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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: i-man on September 09, 2014, 11:16:04 AM
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Hi All,
I've been reading through this wonderful forum, and have learned a bunch. One question I have, that I haven't found a satisfying answer to, here or else where, is if you can simply eliminate the instrument cluster. Most of what I've found concerns ways to transfer the functionality to an aftermarket cluster. The bike I have now (not my newly purchased k75) is speedo only, and I like it that way. Id love it if I could cap the wires, tuck them in, run a bicycle speedo, or some such, and be done with it. I have some experience with BMW's, so I'm guessing it can't possibly be that easy, but I thought I'd ask.
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IBMWR.org has a how to for using a bicycle speedometer on a K
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I have just done mine. I bought an daytona asura. But have used other cheaper options before also om BMs. Pretty straightforward but plan to spend some time staring at a wiring diagram. :).
Also you will have to change your spark plugs to resistive in order to eliminate interference. Dont ask me why.
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You can do most anything you want, for the right amount of $.
Yes you can do away with the stock inst cluster, the question will be then 'what-if-any' of the current cluster information/options are you going to want to keep or have available with your new setup. That will be your challenge.
The only thing that I can think of that you may have an issue with would be having an odometer for mileage tracking if you intend to sale the bike in the future.
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Thanks for the feed back.
that's the thing- I don't want any of the options. I wouldn't run a speedo if it weren't required by law. I don't want to stare at a wiring diagram, I want to pull the wires out of the hideous cluster, donate it to science, and never set eyes on it again. if the only down side to that is I have to pull in the clutch to start it, I can live with that.
I hear you on the resale thing, and needing to know the milage, but it's pretty rough, with 90,000 miles, so I'm not overly concerned with that either. it's already this close to becoming a parts bike.
With all of that said - talk me out of it, or tell me it's not that easy.
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I hear you on the resale thing, and needing to know the milage, but it's pretty rough, with 90,000 miles, so I'm not overly concerned with that either. it's already this close to becoming a parts bike.
That's nowhere near becoming a parts bike. A mod like that will cost you the resale value...KBB is currently $2750.
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Damn the torpedoes! Can it be done or not!? ; )
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heck, unplug the wires from the back of the speedo pod and see if it runs. I know the self canceling turn signals are tied to the odometer impulses, so something weird may happen there. I'm curious to see what you find out.
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Unplug everything and just try it. Worst case, it doesn't work and you have to plug everything back in.
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Damn the torpedoes! Can it be done or not!? ; )
+1 for positive attitude!
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I've tracked the wires to the point where they enter the cluster. I seem to remember seeing a picture of them 'unplugged'. Just 'unplug' it?
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It should be possible to run without the instrument cluster. You'll need to pull in the clutch to start the bike and you'll need to find a way to substitute the charge indicator light (because it's needed to charge the battery) otherwise you'll be running a total loss system. You'll end up losing a lot of critical driver indicator lights (turn signals, BMU, neutral, high beam, fuel reserve, oil pressure) and some nice to have features like the gear indicator and clock. Your bicycle speedo will need wheel mounted sensor since the rear speed sensor will not work.
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Thanks for the comments. We'll see. Just dreaming while I wait for parts. But i am sincere in my desire to do it.
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If you can do it without chopping the plugs off the end of the loom then you always have the option to replace them easily -- or at least, don't throw the plugs away if you chop them and leave some decent tails so it can be spliced. Be aware, some bicycle speedos don't read reliably over about 40mph - I had one on a motorbike a few years ago and it got all confused doing things like displaying 12mph when I was doing 70.... I would only see a 'need' to start changing spark plugs and stuff if you run a wireless rf speedo and it shows interference.
Having (or not) an odo isn't that much of an issue imo. I'm pretty sure there's not many people with a 20+ year old 90,000mile bike who can prove that mileage 'beyond doubt'. Clocks are easy to change, what's to say any possible replacements had a higher or lower mileage, or got reset to the same?
As rbm said, you'll need to run the magnet and reed switch that comes with the bike speedo, probably mounted on the front wheel/forks as well.
As for dummy lights, with the exception of the charge light (which if you really don't want on display you can stick a bulb anywhere and hide it) I would only class the ones legally required as 'critical'. Here, that would be main/high beam and indicator repeater (if indicators are fitted). Everything else is a 'nice to have', my old BSA had a main beam light, and that was it - I got on with it fine. Oh, and here as well the speedo should be backlit/illuminated, but I've never been questioned when I was running one.
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At this point, I'm going to keep the cluster, cuz I just want to get it on the road and there's no reason to start throwing in complications now.
i think you get where I'm coming from, pdg. I've mostly had old, simple bikes, and I like it that way. This k75 is by far the most advanced bike I've had, tech wise. Pretty funny, being 24 years old.
Simplifying the bike as much as possible is still my long term goal. Thanks for all the help.
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At this point, I'm going to keep the cluster, cuz I just want to get it on the road and there's no reason to start throwing in complications now.
i think you get where I'm coming from, pdg. I've mostly had old, simple bikes, and I like it that way. This k75 is by far the most advanced bike I've had, tech wise. Pretty funny, being 24 years old.
Simplifying the bike as much as possible is still my long term goal. Thanks for all the help.
Check out Tim Tyler's mods on his bike, he got rid of a lot of stock stuff -- there's a project thread on this forum. Lots of people have made their Kbikes into cafe style, google it and you'll probably get some good ideas and tips.