Gear indicator

wantsabike

wantsabike

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So I was thinking of adding a gear indicator on my s40 but can’t find any that are made for the bike, so I was wondering if I can just order one like from Amazon that has the 3 wires and wire it into my bike ?
 
Maybe before you spend your money, try to stop thinking about it like "Am I in gear 1, 2, 3, 4, 5?". The numbers mean nothing. Forget they exist.

Try a more simple approach:

There are really only 3 gears on any motorcycle.

- Too low
- Too high
- Just right

If it's too low, the motor will feel really and sound buzzy and noisey --> shift up

If it's too high, the motor will feel and sound slow --> shift down

If it's just right, it won't feel and sound too buzzy, or too slow --> keep on smiling because you're on a motorcycle and you're doing it right
 
If you ride your bike enough, you can usually tell what gear you're in just by sound and feel.

That said, OP post up the Amazon link to the gear indicator. Most of these 3rd party add ons plug into the ECU to read this info so you need to make sure the connector is the correct one. I don't believe these plugs are universal.
 
I added one to my first bike and it's more so for the purposes of NOT hitting the shifter when you're already in 1st gear or already in the top gear.

I prefer them regardless of what anyone says.
 
The bike I have and ride is more of a cruiser then a crotch rocket lol, and I find myself reach for another gear when I’m already in last gear
 
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Healtech lists the GIpro X-type G2 + the GPX-WSS universal harness for the S40. I've got an Amazon knockoff of the Healtech on my old track bike and it's okay. These type read the RPM and the vehicle speed signals, then do some math to figure out what gear you're in. There's a noticeable delay of almost a second on my knockoff after you release the clutch before the unit figures out what gear you're now in, so it's not the type of thing that you want to use while banging down 3 gearshifts into a corner. It's perfectly fine elsewhere.

The GPX-WSS installation manual shows that this universal harness includes a speed sensor that needs to be installed on one of the wheels, so that's somewhat more of a pain in the butt than a model-specific plug & play harness. The S40 must not have the speed signal available in its diagnostic port. You'll also need to calibrate the unit, so depending on your level of technical skill you might want to look at a genuine Healtech rather than a generic knockoff for this reason, if only for the vastly better install and calibration docs.
 
Buy an electric motorcycle and that will solve the problem.
 
I'm with those who say, "Why?" and 100% on board with Adri's advice.

I've had 6-speed transmissions forever, and sometimes still find myself looking for an extra gear, or tap dancing on the shifter an extra time or 2 when in first. BIG DEAL! It's isn't doing any damage, slowing my progress or putting me at any risk.

The Suzuki 650 single is of a design that originated way back before ABS, fuel injection, ride modes and engine management CPU's and software were the norm. I wouldn't be surprised it it's still carbureted.

I think he'd/you'd be better off without the indicator. You bought the bike to get back into riding after a prolonged absence. Take this opportunity to re-familiarize yourself and re-learn necessary aspects of MC operation. "Feel" how the bike performs/reacts as opposed to seeking input from things like a gear indicator. If you can't tell that your lugging a 650 single below it's optimal rev range, or screaming it's guts out beyond that range a gear indicator isn't going to do you any good anyways.
 
Wingboy said:
Nah.I still look for a shifter.
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Does the dragonfly have something like a shifter? I'm envisioning something that lets you easily select torque/speed curves like you would have with gears so you aren't relying solely on your hand to control it.

For the OP, I'm with the majority. I would not add one. You'll get used to it. You aren't hurting anything. Spending time looking down at a gear indicator is less safe than keeping your eyes up (a small point to be sure but every millisecond your eyes aren't looking for traffic adds up). As long as you are moving at speed, I doubt you can hurt the S40 by revving the piss out of it. Sure it will be loud and buzzy but almost no bikes get worn out. They die due to lack of maintenance.
 
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GreyGhost said:
Does the dragonfly have something like a shifter? I'm envisioning something that lets you easily select torque/speed curves like you would have with gears so you aren't relying solely on your hand to control it.

For the OP, I'm with the majority. I would not add one. You'll get used to it. You aren't hurting anything. Spending time looking down at a gear indicator is less safe than keeping your eyes up (a small point to be sure but every millisecond your eyes aren't looking for traffic adds up).
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No shifter. No transmission. Power mode switch on handlebar.
 
I've had bikes with the gear indicators and without. I prefer @adri 's method. I think the KLX has one but it's lost on the LCD dash.
 
Well I have had bikes with them and without and I always just thought it was a cool addition to a bike is all
Looking at that for a split second wouldn’t be no different then looking to my Speedo (on the tank) lol

And he’s the bike still is got a carb which I like as they’re easy to fix and maintain, they’re simple and easy and I like that aspect of things just like the old cars simple and easy
 
Yeah, c'mon can't you tell your speed by the sound of the engine and how fast the trees are going by!? Who needs 1 of those.

Bunch of newbs I tell ya!
 
LBV said:
Yeah, c'mon can't you tell your speed by the sound of the engine and how fast the trees are going by!? Who needs 1 of those.

Bunch of newbs I tell ya!
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lol who said anything about telling what speed we're going?

When a cop pulls you over and asks "Do you know how fast you were going?" there are only two answers no matter what the speed is.

It's either "Fast enough you pulled me over" or "Slow enough you pulled me over" right?
 
wantsabike said:
The bike I have and ride is more of a cruiser then a crotch rocket lol, and I find myself reach for another gear when I’m already in last gear
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Dont bother with an indicator. On the S40 you will always be looking for that extra gear and you will think the indicator is wrong.
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