Gear indicator

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:34 am

In an effort to make my bike as user friendly as possible ....anyone fitted a digital gear indicator to their bike?

I know it's standard equipment on many BMW's and I used to own a R1100RS many years ago which had one. If only my R1150R had one too... hardly ever know which gear I'm in, apart from 1st or 6th

Post by **MartinW** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:37 am

I too have trouble knowng which gear I'm in, except 4th where the speedo and rev needles track each other.

Generally I just count or try to change up if I doubt whether I'm in 6th or not but a positive indicator would be a nice refinement.

hirsty · Post by **hirsty** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:57 am

The standard aftermarket devices for this seem to be designed for electronic clocks, rather than cable driven mechanicals like ours.

Acumen digital gear indicator

I did look at this last year, but drew a blank & gave up - would be interested if anyone has an affordable solution.

leoquattro · Post by **leoquattro** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:28 pm

Yes, it is annoying not to know which gear are you in! I usually gear up without using the clutch (from 3rd on) , thus if I need to check if I am in 6th I just pull up the gear lever again.
Ciao
Leoquattro

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:50 pm

I think it's just like having a fuel light and not a fuel gauge..you could change that too.

I think it's something to put up with or get used too.

I go through stages of thinking..oooh I need this ..or I want that (but don't)..and later on down the track I think to my self "what was I thinking".

DJ

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:57 pm

DJ Downunder wrote:I think it's just like having a fuel light and not a fuel gauge..you could change that too.

I think it's something to put up with or get used too.

I go through stages of thinking..oooh I need this ..or I want that (but don't)..and later on down the track I think to my self "what was I thinking".

DJ

I take your point DJ and I guess you're right... I just thought that an add-on like a gear position indicator could do nothing but enhance the pleasure of riding the R1150R, for me at least

Post by **mcollect** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:12 pm

I'm with DJ on this one. All you have to do is look at the tach, if it is in the correct range you are in the correct gear, if not shift. I had a bike with a gear indicator on the tranny,67 Triumph, used it to see if I was in neutral to start, the next time I looked at it was the next time I started it.

Philbie · Post by **Philbie** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:10 pm

The RT has this feature, and I must say it's really helpful - I don't think it's a must have but I like having it...

On my last test ride, the little things i take for granted on the BMW I found i missed on the other bikes.

However - I agree with DJ here, I don't think it's worth spending money on.

cheers,
Phil

Post by **hotzuk** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:44 pm

Hey everyone,

Want you want is the rider information display like they have on the older RS and RT. I know it displays fuel, gear and I think either oil temp or voltage. I posted a question a while back if you could take the RID and connect it up to our beloved 1150R. Mine is a 2002 model. My theory was that all the connectors were essentially there but not being used. I believe the great Cyclerob helped me out and told me that it would not work. If anyone could get it to work I would love to see the pics. Good luck

Post by **ruddy** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:04 pm

I had a gear indicator on my old Suzuki, and I missed it at first on my 'R. Now I glance at the tach to see if I'm in the "sweet spot" RPM range and shift if necessary to get there. I no longer even think about the indicator.

A fuel gauge--that's another story! I do miss that.

Post by **JCsman** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:07 pm

ruddy wrote: A fuel gauge--that's another story! I do miss that.

I thought I would - but after a bit I found the trip odometer a pretty fair indicator. My bike is pretty consistant: 140 miles to "low fuel" light under normal riding (up to 175 if I use the speed limits).

acejones · Post by **acejones** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:34 pm

Engine sound, and a quicj=k glance at the tach is all you need. If you ride the bike often enough, you'll develope a feel for how its running and what gear its in.

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:39 pm

I wouldn't mind having a gear indicator as well. But I mentally keep track of what gear I'm in as well as looking at what rev range I want to be at. Being in 6th is obvious as you'll be cruising well at highway speeds. Any gear below that I simply choose a gear that will give me the rpm I want for the desired acceleration.

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:43 am

acejones wrote:Engine sound, and a quicj=k glance at the tach is all you need. If you ride the bike often enough, you'll develope a feel for how its running and what gear its in.

I take the point that most of you make about gear/rpm relationship and yes, it's no problem as you're accelerating through the gears until 6th is reached, with its associated upward free-play.

My problem is in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear range, especially when travelling at relatively low urban speeds which requires constant 'stirring' of the box. Often I think - guess! - I'm in 3rd, for example, and I change down only to discover I was in fact in 2nd gear followed by a painful clunk into 1st at an inappropriate speed. This is why I'd like an indicator! Or I guess I must concentrate more and memorise

acejones · Post by **acejones** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:30 am

Tach, tach, tach........

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:34 am

acejones wrote:Tach, tach, tach........

how

Surely the tacho can indicate the same rpm for different (adjacent) gears... or should it be obvious from a given RPM range which gear you're in? Must admit I've never ever really used the tacho on any bike I've owned except to avoid over-revving. I need some guidance here!

cruiser · Post by **cruiser** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:00 pm

Please see previous post

Post by **duke** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:47 pm

mcollect wrote:... All you have to do is look at the tach, if it is in the correct range you are in the correct gear, if not shift ...

The problem is - after you reach 6th on Rockster (non-overdrive 6th gear) the bugger pulls like the 7:35 AM London Euston to Manchester train service and you want to UP-shift once again as there is so much torque, it feels like you are somewhere in 5th gear ... yes ... you can look at the rev counter and 70 Mph is somewhere around the 4000 Rpm mark ... but how often do you look at the controls (speed camera sites excluded)?

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:32 am

Check out http://www.gear-indicator.com. Might be the same thing hirsty pointed out. Though there is no specific model for BMW's, supposedly it can be adapted to any bike with some wire splicing. Device uses speedometer and tachometer pulses to determine the current gear. Not sure what issues hirsty ran into that he couldn't get it to work with the R-R ... ?

Similar type of device at http://www.biketronix.info/

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:53 am

duke wrote: ... but how often do you look at the controls (speed camera sites excluded)?

Would that not then preclude one from looking at a gear indicator?

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Gear indicator

Gear indicator

Rider information display (RID) is what you want