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Removing speedo and tach

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tiny
  • Start date Start date
T

Tiny

Guest
1980 gs850gl

I want to remove the speedo and tach. Can I leave the cables in place and just hide them or should I pull the cables and plug the holes somehow?

Advice?
 
Why are you wanting to remove them when they are pretty necessary to riding safely and legally (at least in my mind)
 
cowboyup3371 said:
Why are you wanting to remove them when they are pretty necessary to riding safely and legally (at least in my mind)
Click to expand...
'
I'm bobbing the bike... And where I live they're not required, just don't get caught speeding lol
 
Tiny said:
1980 gs850gl

I want to remove the speedo and tach. Can I leave the cables in place and just hide them or should I pull the cables and plug the holes somehow?

Advice?
Click to expand...

I would remove the cables and plug the holes. If nothing else, the speedo drive on the front axle can be rotated so the opening is pointing down a bit to keep water from getting in. The tach drive is a bit trickier but has been done by some people on this forum.


cowboyup3371 said:
Why are you wanting to remove them when they are pretty necessary to riding safely and legally (at least in my mind)
Click to expand...

Why would you need either for safety? Off road bikes have neither and people regularly ride them safely with no problems. IMO they are necessary to meet regulatory requirements and nothing more.


Tiny said:
I'm bobbing the bike... And where I live they're not required, just don't get caught speeding lol
Click to expand...

There is no speedo requirement in Washington state? Considering how prescriptive most highway/traffic codes are I find that very surprising.


Mark
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Further proof that bobbers are a dumb idea.
Click to expand...
Further proof that some people are just rude jackasses that get off by insulting other people's ideas just because it's not what they like instead of being a helpful and constructive member of the forum.
 
The problem with the bobber craze is that it takes functional, safe bikes and turns them into rolling safety hazards. Love to see you talk to the officer who pulls you over for doing 30 in a school zone: "Well, since I took my speedometer off, I really can't be blamed for guestimating, right?"
 
Never been a fan of the bobbers mainly because your chopping up a beautiful bike. But that's just my opinion. Even if you are not required to have a speedo and tach I would still keep them. You're never going to know if your about to redline and if you are trying to get your idle just right you have nothing to base it on besides listening to it. That's just my opinion, but you know what I always say, "You do you, do what you want not what others want you to do."
 
GS1150Pilot said:
The problem with the bobber craze is that it takes functional, safe bikes and turns them into rolling safety hazards. Love to see you talk to the officer who pulls you over for doing 30 in a school zone: "Well, since I took my speedometer off, I really can't be blamed for guestimating, right?"
Click to expand...
Never had that problem... I'm not a speed kinda guy, I'm more low n slow.... I suppose someone who has issues following the laws, like speeding in a school zone, WOULD preach about how necessary a speedometer is...
 
jlyon40 said:
Never been a fan of the bobbers mainly because your chopping up a beautiful bike. But that's just my opinion. Even if you are not required to have a speedo and tach I would still keep them. You're never going to know if your about to redline and if you are trying to get your idle just right you have nothing to base it on besides listening to it. That's just my opinion, but you know what I always say, "You do you, do what you want not what others want you to do."
Click to expand...

Exactly bud... Although the amount of hassle it seems to create to plug the holes and such I'm considering getting some of the mini guages instead of removing them completely. I wonder if the stock cables would work with a set of after market mini guages.... Hhhmmm. Guess I gonna go do some more research...
 
If they make mini gauges that will take cable then I could see it working.
 
My inclination would be to pull the cables but ... I am not sure how you would plug up the hole the Tach comes out of. Of course if you have a friend that works in a machine shop or even just know someone that has a lathe fabricating a plug for that would be a breeze. It is after all just a push in affair iwth a rubber gasket held in place with a block of metal and a screw. Guess you could remove the cable from the plug and JB weld the hole but if it fails the JB patch goes right in the engine.

Having the cables still attached unless I could be so absolutely sure they couldn't come undone seems needlessly dangerous. I mean anything goes wrong and you have a 3 foot whip flipping around. Long shot .. yea maybe but ... Murphy!

I had a bike once upon a time and I hated the instrument cluster and went with the small chrome speedo that clamped on your handlebar and just did away with the tach. I mean who really watches the tach to know when to shift. Bah .. didnt need it.

I dont find a great need for the speedo in day to day driving because here in AZ if you are not keeping up with traffic you are a dead man but its nice to have when you get off the beaten path and are riding on open roads with little to no traffic just in case there are speed traps but like you I have learned to enjoy a lazy ride anyway and enjoy just listening to the engine.
 
There is a suzuki part to plug the tach cable hole. I'll do some searching for the part number. You have to take the valve cover off to get the gear out. As far as aftermarket mini gauges, they work. I'm running 2.5" Tach and Speedo from Dime City Cycles.
 
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gordinho80 said:
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/suzuki/SP-26442-45000.html - Plug

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/suzuki/SP-26449-33000.html - Plate

You need to remove the gear entirely from inside the head and put this plug in place. Use the plate to keep the plug from coming out. I ran mine without the plate and only the plug for nearly a year with only minimal leaking. If I were to pull the cable again, I'd put the plate this time. Also, use the same O-ring from the cable sleeve.
Click to expand...

Excellent, many thanks.


Mark
 
Tiny said:
... I'm considering getting some of the mini guages instead of removing them completely. I wonder if the stock cables would work with a set of after market mini guages. ...
Click to expand...
If you decide to go the mini-gauge route, be aware that there are several drive ratios available. I don't know which one is necessary for our bikes, so you will have to do some research on that, too.

.
 
Damnit ... Now you got me thinking about mini gauges!!!!!!
Now my gas gauge doesnt work and my trip meter is about to go but I think even though I never had an oil temp gauge now that I have it I would miss it. If I go to mini speedo and tach what can I do about my oil temp. I dont recall ever having a bike with one but ... it is fun to look at now and again.
 
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