[net.cycle] 85mph speedo replacements?

car377@drutx.UUCP (RogersCA) (10/14/86)

My 1982 Yamaha Maxim 1100 is supposedly capable of 130+mph, but
it was built in an era of 85mph speedometers.  While I have never
actually ridden it faster than 70 or so, I find it irritating that
the speedo runs out of meter-face at 2/3 of the machine's
potential speed.  Anyone know of an aftermarket supplier of 
speedometers that will fit into original equipment nacelles?
Thanks in advance for the help!

Chuck Rogers @ ATT-ISL, Denver

hsc@mtuxo.UUCP (Harvey S. Cohen) (10/15/86)

The elegant solution for this is a meter face for the center part of 
your tachometer that is calibrated in top-gear MPH or KPH.
I don't remember product names off hand, but you could easily fabricate
your own.
While you're at it, you could do concentric calibrations for 4th gear,
and even 3rd, if you plan to exceed 85MPH.
Next, the inclinometer for wheelie-ing on full dressers.
Harvey S. Cohen, mtuxo!hsc

stirling@fortune.UUCP (Patrick Stirling) (10/18/86)

==
>I find it irritating that the speedo runs out of meter-face at 2/3 
>of the machine's potential speed.  Anyone know of an aftermarket supplier of 
>speedometers that will fit into original equipment nacelles?
>Thanks in advance for the help!
>Chuck Rogers @ ATT-ISL, Denver

There was a good tip in one of the bike magazines a while ago. 
Get the glass off the speedo either by prying or disassembly and 
snip off the pin that stops the needle going past 85. You can then
paint on more numbers and stick another pin on further round the
dial. They suggested paper stick-on digits, but white-out would
probably work just as well. I ride a Honda CB750F and have the same
problem (85mph speedo). I haven't gotten around to this mod yet, but
someday...
patrick
{ihnp4, hplabs, amdcad, ucbvax!dual}!fortune!stirling

car377@drutx.UUCP (RogersCA) (10/21/86)

>> Anyone know of an aftermarket supplier of 
>> speedometers that will fit into original equipment nacelles?

>Get the glass off the speedo either by prying or disassembly and 
>snip off the pin that stops the needle going past 85. You can then
>paint on more numbers and stick another pin on further round the
>dial. They suggested paper stick-on digits, but white-out would
>probably work just as well. 
>... I haven't gotten around to this mod yet, but
>someday...
>patrick

Thanks for your reply.  In this case, I think there might be an
accuracy problem, depending on the type of mechanism used.  If
the speedometer uses a spiral or coil return spring to counter-
balance the cable-generated force moving the needle, then the
reading may not be linear at the extreme end of the needle 
movement.  

[Of course, if accuracy was really important, you could get 
someone to perch up on your handlebars with a bottle of white-out 
and mark the new speed indications as you increase speed from
85mph to 130+mph. :-) My officemate has volunteered to perform 
this service, should you wish to try this out.]

Actually, you could do the same thing with a power drill attached
to the speedo cable.  However, before you start tearing up your
speedometer, wait a few days:  A friend of mine has found an
advertisement in an old "Rider" magazine which purports
to provide accurate OEM speedometer guts with new meter faces
for popular models.  If it pans out, I'll post it.

Again, thanks for the help,
Chuck Rogers @ ATT-ISL, Denver