Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories TACHOMETER

Does anyone know where you can get a tachometer for a 2002 bonneville america for less than $140? I would like to know. I think $160 is way too much. Thanks, Scott

I hardly ever even look at the tach on my SM. It's mounted exactly where you would place it on your BA, and it's too small and out of your direct line of site to be worthwhile as a tool for riding. I pretty much shift by ear and it does me just fine. IMHO, the SM/BA tach is 'cute' but essentially just superfluous. I wish Triumph would have mounted a tach on our bikes that was up next to the speedo like it should be and like it is on the Bonnie.

You might try the BA.com classified section or eBaymotors for one.

Hiya Scott
JC is correct - the tacho serves a nice little addition to the 'dash' is all..

I fitted one ('03 America) in around 10 minutes but I rarely use it ..
I also change gear just using engine noise and speed.

The clock and tacho cost the same over here so I was NOT going to pay £99 ($175) for a clock!!
I was happier to spend it on the tacho though.

I got a clock for around £25 ($45) from Hein Gericke (sorry, no web link 'coz it's being re-built, apparently - I looked!) which fits on the top steerer nut and is polished aluminium and look pretty good.

Scott,

I purchased a chrome white-faced Drag Specialties tach(2.5 inch diameter X 2 inch depth) a few years back, that I mounted just below and in the middle of the handlebars, and so it sits right below the speedo. It looks great, is up high enough to be easily read. And contrary to JB and Adey's assertions, I check my RPMs quite often. Looking forward while seated on the bike, the speedo, then the tach, and then the Triumph clock in the chrome tank instrumentation panel, is right inline and looks like it belongs that way.

I bought the thing at least a couple years ago, so I can't remember exactly how much I paid, but I'm pretty sure is was way under 100 clams. And instalation was a snap. I just wired it to the coil leads under the tank.

My suggestion is that you visit your nearest bike accessory shop(such as Cycle Gear, here in CA), and have them pull out their Drag Specialties catalog, and order away.

Cheers,
Dwight

.. well that told me ...

I found one at the dealer (30miles away) sitting in the shelve and asked for a discount. They gave 15% off.

Hey, I must be the exception because I use my Tach frequently...and I have been riding 33 years (triumphs for 30). Yep, you don't need it but with my louder pipes I find myself putzin around at lower RPMs which isn't good and feel like the TBA is made to rev much higher. I didn't realize I wasn't even close to taxing the engine until I got the tach. It keeps me in the right range and also lets me know I have lots more room to go in a gear!!

Also, I think the tach is a much better value from Triumph than say a $2 vinyl wrapped around a piece of $.50cent foam around a $20 steel tubes called a sissy bar/luggage rack that they sell for $350+. Give me a break.

Hiya dmillikan
I just find the tacho too low to use practically ..
It's too far for the eyes to drop.

In saying that, I may have to learn my revs PDQ as I'm getting some custom made earplugs next week and I don't know how much engine noise they'll stop

I've got the tach in the dash, and use it all the time. I've got used to the location, and it does help me to keep in the power zone. For years I rode harleys, and now found I was lugging the motor on the Triumph. This motor loves the rpms, and there is nothing like the sound of a Triumph hitting the revs! With the tach, I shift right at red line, no stumble on the limiter.

[Hey, I must be the exception because I use my Tach frequently...and I have been riding 33 years (triumphs for 30). Yep, you don't need it but with my louder pipes I find myself putzin around at lower RPMs which isn't good and feel like the TBA is made to rev much higher. I didn't realize I wasn't even close to taxing the engine until I got the tach. It keeps me in the right range and also lets me know I have lots more room to go in a gear!!

I was exacty the same till i added 1 on mine. With the 18T sprocket i,m just cruising at 130km/h doing 4300 revs.

I put the tach on Bonnie because it belongs there. The only time I really use it is when I'm cruising along at 80 or so and see I'm running over 4 grand because I forgot to get into 5th gear. Grin!!
ModelMaker

I got the Triumph tach from the dealer at a 10% discount. Except for the useless location, I thought it was wonderful untill I noticed that it only said 6800 when I hit the rev limit. The bloody thing reads low by about the same amount that the speedometer reads high. It is OK for adjusting the idle speed, but anything above 2K it's pretty useless.

Dwight, does that Drag Specialties tach only go to 8,000 rpm's? Is that enough? I saw it for $77.00.