I've read about it twice this week. I don't understand xena's reference to tubing or the cost of $130 to mount the speedometer on the headlight brow. Also, it would seem to me that the cable would be a bit too long.

Anyone want to help clear this up for me?

lol. why didn't ya just ask me willprevale? :)

I will explain. The 130 dollars was my total cost for the entire job of modding my bike with new risers, turn signal relocation kit, braided brake line.

Relocating the gauges to the top of the brow only cost me about 5.00 dollars. Piece of aluminum tubing which I cut with a tubing cutter, and two stainless steel allen bolts.
Have another peek at the pic I posted and it will make more sense to you I'm sure. Sorry I confused ya.

http://www.xlforum.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=733

Here's something for you. I see the older mopeds had a speedo built into their headlight bucket. Just a thought on this.....
I know one can be had on ebay, just some mods, and you got it done!

after i did my risers i ran into the same dilema so i asked a machinist friend of mine if he could make ma 2 inch spacers out of stainlees, he threaded them and i got some chrome bolts from the local hardware store to complete it :D total cost to me 12.50 :D here is the pic http://www.boomspeed.com/escobar/Dsc00019.jpg

:wonderlan ESCO :wonderlan

Thats a smart solution to that problem. Good work escobar.

Yep, did exactly the same thing. The holes in the speedo bracket and headlight brow line up perfectly so I just used some longer bolts and spacers to move it.

It sits in perfect view inbetween my buckhorns and I didn't have to elongate my speedo cable or dash light wires..

I'm just fitting 4 1/2" pull back risers to my '04 XL883. At a stretch I can mount the speedo back on the hndlebar clamp. I can't find the original thread to this discussion so could someone tell me why people have added the tubing to the headlight brow. Is it asthetic or a limitation on the speedo connections?

I used mine as spacers and it looks better than double nuttin everything up.

I added 3.5 inch Buffalo Risers from Drag Specialties and moved my Tach and Speedo to the headlight brow like Xena. I was able to buy 1.5 inch chrome spacers from the dealer and 3.5 inch bolts. I did have to slightly drill out the bracket to get it to fit, the holes were just a little off center.

Xaran
04 Roadster

I can't find the original thread to this discussion so could someone tell me why people have added the tubing to the headlight brow. Is it asthetic or a limitation on the speedo connections?

You can't just put the gauge assembly down on the brow and bolt it down because for one it's angled and two it would look like shit.
We've used the tubing or spacers as a method to mount the gauges to the brow. I posted a link to a picture above and so did another person.

Sorry I was unclear with my question. I was wondering why you did not mount the speedo onto the handlebar clamp as it was originally mounted. I know it's much higher and angled steeper. Was that the reason or did the wiring not reach?

Oh ok. Well my reason was because when adding pullback risers instead of the stock style straight risers, the gauges would stand up straight in the air and look ridiculous as well as being too high up for my liking.

I'M WITH XENA on that one i would have to basicly contort <--- :shhhh (spelling?) my head to see the damm things and they look like chite standing straight up any ole' ways :D this way they are the way they should be and look good at the same time :cool:


:headbang ESCO :headbang

Just did mine tonight used 5/16x3in. bolts from the home depot and chrome toilet supply line here is a picture of it

I modfied my idiot lights from the bottom of the speedo casing as they were all one
unit. Removed the speedo, and cut the casing so that only the lights were left and mounted them to top of the handlebar clamp for now. Works fine.

sorry to bother anyone, but do any of you have current pics of this, I am interested due to swapping out my risers for shortys and think it would look good, any help appreciated

sorry to bother anyone, but do any of you have current pics of this, I am interested due to swapping out my risers for shortys and think it would look good, any help appreciated

Here's a thread that should help you:http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=3883

It would look great, and I did similar on mine. On your '03 C model, the low mount gauge bracket won't work for this, so you'll have to get a regular top mount bracket, or possibly modify yours. The handlebar wiring connections are in the stock block riser, so you'll have to do something with them also. So, not quite as easy as on some models, but nothing to stop you from doing it. ;)

Here's a picture of mine. I mounted the gauges straight to the top of the triple tree:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/phelan_z06/04-16-07_1511.jpg

Normally you have to bore out the holes of the gauge housing but mine was broken to begin with, and it's held fine after 5,000 miles or so. I just had to tighten it up once. I used washers on top of the gauges under bolt heads but I couldn't find any bolts long enough to put washers underneath the gauges as well.