It was about time, but the job is done at last, and now I can count the revolutions of my engine as I ride. When the new Triumph factory at Hinckley in England brought out the original 800cc Bonneville in 2000 the machine was viewed as being a little lacking as it didn't come with a tachometer, the instrument that measures the engine revolutions.
Traditionally, motorcycles have been supplied with this tool to help the rider determine the best gear to be in for the speed of the motorcycle. I don't remember buying more than two motorcycles that didn't have one, and then I bought my basic Bonneville in 2007. This was the "upgraded basic" Bonneville, with the 865cc engine but still no tach...So I decided I wanted a tach for my Bonneville and my wife came through for my birthday and I bought the little round object illustrated above from Performance Triumph USA's catalogue, priced at $200. It's illuminated at night too:
The T100 (Fancy) Bonneville's tach is also available from Triumph but it costs $325 and what's worse requires one to lose the rather attractive black instrument fascia and replace it with the bright aluminum of the T100 "upgrade":
I decided to go with the "retro" upgrade instead, with the smaller instrument that fits alongside the original fascia. It only took Jiri at JK Motorsports two weeks to install it for me... 
...his excuse was that he was rushing to fix his race bike for a meet at the Homestead track...whatever! I was delighted with the final result:
The Parabellum windscreen does a great job of keeping the wind and weather off me and the instruments, and the windshield mounting system is simple and solid even though in this picture it looks rather bulky as it surrounds the instruments in the middle. I now have a plethora of instruments, speedo, tach, clock and air temperature gauge. My, we are sophisticated now on the carburetted basic Bonneville.
The Triumph is known for sounding like it needs a sixth gear and riders of the Bonneville frequently complain that they would like one more cog. Personally I like the gearbox exactly as the ratios come from the factory, but there is no doubt the tach has a useful purpose to serve.
I now know that when the speedo shows 70mph and the tach shows 4,000rpm I am in top gear and cruising comfortably and economically in 5th gear. When the tach shows 3,000 rpm I am in the same gear as the speed indicated- above 50mph I'm in fifth, above 40mph I'm in fourth, and above 30mph I'm in third, very suave I'm sure. I think I am congentially compulsive.
The question then might be, if one wants a tach so desperately why not buy the T100 over the basic Bonneville, especially as engine size and everything in the performance area is identical? Well, the T100 was considered an upgraded model in the carburettor era when I bought mine. The T100 has chrome engine covers which I'm not a fan of, especially in salt air environments, it also comes with two color paint jobs; plus there's the matter of the giant tach and the fact that the T100 commanded a $2,000 premium over the basic Bonneville. However nowadays, in the new 2009 line up, the only Bonneville that comes with wire spokes and traditional "pea shooter"exhausts is the T100. This is the basic SE Bonneville from the Triumph factory website:
The basic Bonneville called the SE, is aimed at a younger demographic with alloy wheels, reverse cone exhausts and smaller wheel size to accommodate the petite among us. I am very fond of my old fashioned carburetted Bonneville, at last complete with tachometer...
12 comments:
Dear Conch:
Now that's what I call a tach! I think you were very wise to go with the Performance Triumph USA model as it beings a certain dignity and sense of presence to your bike's dash.
When a motorcycle is foisted upon the public without a tach, it's as if the manufacturer is saying, "The engine speaks, but says nothing worth measuring."
And I must say the Parabellum windshield braces look as it they were designed to mount the Formation clock and air temperature gauges. The symetrical grouping of the warning lights below the tach makes a strong 'business-like" statement as well.
I think you should be very pleased with the overall effect of this most recent modification. This is a very beautiful motorcycle.
Naturally, a tach, a dash clock, and a digital gear shift indicator were all standard on my bike... As they were on my 1986 model as well. Did I ever tell you that my bike has an automatic side-stand retractor that is activated by pulling in the clutch? I thought not, but I meant to.
Fondest regards,
Jack
Twisted Roads
Finally your bike is "complete" . It looks good too. My old bike had a GSI (Gear Shift Indicator) and I know that Jack is going to say they come standard issue on his K75, but the tach comes in handy to know what gear you are in. Often I try to shift UP but find that there are no gears left.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
How tachy. Next thing will be bright neon strips under the bike.
:P
D
A tach was one of the first additions made to my (Bonneville) America, the speedmaster came with a tach but it wasn't the bike I wanted. I was always listening to my bike but I was also hunting for that elusive sixth gear. I calculate my top gear in similar fashion, 3500rpm at 60mph is 5th gear, albeit on occasion I still search for sixth.
I like the retro look of your addition, congrats.
Dear Sir:
Please excuse this double message for one post, but there is one thing I don't understand. You ride around taking pictures of chickens and "No Parking" signs to wild and unrestrained acclaim. Yet here, you post a solid motorcycle story, taking the time to justify why you went with a classy after-market tach (to preserve the unbelievable character of this bike), and all I hear are friggin' crickets.
I don't understand it. You should have 70 comments.
You have achieved an interesting sense of balance with the dash, and the clock and thermometer. Do you find the thermometer gives improbably high readings between the black face and the exposure to the afternoon sun? I used a similar -- if not the same -- thermometer not to measure the day's heat, but the cold in the morning before starting off.
The shop did a nice job mounting this. Very clean.
Good luck with it.
Fondest regards,
Jack
Twisted Roads
I just record the passing of my life. I think Key West is the draw, not me or my motor cycle. But I have no clue who reads this or why (sitemeter shows lots of interesting flags from around the world though. I even had one from palestine once, God knows what they were looking for). I like to have a temp gauge because temperatures, like wave sizes for sailors and fish for anglers, tend to get bigger with every re-telling, so I figure a gauge will keep me honest, but sometimes it feels a lot colder than the guage says and infrequently vice versa. Its all a mystery.
Oh, Bonnie and your moto-ing are icing on the KW cake! altho I realize not everyone who visits your blog are into bikes. I LOVE that SE, it reminds me of my ol' Monster. The cool wheels, the retro blue and white paint.. it's adorable! I often had to put on lower-profile tires to lower the bike just enough for my short legs.
Conchscooter:
don't worry about Jack's comments. I like pictures of chickens and for sale signs and life the way it is down in KW. He forgot to mention your political and economic ramblings. I've tried to keep my murrmurrings to bikes too but my original intention was to take scenic photos of the Pacific Northwest and document my travels without regard to what vehicle I used to get there and there may also be a few photog articles as well.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
ps to Janna: post up a pix of your bike with the low profile tires, thanks
I've been trying to keep the political and economic ramblings in the draft only column. I figure publishing my gloomy views isn't going to help anyone looking for pretty pictures of Key West. I've thought about creatinbg a second blog to vent my frustrations on and if the pressure builds up too much I might try it. I'm still employed, my wife has a job and the sun is shining.
janna: I wish my Bonneville had a slightly lower seat height actually because I am on tippy toes in my boots but liking the SE ain't going to get me one, so I shall hate it, hate it I tell you!
Aww, don't hate the SE! It looks less practical than Bonnie, so probably wouldn't serve you as well, anyway.
bobskoot, I found a pic of my Monster when I first got her, before the wickedcool high-pipes, and unfortunately, before the new front tire :( I'm shocked & dismayed at how few photos I have of my Monster.
Thanks for your well written review there. Based on it, I have purchased the tach from Triumph Performance USA tonight. I wanted to do something similar to my Bonnie Black, and this kit had everything complete. Look forward to installing it.
By the way, I love the fact that you live and blog in the realms of the Conch Republic. I have vacationed there several times, it is a very pleasant distraction from big city life here in Seattle. Buffett rules....
Kevin C
Unhappily it bit the dust when I dropped the bike a few months later. Oh well.
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