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Mount a compass and a small clock or watch on handlebars?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bgk
  • Start date Start date
B

bgk

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Has anybody mounted a compass on the handlebars? Does the steel frame cause inaccurate readings on the compass? (I don't need perfect, just good enough.)

I've seen small clocks for motorcycles that mount on the handlebars, but they cost around $50 to $70. Any ideas for a cheap equivalent, or some kind of bracket I could make to put a regular, cheap wristwatch on?

The reason I'm asking these questions is that I've been cruising the outer suburbs/rural areas west of Boston. I just hop on the bike and head generally west, looking to see which way the sun casts shadows, for a vague idea of the direction I'm heading. I don't wear a watch, because I keep breaking them and losing them from waterskiing and general active lifestyle. Somewhere along the line I need to know what time it is and what direction I'm going, so I can turn around and head home to the missus!
 
Brion, I have a magnetic tank bag and I put my cheap digital sports watch in the clear map holder. That way I can easily check the time when out riding. I can even push the button for the light on the watch for checking the time at night.


Mark
 
Brion

I installed a Sugma bicycle computer on the handlebars.. Apart from telling the current time, it also gives me speed, avg speed, distance etc..
You can get them for less than $50.

Regards
Tim
 
You can get 'fingerbands' for wristwatches at many places, they make a wristwatch able to be placed on a finger or thumb. i have seen kids wear them before. as for a compass, should be OK, but vibration may be a problem on a bike. :twisted:
 
I buy a small, round digital clock for about $2 or $3 at Pep Boys. The back of these have Velcro, which I glue to the face of my tachometer. I replace it once or twice a year. It's the cheap way to go, and it works.

Nick
 
Funny you brought this up.

Just yesterday I bought a cheap $4 digital watch at a local auto parts store as I was getting some other stuff (why they had them I don't know, some bulk buy I guess)

I cut a 2" long piece of foam pipe insulation I had lying around and wrapped that around the handlebar just left of the left mounting bracket down near the choke. I had put some 2-way tape on the handlebar to keep the foam from sliding around.

I shortened the watchband a little and secured it around the foam like a wrist.

I've wanted a means of telling time while I'm riding and looking at my wristwatch in traffic never seemed like a great idea. Since it was a cheap watch, I took both the front and rear covers off first and lined the edges with silicone and put it back together. Hopefully this weatherproofs it a bit.

If someone decides to walk away with the watch, I'm only out $4.

I guess it would depend on the space you have on the bars to do something like this.
 
I did as Nick with a very cheap digital clock, but mine is stuck on the triple clamp/dash pad in the center of the handlebars. No fairing and it has stayed on at over 75mph so far..... :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Thanks for your responses. As usual, the GSR forum has exactly the right answers to my questions. You guys are great!
 
Can you use any of the Sigma computers, or only a specific model? I would think the only difference would be if you could type in any wheel size or only specific bicycle sizes.
 
small clock

small clock

How have these various items been in the wet? Twice I've installed a cheap watch only to have them quit within a day from the slightest bit of rain. Frustrating!
 
now i have to go out and buy one of those $2 digitals for my ride. Good idea. 8O
 
I can't comment on the compass, but I also found a $2 digital round clock that had a piece of double sided tape. I stuck it to the lower left corner of my right mirror (normally would see my shoulder there) and it has worked great. Unfortunately, the clock reminds me it's time to stop riding and get back home.
 
I have used Nick's approach for years..it works! The watch can also be velcroed in other places that suit. A mate also velcroes a watch to his gloves, but I don't think a $3 watch is that desirable to people!
 
I use the Sigma 800 (I think).... Sigma allows speeds up to 180mph, which suits me fine on my 1978 GS550...

If you search on google for sigma and motorcycle you'll find quite a few websites on how people have mounted theirs, and how they calibrate them.

Sigma also makes wireless models, but I have seen some websites that refer to problems with the bike wiring interfering with the Sigma pickups..

Let me know if you need more info.

Regards
Tim
 
For $5 at Walmart I got a large face rectangular digital clock in the automotive section that was black and silver and it came with velcro tabs to let you mount it virtually anywhere. I mounted mine on on the handbar mount of the ZRX but it could just as easily mount on the tank or gauge cluster of an older bike. It is not waterproof though so if you park your bike in the open or ride in the rain, I recomend popping it off and saving it somewhere. I have seen round ones there too that would mount easily in the middle of your tack face so you could easily read both. These are cheap enough to replace a couple times a year and the velcro insulates it fine from vibration.
 
the walmart here has digital clocks for boats so I would guess they are somewhat water proof
 
As far as mounting a watch, use a piece of foam like the one on the handle bars of a kids bicycle. Or some gyms have a round pad on the bar for doing squats.

I mounted an indoor/out door thermometer on my bars with velcro.

How accurate is the bicycle speedo? I was thinking of getting one of those and a seperate tach and building a custom enclosure. Analog tach and a digital speedo more modern looking. Also where can I find a larger tach? Like a 4" tach. The only ones I see are for cars. They stop at 8000 and I redline at 7800.
 
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