Why do you have a tach?

psychocycle · 04-05-2010, 12:53 AM

Just curious and didn't want to high-jack a brother's post. For those of you with a tach, are you using them for red-lining (racing) purposes? For everyday riding, I never saw a need for a tach, your shift points vary depending on the rate of acceleration and aggressiveness of your riding style. Plus, these bike have rev limiters (or so I thought). Just curious, for all my bikes I have never had a tach, but I certainly have had them in some of my cages for practical reasons.... drag racing, towing and 4-wheeling off-road. Thanks for your input.

lasse · 04-05-2010, 03:03 AM

I think the reason is as motivated as all other bling we put
on our bikes... It looks good...My guess.

ken · 04-05-2010, 03:25 AM

I will probably sound like a wimp or something but here goes - As I ride mostly on flat roads (no hills or mountains in north Germany), there are times when I find I'm not sure which gear I'm in...4th and 5th on the 1600 sound and feel pretty much the same (my opinion only - don't beat on me!!!). Plus I find my optimal rev is above 2000 RPMs for 3rd, 4th and 5th although in 5th revs are higher at higher speed. Anything under 2000 RPMS is too low and I'm sure it affects gas consumption, and of course, I feel it. As you can probably tell, I'm a rider with two left hands, not a mechanic. Ken

**trip** · 04-05-2010, 05:58 AM

I originally put a tach on my Nomad because I always had one on the Honda's that I had ridden and got used to one.

But, now I mainly use my tach to help in gas mileage. I have found if I can keep my revs below 3,000RPM, I can save on gas considerably.

bobhamlin · 04-05-2010, 06:03 AM

Another source of data. There are times I also use it to remember what gear I'm in.

Plus it looks cool.

lonewolf · 04-05-2010, 06:16 AM

Keeping my rpm's in check for fuel mileage, and as its been said, so i can remember what gear im in. plus it plugs a hole in my fairing !!! lol!!!

leadbelly · 04-05-2010, 06:29 AM

I am thinking of droping one in for the same reason, I can never remember what gear i'm in

dank · 04-05-2010, 07:34 AM

I had one on my Concours. Didn't miss it on the Nomad. Have one again on the ST1300. Hardly use it. Check it every now and then to see if I'm in 4th or 5th.

If it had been a couple hundred dollar option rather than standard, I would have skipped it.

lomax · 04-05-2010, 07:54 AM

Because it has a chrome cover and I got it for free!!!

flavor · 04-05-2010, 08:03 AM

I initially bought a tach because I read about the Nomad being so easy to lug or shift up in gears too fast. I could've figured the rpm by gear and speed as I believe Gadget's page lists those numbers. But since I like the way tachs look I went for the bucks. Of course my wife Pat was told that it was all to do with functionality.

dantama · 04-05-2010, 09:23 AM

I've always had a tach on all the bikes I've had, even a bike as cheap as my first street bike which was a 1979 Yamaha 650 special had one. I was disappointed that a somewhat premium bike by comparison doesn't have one.

I like one for all the reasons mentioned already. I also like precise information. I know by the seat of my pants how high in the rpm's I am, but I don't really know. For me, that's kind of like just "having a feel" for how much money is in your bank account vs getting on the computer and seeing exactly how much money is in there.

A $13,000 bike should have a tach.

cactusjack · 04-05-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadbelly #01341

I am thinking of droping one in for the same reason, I can never remember what gear i'm in

Wow, I thought it was just me. I have to try and shift to the mythical 6th gear to figure out if I'm in 4th or 5th.

tombstone · 04-05-2010, 09:56 AM

I agree with Brother Lund, for what the bike costs a tach should be included. I would like to have one, but don't want to drop the $$ right now to get one. Maybe next winter that can be one of my projects.

blowndodge · 04-05-2010, 10:25 AM

It "IS" just you Scott! Since the Nomads can't over rev due to the rev limiter my only thought is keep it at 75 MPH or under and I'll get 40MPG's. Thats about 2900rpm's with my larger tire.

josh · 04-05-2010, 11:13 AM

Honestly, because there was one on it when I bought it.....Granted I have only had my nomad for a month but have put over 1000 miles on it in between rainstorms during that month

04-05-2010, 12:53 AM	#1
psychocycle Advanced Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 822	Why do you have a tach? Just curious and didn't want to high-jack a brother's post. For those of you with a tach, are you using them for red-lining (racing) purposes? For everyday riding, I never saw a need for a tach, your shift points vary depending on the rate of acceleration and aggressiveness of your riding style. Plus, these bike have rev limiters (or so I thought). Just curious, for all my bikes I have never had a tach, but I certainly have had them in some of my cages for practical reasons.... drag racing, towing and 4-wheeling off-road. Thanks for your input. __________________ Psychocycle VBA # 1125 2002 1500 fi Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-05-2010, 03:03 AM	#2
lasse Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Västerås <sweden Posts: 123	Why do you have a tach? I think the reason is as motivated as all other bling we put on our bikes... It looks good...My guess.
	0

04-05-2010, 03:25 AM	#3
ken Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Germany Posts: 295	Why do you have a tach? I will probably sound like a wimp or something but here goes - As I ride mostly on flat roads (no hills or mountains in north Germany), there are times when I find I'm not sure which gear I'm in...4th and 5th on the 1600 sound and feel pretty much the same (my opinion only - don't beat on me!!!). Plus I find my optimal rev is above 2000 RPMs for 3rd, 4th and 5th although in 5th revs are higher at higher speed. Anything under 2000 RPMS is too low and I'm sure it affects gas consumption, and of course, I feel it. As you can probably tell, I'm a rider with two left hands, not a mechanic. Ken __________________ Ken in Grosshansdorf
	0

04-05-2010, 05:58 AM	#4
trip VBA Founder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lindale, Texas Posts: 6,846	Why do you have a tach? I originally put a tach on my Nomad because I always had one on the Honda's that I had ridden and got used to one. But, now I mainly use my tach to help in gas mileage. I have found if I can keep my revs below 3,000RPM, I can save on gas considerably. __________________ Robert "Trip" Hilliard VBA/KawaNOW - Founder/Past President VBA # 00001 Trip's Website Custer 09, 18 / Maggie Valley 11 / Eureka Springs 09, 17 / Antlers 09, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 Texas Hill Country / Deals Gap / Colorado / Wyoming / Montana / Utah / More trips for Trip
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04-05-2010, 06:03 AM	#5
bobhamlin Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Thurmont MD Posts: 760	Why do you have a tach? Another source of data. There are times I also use it to remember what gear I'm in. Plus it looks cool. __________________ Bob Hamlin RC PGR '06 VN1600D6F Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-05-2010, 06:16 AM	#6
lonewolf Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central mn. Posts: 545	Why do you have a tach? Keeping my rpm's in check for fuel mileage, and as its been said, so i can remember what gear im in. plus it plugs a hole in my fairing !!! lol!!! __________________ Kawanow # 370 2007 red and titanium nomad Darksider
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04-05-2010, 06:29 AM	#7
leadbelly Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada Posts: 340	Why do you have a tach? I am thinking of droping one in for the same reason, I can never remember what gear i'm in __________________ '08 Blue/Silver
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04-05-2010, 07:34 AM	#8
dank Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,595	Why do you have a tach? I had one on my Concours. Didn't miss it on the Nomad. Have one again on the ST1300. Hardly use it. Check it every now and then to see if I'm in 4th or 5th. If it had been a couple hundred dollar option rather than standard, I would have skipped it. __________________ Dan K Member #100 2009 ST1300: Performance exceeding even Victory riders' boasts.
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04-05-2010, 07:54 AM	#9
lomax Advanced Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Morinville, AB Posts: 904	Why do you have a tach? Because it has a chrome cover and I got it for free!!! __________________ ________________________________ "lomax" 2014 Voyager Mike Donahue Morinville, AB VBA#17 "Every day above ground is a good one!" _________________________________
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04-05-2010, 08:03 AM	#10
flavor Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: RI Posts: 1,351	Why do you have a tach? I initially bought a tach because I read about the Nomad being so easy to lug or shift up in gears too fast. I could've figured the rpm by gear and speed as I believe Gadget's page lists those numbers. But since I like the way tachs look I went for the bucks. Of course my wife Pat was told that it was all to do with functionality.
	0

04-05-2010, 09:23 AM	#11
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	Why do you have a tach? I've always had a tach on all the bikes I've had, even a bike as cheap as my first street bike which was a 1979 Yamaha 650 special had one. I was disappointed that a somewhat premium bike by comparison doesn't have one. I like one for all the reasons mentioned already. I also like precise information. I know by the seat of my pants how high in the rpm's I am, but I don't really know. For me, that's kind of like just "having a feel" for how much money is in your bank account vs getting on the computer and seeing exactly how much money is in there. A $13,000 bike should have a tach.
	0

04-05-2010, 09:56 AM	#13
tombstone Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 437	Why do you have a tach? I agree with Brother Lund, for what the bike costs a tach should be included. I would like to have one, but don't want to drop the $$ right now to get one. Maybe next winter that can be one of my projects.
	0

04-05-2010, 10:25 AM	#14
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Why do you have a tach? It "IS" just you Scott! Since the Nomads can't over rev due to the rev limiter my only thought is keep it at 75 MPH or under and I'll get 40MPG's. Thats about 2900rpm's with my larger tire. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

04-05-2010, 11:13 AM	#15
josh Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 221	Why do you have a tach? Honestly, because there was one on it when I bought it.....Granted I have only had my nomad for a month but have put over 1000 miles on it in between rainstorms during that month
	0

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