Turn signal indicator light, re-locate and dim- FLSTC evo 1999
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
The bikes have a rev limiter also, so unless you are drag racing where hitting the rev limiter will hurt your ET, you've got it to rely on. As Prot said, I have a tach and I very seldom look at it, you learn to drive by sound and feel. Redline is only 5200 so there's not much to work with compared to other bikes.
That said if you want a tach, you're correct that a handlebar mount is the way to go. I have a tank mount split gauge and it's pretty useless for the tach portion as I don't like to take my eyes off the road long enough to watch it. I like the handlebar clamp mount of the police road kings, you might look at that mount. Drag specialties makes a little tach that you can mount on the handlebar anywhere you want as well. I had one and it was good.
As far as the turn signals...I'd suggest you get the new lens. When you see how much brighter the indicators are, I frankly think you'll get used to glancing down to see if they are on. I think you'll get used to knowing if they are on or off, once I could see mine, it was fine. That'll save you some wiring and hassle.
That said if you want a tach, you're correct that a handlebar mount is the way to go. I have a tank mount split gauge and it's pretty useless for the tach portion as I don't like to take my eyes off the road long enough to watch it. I like the handlebar clamp mount of the police road kings, you might look at that mount. Drag specialties makes a little tach that you can mount on the handlebar anywhere you want as well. I had one and it was good.
As far as the turn signals...I'd suggest you get the new lens. When you see how much brighter the indicators are, I frankly think you'll get used to glancing down to see if they are on. I think you'll get used to knowing if they are on or off, once I could see mine, it was fine. That'll save you some wiring and hassle.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,560
From: Haslet Texas
The bikes have a rev limiter also, so unless you are drag racing where hitting the rev limiter will hurt your ET, you've got it to rely on. As Prot said, I have a tach and I very seldom look at it, you learn to drive by sound and feel. Redline is only 5200 so there's not much to work with compared to other bikes.
That said if you want a tach, you're correct that a handlebar mount is the way to go. I have a tank mount split gauge and it's pretty useless for the tach portion as I don't like to take my eyes off the road long enough to watch it. I like the handlebar clamp mount of the police road kings, you might look at that mount. Drag specialties makes a little tach that you can mount on the handlebar anywhere you want as well. I had one and it was good.
As far as the turn signals...I'd suggest you get the new lens. When you see how much brighter the indicators are, I frankly think you'll get used to glancing down to see if they are on. I think you'll get used to knowing if they are on or off, once I could see mine, it was fine. That'll save you some wiring and hassle.
That said if you want a tach, you're correct that a handlebar mount is the way to go. I have a tank mount split gauge and it's pretty useless for the tach portion as I don't like to take my eyes off the road long enough to watch it. I like the handlebar clamp mount of the police road kings, you might look at that mount. Drag specialties makes a little tach that you can mount on the handlebar anywhere you want as well. I had one and it was good.
As far as the turn signals...I'd suggest you get the new lens. When you see how much brighter the indicators are, I frankly think you'll get used to glancing down to see if they are on. I think you'll get used to knowing if they are on or off, once I could see mine, it was fine. That'll save you some wiring and hassle.
I have nothing constructive to add...just a comment that I still HATE the stupid HD turn signal control setup and would gladly go through the aggravation of re-wiring my bars if someone only made a Japanese-style three-way switch that fits correctly.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
It is a waste of space now that you mention it. And if you look at modern bikes, the controls are starting to hang down so low, between cruise, navigation, iPod sound system, etc that you need ape hangers to keep the controls from rubbing your knees! I'm surprised they haven't made a simple blinker switch like my 1972 Honda 500 Four, it was small but worked great. Then they can use those huge switches for the seat vibromassage or the foot rub or whatever else there is now.
I haven't seen one in person, but I understand that even BMW has gone to the single, left hand, three-way switch setup.
And IIRC the MoCo used that setup on the Buells.
And from what I can tell, the new "Street" models use them too.
I get that a big part of the HD gestalt is based on stubbornly clinging to old technology, but this is one area where I wish they would make an exception.
The three-way switch setup is just plain better. Among other things (getting back to this thread), you never have to look down to know whether or not they are on. If you want them to be on, turn them on. If you want them to be off, turn them off. Never any guesswork.
And IIRC the MoCo used that setup on the Buells.
And from what I can tell, the new "Street" models use them too.
I get that a big part of the HD gestalt is based on stubbornly clinging to old technology, but this is one area where I wish they would make an exception.
The three-way switch setup is just plain better. Among other things (getting back to this thread), you never have to look down to know whether or not they are on. If you want them to be on, turn them on. If you want them to be off, turn them off. Never any guesswork.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,560
From: Haslet Texas
They are also easier to operate with winter gloves on.
JMO.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 40
From: Eastern foothills of Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
HD's turn signal arrangement is potentially deadly. I think that in many crashes the HD signal setup had to have been a contributing factor and sometimes the critical factor. Predictability = safety. Car drivers will think a bike is going to turn -or go straight - based on the bike's lights. If the motorcycle goes differently than it signals, that's a high risk of crash.
Don't recent-years Harleys have a lean & return to vertical sensor? And some Euro-J metrics? What about installing one on an Evo?
Don't recent-years Harleys have a lean & return to vertical sensor? And some Euro-J metrics? What about installing one on an Evo?