... i'd love to be able to switch straight to 2nd from 4/5/6 or whatever gear


That is a habit you really don't want to pick up especially as you ride a bike with a fair amount of torque! The problem is that if you block down-shift and don't match the revs exactly then you are likely to lock the rear up (especially in the wet) as you release the clutch. The clutch release is probably going to happen just as you are tipping the bike over to go into the roundabout which is NOT a good time to get a rear wheel lock up!

Use the engine braking in each gear to help slow the bike, while “blipping” the throttle on the down shift. This will help balance the bike on the approach to the roundabout. Also, if there is reduced grip due to rain/diesel/whatever then the rear lock up will be less dramatic and will happen while the bike is still upright and travelling in a straight line.

Enjoy and ride safe.

black-k1

12,656 posts

252 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:

I guess it would be handy on a motorway however....

Am I missing something? Bear in mind I would quite like one - can someone persuade me that they're usefull?


I think you've hit the nail on the head! The only place they are really usefull is on the motorway where either you often don't realise that the bike is already in top and go for another gear, or, where you often don't realise that the bike still has another gear to go.

As most of the add on gear indicators work by "matching" the revs to the speed to claculate the current gear, the clutch needs to be released before the calculation can be done. This leads to the delay mentioned earlier.

catso

15,834 posts

290 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:


Am I missing something? Bear in mind I would quite like one - can someone persuade me that they're usefull?



Agree with you, I like the look of the translogic one but, I don't need a gear indicator (although occasionally I do find myself looking for 7th gear), I don't need a lap timer and I dont need a Shift light - but they do look cool........

One thing I would like though is a clock - so if they built in a digital clock I might buy one.

Mikey G

4,849 posts

263 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
muffles said:
i've only had my licence for 2 weeks so maybe i'm doing it wrong...but if i'm riding fast, and for example i'm slowing down "forcefully" for a roundabout, i'd love to be able to switch straight to 2nd (seems a nice gear to go round most roundabouts in) from 4/5/6 or whatever gear i'm in, in a block change, cos i don't have time to change gear, engage clutch, check power/revs, etc for each gear. And it wastes time to go all the way to 1st then up one gear...

i know they teach you - or at least, they taught me - to change only one gear at a time, but it is so tediously slow sometimes!


Jeezus mate, take your time! As others have said make the most of the engine braking, there is a lot in the SV. About 3 months into ownership of mine i had a moment when down shifting into a hairpin right, and i locked the back end! when you are new to riding it can really be a heart stopping moment when the rear tries to overtake you When downshifting i tend to feather the clutch more than pull in fully and fully release, feels a smoother shift and i can do it quickly while also using the engine as a brake without locking up.

As for the Gear indicators, i suppose ther is a place for them on the track but think they are pointless for the road, if you dont know what gear you are in then you dont know the bike well enough in my opinion. Also heard them being described as a random number generator

Carrera2

8,352 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
catso said:
Carrera2 said:


Am I missing something? Bear in mind I would quite like one - can someone persuade me that they're usefull?



Agree with you, I like the look of the translogic one but, I don't need a gear indicator (although occasionally I do find myself looking for 7th gear), I don't need a lap timer and I dont need a Shift light - but they do look cool........

One thing I would like though is a clock - so if they built in a digital clock I might buy one.



Ah now you see thats why you need the new breed of Ducati

My 749 has: digital clock, mpg, outside temp, lap times, trip, engine temp, batt voltage all in digital format on the dash

rsvmilly

11,288 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
catso said:
One thing I would like though is a clock - so if they built in a digital clock I might buy one.

M&P and the like do a multitude of stick-on clocks, if you really want one.

ballon

1,173 posts

242 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Iv'e put one on my Tuono, mostly for track days where I have found myself engaging the slipper clutch having up the gear change in the heat of the moment. Will find out whether Iv'e flushed £50 down the pan after track day at Cadwell next Tuesday

Rawwr

22,722 posts

257 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
muffles said:
i've only had my licence for 2 weeks so maybe i'm doing it wrong...but if i'm riding fast, and for example i'm slowing down "forcefully" for a roundabout...


...then it's unlikely that you're leaving any margin for error, whether it be your own or someone else's.

catso

15,834 posts

290 months

Wednesday 10th May 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:

Ah now you see thats why you need the new breed of Ducati

My 749 has: digital clock, mpg, outside temp, lap times, trip, engine temp, batt voltage all in digital format on the dash


But does it have a Gear indicator?