Gear indicator

[gordonv]

I've read posts on adding aftermarket gear indicators to the Valkyrie. I've always upshifted one more time on my IS looking for a higher gear and finding that I'm already there.

On my GW there is an OD light. So I looked over the parts fiche for both bikes and the parts looks interchangeable, just some wiring needs changing/adding. The GW has multiple leads for each gear you are in, the Valk has one lead, neutral.

It looks very easy to swap these out, and then add a connector or cut and splice so you have the neutral, and the OD leads, then you just need to bring a wire up to wherever you want to mount a OD light so you can see it.

Simple, easy, and an OEM Honda part, designed for the GL1500. At Bike Bandit, they want $61 for a new switch.

Now, not having taken that part of the engine apart, on either bike, and not having the two parts in hand to compare. Only what I see by looking on ebay and comparing the pics they have of the 2 different parts, I thought I would check here to see if it has been done, or someone else may have compared the parts.

[John Schmidt]

To make the gear change indication available as in the GW1500, it would involve removing the front of the engine. The GW has it only as an aftermarket add-on. It can be done and would enable you to get an indication of each gear you're in, just not sure it's worth the trouble. The time to do all that would be when the engine is out of the bike for a hydrolock repair.

[old2soon]

You mean-GASP-we don't gots a sixth gear??  I believe this engine could pull 2 more gears-BUT-Mother Honda only gave us 5!  I'm relatively certain anybody that has one or has had one has looked for at least one more gear.  As an old ex trucker paying attention to the tachometer is 2nd nature for me to let me know what gear I'm in. In the dim recesses of what passes for my mind I seem to recall a low cost indicator light setup for our Valkyries BUT I'm NOT sure. Good luck with your quest. RIDE SAFE.

[BF]

I've been looking for 6th gear ever since I bought the bike. 

Must be there somewhere 'cause my foot keeps trying to find it. 

[Jess from VA]

I agree, most of us could use an idiot light for 5th.  

I don't do it much anymore, but I've shifted for 6th a hundred times for sure.  

A seat buzzer would be a bad idea (without a timer).  

After enough years and miles, I don't need no steenking light.  

[gordonv]

The switch goes in behind the Transmission Cover, where the oil filter screws into. I need to look it over more, but this would be beneath the timing belts, so should be easily available to access with the motor in the bike.

I found myself riding this summer at such low speed that I was actually in 4th driving at my usual 3K rpm, didn't realize I had one more gear to go up and lower my rpm further. I was cruising the Hwy from Banff to Jasper, enjoying the ride with my wife on the back, and my new to riding sister and husband each on their bikes, taking it slow at 55 mph and me in the lead on cruise control holding the pace.

Best mileage I've gotten yet. A crazy way to measure, but since I buy in Liters, and my odometer is in MPH, I got a high of 12 miles/liter on those tanks, rather than my usual fast hwy speed of 70mph and getting a low of 8M/L. Tank is 16L I think, never put more than 12L usually, but once I did 14L.


Just looked the manual over. Very easy job. But you need to drain the oil and antifreeze so a good time would be when you are going to do a change out.

[Gryphon Rider]

Dakota Digital makes a gear indicator.  I have no experience with it, but it should work with the Interstate, because the IS has a VSS for the speedo.  You can also buy separate speed sensors if your bike doesn't have a VSS (e.g. Std. or Tourer).

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=496/category_id=-1/mode=prod/prd496.htm

It comes in panel mount and bar mount versions, in black or chrome, with blue or red LEDs.

[PhredValk]

Not to be facetious,  but if I'm not sure if i'm in 5th I gently lift my toe under the shifter. If it moves I'm in 5th, if it's solid I have another gear.
Fred.

[fudgie]

Not to be facetious,  but if I'm not sure if i'm in 5th I gently lift my toe under the shifter. If it moves I'm in 5th, if it's solid I have another gear.
Fred.

+1

[Bone]

gordonv using Welcome to OnlineConversion.com there is 3.78 gallons per liter.

That means you were getting 45 mpg.

[fudgie]

gordonv using Welcome to OnlineConversion.com there is 3.78 gallons per liter.

That means you were getting 45 mpg.

Thats way to much! I hang liters of fluid at work and no way its 3 gal.

[The emperor has no clothes]

gordonv using Welcome to OnlineConversion.com there is 3.78 gallons per liter.

That means you were getting 45 mpg.

Thats way to much! I hang liters of fluid at work and no way its 3 gal.

I always thought a liter was close to a quart.

[Valkpilot]

gordonv using Welcome to OnlineConversion.com there is 3.78 gallons per liter.

That means you were getting 45 mpg.

3.78 liters per gallon

[Bone]

Notice the time I posted.

Made one mistake,  thanks you guys

[BobB]

I thought I was the only one that tries to find another top gear...  God, I love this board.   

[vanagon40]

A.  I have shifted from 5th to 6th well over 500 times, but never successfully.

B.  When I think to look, I know I'm in 5th (and the highest gear) when my speed is just over double the tachometer (in hundreds).  I.e., 3500 RPM and just over 70 MPH.

C.  I'm not sure what happened (if anything) to this project, but in 2010, a member with the handle "joop angelier" from the Netherlands developed a gear indicator designed specifically for the Valkyrie.  You can search the name or check out this thread and perhaps subsequent threads by Joop.

I'll stick with option B (and of course option A when I forget B).

[gordonv]

Dakota Digital makes a gear indicator.  I have no experience with it, but it should work with the Interstate, because the IS has a VSS for the speedo.  You can also buy separate speed sensors if your bike doesn't have a VSS (e.g. Std. or Tourer).

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=496/category_id=-1/mode=prod/prd496.htm

It comes in panel mount and bar mount versions, in black or chrome, with blue or red LEDs.

There was one other indicator posted a while ago. The above one was $250. Way to much. I think the other one was closer to $150.

I found that we could use a GW switch on the Valk, to get the signal. Figure a gasket might be up to another $25, a new switch for $60, then all you need is a light of your choice for the "dash".

Fred, thanks for the trick with the foot, I've never noticed. Usually I just shift, and wait to see what happens.

I know my rpm when I'm at hwy speed, but when I was riding slower with other riders, I had no clue. I live in a flat area, and unless going up a hill heavy loaded, I'm always in 5th, that's why the confusion sometimes. I like that the GW has the OD light.

Thanks for the conversion, nice to have a figure of my MPG to compare too (I didn't catch the gals/liter slip). Now all I need to do is figure out the US gal to the UK gal since I'm more familiar with that one. But for the sake of the board, I compare mine as USG to what others get, to figure out how my bike is in comparison.

[PhredValk]

4.546 Litres to and Imperial Gallon.
Fred.

[gordonv]

OK, I got the item from ebay.

A GW water cover (transmission cover) with the indicator switch for $10 USD. Want only the switch, so shipping should be less. Also bought some misc parts from the same seller, to combine shipping.

Now all I need is to buy a Valk to mount it to  and some kind of indicator light.

On the IS I expect to buy, I'll just buy an LED light and mount, and drill a hole through the fairing somewhere easily seen.

[Tx Bohemian]

Not to be facetious,  but if I'm not sure if i'm in 5th I gently lift my toe under the shifter. If it moves I'm in 5th, if it's solid I have another gear.
Fred.

Same here.

The Yamaha I bought, when we got back into biking, did this too but the Suzuki I had after that didn't.  I was glad when I bought the Valk I could tell if I was in 5th this way.
Way back when I had a '79 550 Suzuki that had a gear indicator through all 6 gears, I miss that now.

gordonv are you saying the indicator will tell which gear you're in, or just if you're in high gear?

[gordonv]

gordonv are you saying the indicator will tell which gear you're in, or just if you're in high gear?

The GW electrical schematics shows N-2-3-4-OD. So I would expect 5 leads off the switch. I'm interested in high gear, OD. That and the neutral is all I expect to have connected.

I think the other gear indicators are there for the cruise control.

[Kunkies]

I find the Tachometer a good indicator of what gear you're in.  That coupled with listening to your engine will quell the phantom 6th.

[97Valk_CT_Euless]

I've found that you can deduce the gear in an easy to remember, assuming you're rolling and between about 2000-3000 rpm. (I know I'm going to catch helll over this...).  If you look at the speedo, the "decade" of your speed will equal your gear.  Example: at 2500, 5th gear is 55 mph.  down to about 2000 you're at 50, up to 3000 you'r at 60. The "Decade" is 50, 5th gear.

4th gear is about 45 at 2500.
3rd gear is about 35 at 2500.
etc.

I just remember a couple of points.  55 at 2500, 75 at 3500 is 5th gear.
No i know it's not precise and different rear tire diameters will be different.  The point is it's a start at learning how to use your tach and speedo to determine the gear.

And no, it doesn't stop me from trying to find 6th gear sometimes.

[gordonv]

Now that the auction is over, and delivery happened, see what you can get for as little as $10 USD? They where suppose to pull and ship the switch only, but I see I got the whole tran cover.



Next step, buy a Valkyrie. Then swap the switches and wire this one in and add a light to the 5th (OD) gear indicator and mount somewhere viewable (IS fairing).

[John Schmidt]

Gordonv, if and when you do this, note the pin isn't centered in that little shaft it sits in. The orientation of long end of that pin is critical so keep that in mind when making the change over. Good luck and let us know how it went. Just so you'll know, there are vendors for the Gold Wing that have a plug in gear indicator. Might want to check that out, price may be worthwhile but don't know that for sure.

[gordonv]

Thanks John, I noticed that on pictures showing the part. Seems like 1/3-2/3 or there abouts.

I don't think the manual even says how to orientate the pin. Figure I would have the bike in neutral, swap the switches and what ever orientation the Valk was at, I would make the same for the replacement.

[indybobm]

Honda has many different neutral switches for the GL1200/GL1500 bikes. Some have 3 wires, some have 4 or 5 wires. The GL1200A Aspencade has an actual gear indicator on the dash in addition to the neutral light. I am assuming (dangerous I know) that the neutral switch for the 1200 Aspencade has a segmented neutral switch that identifies each gear. I just ordered one from Woodbind Cycle Salvage. Interested to see if my assumption is correct. If so, this would make a gear indicator a lot easier.

This is the switch I bought

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191243996294

A link to the Aspencade dash on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-HONDA-GL1200A-Aspencade-SPEEDOMETER-GAUGE-METER-INSTRUMENT-/331196566517?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d1cda8bf5&vxp=mtr

[gordonv]

Does this mean someone else is interested in the same mod I am in?

I found an online schematic (took a while) for the GL1200. Shows the switch wiring. Page 9-28

N    - light green/red
1    - yellow
2    - black/yellow
3    - white/blue
4    - red/white
OD - green/orange

The switch almost looks like it could be the same. Do you have one to compare it to?

[indybobm]

Actually, I have been thinking about this for quite some time. Whether people admit it or not I am sure that about everyone has rolled up to a stop in 2nd instead of 1st, plus I like tinkering with things. I have not seen any electronic gear indicators that I thought where reliable or reasonable in cost. I like the reliability of a gear indicator based on a mechanical switch driving a display.
I have not received the Neutral Switch that I purchased but it looks interesting. Of course you cannot buy these new so you have to find a used one. Since Honda made so many flavors, you have to get one from a 85/86 GL1200SEI Aspencade that actually had a gear indicator. There are/have been other bikes with a gear selector but I doubt is the neutral switch would be compatible.
My information may be all wrong, but it is a starting point.

All of the GL1800s use a gear change switch that should be compatible also. They look like they would physically bolt up but I am not sure  how the switch segments would line up.

[Grumpy]

Could always go with some thing like this, uses hall effect sensors mounted next to the gear shift lever.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Motorcycle-digital-gear-indicator-For-Yamaha-Honda-Suzuki-Blue-color/1892060622.html

[Rocketman]

Interesting idea.  I have always wanted a gear position indicator, but didn't want to have to rely on tach (like Joop's setup).  I can do a rough calculation from rpm to mph to figure out where I am (although I still try for 6th sometimes, yes, we've all done it), but that doesn't help me when I forget to finish my downshift and sit at a traffic light in second or third.  The Valkyrie will pull away in 3rd, but she'll not set any records doing so.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Mark

[indybobm]

Could always go with some thing like this, uses hall effect sensors mounted next to the gear shift lever.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Motorcycle-digital-gear-indicator-For-Yamaha-Honda-Suzuki-Blue-color/1892060622.html

This might work. If you ever need to hit the shif tlever a second time to actually get it in gear, it could be fooled as to what gear you are in. That is why the mechanical switch is so good. The display itself could be used.

[gordonv]

I hadn't thought of a 1st gear indicator, I was looking for the 5th one, but a good idea. Many times I've started from the light in 2nd gear.

If the switch can be physically mounted in the Valkyrie from another model Honda, GL1200 or GL1800, it wouldn't matter which position each gear was, since it would be a custom wire job.

Place the bike in 1st gear, using a meter, find which lead gives you ground. 2nd gear, etc.

Where you planning on some kind of digital display showing the gear number, or just a set of lights?

[Rocketman]

I'm not sure if the question was directed at me or not, but:
I figure once the signal comes out of the case, and the wires have been identified, the decision of what to do with that signal is up to the end user.  I would like an digital readout of gear numbers, but I can foresee having trouble with having it bright enough for the day, but not too bright for night.  Perhaps a series of lights would be best, with one LED meaning first gear, two LEDs meaning second, etc.

Mark

[gordonv]

I now own a Valkyrie, have the gear switch, now for the display.

Possibly this one, a single digit digital gear indicator. Only $4.25 CAD shipped to my home.



http://www.dx.com/p/diy-1-1-1-digit-red-light-led-digital-gear-display-indicator-for-motorcycle-black-red-391350#.WI6L_2czUeg

My current choice is still to use a single or multiple LED to indicate the gear(s) that I want.

Hopefully I'll get this project done this year, along with some others.

[John Schmidt]

Gordon, when I changed over that switch on my 1200 project bike, the long end of that pin in your picture had to be pointed at the bolt to the lower left with the bike in neutral. There's a split shaft that fits over it and turns when you change gears. My 1200 came originally equipped without a gear indicator since it is an '84 Std.  I replaced the engine with a later year and changed that switch at the same time, easy job once everything is out of the way. I also got rid of the huge ugly OEM gauges and replaced them with a single aftermarket piece that gives me everything, including gear indication. The bike looks "somewhat" different now. 

The fenders and side covers are currently removed for painting.

[Chrisj CMA]

Not to be facetious,  but if I'm not sure if i'm in 5th I gently lift my toe under the shifter. If it moves I'm in 5th, if it's solid I have another gear.
Fred.

+1 exactly what I do as well

[MarkT]

B.  When I think to look, I know I'm in 5th (and the highest gear) when my speed is just over double the tachometer (in hundreds).  I.e., 3500 RPM and just over 70 MPH.

Put on a ATT and 3500 will get you 85 indicated. Love that tire.

[gordonv]

This is the latest gear indication display I bought. About $11 CAD from aliexpress.



Seems easier to mount than the other one, just a hole through the dash for the leads, then glue it in place. I don't recall if the connector came too, but I bought a variety pack of different size (2-9 pin) connectors.