| Author | Message | ||
     Bowwow |
Hey, all! I'd like to put a gear position indicator on my X1, does anybody have any experience or recommendations? And yeah, I know I should be able to tell just by speed and revs, but I still want one... *wink!* | ||
| Jolly |
Ive got a real funny story about this...well sort of, but it definitely relates... I had bought a 2000 Moto Guzzi v11 sport on line and flew to the twin cities for a fly and ride. On the way home I searched for guzzi dealers to get a quick mx check on the bike before really stacking the miles on. I found this "place" that really resembled a converted old wooden floor shop that I am sure at one time was a service center for Model Ts! to say it was old and eclectic would be an understatement... and the old guy running the place had to be in his 70s plus quite a few years and still wearing a crew cut and a muscle shirt with a triumph motor completely disassembled and not a service manual to be found... anyway, they (they being him and his son as the only two people in the shop)quickly jumped on the bike for a few service items for me and in the process I asked him if he could fix the neutral indicator, light wasn't working.... his response .. "what kind of idiot are you? you cant figure out neutral?? its always in the same place, it doesn't move, its one down and half a click up...sure I can fix it, but sheesh are you really that stupid?" needless to say I did not get the darn light fixed.... but every once in a while at speed I still look for the next gear even though Ive checked 2 or 3 times and yes I know I am in top gear..so I get ya, an indicator would be kinda cool but don't tell that old codger at the guzzi shop, I can still hear his voice....."a neutral light....what kind of idiot are you?"... good luck on this one, post the solution if you have success! | ||
| S1owner |
Jolly by twin cities I assume you mean mpls st paul? I think you are talking about my buddies father and grandfather! Thats funny. | ||
| Jolly |
the shop was actually in PA or somewhere about day two of the ride. it was an old shack of a building, but really great mechanics, counting me as the customer there were three of us in the place, and I had a great time listening to this old guy, he was funny as hell! and someone else walked in that asked for something funny about buying another bike, and the guy really went off about not selling him another bike to wreck until he learned to ride! and I got watch that scene unfold...man what a character! but, back to the question before I completely hijack this thread .... | ||
| Bowwow |
Great story, Jolly! Your mentioning the Triumph motor dismantled on the bench reminded me of a story from my distant, misspent youth. Many eons ago I wrenched at a Suzuki shop in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Dude wheeled in a chopped frame and dragged in three boxes of parts. Triumph 650, he said. Said it was running fine before he took it apart. So the boss put me on it. A day or so later I had the engine back together and in the frame, everything ready to go. Started it up, it idled fine, but as soon as it got off idle one cylinder stopped running. So the next day I went through the electrical, made sure it had spark, made sure it was advancing and STILL had spark, checked timing and points gap. All OK. Then into the carbs. Amal carbs. Jets were all clean and open, floats levels were set, needles both in the same positions, everything checked out. Started it up, still no fire in one side off idle. I don't know what possessed me, having never done this before, but I dismantled the carbs side by side and started comparing jets. Everything matched. Slides? Matched. Needles? BINGO! One needle was shorter than the other! Ordered in the correct needle (matched the one that stayed running) and voila! Off she flew! I was pretty proud of myself for finding that one! But, back to the question, having hijacked my own thread... Anybody used or can recommend a gear position indicator? I'd like a winter project... | ||
| Buellistic |
If you get an OLD HARLEY-DAVIDSON "HAND SHIFT", they have a shift gate so you can tell what gear you are in ... "DON'T get an "OLD INDIAN" because they did not have a shift gate and you would have the same problem as a foot shift ... | ||
| Bowwow |
Buellistic - too funny! I wonder how I could fit that to my X1, and can I shift with it while dragging my knee? | ||
| Lakes |
Bow wow , I remember a friend had I think a Suzuki back in the 70's that had a gear indicator light with numbers they would light up,what gear u r in, it was same gear pattern as most bikes n had five gears, at the time my HD had four, some only had three . You might be able to find one & fit. I'm Aussie, but only time I've ridden a MG I had stayed in the twin city's at St Paul then went up SD Watertown stayed and a guy gave me a ride on his MG | ||
| Buellistic |
Bowwow: RULE OF THUMB: If you are drag racing set your shifter so you push down to get to the higher gears, "BUT" for road racing it is up for the higher gears .... That way when you push down of the shift lever it acts as a brake !!! | ||
| Bowwow |
Lakes, the reason I'm looking for an indicator is because of those Suzis in the 70s! I rode 'em and liked the indicator - very handy! Buellistic, in motocross you reach over and slam on the guy you want to pass's shift lever, slows him RIGHT down! Back in the day I rode a Hodaka Ace 100, which was 1 up 4 down, so in a drag race to the corner, if anybody did that to me I wouldn't slow down! | ||
| Buellistic |
Bowwow: Never liked the punishment the body had to take racing motocross,"BUT" a good "SMOOTH" DIRT TRACK or a ROAD RACE was more my cup of tea !!! |
