Riding without gauges

[Whosthedaddy]

If when riding your bike you are screaming down the A roads without a care in the world at well over the ton, or gently filtering through traffic in and about town, do you really need a speedo for every day use?

I cant stand the dials and gauges that are on the FZR and am tempted not to put them back on again. The only one that I can see of any real use is the neutral warning light which could be rewired to a LED and mounted somewhere else.
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Itchy]

You don't really need one since you can judge by pacing other traffic , but need one by law and can't but help glance down at it before going past a camera.

Pacing doesn't always work either cus there are many who are all too willing to go way over the speed limit which makes them think they can Pwn me (they can't I just don't think its sensible to race a Subaru @ 60mph on a 30mph road).

Maybe you should get a head up display instead.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Danny]

When my speedo broke I did ride the bike until I got round to fixing it, but I wouldn't deliberately disable it for the road.

[Lawnie]

I'd be paranoid around speed cameras, more so than I am now!

[Wave2k]

my speedo broke last time in scotland and i didnt ever fix it, thats like 3000 miles .
____________________
Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[tony532]

sod that mate the amount of coppers parked up on deserted roads every sunday in a radar van.
____________________
bikes owned :-

aprilia rs125 - suzuki gsxr400rrsp 1990 - yamaha yzf600r thundercat - honda hornet 6

[stinkwheel]

The speedo hasn't worked on my bike for the last 12 months.

I did get stopped for speeding, but I knew I was speeding (you could tell by the way it was topped out in sixth gear).

[Rob W]

[Zimbo]

Without a working speedo your bike does not comply with construction and use regs, and is thus considered unroadworthy in a legal sense. You'll probably get away with it, but if you were involved in a serious accident, for instance, they would probably realise it's not there and you'll be well and truly done over. Imagine - run over a child, policeman describes your bike as unroadworthy in court (even though it's perfect in every other sense) and you haven't much chance of getting out of it, even if the accident wasn't your fault in the first place.

You can probably get a replacement aftermarket unit, if that's any use?

[KyleH]

the one guage you need to legally ride is your speedo
even a bicycle one would do

[Wave2k]

[fast_tzr]

Get one of these
https://www.optitune.nl/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=107_108&products_id=1655
MRD(metrakit) also do a fairly sexy one looking much the same as this one really, however I think it costs a fair bit more.

[Method]

I voted yes - because yes, i would ride without a speedo if it were to snap or something whilst i was out and about, or if i was going to get it repaired or i had to get somewhere - work for example.

But i do regularly check my speedo for many reasons - i dont want to get gayed by the police, i dont want to get gayed by hidden speed camera's, and mainly - speed limits are there for a reason, so it makes sense to try and follow them
____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[bazza]

[kronjp]

How do you get on for keeping regular service intervals if you don't have a speedo showing you how many kms you've covered? Go by the number of tank fill-ups?

[Whosthedaddy]

[GearboxGeezer]

I rode with out a speedo for about 2 months, and I didnt really have any problems. Apart from it can be pretty scarey and annoying.

It can also be considered dangerous, since when you come to a camera your obviously going to slow down more than the car infront, and if the idiot behind you gets dead on the speed limit and isnt really consentrating, then you brake pretty hard or somthing because your not sure of the speed you are at... the rest explains itself

I found it annoying as I just put my big bore kit on as well and I wanted to know my top speed

They are simple to fix though, I was just lazey, my speedo drive ( the thing on the wheel, I think thats what they call it.. ) was the broken part, only took 20 mins to change, maybe its the same case for you? If you got one on the bike have a look at it, if it looks damaged then thats your problem, or look at the cable, unclip it and look at the ends of the wire, they should be square, but they can round off therefore they wont be working!

[suzi_bandit]

My speedo cable snapped at a guess about 5,000 miles ago. Although I bought a new cable straight away I was in no hurry to fit it. Rarely get cameras on the roads I ride, the vans and helicopter seem to keep an eye on the A40 on a Sunday when it turns into a race track so I stay clear.
I fitted the new cable a couple of days ago because I like to set the clock when I fill up with petrol. It's peace of mind for me to have a rough idea of when I need to fill up. I've forgotten a couple of times that I'd gone on to reserve and have almost run the tank dry.
What I have noticed now the speedo is working again is that my average speed seems to have gone up by about 20mph. Ooopsie!
____________________
I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Vin]

Mine's broken in my car. The only time its an issue is at speed cameras. I'd argue I am probably a bit safer without it as I am not constanly looking at the speedo and probably over compensate and drive more slowly in 30 limits

[Twisted2004]

Road my 125 DT without a speed cable for about 4 months!

Just went at the same or slightly slower than other vehicles when going through traffic lights.

Mind u that bike was a heap of junk.....newish sort of bike and those with a bit of power - speedo is essential!
____________________
Previous : DT125 > XJ600S > YZF1000R > Honda CBR1000RR-8 Fireblade (White) - Stolen > Honda CBR125R> Honda CBR1000RR-8 Fireblade (Red)
Current : Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak (For Sale)

[stinkwheel]

[craigs23]

I usually check my speedo when I'm in built up/restricted-speed areas. I'd be too paranoid riding without one as a double check, even though I'm quite familiar with what my bike does gear/rpm/mph wise.

[Whosthedaddy]

I think thats the only time a lot of drivers or riders check their speed.
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[mad4it028]

a supermoto dosnt have to have speedo , lights,indicators,or even mirrors for mot only a brake light
____________________
always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[TheDonUK]

My speedo has not been working for the last... 2500 miles or so.

Broke on at the beginning of my trip to scotland, and havent fixed it since. I have a good sense of what speed i am doing from looking around me, or where my revs are for the gear i am in...

Top gear/12k and a police station coming up, time to roll off the throttle a bit ...

Bit serously am i the only one that instinctively knows what speed i am going (give or take 5mph) up to say 60....