The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: badgertom on March 10, 2015, 07:35:45 PM
-
Are there any speedometers on that market that will work on my 1982 R65?
The cable replacement may be the real issue since most speedometers on the market do not use the BMW cable. The Tach should be easy to replace but the speedometer may be a problem. I have found one company ( Dime City Cycles that has the Acewell 2853 Digital Speedometer/TAchometer) which seems to work but the re-wiring is a nightmare. Anything else available? Thanks for any info.
-
Trailtech speedo/tachs are easy to install. The tach wire can be tied to the coil or wrapped around the spark plug lead. Speed sensor is magnetic and gets put on the front wheel/fork, like a bicycle speedometer.
As for your warning lights, not sure what trailtech offers for that. Monte has a pretty slick setup with a trailtech unit and his oil pressure warning light nestled into the steering head.
P.S. Hello again follow R65ers! I'm coming out of hibernation.
-
I have a mildly expensive, but beautiful, solution.
Buy a GPS speedo from speedcafe.com and then have your local instrument fitter put the GPS speed "guts" into the standard BMW Speedo "can".
The pesky speedo cable can then be dispensed with and a suitable cap purchased and installed.
My own view of my R65 is that originality is important and where original parts cannot be sourced then something that looks OEM is better than something that does not, note that this is a personal view and not shared by many other r65 owners.
There is a good write-up in the BMWOA forum from a guy who installed one in his R80 G/S - this was what caused my ears to prick up as the early model R80 G/S used the same speedo as R65/R80 S/T and many R65 speedos ended up in G/Ss due to their somewhat higher "consumption" of such items.
Anyway, with a selectable "hot start" you get virtually instant start up and the sampling rate is to my eye about the same as the response time for a cable driven speedo.
A further alternative is to simply purchase one of the automotive "HUD" GPS dashboard speedos (preferably one that can display in normal or mirrored text) and velcro that to your instrument panel. A decent one will have no difficulty with the heat and should be waterproof - costs start at around $80 out of China.
Final alternative - there are still reasonable stock in the USA of R65 MPH speedos with the 80mph max and the enlarged 55mph - I am using one of these myself with GPS checked marking for 60/80/100 kph and calibrated eyebrow extrapolation elsewhere.
-
Acewell do produce a cable which you can attach to the digital units which connects at the place on the gearbox, if you choose to go that route.
I have one on mine and no problems whatsoever. http://www.acewell.co.uk/Acewell%20Accessories%20and%20Sensors/Speed%20Sensors%20-%20Cable%20Drive/index.htm
-
Digi TrailTech on my 1981 R65 and 1978 R100S. Easy hookup with only three small gauge wires, one of which is not used on the Airhead.
1983 R65 has a digital Acewell with the fancy little plug that replaces the OEM transmission cable and boot. Not a terribly difficult wiring install; just follow the instructions after reading through them at least twice. The Acewell looks rather period correct but you will have to pay more for that than with the TrailTech.
First photo is R65. Second R100S. Acewell photo presently AWOL.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520Instruments%2FOPlite02_zps98159375.jpg&hash=41b83881cb66ff395407e62ddb5260c50f71a0c0) (http://s196.photobucket.com/user/montmil/media/BMW%20Instruments/OPlite02_zps98159375.jpg.html)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520Instruments%2FR100Svapor1_zps812079e8.jpg&hash=6b2aaa6db26f5bdf42ee978462aaf9d424a02a62) (http://s196.photobucket.com/user/montmil/media/BMW%20Instruments/R100Svapor1_zps812079e8.jpg.html)
TrailTech Vapor owners manual with install instructions:
http://gallery.trailtech.net/media/instructions/computers/vapor/vapor_instructions.pdf
http://www.trailtech.net/
-
I am currently in the process of replacing my speedo with an Acewell unit. I will try and be more diligent that usual and post some install pics. First impression is that it is a lot smaller than I expected. The speedo sender in the gearbox took all of 2-3 minutes to install and route the wire. Nifty piece of hardware.
-
I have just fitted a Acewell.
Works great, not to difficult to fit.
-
I have the Acewell mounted and I am very happy with it. I agree with Monte, the instructions leave a lot to be desired but it was not the complicated. After getting stopped for going "too slow" I started to question the calibration instructions for the Acewell and wondered if it was accurate. I mounted my GPS and sure enough using the supplied instructions I was indicating anywhere from 2-5 mph faster than actual speed. I adjusted The Acewell to match the GPS readings.
I left the GPS mounted but it is kind of cluttered now.