Gear change indicator - any advice?

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.

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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

Originally Posted by simesb

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

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.

Don't want one either but each to their own, I agree with the above tho.

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

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

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.

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.