My Mike Bike (aka "Leroy") came to me with a Datel voltmeter on it. The red LED numerals are completely washed out and unreadable without cupping a hand over it in full sun and still manages to be too bright at night. I wanted to stay with a digital meter, but it needs to be daylight readable; not objectionable at night; and accurate. I finally landed on the Blue Sea model #1733 Mini OLED meter...
I've used lots of Blue Sea products over the years and have always found them to be good quality. Getting this meter was a bit of work because it was backordered with no replenishment date just about everywhere. Doing some research, just about everything at Blue Sea is on backorder because a disgruntled ex-employee torched the factory building one night and burned it to the ground.
Blue Sea fire
It has been a long process, but product is again starting to flow. This item lists for about $55 and is generally available for around $30-40. During the peak of the shortage, there was an eBay "entrepreneur" trying to sell them for over $100. I hope he has to eat them. On Leroy, I am mounting the gauge where the headlight adjuster used to be. Here is is mounted and operating in the fairing insert...
Accurate to 0.01 volts vs. my Fluke meter. Daylight readable in bright sun, and not at all bright at night, but still clearly readable. Win, Win, Win.
On my "pretty bike" (aka "Lisa") I am planning to use the 1733 voltmeter along with a Blue Sea 1741 temperature gauge that is in the same format as the 1733...
I have not been satisfied with the low resolution of the stock ST11 temperature gauge. My plan is to remove the fuel gauge and temperature gauge from the instrument panel and fit these two items in their place. In mockups, they will fit well in the recessed area of the panel with only minimal custom work.
The abandoned stock fuel gauge will be replaced with an Autometer programmable 2-1/16" fuel level gauge located in the headlight adjuster location.
I've used lots of Blue Sea products over the years and have always found them to be good quality. Getting this meter was a bit of work because it was backordered with no replenishment date just about everywhere. Doing some research, just about everything at Blue Sea is on backorder because a disgruntled ex-employee torched the factory building one night and burned it to the ground.
Blue Sea fire
It has been a long process, but product is again starting to flow. This item lists for about $55 and is generally available for around $30-40. During the peak of the shortage, there was an eBay "entrepreneur" trying to sell them for over $100. I hope he has to eat them. On Leroy, I am mounting the gauge where the headlight adjuster used to be. Here is is mounted and operating in the fairing insert...
Accurate to 0.01 volts vs. my Fluke meter. Daylight readable in bright sun, and not at all bright at night, but still clearly readable. Win, Win, Win.
On my "pretty bike" (aka "Lisa") I am planning to use the 1733 voltmeter along with a Blue Sea 1741 temperature gauge that is in the same format as the 1733...
I have not been satisfied with the low resolution of the stock ST11 temperature gauge. My plan is to remove the fuel gauge and temperature gauge from the instrument panel and fit these two items in their place. In mockups, they will fit well in the recessed area of the panel with only minimal custom work.
The abandoned stock fuel gauge will be replaced with an Autometer programmable 2-1/16" fuel level gauge located in the headlight adjuster location.
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