Best looking gauges?

[t3rmin]

This is a corollary to my post in the tech section...

So which year/model of GS has the best looking gauge cluster? Or is there a completely non-GS source which is easy to adapt? What I *don't* like is a big one-piece hunk of plastic. I'd prefer a more minimal look. My 650 E gauges have the speedo and tach out on their own, then the idiot lights a separate piece wedged in the middle. I like that look OK, but I'm having a heck of a time finding another set of 650 E gauges after mine were ruined.

So what can I find readily on eBay (or whatever) and easily adapt?

 

[Mike_H]

sent you a PM

 

[byrdman76]

How about a set from a 79 GS550

How about a set from a 79 GS550

I just finished these up tonight. I removed the idiot cluster and gear selector and installed LED's in the top of the headlight. I modified the gauge holder and then welded in a reinforcement plate. Then I stripped the trim around the glass and gave them a brushed finish.

 

[t3rmin]

I just finished these up tonight. I removed the idiot cluster and gear selector and installed LED's in the top of the headlight. I modified the gauge holder and then welded in a reinforcement plate. Then I stripped the trim around the glass and gave them a brushed finish.

Very nice. Like the look of those!

I'd actually like to keep the gear indicator and such. Yeah, I know it's unnecessary foof but I like stuff like that. ;-) I'll have to take a look at what's left of the idiot lights and see if there's something salvagable to be clever with...

Got any more pics -- different angles and such?

 

[bgmart450]

I just finished these up tonight. I removed the idiot cluster and gear selector and installed LED's in the top of the headlight. I modified the gauge holder and then welded in a reinforcement plate. Then I stripped the trim around the glass and gave them a brushed finish.

Nice, not sure why I didn't think of that pattern when I put LEDs in my headlight bucket... D'oh!

 

[Mike McNaney]

Theres a new tach on ebay right now that looks just like that one. Im not sure about the application but its listed in the 1100 area at least. heres the link. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzu...0QQihZ009QQcategoryZ35581QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[t3rmin]

Woot. Think I found a direct replacement for my stocker:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...044284041&fromMakeTrack=true#ebayphotohosting

Found it by searching for "idiot". ;-) ;-)

 

[Guest]

somebody on this site used gauges from Bandit 400. They were a direct bolt on & both use a cable. They really looked smart, simple, uncluttered exactly what I'm looking for.

Paul

 

[cberkeley]

I'm going this route, eventually:
http://www.veypor.com/vr2.html

 

[Guest]

Sweet. But expensive.

 

[80GS1000]

Acewell makes some nice gauges: http://www.electrosport.com/electrosport_mx_speedometers.html

I'll be using the 3900 as part of my project.

 

[t3rmin]

Well I'm looking for a cheap-o solution. Browsed for some bandit gauges on eBay and those are nice looking! All the sets listed right now are really expensive or damaged though. Also it looks like they have an electronic tach...

 

[Guest]

Yeh, that's why they have to be Bandit 400 gauges.

 

[t3rmin]

Yeh, that's why they have to be Bandit 400 gauges.

Right. Gotcha.

 

[t3rmin]

I just finished these up tonight. I removed the idiot cluster and gear selector and installed LED's in the top of the headlight. I modified the gauge holder and then welded in a reinforcement plate. Then I stripped the trim around the glass and gave them a brushed finish.

By the way, where did you get those nice mountable LEDs? Can you wire those straight-up as a replacement for the original bulbs or do they need additional circuitry or anything?

Thanks.

 

[t3rmin]

Alright, ended up getting a set of whiteface speedo and tach from www.mikesxs.com. Total of just under $100 for both including shipping. Speedo has idiot lights built in. Hopefully I can find an easy to way to preserve my gear indicator on the headlight or something.

Now my bike will be able to go over 85mph! ;-)

 

[byrdman76]

Those are nice...

Those are nice...

Alright, ended up getting a set of whiteface speedo and tach from www.mikesxs.com. Total of just under $100 for both including shipping. Speedo has idiot lights built in. Hopefully I can find an easy to way to preserve my gear indicator on the headlight or something.

Now my bike will be able to go over 85mph! ;-)

Post back how these work out - those are pretty sweet and cheap too! The bandit gauges have gone through the roof on ebay.

I picked up the 12volt LED's from radio shack while i was on the hunt for a few carb needle shims. Hopefully i'll get everything wired up this weekend and let you know if i had to add any resistors or anything.

 

[t3rmin]

Post back how these work out - those are pretty sweet and cheap too! The bandit gauges have gone through the roof on ebay.

Will do. There was a post in the tech section a while back where somebody said they got these to work using a zener diode for the blinker light so I don't anticipate any trouble.

There were a like-new MikesXS speedo and tach on eBay separately that I was watching to try to save a few bucks. Some overzealous dolt bid the speedo up to like $65, even though they're available brand-new for $49 with free shipping at MikesXS.com.

I won the tach and saved a few bucks, then bought the matching speedo new from MikesXS.

Yeah, I didn't find any Bandit 400 gauges on eBay, but the Bandit gauges I did find were really expensive.

I picked up the 12volt LED's from radio shack while i was on the hunt for a few carb needle shims. Hopefully i'll get everything wired up this weekend and let you know if i had to add any resistors or anything.

I suspect you will need a resistors. I found this before I bought those gauges:
http://www.besthongkong.com/index.php?cPath=13_16

 

[byrdman76]

They Worked!

They Worked!

FYI - The Radio Shack 12VDC LED's worked great. I'll post some picks later...

 

[t3rmin]

FYI - The Radio Shack 12VDC LED's worked great. I'll post some picks later...

Yeah, pics please!

Did they come with a length or wire pre-soldered to the leads and heatshrink-wrapped? If so, they might already have resisters on 'em, under the heatshrink.