Gear Indicator

[The Hedgehog]

Anyone ever fitted a gear indicator to a Bird with old style clocks? (2000 model).


I've heard that the acumen unit will fit if a wiring harness is purchased - but is this true for the older bikes or just the newer ones with LCD displays? I heard that both types of display are actually digital / electronic and that both should therefore work...

If anyone has such a device for sale I'd be interested as all that's left in my head nowadays is some fluff that blew in by accident and I keep forgetting what planet I'm on/ what gear I'm in etc etc.:dunno:

Ta

Hedgehog

 

[OldBirdMan]

Anyone ever fitted a gear indicator to a Bird with old style clocks? (2000 model).


I've heard that the acumen unit will fit if a wiring harness is purchased - but is this true for the older bikes or just the newer ones with LCD displays? I heard that both types of display are actually digital / electronic and that both should therefore work...

If anyone has such a device for sale I'd be interested as all that's left in my head nowadays is some fluff that blew in by accident and I keep forgetting what planet I'm on/ what gear I'm in etc etc.:dunno:

Ta

Hedgehog

Acumen wiring harness is for digital clocks only, indicator will work but needs hard wiring in.

Regards,
OldBirdMan

 

[andyBeaker]

My 03 Bird has one fitted by a previous owner. very pretty and actually very accurate, but frankly I cannot think of a more pointless bit of kit!!

Each to their own I guess. Personally I can think of better ways of spending money on a bike:-0)

 

[silverfox.xx]

Mines hard wired to the back of the dash. 2000 year Bird. Very handy piece of kit and wouldn't be without one.

 

[andyBeaker]

Very handy piece of kit and wouldn't be without one.

How so:dunno:. Bling in the first degree for those who can't a) count and b) tell if they are in the appropriate gear.



F1sh1ing

 

[lazybee]

How so:dunno:. Bling in the first degree for those who can't a) count and b) tell if they are in the appropriate gear.



F1sh1ing

Don't tell me never tried to change into 7th gear..... Or you've never been on the motorway for miles in 5th. The ratios are a bit close to workout from a split second glance at two gauges, especially if you're wearing ear plugs.

I have just fitted a Datatool Digi and it is a very handy piece of kit. It took about an hour to fit, a little bit of fiddly soldering, but well worth the effort.

Both types of speedo on the Birds are digital as they have a digital pickup sensor. Digital does not refer to the display.

 

[Murt]

I always thought the easiest way to know when to change gear was...

On the limiter, ... go up...
Chugging, and not pulling very well, ... go down.
When everything is getting blurred, your in top gear.

Simple.
:dunno:

Murt

 

[The Hedgehog]

Many thanks to all for advice. @tu*

Acumen confirm that the G8 model is compatible with the Bird - all years. The loom is only for 2001- on bikes, but wiring in seems easy.

As for the point of such devices - the economy angle has already been hinted at... 5th and 6th are close ratios and hard to discern especially with ear plugs and with non-standard pipes (as I have).

But safety is also a factor. If you need to accelerate fast (which can be a situation you find yourself in suddenly) it helps to know just how much pull you have available. Hence a gear indicator is useful.

But each to their own.

Hedgehog.

 

[Wolfie]

feck that, silly little piece of "flash"bling which is about as flash as a wet match. the bird will pull in top fom 20-25MPh what to accelerate quick chuck it down a gear, better still fit an 18T front sprocket, and ride the fecker everywhere in 3rd or 4th can cruise or feckin shift, Unless long straight then into top and forget it.

 

[gypsy]

feck that, silly little piece of "flash"bling which is about as flash as a wet match. the bird will pull in top fom 20-25MPh what to accelerate quick chuck it down a gear, better still fit an 18T front sprocket, and ride the fecker everywhere in 3rd or 4th can cruise or feckin shift, Unless long straight then into top and forget it.

So you dont fancy getting one yourself then ?

 

[Wolfie]

So you dont fancy getting one yourself then ?

errr yes please i would love a feckin number flashing away at me whilst i am playing tunes on the gearbox trying to keep up with orms and lumpy oh waht feckin joy that would be in the dark as well flash, flash flash

 

[lazybee]

feck that, silly little piece of "flash"bling which is about as flash as a wet match. the bird will pull in top fom 20-25MPh what to accelerate quick chuck it down a gear, better still fit an 18T front sprocket, and ride the fecker everywhere in 3rd or 4th can cruise or feckin shift, Unless long straight then into top and forget it.

I just put my hand in front of my mouth and coughed the word bullshit. How weird is that :dunno:

 

[Wolfie]

I just put my hand in front of my mouth and coughed the word bullshit. How weird is that :dunno:

why hand in front of mouth???

if you wish to state what i have stated is bullshit then fine stated that,

but you would be wrong,

and my bike is the proof of that, what i said is what it does day in day out.

 

[silverfox.xx]

How so:dunno:. Bling in the first degree for those who can't a) count and b) tell if they are in the appropriate gear.



F1sh1ing

d04l1ngopinions are like arseholes, everyone has one. :k

 

[andyBeaker]

d04l1ngopinions are like arseholes, everyone has one. :k

Yup, but you don't need a poncy LED display to count arseholes.

except possibly on this site of course:-0)

 

[andyBeaker]

and to answer the next question, mine is mounted in the upright position with velcro on top of the dash - just enough room under the non bling blue screen

 

[silverfox.xx]

Yup, but you don't need a poncy LED display to count arseholes.

except possibly on this site of course:-0)

8rfl@8rfl@ The finger and toes just ain't nowhere near enough.

Mines fitted on an additional mini dash about level with the ignition. Hidden bling.

 

[Wolfie]

8rfl@8rfl@ The finger and toes just ain't nowhere near enough.

Mines fitted on an additional mini dash about level with the ignition. Hidden bling.

Mine is fitted in my arse, (buried bling) that tells me what gear i am in.

 

[karlos2000]

Don't tell me never tried to change into 7th gear....

yep, quite a few times, and every time I say to myself "ah well, I'm in top already ... " ...... and guess what? nobody cared ......... and the world was still spinning in the morning @tu*

I'm with Andy on this one, pointless ....... :-0)

and to answer the next question, mine is mounted in the upright position with velcro on top of the dash - just enough room under the non bling blue screen

Christ .......... slow blue, slow bling .........

 

[Jaws]

But safety is also a factor. If you need to accelerate fast (which can be a situation you find yourself in suddenly) it helps to know just how much pull you have available. Hence a gear indicator is useful.

But each to their own.

Hedgehog.

Ok...................

To start off I will agree that opinions are indeed like arseholes ( and many arseholes have opinions ! ), so this is purely how I feel on a personal level

I do like the indicators even though I do not stock them..
The reason I do not stock them is that when I DID sell them I was for ever getting whinney customers moaning about them going out of sync every now and then.. I simply could not be arsed and have avoided having anything to do with them ever since.

Of course, they have improved dramatically since the early days so I MIGHT take another look at them...

Whilst I agree pretty much with both sides of the discussion, there is one statement that hit me between the eyes and is VERY worrying..

Hedgehog, I am genuinely concerned that you feel you need a gear indicator to ride safer / safely on a Bird

I mean no disrespect so please do not think I am taking the piss, but if you really believe this, I would urge you to :

1) Get a LOT more training
2) Sell the bird and buy a MUCH smaller bike ( 250ish ) and learn to feel the bike more

If you are not able to figure out what gear you need to be in to over take ( or what ever ) then believe me, you are going to end up in serious trouble one day whilst riding

A gear indicator is a handy gadget,, I have one as standard on the 12GS, ,,, it does not stop me fishing for a higher gear nor does it stop me occasionally leaving it in 5th

Reason being I am watching the road, the traffic, and more importantly riding and FEELING the bike.. I am not looking at the speedo, the rev counter, and certainly not the gear indicator
Yes, of course I glance down and take in the whole info-barrage once in a while, but if I am lining up for an over take I def do not want or need to be LOOKING to see what gear I am in !!
I am looking at other vehicles, side roads, dips in the road, signage etc etc

If I felt I could not ride with a sufficient level of safety without a gear indicator I would step back and take a long hard look at what I needed to do to improve my ability..

Now having said all that I have a feeling that you are actually a more than competent rider and possibly just used that safety thing as a ( possibly good ) excuse why you should get one ! :-0)

Well here is the thing... You do not need an excuse.. If you fancy one go get it and enjoy ! @tu*
But to re-iterate