Engine RPM's

[scotcher65]

Hello Brothers of the Road,
I don't have a tachometer on my bike, but i am wondering if my idling speed is correct . Is there some other device that can tell you what speed your bike is idling at?

[Lug Nut]

Only a tachometer will tell you that information. You can buy an EZ TACH On Amazon pretty reasonably. I use mine a lot.

[Shores]

https://youtu.be/PoOlLF_bC70

[Tykes_Place]

If it sounds like a Harley it’s too low.

[ABCarr]

I just went through the same thing and ended up getting a Hardline inductive tachometer. It was super easy to install and seems to be pretty accurate. I mainly got it as a tuning tool but decided to leave it on the bike. It's not the fanciest or best looking tach, but it does the job.

[Father Pobasturd]

How did you mount it?

[ABCarr]

I took a square electrical junction box cover, cut out the size I needed, then bent it. Then I notched out a spot for it to mount on the left mirror mount. By notching it, I only had to loosen the pinch bolt then slide the tach mount in place. I also had to shape the small side of the tach mount to keep it from hitting the handlebar. See pics.

[Father Pobasturd]

Oh, OK. you have skills and talent. Damn, leaves me out.

[Duke]

Don't feel left out, remember, you can do anything with bailing wire, tape, and a little super glue.

[mlrz24]

You will need a tach to do it precisely but honestly the idle of the road star can be adjusted by sound once it’s completely warmed up. The bike sounds bad when it’s to low almost like it’s missing and needs a tune up

[ABCarr]

I've had the bike for 16 years now and what I always considered to be a "too fast" idle, just going by the sound, seems to be just about right. So I guess unless you work on enough bikes or are used to what a specific rpm range sounds like, having a tach is definitely handy.

[Druegeme]

I got this one on Amazon

amazon.com/dp/B0756VGDTC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_detail s

it works well enough, except there's a 1-2 sec delay. Good enough to dial in the idle, but it was kind of a non-event as I knew instinctively what it should be- faster than a harley, not loping, but a bit higher. 'Angry sewing machine' is what I'm shooting for, and the tach confirmed that's the right speed.

[D-Fresh]

I just went through the same thing and ended up getting a Hardline inductive tachometer. It was super easy to install and seems to be pretty accurate. I mainly got it as a tuning tool but decided to leave it on the bike. It's not the fanciest or best looking tach, but it does the job.

Is the unit weather resistant? Have you been in the rain with it? Can you read it in sunlight? Thanks

[ABCarr]

Haven't been in the rain yet, but I've washed the bike with no issues. It's advertised as "waterproof" and the back is completely sealed with that hard plastic resin material, so it might be hold up pretty good.

Sunlight isn't an issue, but the way it's mounted the sun won't shine directly on it. But at night it's nearly impossible to read since it's not back-lit. That's probably my only real complaint.