looking to install an aftermarket speedo, any experience?

hey guys, i just ordered drag bars for my xj, now i'm on the hunt for a cool looking speedometer that i can mount in place of the stock gauge cluster for a cleaner, more drag bike look.. i'm willing to do away with the high beam/signal/oil/neutral indication lights, and the tach (its an electronic tach, no drive cable) beings it barely works anyway, i know my bike well enough that i dont necessarily need that stuff. I'm just wondering if i have to cross any of these wires or will the bike still operate normally if i just unplug/cut the wires? also, is there anything i should know before going out and buying any old speedo? How will i know that the MPH reading will be accurate? I'm not to worried about accuracy, just function-ability. Would be nice to know a ball park number though. I'm sure someone out there has experience with this kind of stuff, any tips or input is greatly appreciated!!

 

Low tech or high tech?

I went with a Koso and love the extra functions it gives.

 

Check out the MiikeXS speedometer. It's pretty accurate and retains all the functions in a smaller form.

part number is Part #03-0744

 

Re: looking to install an aftermarket speedo, any experience

I like that speedometer. I may move to that in the future if I feel like adding indicator lights, but I don't see a need for them. Here is where to find it:
http://www.mikesxs.net/products-46.html

I believe the important measurment you need is front wheel size. There is a formula for the number of revolutions of the front wheel that each speedometer uses to register a speed. Our front wheel is 19". I don't know if the speedometers use wheel size or outside tire diameter. Also, I have seen where a speedometer works with the speedometer gear unit for one brand of bike, but not another. The above speedometer states that it works with yamaha 650s.

You can always test a speedometer with a GPS. See how it compares to the speed listed on the GPS. (It is tough to read a GPS with the glare when riding a bike). I also know that when moving to bigger tires on a truck, it only makes the speedometer off by 2 to 5 mph.

Tire size calculator with difference in speedometer reading (It doesn't go small enough for our tires, but you can full around to see how much of a difference changing sizes acutally makes).

Here is my current speedometer. I can't tell you where to find on though.

 

Partsnmore.com has a pretty choice selection of speedometers for our bikes and the prices aren't too bad either.

 

wow partsnmore.com has alot of stuff for the xj's at very decent prices, im gonna order the speedometer and a few other things i found while i'm at it 8)
it says the speedo is illuminated with an LED light, has anyone purchased this? if so, is the light any specific color or just a regular color LED bulb? I'm doing a black and red color scheme on my bike and it would be cool to have a red LED in the speedo, maybe i can pull it apart and install my own LED

 

Read this post. I love my vapor gauges. The tach is awesome and the only thing I dont have is the gas gauge but i dont miss it I know that at 130 miles Im close to reserve.


http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=3 ... art=0.html

If you have questions let me know?

 

Re: looking to install an aftermarket speedo, any experience

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=32784.html

Apparently the speedo will work but not the tacho