Keeping Atari display, losing Atari box

Here is my dream, and it's just a pipe-dream right now. To keep the LCD screen and warning system, but put it in a cool-looking display between two round chrome normal speedo and tach gauges. Know what I'm saying? I know I could just lose the fish finder and put some new instruments there, but I've put a lot of effort into the Atari, and I want all it's (somewhat hacked) functionality.

But what would be the best way to do it? Make a metal box to hold the circuit board and lights? Find something plastic off another bike and modify it? Has anybody done anything like this? This is off in the distance, but at some point I'm gonna get tired of that square headlight, I think, (also, my headlight bucket and ears are kind of messed up and one of the uglier things on my bike) and I'm not making the light round unless I can make the gauges round.

I have a fair amount of electrical skill, so wiring it is no sweat. What I don't have is a clear vision or much in the way of fabrication skills. Ideally, I'd have a satin black or buffed stainless box with the computer inside it, losing all that weirdness inside the Atari where the speedo, tach, and computer are on some kind of framework. Another reason is I have a non-correct speedo already, and it's dying. So my gauge cluster is another weak-point on the bike.

Also the mirrors, they are ugly. And the switches on the handlebars. Oh, and the signals. That's it. Except for the ignition area. And...

 

Sounds like you got the modification bug. :lol: What about a couple of small aftermarket headlights or off road lights? Remove the guts and use the housings for your gauges.

 

Oh, and a clock, it needs a clock in the center part. I'll photo-mangle something soon, as that doesn't cost anything But then people will get an idea what I'm thinking.

 

Have you ever considered using a project box from radio shack, or other electronic supply stores.

Ghost

 

3d printing is the answer. I think its gonna be the next big thing for custom bikes, because it takes all those "how do we fit this on this" type questions and lets you toss them out the window. Want a custom casing that hols exactly the gauses you want on exactly the bike you want with exactly the extereror texturing you want? No problem, whip it up in a cad program and send it to the 3d printer.

You can buy 3d printers that will do PLA plastic (the stuff legos are made from) in a 8 inch cubit volume for about $800. I plan on getting one for doing fenders, air boxes, gauge mounts, that sort of thing. Obviously also really good for doing scale proto-types of suspension designs, etc.

Or you can use a 3d printing service, though I have not yet found one that does stuff at a rate I'd be willing to pay when planning to do large (bike part sized) objects. On the plus side, services like Shapeways will do your print in stainless steel for about the same price they would charge for plastic, and you can make the part a lot thinner (less expensive to print) because the metal is so much stronger.

 

Actually a friend of mine had a 3D printer, he got rid of it for some reason. But I know a lot of engineers and computer guys, I'll look into that, thanks!

 

+1, or any other easily obtained plastic box (look in the hunting/fishing/campinig/backpacking aisles) that would fit the area you are thinking. If the shape will be complex/custom you can get sheet ABS, cut out the front/back/sides and glue 5 of them together (leave the back removable) with plumbing ABS glue.

 

Minor update on this. Turns out I had seen somebody keep and move just the LCD and put normal gauges on one of these beasts before. I had forgotten, just stumbled on the thread today.

"bluepotpie" has a thread about his XJ750 Max here:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... art=0.html

Wherein, there is a link to a bunch of his pictures of the build, here:

http://www.flyingmachineworks.com/yamaha/


Fascinating stuff, but if you are looking for a crazy modified bike at the end, not really, just a cool looking engine rebuild.

Anyway, for some crazy reason, he kept the Atari LCD, but moved it under the seat, LOL. Here:

http://www.flyingmachineworks.com/yamah ... -47-01.jpg

And here:

http://www.flyingmachineworks.com/yamah ... -47-17.jpg

Which doesn't exactly match my goal, as I'd like to be able to, you know, see it while riding. Also, I'm not sure what he did with the warning control check system, screen isn't much use without it. But it's something!

 

Latest update: Trust me, when I finally get this sorted, this thread will be relevant

I did a really horrendous photo-mangling (as promised) with Gimp, which I'm not too familiar with. It didn't help that I was using three different images of different resolutions and sizes that I stole various places. Anyway, with no further ado(and sorry for all the filters, just trying to distract from all the jagged pixellated edges.

Anyway, you get the general idea. I want a couple more little gauges in there somewhere. Main issue is building the custom box to hold them. I saw that the 700 has some sweet gauges, if I had a set of those I might be able to work in my computer idea...