Gear indicators...talk to me

[T0MMY]

I'm thinking of getting a gear indicator for my track bike. There's a wide variation in price with the cheapest being ones that just use magnets to actuate switches that count the up and down movements of the gear lever. Are these just shite or worth the money? Do I need to spend a bit more and get a decent one or will they do the job?
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Fisty]

Magnetic type ones give false readings on a boringly regular basis and then need resetting.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[BigTobyD]

Why? Just why?

Ride the track and judge your gears through feel, if you have time to check a gear indicator you're not trying hard enough...
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2002 KDX220R - 2006 300EXC - 2006 EC300 - 2005 625SXC

[Jim Mc]

Have an accumen on mine, which appears to take a reading from the ECU.

Find it utterly pointless if I'm honest, you tend to need them when you're at traffic lights, either coasting the last few yards or when setting off if you've forgot which gear you're in, only trouble is it doesn't indicate the gear when the clutch is depressed.

They don't really help you when you're slowing on approach to junctions/lights, because you're concentrating on the road ahead and the display doesn't update fast enough, you tend to know you've cycled the gears through by the resistance of the gear lever before the display will tell you anything useful.

[UKRedwing]

Was given a datatool digi one, just had to solder it to certain wires behind the clocks, will only work if you have a digi speedo that takes a reading from the front sprocket / rear wheel.

Pretty pointless tbh but its a pretty nifty little toy for free...

[L-Jam]

Got one built in on my gixxer, tbh I find it extremely useful being new to the bike, but then that's for the road. It is also very accurate and quick.
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Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[Polarbear]

If you have a FI bike then I would reccomend a GIPro. Plug in, no cutting, programming etc. Instant reading when you change gear.

Not cheap but good. My missus had one on her Bandit. I had one with ATRE on my busa. Both were superb!
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[mistergixer]

Bit pointless IMHO.

Learn the 'changes' for a specific track, the actual gear is unimportant i.e. up 3 along the straight, down 2 for the next corner etc.
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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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[quasi1960]

I remember having one on my old Suzuki GT750. Interesting if slightly pointless toy. I also remember that in really wet weather the water would get in and it would flash up an 8 or a 9.

[waffles]

[L-Jam]

Yeah Waffles that's when it's best, but because I'm new to the bike and to 750's it's also helpful in telling me whether I'm in 4th 5th or 6th for overtakes, not that it really matters
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Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[Deckx]

i bought one for a track bike a couple years ago, never got it to work properly so took it off... The Gixxer has one which was usefull the first day but after that rarely look at it at track unless you completely botch your shifts.... better off spending your money on a lap timer ..