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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: gregvhen on December 13, 2009, 01:59:59 PM

Title: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: gregvhen on December 13, 2009, 01:59:59 PM
Anyone know if the cable driven Speedo on like an 89 Katana will be accurate for my 97 GSE?  I think the front wheels are both 17. not sure though, and i dont know the exact year of the Katana but i know its old.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: joshr08 on December 13, 2009, 02:38:40 PM
i would think that since the front wheel on both the gs (all) and the 89-97 kats are exactly the same i have to say yes.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: tt_four on December 13, 2009, 08:10:56 PM
It'd be great to know what some other options are for a speedo. I've browsed the wiki and haven't found anything. I hate the way the GS gauges stick up, especially since I switched to clipons. Anyone else ever switch to any other gauges? It would be nice to be able to modify the stock gauges so they angled down a bit, but all the indicator lights are down there. Winter project maybe.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 13, 2009, 08:18:12 PM
I don't know how good it would look but the speedo cable from the CBR 600 F1 screwed right into the GS gauges so I assume the CBR gauges would work with the GS cable...

-Jessie
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: Jay_wolf on December 14, 2009, 03:20:43 AM
The Gs Cable does go into the kat speedo drive on the wheel.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: gregvhen on December 14, 2009, 10:46:26 AM
the cable goes in, but i had to cut off a little bit off the speedo because when the GS cable is screwed in all the way, the little square cable inside doesnt reach the pick up on the Kat speedo, once i cut off about 1/4 inch it worked fine.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: seamax on December 14, 2009, 01:39:30 PM
any pics of this mounted? and what about the tach?
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: gregvhen on December 14, 2009, 02:33:33 PM
Ill take pics in a day or two, the machine shop just finished my dash. No tach cause i didnt have the tach cable when i bought the bike.  but i know the Kat speedo will at least move cause ive lifted the front end and spun the wheel, what i dont know is how accurate it is.  But yea pics will be here soon
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: seamax on December 14, 2009, 02:37:14 PM
so are you going to install a tach at all? just wondering how you would adjust idle or change gears, etc without a tach
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: joshr08 on December 14, 2009, 03:11:48 PM
change gears by sound
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: centuryghost on December 14, 2009, 03:16:37 PM
Up till recently, I've been riding without a tach for about 4 years. You can feel when you need to shift. In fact if you are depending on the tach for shift indication, I suggest you ride without one for a while to really get a feel for your motor.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: tt_four on December 14, 2009, 03:58:25 PM
I'd recommend riding a bike to get a feel for it first, then disconnect the tach. At least find out what the redline of a bike is so you know how much you can wind it up. I had a 1983 dual sport with a broken tach as a first bike. Normal riding was ok, but I was always afraid to push it because I had absolutely no idea where the redline was.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 14, 2009, 05:41:27 PM
Quote from: tt_four on December 13, 2009, 08:10:56 PM
It'd be great to know what some other options are for a speedo. I've browsed the wiki and haven't found anything. I hate the way the GS gauges stick up, especially since I switched to clipons. Anyone else ever switch to any other gauges? It would be nice to be able to modify the stock gauges so they angled down a bit, but all the indicator lights are down there. Winter project maybe.

These were the gauges on the CBR.  Don't think the temp gauge would do much good on a GS.  Might be able to mount these to an F models fairing, don't know about making the tach work though.

-Jessie

(http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/jessiedoran/cbr1.jpg)
(http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/jessiedoran/cbr2.jpg)
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: joshr08 on December 14, 2009, 06:56:27 PM
if you cant ride a bike and hear in the motor when it needs to shift or your goin to blow it you really shouldnt be riding. 
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: seamax on December 15, 2009, 08:18:41 AM
Quote from: joshr08 on December 14, 2009, 06:56:27 PM
if you cant ride a bike and hear in the motor when it needs to shift or your goin to blow it you really shouldnt be riding. 

LOL. I should just stop riding now and go electric so I won't have to hear anything except whining.

I change gears with my feeling of the power of the bike and knowing what gear I'm in and of course the situation, esp with the GS since the powerband is limited. My exhaust drowns the motor sound but it might just be nice to know when your are close to hitting the redline or even where it is...and also to adjust you idle.  8)

That CBR gauge cluster looks hideous to me. Does the kat one look the same?
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 15, 2009, 08:41:11 AM
'91 Kat Gauges (fuel gauge obscured by right clip on)

(http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/jessiedoran/strap3.jpg)
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: gregvhen on December 15, 2009, 01:00:06 PM
Yea my speedo looks exactly like the one in this pic! so is that mounted on a GS?  and for those of you who say i should use a tach for adjusting idle, and for shifting, ive been riding motorcycles since i was 12 and never once have i looked to see what RPM im ideling or shifting at. shifting is just kind of something you do without thinking about it and setting idle is easyily done by listening, and if my idle is off by 100 rpms then i like it to be off by 100 rpms lol.  But thats cool if you like to use it, not knocken 'em im just saying im fine without one.
Title: Re: Kat Speedo compatibility?
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 15, 2009, 01:32:37 PM
Quote from: gregvhen on December 15, 2009, 01:00:06 PM
Yea my speedo looks exactly like the one in this pic! so is that mounted on a GS? 

That's a stock '91 Katana.