Triumphrat

The Bullitt · 12-11-2012, 06:10 PM

Hey guys,

I've decided to try to drill out and mount my own gauge into my Bonnie/Thrux headlight. I like the Benji's one alright but feel like it'd doable to just make it happen with the stock one, or even better, with a smaller one like this.

I'm sure it's been done already but didn't see a specific thread. Have any of you done it? Know a link, tutorial or anything like that you could share?

Thanks!

Calliway · 12-12-2012, 01:03 AM

Hey Bullitt. I am going to do the same thing. I am going to pick up a mini guage with idiot lights built in with a white face from Dime City and a british headlight bucket they sell. I bought one for my honda and its a touch longer than the stock Bonnie. Use a hole say, cut the whole and plop the guage in. Use the guage mounting screws on the back and bend a piece of aluminum bar to pinch it in the bucket. Shouldn't be hard at all.

The Bullitt · 12-12-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calliway

Hey Bullitt. I am going to do the same thing. I am going to pick up a mini guage with idiot lights built in with a white face from Dime City and a british headlight bucket they sell. I bought one for my honda and its a touch longer than the stock Bonnie. Use a hole say, cut the whole and plop the guage in. Use the guage mounting screws on the back and bend a piece of aluminum bar to pinch it in the bucket. Shouldn't be hard at all.

Right on Calliway. Please post your progress here. I'd love to see how it turns out. I have 2 Bonnie buckets so I will probably just give it a go with one of those...

Thanks,
Pat

beemerrich · 12-12-2012, 04:53 PM

As a former owner of a string of /5 bmws, I'm always up for bikes with the instruments in the bucket. Are you're going to use some sort of thick gasket to account for the compound curve of the bucket or reshape things/paint it?

No need for the trip odometer, I suppose since you'll not be able to access it from outside the bucket. Maybe an electronic speedo would be better than the cable driven one?

Good luck,

--Rich

The Bullitt · 12-12-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemerrich

Are you're going to use some sort of thick gasket to account for the compound curve of the bucket or reshape things/paint it?

No need for the trip odometer, I suppose since you'll not be able to access it from outside the bucket. Maybe an electronic speedo would be better than the cable driven one? --Rich

Thanks Rich for the feedback. I most definitely want to have a trip odometer, that's how I know when to fill up. It's possible to do from what I understand...you just have to extend the knob. I'm not totally against going digital. Here's what I used to have on my bike before I switched to USD forks;http://thebullitt.blogspot.com/2012/...ple-trees.html

In regards to the curve of the bucket, I'm not totally sure. What I'll probably do is to take my banged up bucket, knock out a hole and get a better idea of what I'm up against. To be totally honest, I was hoping I could follow someone's lead on this. I guess I could get the Benji's bucket but that's not exactly what I'm looking for.

D9 · 12-12-2012, 11:42 PM

FWIW... couple of my favorites... R0B nailed this mod, headlamp
is the right proportion... great work R0B

http://www.triumphrat.net/attachment...617_122408.jpg

another... motogadget tiny in a stock Scram headlamp... so clean!
instrument function & reset button just below the speedo face

http://www.spieglerusa.com/motoscope-tiny-mst-5899.htm

and always was intrigued by guy denning's solution...
unorthodox, and pretty damn cool...

Calliway · 12-12-2012, 11:48 PM

I was going to use this speedo but I just realised it doesn't have a trip meter... the benefit is that it is only 2" round so a thick rubber gasket would compensate for the contour of the bucket. A small hole in the bottom of the bucket would allow the cable to come up through the bottom.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintag...r-44-301b.html

this is the 2.5" inch one I have for my Honda. They are gorgeous. With a slight extension to the trip meter know you could make this work.
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintag...-15-0040w.html

H3CT1C · 12-13-2012, 09:00 AM

I'm doing the same thing as well, but using the Acewell MD52-353 into a black 6.5" LSL Clubman headlight

The Acewell uses the original speedo drive on the front wheel that I can re-calibrate for my 17" wheel, and I also purchased an oil temp sensor so that I can re-assure myself that the bike isn't about to self destruct now that I've junked the oil cooler and replaced it with home brew oil-in-frame cooling - the engine's already coped with 9,000 rpm at two track days, so I'm reasonably confident

The Bullitt · 12-13-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D9

FWIW... couple of my favorites...

Thanks D9. Surprised you haven't made a solution yourself yet.

DEcosse · 12-13-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemerrich

.... Maybe an electronic speedo would be better than the cable driven one?...

I would suggest the same - not only do you have to deal with the mechanical drive cable itself, you need to match the drive ratio and also as mentioned the trip is inaccessible - all moot with electronic speedo.