BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I have a US model R1150R Rockster with analogue speedometer reading in MPH in big numbers and KMH in small numbers. Riding it in Canada where speed limit is in KMH i'd prefer to see the speed display in KMH so I can try and keep close to the speed limit and not expose myself to speeding tickets. Short of replacing the whole speedometer (and odometer) with a metric one, any ideas on how to get more prominent speed display in KMH? Highway riding is easy, but city riding is an issue when i only glance over the speedometer....

The speedo is actually a digital one (the display is analogue, but the speed is collected via digital means from a sensor in the final drive box - or maybe off the ABS sensor if you have it).

Not sure what your best move would be tbh. you might be able to get a 2nd hand R1100S/Rockster speedo from a Canadian breakers??

Suggestions:

1. Replace speedometer unit, which likely requires DMV authentication, paperwork, $$$, time.

2. Replace speedometer graphics background, which requires instrument disassembly, design of new graphics, custom screen printing of same on suitable material, installation (including sealing the speedometer or cluster), $$, time.

3. Buy a moto GPS to get km/hr data (accurate compared to the OE speedo's +6%), position the GPS where it's easy to see, and get added bonus of navigation! Requires online shopping (GPS City is my favorite), $, and very little time.

+1 on Sweatmark's GPS solution - that's what I did on my last European trip where we have the same issue of switching from MPH to KMH.

My Satnav (GPS) allows you to switch the speed display to either KMH or MPH which also alters the distance display from Miles to Kilometres as well, saving you the hassle of converting the sign distances into miles in your head to work out how far to go.

Having said all that (at least in Europe) the speed limits work out pretty similar to UK standard speed limits so using your MPH speedo isn't actually a problem - e.g.:

50kmh Limit in built-up areas is 30mph
70kmh Limit - stick to 40mph and you're fine.
80kmh limit - keep to 50mph
100kmh equates to 60mph (62 actually so using 60mph on your speedo is safe)
110kmh is 70mph
130kmh is 80mph (France Peage/Motorways permit 130kmh in dry weather conditions).

I did do a Canadian Rockies tour in 2006 (in a Rental car), but I'm afraid I can't remember their speed limits now! I hope this helps.

Try to find a speedo from a written-off European Rockster en replace the background.
Mine would have been great, but I forgot to take it with me....

Boxerpunk wrote:Try to find a speedo from a written-off European Rockster en replace the background.
Mine would have been great, but I forgot to take it with me....

What a shame, as the thing was just there disassembled for you on the ground!


Seriously though....Hope you were OK!!

Hi brico.

The simplest cheapest solution is to visit a decent push bike shop, and get a good quality push bike trip computer.

You fit the instrument onto the handle bars, wiring goes down to the front wheel, and a wee magnet is stuck onto the wheel some place.

You set up the trip computer with the exact distance one revolution of your front wheel moves the bike, and then you have a very accurate speedo, in kilometres per hour.

The GPS speedo business is fine if you are cruising at a fairly constant speed in a fairly straight line, with a fairly good view of the sky, but can get very iffy in built up cities, or in twisties.

regards,CrazyCam

First Post!

...do the bicycle speedometers that CRazyCam mentioned calculate speeds high enough? I don't see many Armstrongs pedaling around at 80 mph

If you get a reasonably good one, yes, the push bike trip computers can handle up to 280kph.

Sigma do pretty good ones.

regards,CrazyCam