Gear change indicator - any advice?

[gabrielkeown]

Hi folks was thinging of putting a gear change indecater on my sv650s k2 any 1 got some advice

thanks
Gaby

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah don't bother.

[simesb]

Gear indicators are NOT the anti-Christ. Fit one if you want it ( you don't need one, but it's your bike) :D

[rictus01]

do you mean a gear indicator or a shift light ? you don't need either, but I think that's besides the point, the datatool "revlight (http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/products/products/index.php?product=revlight)" is a programable set of led's to indicate revs or shift levels, or the "digi (http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/products/products/index.php?product=digi)" gives a number for the actual gear you're in, both need programing, but that's easy to do.

A number of other companies do the same sort of thing as the Digi, so look around.

Cheers Mark.

[punyXpress]

Yep - when they're dirty, change them.

[SoulKiss]

Learn to count...

[toby_smith]

If you need to change up, change up, if you need to change down, change down.

If your pedal won't go any further up, you're in 6th, if it won't go any further down you're in 1st.

If you need to change down and the pedal won't go down any further, you're going far too slow.

If the little green light on your dash is on you're in neutral.

Remember those four points and a gear indicator will no longer be needed :D

[Stephen McG]

I would probably never fit one to a bike, but my Gladius has one as standard.
It is useful when commuting in heavy as you can see what gear you are in (obvious)
My previous 3 bikes only had 5 gears so at first I was out of habit to go to 6.

Aftermarket ones probably work on roadspeed/rev rations, however the Gladius will register gear if bike stationary.

My next bike may not have one but I will enjoy the novelty for the moment.

Stephen McG in Glasgow

[Stephen McG]

Yes - it should say ratios (not rations)

[simesb]

Learn to count...

Counting isn't the problem - it's remembering. :D

I really don't understand why people have such a problem with them. I understand you don't need one, but they are a handy reminder. They will not make sure you are in the right gear, or stop SMIDSY but people like them which is why more and more bikes have them fitted as standard. :confused:

[Reeder]

I do sometimes wonder what gear I'm in, but tbh when I wonder if I'm in sixth or not I just try for 7th anyway without looking down at my revs. Obviously a gear indicator would solve me doing this, but it would also take my eyes away from the road for a little bit - perhaps in my opinion its better without.

[Gabriel2k]

I wouldnt say no to having one on a bike i bought but wouldnt feel the need to fit one myself, i have to admit that sometimes i forget im already in 6th and try to go up another gear.

[danf1234]

I have one of the GI pro things fitted to my bike. I really like it and find it quite useful especially on motorways.

[SoulKiss]

I would probably never fit one to a bike, but my Gladius has one as standard.
It is useful when commuting in heavy as you can see what gear you are in (obvious)
My previous 3 bikes only had 5 gears so at first I was out of habit to go to 6.

Aftermarket ones probably work on roadspeed/rev rations, however the Gladius will register gear if bike stationary.

My next bike may not have one but I will enjoy the novelty for the moment.

Stephen McG in Glasgow


Maybe on a curvy, but on a pointy this information is available by reading the voltage across 2 pins of a connector - so any Indicator should be plug and play AND accurate.

I once built a gear indicator on my electronics play kit that conformed to the voltages expected, and minus the cost of the plugs to fit it into the loom without splicing, it would have cost about a tenner - one of the reasons not to buy one is the HUGE rip off for not a lot of use factor...

[Bluepete]

The BMW's at work have a GPI integrated into the dash, and danm usefull it is too!

I would have one on the Tiger if I could be bothered, mostly because it's so flexible. I can bimble around in 6th at 25mph and pull away cleanly. I forget what gear I'm in because I have to change so infrequently.

Pete ;)

[Weirdfish]

Counting isn't the problem - it's remembering. :D

I really don't understand why people have such a problem with them. I understand you don't need one, but they are a handy reminder. They will not make sure you are in the right gear, or stop SMIDSY but people like them which is why more and more bikes have them fitted as standard. :confused:
Don't want one either but each to their own, I agree with the above tho.:smt026

[Berlin]

It'd be handy on the track if only to answer the people who are always asking what gear I'm in at a particular corner, or on a particular straight. I have no idea other than I know i'm in 1st off the line. After that I'm at 10K revs until the flag comes out :) I don't even know if I'm using 5th or 6th down the straights. I just use "Flat out".

C

[TC252]

Hi all,
just fancied chipping in with my two penneth worth!

If you need a gear change indicator, will you not also need a "Warning, you're riding on the grass" warning light??

"what gear were you going round there in mate"?
"I was definately in 4th-cos when I looked back up I was heading cross country for the marshalls post"!!

Forgive any excess sarcasm, I'm no expert on what gear i'm in-except when waiting for the red lights to go out, and when I bang it up again and nothing happens.
I've just never found a need for them, they're probably a bit like electric windows-nice when you have them and they work, but just something else to go wrong.

TC 252 Keep The Power ON

[hongman]

If you want one, get one. It's noone else's bike, it doesnt intrude on anyone else's experience.

I was going to get one but have since decided I didnt want one becuase of one reason.

I'm too lazy.

[maxinc]

You probably don't realise you don't have to count the gears to know precisely in which gear you are. Just look at the revs and speedo.

2nd - 30mph @ 5000rpm - -2
3rd - 40mph @ 5000rpm - -1
4th - 50mph @ 5000rpm - this is the easy one ... 40 / 4000, 60 / 6000 etc
5th - 60mph @ 5000rpm - +1
6th - 70mph @ 5000rpm - +2

That's how I do it and I don't have to count or check which gear I'm into, event it it feels sometimes I'm in a different gear.

[yorkie_chris]

I go by very simple methods, as I'm very simple.

Revs too low... change down
Revs too high... change up

[sukirider]

hi all i put 1 on a zx6r and 2 be honest was a total waste of time and money and to make things even worse the gear indicator could'nt keep up with the bike or the gear change anything after 2nd gear and it got all lost and confused would start flashing all differant numbers, i even got 8th 1 time ( did'nt know i had 8 gears on a zx6 ).
so personaly i would'nt bother again.

[big jc]

Where can I get one for my 02 curvy?

[rictus01]

Acumen do the PD8 or if you can find one a datatool rev-light, I have the latter, had it for over 2 years fitted to an IL4, great fun if setup right, not something you really need, but easy 3 wire installation.

the PD8 is about £80, the revlight is about £60 or they were when I last looked, I've installed a few over the years, the setup is key, the other one is the DG8 which is just a gear indicator (or DGV / gear inticator and temp).


Datatool rev-light
7AWgv8yY1iw

Acumen PD8 (on the left), & DGV above dash)

k4zV6OIWjPI

Cheers Mark.

[suzukigt380paul]

gear indicators are nothing new suzuki had them on there 2 stroke triples back in 1974,and ive fitted one on my 1200 bandit,cant remember what make but it fits on the engine and replaces the neutral switch and works flawlessly