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Jim B
 Senior Member
491 Posts
Newark, Delaware
USA
Honda
CMX250 & CB750
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 Posted - 05/27/2008 : 11:03 AM
 
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Poll Question:
Those of you that have bikes without tachometers...do you wish you had one on your bike or not?
When I looked around for a bike, I felt 'naked' sitting on bikes without one.
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| Results: |
| No, don't think it is necessary |
[63%] |
30 votes |
| Yes, I wish I had one |
[38%] |
18 votes |
| = Guests |
(21
votes) |
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Poll Status:
Closed »» |
Total Votes: 48 counted »» |
Last Vote:
06/27/2008 8:35 AM |
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scottrnelson
Advanced Member
6954 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, ID
USA
Honda
XR650L, 790 Adv R
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Posted - 05/27/2008 : 11:19 AM
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Both of my bike have tachometers and I added one to one of the Ducati Monsters that I had before these two, but I voted that tachometers are not necessary. I check mine most often to see if I'm running the engine too slow - below 3000 rpms. Occasionally for rapid acceleration I'll watch the tach to shift at about 9000 rpms, but it's not really necessary.
On my 888, the tachometer is slow enough that I usually have to shift a bit early anyway to keep from hitting the rev limiter. I rarely get any useful information from looking at my tachometer. |
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BadBob
Standard Member
161 Posts
Know Name City, Unknown
USA
Yamaha
V-Star 1100
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Posted - 05/27/2008 : 3:44 PM
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| A kid who lives down the street from me recently ran his R6 into a light pole in the Target parking lot. When I saw him the next day (sporting a fractured clavicle,) I asked him what he'd been doing when he ran into the pole. He replied that he'd been watching his tach, trying to learn how to recognize the red-line in each gear by sound and feel so he wouldn't have to look at the tach anymore. |
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sixsigma
Advanced Member
801 Posts
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Suzuki
Marauder vz 805
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Posted - 05/27/2008 : 5:41 PM
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No,
I had a tach on the first MC (new 1974 Yamaha TX500A - then again it also had a kick starter/electric start) and it was only interesting and somewhat useful to find the power-band (10,000) - my sedate Suzuki Cruiser tells me to shift without the tach via throttle response and feel (gotta love those shifts where it is silky smooth and feels like an automatic |
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AZJohn
Standard Member
133 Posts
Clarkdale, AZ
USA
Honda
05 Shadow Spirit 750
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Posted - 05/27/2008 : 10:37 PM
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quote:
Those of you that have bikes without tachometers...do you wish you had one on your bike or not?
I would actually like to vote both ways on this topic. No, I don't think that a tachometer is necessary, but I still wish I had one. After getting to know my bike for a few months, I am comfortable that I know the engine based on its sound, but I would like also to know what sort of RPM it is cranking at. I'd rather have a gas guage before a tach. |
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Speedmaster07
Senior Member
287 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
USA
Triumph
Speedmaster
Peer Review:
Blocked
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Posted - 05/27/2008 : 11:24 PM
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| I have a tach, but it's mounted low, on the tank (where some bikes mount the speedo). The only time I look at it is when I'm bored, or occasionally on the freeway to make sure I'm in the right gear. I don't consider it to be a necessity... nor do I consider the speedo to be a necessity (don't spend much time looking at it either). I do, however, like having a clock mounted on the handlebars. |
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AZJohn
Standard Member
133 Posts
Clarkdale, AZ
USA
Honda
05 Shadow Spirit 750
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Posted - 05/28/2008 : 12:50 AM
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quote:
I do, however, like having a clock mounted on the handlebars.
I also have a clock and also a thermometer mounted on my handlebar. The clock has been pretty handy. The thermometer often reads in excess of 100F, of which I do not like being reminded. I may just take that darn thing off. |
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aa6vh
Standard Member
165 Posts
Oxnard, CA
USA
Suzuki
Burgman 650
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Posted - 05/28/2008 : 9:15 AM
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| My scooter has a tachometer. Since there is no shifting on the scooter, I do wonder why its there. |
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rioguy
Ex-Member
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Posted - 05/28/2008 : 9:31 AM
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quote:
My scooter has a tachometer. Since there is no shifting on the scooter, I do wonder why its there.
I have a Burgman 650 and a Yamaha Majesty 400. Both have tachometers. I can shift on the Burgman, but it doesn't help anything.
I've found that if I pick a central speed I want to hold, say 75mph and slow a couple mph when the tach increases due to going uphill and speed up a couple miles per hour when it decreases due to going downhill, then I can significantly increase my gas mileage. (5 to 10 mpg.) (For those that don't ride these, these scooters have a CVS transmission so they are constantly shifting for you.)
Note: I don't recommend this technique if it would be discourteous to vehicles behind you.
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Jim B
Senior Member
491 Posts
Newark, Delaware
USA
Honda
CMX250 & CB750
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Posted - 05/28/2008 : 6:51 PM
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Interesting responses from everyone.
My V-Strom has an instrument cluster with a tach, clock, fuel gauge, temp gauge, and dual tripmeters, all digital.
There must be a reason why most new sportbikes have a huge tach in the rider's face, while everything else is small.
I feel that people with hearing problems may benefit from having a tach, especially if the bike's engine is very smooth. Obviously those with good hearing can tell when it is time to upshift. |
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Woof
Standard Member
159 Posts
Jacksonville, North Carolina
USA
Suzuki
SV1000S
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Posted - 06/03/2008 : 9:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jim B
Interesting responses from everyone.
There must be a reason why most new sportbikes have a huge tach in the rider's face, while everything else is small.
My guess would be it's because today's sportbikes are built primarily for use on the track--maybe it's more important to use shift points, RPM, and gear selection (some new sportbikes have gear indicators) than it is to know how fast you're going? I would bet that speedometers are federally mandated for street bikes.
For myself, when I'm on a rare ride through the twisties, I won't fixate on speed to the point that I'd try to set up for a corner at the same speed (or faster) that I'd taken it before. I would, however, like to know that the engine's somewhere in the powerband in case I want or need more acceleration.
Maybe someone who actually rides on track days or races can weigh in? |
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Cereal Killer
Starting Member
6 Posts
Roseville, CA
USA
BMW
K1200LT
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Posted - 06/05/2008 : 9:08 PM
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I have a tach on my bike, and will admit to rarely looking at it. I think I'm like most riders, and most of my riding is at significantly less than redline, when shifting by sound or throttle response is more than adequate.
I am glad it is there for the occasional times that I want to max my acceleration, such as passing or getting on a freeway. Or sometimes if I just want to do a "spirited" ride. Those are the times that I do use it, even if that might be 1 or 2% of the miles I put on the bike. |
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Discussion Topic |
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Tachometer - Needed or not?