Roadies:

I'm looking for a quality, no frills, handlebar-mounted, white-face tach, for under $100, to add to my Road*.

So far, I've looked at the Drag Specialties Mini Tach (DS-244138) for $66.95, and the Baron Electric Mini Tach (BA-7564-00) for $62.95. They actually look like the same tach with different branding. Are either of these tachs worth the money?

What are you guys using and where are you buying?

Thanks for the help.

06--

They probably ARE the same tach. IMHO, there's nothing really magical about a tach or what they do, and very little justification for a $200+ tach that has 8 different illumination colors cycling through it...that's just annoying.

I put a Pro-One riser tach kit on mine...it replaces the riser caps on the handlebars. The kit sells for about $200 normally, but I picked it up new on eBay for under $100. The kit I got was for '99-'03 models only and said it would not fit the '04+...that's the year Yami changed to the one-piece riser top instead of separate riser caps. Well, I have an '04, and all I did is pick up some chrome OEM risers from an '01 R* on eBay for $9. The instructions also said it wouldn't work with a Yami windshield. I have the Yami tall & wide shield on, and I guess there Pro-One's idea of not fitting means there's only about 1mm-2mm clearance between tach & shield. One little felt stick-on dot cured that, and it can't be seen. Works like a charm & looks great. Apparently, Pr0-One just came out with a kit for the newer Roadies, but it's $200+. Pfft on that!



Anyway, I wouldn't be scared of either of the tachs you mentioned, as long as they are illuminated for night riding.

RK<br><br>Post edited by: Roadkill1962, at: 2007/04/17 10:07

Roadkill:

Both of these tachs have illuminated dials for night riding.

I agree. That's why &quot;no frills&quot; works for me. As long as the body and bezel are stainless steel, the electronics are solid and the wiring in encased in some sort of weatherproof insulation, then I'm a happy camper.

My concerns would be functionality - I've heard cases for these particular tachs where the needle shakes excessively at low rpms and lags during acceleration. I'd rather spend a little more than have to suffer through those conditions.

Thanks.

I'm running the Drag Specialties Mini Tach you mentioned above. It's been working well so far after about 600 miles. Lights up nice and is readable for me in the dark. The bar clamp they supply is kind of cheesey but it works. I think RK is right about the Baron and DS mini tachs being the same as they look alike and the install directions that came in the box with the DS tach are the same as the ones downloadable from the Barons site. I got mine from Hellriser Customs.

jso2267:

Yeah, that bar clamp does look cheesy. If I go the Baron/DS route, I'll use the Kuryakyn Magnum Quick Clamp or the Kuryakyn P-clamp. Much nicer.

How do you like the size? Have you experienced any of the functionality issues that I mentioned? Is it made of S/S?

Thanks,
Ray

Yep, the housing and bezel are stainless and it's also vented to help with fogging. The wiring is grommeted, sheathed and plenty long too.

I don't think the lag is too bad but now that you mention it I'm going to check that out closer on the way home.

The only time it really vibrates is when I'm getting up around 4500 RPM. Then again the whole bike is vibrating pretty good up in that range anyhow. It does bounce a bit at idle but not more than a needle width or so. When you are cruising along it is steady as a rock.

I was thinking the same thing about upgrading to p-clamps. There are two studs on the back of the tach that the OE bracket mounts to. I'm thinking a guy could go with one and retain the three hole tri-angular OE bracket or get rid of it and use two p-clamps and have all mounting points hidden.

I really only bought the thing for two reasons. The first to set my idle and second to teach myself to quit trying to grab sixth gear.

Yep, the housing and bezel are stainless and it's also vented to help with fogging. The wiring is grommeted, sheathed and plenty long too.
Excellent!

I don't think the lag is too bad but now that you mention it I'm going to check that out closer on
the way home.
Please let me know.

The only time it really vibrates is when I'm getting up around 4500 RPM. Then again the whole bike is vibrating pretty good up in that range anyhow. It does bounce a bit at idle but not more than a needle width or so. When you are cruising along it is steady as a rock.
Yeah, I would have no problem with it under those circumstances.

I was thinking the same thing about upgrading to p-clamps. There are two studs on the back of the tach that the OE bracket mounts to. I'm thinking a guy could go with one and retain the three hole tri-angular OE bracket or get rid of it and use two p-clamps and have all mounting points hidden.
I think I would like to retain the bracket and use 1 P-clamp.

I really only bought the thing for two reasons. The first to set my idle and second to teach myself to quit trying to grab sixth gear.
I just bought a Tiny-Tach for $36 to use in my workshop. It's digital, hooks up in minutes and is great for setting the idle speed.

You mean these Road*s have a 6th gear!

Post edited by: 06MidnightStar, at: 2007/04/17 11:45<br><br>Post edited by: 06MidnightStar, at: 2007/04/17 11:46

Quality.... but not low-cost... it might be the 200+ pfft one



http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/detail.cfm?Category_ID=65&amp;manufacturer_ID=5&amp;product_ID=16892&amp;model_ID=36<br><br>Post edited by: Pop Rivet, at: 2007/04/17 12:42

06

There really doesn't seem to be any response lag to the DS mini-tach at all. If there is it's in the milli-second range. I think you'd be happy with it for the money. I am. Except for that clamp that is...

jso2267:

I think I'm sold on the Baron/DS Mini Tachs. The feedback that I have personally received has been very good. The only change that I would make would be to replace the clamp with a Kury P-Clamp.

Now, I just have to see if those Baron Kickback Risers are going to work for me. RK is working on a price for a set of Kickbacks he has on the garage shelf. Also, there are a couple of new sets on Ebay and PPP has them on sale for $98.95.

Hopefully, it will all come together before it starts getting warm in New Jersey!

Thanks for the help.

Ray