Tacho and Speedo

**Greg** · #1 15 Nov 2001

'84 XT 600 - 50 000 klms. Speedo has started wobbling, v. unreliable at speeds higher than 80kph. Tacho needle snapped off when I started the bike last night. Have been advised that new speedo and tacho from current Yamaha DT will fit straight on. Has anyone done this? 2nd hand units for my bike have been impossible to find. Am also considering purchasing a digital speedo, again, has anyone tried this? Thanks for your help.

**mmaarten** · #2 15 Nov 2001

Check out this: WWW.TOPEAK.COM under computer and then panoram-cycle computer.
It's a beauty. There is also a version for a motorbike, it has a diferent mount and is twice as expensive, but since the thing weigh's absolutly nothing, I just used the cycle mounting.
The service-interval-indicator is useless, it can't be set to a higher interval of 999 Km or Miles... and luckilly my bike can ride more than that without service;-) For the rest it's a nice gadget and it look's great.

**KlausXT600** · #3 16 Nov 2001

hi greg,
before you spend money check first the speedometer transmission on the front wheel axle. often the gears are worn out and therefore cannot turn the cable.

to maarten:
the cycle computer looks great, but is it able to display speeds greater than 100 km/h?
does it have a 12 V backlight illumination?
regards
klaus

**mmaarten** · #4 16 Nov 2001

Hai Klaus,

Yep. It can handle speeds up to 190 Km/h, so no problem there.
Unfortunadly it has no 12 V connector, so the backlight (with is very good) run's on the small battery. It is the kind that switches out after 5 sec. That's one of the drawback's.
An other drawback, as I stated before, is the service-indicator witch has a maximum interval of 999 Km.
Also a bit strange is the way numbers of more then 2 digit's are displayed. Two big one's and the rest smaller. But all in all I like it.

Maarten

**Greg** · #5 17 Nov 2001

Thanks for the help fellas! My local push-bike shop has a digital speedo which can handle the job (except for night time riding)will put up with the old one for time being.
Klaus, I pulled the front wheel speedo assembly apart and gave it a good clean up and lube, will see how it goes tomorrow on the way to work!
Tacho remains a minor problem now, as I have been enjoying riding without it! Would be nice to have replacements handy though if I need them...the search goes on...

**KlausXT600** · #6 18 Nov 2001

http://polo.de offers an excellent 12 V-illumination for sigma bicycle computers.
when you dismount and clean the speedometer transmission have a careful look on the drive on the axle. many times this part is worn out.
you can check this by lifting up and turning the front wheel. the disconnected upper end of the speedometer cable must revolve then. if not, either the cable is broken or the transmission doesn't work.
klaus

**DAVSATO** · #7 28 Nov 2001

hi greg, a bicycle computer works well on a motorbike and some of them go up to 999mph/kph,is that enough?they are very easy to install.i dont know about the law in aus but in britain they are legal for a `daytime` ticket.if you want a full(nighttime)one then it must be lit up somehow.you can get a few different setups for this, and they are all vastly cheaper than new clocks!speaking of which,almost all cable operated japanese speedos are geared the same and have standard drive cables, so should fit straight on.And do you really need a tacho on a large single?they give you plenty of feedback of revs!!!

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dave