Simple DIY 6th gear position indicator

[phil mcglassup]

I know there are various gear position indicators available on the market but I am on a very tight budget and I'm fed up of trying to find seventh gear.

So, is it possible to make a simple DIY  top gear indicator ? Something that just produces +12v in top gear , i.e.  from an adapted neutral switch, to illuminate a bulb on the dash ? I remember seeing a fully operational homemade gear position indicator done a long while ago on a website which I can no longer find, but that involved complicated electronics  :eek

Has anyone ever done anything like this ?

[misterjayb1]

My answer would be no, unless you wanted to use complicated electronics ..  Strangely I never look for a seventh gear when using the engine to its capabilities. Seems Im quite happy with just 5 in that mode..  :lol

[darrsi]

A word of advice, stop looking for seventh gear, it simply ain't there!

[phil mcglassup]

Thing is I'm used to riding lower revving bikes so it's natural to want another gear  !!

[Bretty]

Something like this?

[darrsi]

Thing is I'm used to riding lower revving bikes so it's natural to want another gear  !!

I know what you mean, i rode a 600 twin for about 10 years before this one, so the Fazer does appear rather highly strung most of the time.

[misterjayb1]

[quote author=phil mcglassup link=topic=20774.msg239144#msg239144 date=1470934154]


Thing is I'm used to riding lower revving bikes so it's natural to want another gear  !!

I know what you mean, i rode a 600 twin for about 10 years before this one, so the Fazer does appear rather highly strung most of the time.
[/quote]


Unlearning the short shifting I'd got used to on my Ducati Monster is proving difficult at times..  :rolleyes

[phil mcglassup]

I just thought there might be an easy modification to add another terminal, in the correct position, to the neutral light switch and use that to illuminate a bulb on the dash. When the bulb is lit, the bike is in top gear. Is this possible ?

[celticdog]

A word of advice, stop looking for seventh gear, it simply ain't there!

Indeed. Take a look at your revs, you'll find that you'll start to match the gear to the speed as you get to know the bike 
if i'm doing 60 mph i know i'm in top gear if the rev counter's a 5000 rpm. :rollin :rollin :rollin

[darrsi]

It's also why having overly loud end cans can be tiresome if you do longer runs, because the noise drives you insane after a while.
Good fun if you're just zipping about in the suburbs, but on a motorway run it does get monotonous especially because of the higher revs.
You can change the sprocket teeth size to bring down the revs a bit if you find yourself having to use 6th gear for longer periods of time.

[characticus]

I just thought there might be an easy modification to add another terminal, in the correct position, to the neutral light switch and use that to illuminate a bulb on the dash. When the bulb is lit, the bike is in top gear. Is this possible ?

No its not possible to do that without some electronics to detemine if you're in top gear - be much easier just to fit a gear indicator.

[joebloggs]

Providing you're not suffering terminal clutch slip just count your way through the gears to make sure you're in sixth then remember revs at your normal cruising speed.
Simples

[YamFazFan]

My (completely standard) Foxeye reads 5650 RPM at 70 MPH in top gear.

[celticdog]

Look at this one!


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Digit...ccessories

[mr self destruct]

My (completely standard) Foxeye reads 5650 RPM at 70 MPH in top gear.

On my stock bike, in 4th the speed matches the revs, i.e. 40mph = 4000rpm so that could give a good indication too.

[schlumpf]

Look at this one!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Digit...ccessories

This appears to be a simple display w/o any brain. Doesn't help here.

In my view there are 3 ways to get the gear informations:
- Take one of those reed contact based devices from china. Very cheap (~15EUR?). Unfortunately need some ugly installation around the gear lever and might be tricky to adjust reliably.
- Those "Acumen type" indicators tap the electronic's signals and calculate the gear. No mechanics, just wiring. Cheap clones start at ebay in the range of ~50EUR.
- A few people started designing their own gear indicator. Good choice if you are not afraid of soldering.
http://www.alpentourer.de/shop/ganganzei...zeige.html
http://fireblade_chris.hp.altmuehlnet.de...e_SC57.htm
http://www.jn-elektronik.de/?page_id=25
http://cvieth.bplaced.net/ganganzeige_mini.html

As you are very sensitive on price my suggestion would be the first option, reed contact type.

[Robgosty]

I got one of these, does the job really well and costs buttons compared to others 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121325993344?_...EBIDX%3AIT

[Val]

I got one of these, does the job really well and costs buttons compared to others 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121325993344?_...EBIDX%3AIT

Thanks for that I bought one for £18 what could go wrong  :lol

I really like the clarifications there:

If your motorcycle is a front-wheel drive, you need professional maintenance staff installed

:rollin :rollin :rollin

[darrsi]

By the time it's fitted you would've got used to the sound and feel of the engine and you won't even need it.  :lol

[jackw96]

I was doing the same thing for the first few months of owning a fazer. I went from a single cylinder to a buzzy 4 banger. Just get to know where the revs are at certain speeds in top gear.