I've searched, checked the faqs, and googled and still can't seem to find a definative answer. The Acumen brand comes up often as does someone's custom built indicator, but I'm looking for something cheaper than $145 and easier to install than a homemade one.

All I need is a digital readout with the gear numbered until I get accustomed to the bike. I'm new to manual transmission and this is my first bike (04 GS500F)

You guys have a great site here...thanks in advance for any input.

Even as you're getting used to the bike and manual transmissions, I don't think you'll find you really need a gear shift indicator.  Just shift up when the revs are getting really high, and shift down when the revs get really low.  When coming to a stop, shift down until it stop clunking.  Shifting is largely intuitive, and you'll be surprised how fast you catch on.  The specifric gear you're in doesn't matter nearly as much as long as you're in the right gear.  And it's pretty easy to tell.  And since the transmission is sequential, you can't do anything dumb like go from 1st to 4th on accident.

yeah, you really dont need to know what gear your in actually but rather where your rpms are at.  just keep it about mid range and youll be good.

Quote from: countdown on October 14, 2006, 09:19:35 AM
I've searched, checked the faqs, and googled and still can't seem to find a definative answer. The Acumen brand comes up often as does someone's custom built indicator, but I'm looking for something cheaper than $145 and easier to install than a homemade one.

All I need is a digital readout with the gear numbered until I get accustomed to the bike. I'm new to manual transmission and this is my first bike (04 GS500F)

You guys have a great site here...thanks in advance for any input.

There is no final verdict or definitive answer to this.

I think you're looking for something cheap, easy to install and of course reliable that doesn't exist.

I built a custom gear indicator some time ago and find that I use it less now than before.

But I still find it useful at times.  Like when I'm downshifting and want to verify that I'm in the correct gear before a turn. Or to see how many gears I have left when shifting up.

My pea brain seems to loose track of the gear I'm in.

At startup it gives me a positive indication that I am not in neutral.

For me it has some advantages but nothing I couldn't do without if I had to.

And eventually you'll be able to look at the speedo and tach and tell which gear you are in...
And if you know which gear you are in the rmp will give you the speed...
And you'll prob be able to tell rmp just by sound...
So who needs instruments? Except to tell you to cancel your turn signal?