[Gerry]

This is my third ride using the Trail Tech 'Vector' electronic speedometer/information center. I have been supportive of using Bicycle type units as I found them inexpensive and easy to adapt. As my modding has continued, I have found my handlebar riddle with more gadgets than I really had room for. Of course I wanted to know my speed and mileage, but then thought it would be nice to know the time, then the outside temp, then the oil temp, then my rpm's. Well as you can imagine, it was out of control. The Vector is a well made unit, easy to install, operate and read. On todays ride I was able to quickly move my eyes to one location and view speed, miles traveled, time of day and temperature of engine oil. For $130, I am very pleased.

 

[jvt]

If you like it why not buy the same. It looks like a good unit.

Just kiddin but I think I would need some kind of training if I went to ride your bike.

Jim

 

[Gerry]

[Now it seems the most difficult part to riding my bike is figuring out how get on. Since I have gone to the solo seat and moved my 'trunk' forward, getting my right leg to the other side of the bike requires a bit of Yoga, ballet, and a spring-board.



Thanks for the posting advice Jim. Can now get more features and less hassle. Gerry

 

[PJungnitsch]

Good to know, I've had one kicking around here for a few months, will probably fit it on the weekend. Do you have a disc or drum bike?

 

[Gerry]

Good to know, I've had one kicking around here for a few months, will probably fit it on the weekend. Do you have a disc or drum bike?

Mine is a disc (2006) but the magnet/mount should be pretty straight forward either way. Gerry

 

[lizrdbrth]

I've used the Vapors on several bikes for a lot of years, I see no reason why the other Trailtechs would be any less a worthwhile investment. . Go the extra mile and hardwire yours to eliminate some of the (IMO) mickey-mouse-but-installer-friendly methods provided with the kits and you'll love it even more.

 

[Kev250R]

I've never used one but have always thought Trail Tech made a nice product. We bought a new Honda Quad last winter and installing a Vapor and an hour meter were first on my "To-Do" list. Unfortunately because of how the handlebars are arranged on that quad there was no sano way to install a Vapor on that quad however an hour meter was on it within a day of it arriving at my house.



--Kevin

 

[Casper]

The GPS should have your speed . That thing looks like an airliner and I would also need groundschool to ride it.

 

[busyweb]

If you like it why not buy the same. It looks like a good unit.

Just kiddin but I think I would need some kind of training if I went to ride your bike.

Jim

Ha ha ha, I felt that too.

Need another manual before sitting the saddle of his bike !!!

 

[PJungnitsch]

I finally got mine fitted a month or so ago. Like my speedo high so added it to the top of my round headlight bucket, with the advantage I could leave the beatup stocker on initially.

The speedo sensor that comes in the TW200 kit is their ATV fitting, made to fit a bracket on a quad. No bracket comes with it, so...

Got it to work with an extra bracket I had laying around from an old topbox, but don't really like it. The top is secured by the reflector bolt but the bottom is only held by a zip-tie. Vapor makes some really nice fork mount sensors that would seem to make for a much cleaner install, at least for a drum brake bike like this with no caliper to bolt stuff to.

Magnet OTOH was easy, just epoxied their supplied small magnet on top of a spoke hole:

A fair bit of clearance but it seems to pickup well.

 

[PJungnitsch]

Trued it up to actual speed with a GPS (took a bit of time), and it was good to go. Very nice to have an accurate speedometer, the stock Yamaha one was way out. The numbers are also big and easy to read.



That's all I did for a while. It ran fine on the internal battery, just with no night lighting.



Eventually hooked it up to key on power, installing a fusebox in the headlight bucket:

Found the trick to setting the odometer to the proper mileage (not in the manual, had to do a bit of surfing).



Hooked up the tach:

Red to coil orange wire, black to ground, easy. The biggest problem was trying to strip the tiny wire that Trailtech uses.



Don't find the tach as good as a regular round one, but not bad.



Hooked the temp sensor to the top engine mount bolt. A bit high, but apparently mounting it under the sparkplug (what it is made for) isn't working that well. May be another area where going with the stock 'TW200' kit is a mistake. Have not really paid much attention to how accurate this has been yet.

For me it was a complicated and intimidating setup out of the box, but could be installed in stages, which made it not a big deal in the end.

Yesterday hooked up the 'Dashboard' the indicator lights. Not too tough. The stock incandescent bulbs are useless under the stock housings, but the LED lights they also supply seem to be fine, although one seems to be shorted and blew my main fuse.

 

[quietbiker]

Really nice "how to"! Thanks.

 

[PJungnitsch]

The finished product:

A GPS now fits in where the old speedo used to be, and a Battery Bug in the old indicator light spot.

 

[PJungnitsch]

I was asked how responsive the tach is, you can see here. I don't think it's as good as a regular tach, but I find it good enough. This is the first screen, with trip odometer, clock, and ambient temperature.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaTxgQMvZXo[/media]



This is the second screen, with a numerical tach and engine temperature. Plus the optional dashboard with indicator lights. LED's are in the indicators and neutral, a regular bulb in the hi-beam, you can see how much dimmer it is.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAJQ9-E65Q[/media]

 

[Justin5117]

I bought this exact set up. With the dash lights. I should replace my entire spedo and original dash lights. Im getting professionally installed, hopefully they get it perfectly centered so it looks sick.

 

[PJungnitsch]

I think you will like it, it's a nice setup.



Did you get that ATV type speedo sensor? Maybe it fits better on the disc bikes, but they seem to have much better fitting sensors that attach to the fork leg.

 

[Petrus]

Nice write-up !!

 

[Justin5117]

What are you guys using for the setup specs? Like the wheel size, shift points etc... you know in the set up part of the vapor.

 

[PJungnitsch]

Tire 2000mm. Very close in town, a little under on the highway, so should probably be set a little higher. That's with a Shinko 428.



High temp 100 C (212 F). This is with the temp gauge on the top bolt. Comes up this high at idle fairly quick.



Over temp 120 C (248 F)



Shift 10,000 Set lower it blinks at me annoyingly on the highway, where I run at throttle stop.



Over Shift 10,000