Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Homebrew Gear Indicator

This is a follow-on to the work I was doing mounting a computer on the America. http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...true#Post396380 I have it interfaced to the bike just fine and I can do all kinds of neat tricks - RPM, battery voltage etc. but I've been struggling with displaying the info. I had an LCD mounted in the console but I didn't like giving up the tach and it's not clear how I would make it waterproof. I've tried a couple of things that I thought somebody might get a kick out of.

The first is using a bicycle speedometer as a display. (this is the bike in 3rd gear by the way, the speed is just a coincidence).
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The bike speedos don't want to show very small numbers like 1,2,3 etc so I tried 10, 20, 30 etc. mph. It's easy to read but the extra digits are distracting and the speedo itself is kind of tatty looking. On the plus side there's a clock and you can use the speedo to display other data - I had it doing RPMs and battery voltage when the bike was stopped.

My latest try is a little strip of LEDS mounted between the risers.

I always liked the idea of doing this for idiot lights so I tried it for the gears. My mockup is a bit crude but I think I've seen enough to know I'm not keen. It looks a bit better dropped below the bars and maybe it it was real shiny...

So neither of these is out of the running but I'm still looking for other ideas. Next I'm going to try out a small cellphone LCD where I can display an image of a digit from a mechanical counter like this for the gear and other info when I want it.


Oh, by the way, I may never have a really workable setup but it's been fun and I quite like having the extra data.

Bill... ? What the heck are you talking about? Ya lost me when you started using words like 'interface' and you mentioned something about cellphone LCDs. I think this is a case of Geezer meets Geek. Tell me my fine feathered Canuk, can that thing check the oil for me 'cause I'm findin' it hard to get back up from kneeling down to check the sight glass. Oh for Gawd's sake... put that talent to some good use will ya laddy!!

Whoa down Bill!! Sounds like you should be flying a F14 Fighter Jet. Dont you just love actually feeling the bike as you ride without watching the gauges? Thats probably one of the best buzzes i get; feeling the revs, listening to the sound & becoming one with the machine..

I'd be up for a simple gear indicator. Most times I have no problem remembering what gear I'm in, but there are times, around town, when I lose track. Would be nice to check with just a quick glance. So far, I like the light strip the best.

Quote:

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Ya lost me when you started using words like 'interface'

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Its the fleshy material between your skull and your face skin

I'd like a gear indicator for the America!
My GS Suzuki has one, and I like it.
When you ride several different bikes, all the time, you never really get it down. The H1 & H2 are five up shifting. When your downshifting comming to a stop, you always loose track and find yourself in neutral. With the HD's & the Yamahas having six speeds, I'm constantly "checking" to see if I'm in high gear.
Thank heavens I don't have any right side shifters!
Anyway, keep up the R&D, I'll be interested if you come up with an inconspicuous location.

Bill,

I like the led strip between the handle bar clamps...
any idea of a cost / price?

I was confused by this topic. I thought that it would be a device telling when I needed to stop riding and have a home brew. Or possibly when I should not ride because of having the homebrews.
But what you built is interesting also.