[firehawk]

Thinking about adding one of these Cobra tachs. Looking for anyone who has one of these, and what you think about it. I'm assuming it can be mounted on either side since the mount just replaces one of the handlebar clamps.

 

[Bobolto]

Thinking about adding one of these Cobra tachs. Looking for anyone who has one of these, and what you think about it. I'm assuming it can be mounted on either side since the mount just replaces one of the handlebar clamps.

Those can be mounted on either side (horizontal part of bars).

I would think that any electronic Tach made for non-fuel injected bikes would
work with your Bike. If they say it works on a honda motorcycle thats not fuel injected, it should work on your bike.

A lot of sellers use the old photo of the cobra tach (offset mount) when they are actually selling the newer model that mounts straight up and down as opposed to your "offset" tach pic.
Make sure you get the Tachometer model number being sold and compare it
to that same model tachometer on the Cobra website to see what you would
actually be getting. They should both work, they just look different when mounted.

I would look at this Tachometer (below), I would probably have it myself if it worked with fuel injected bikes ignition system (EFI =single fire).
Your VLX has a Dual fire ignition (common on non EFI bikes)

I recommend you get this one (below), i think you will be happy with it.

Chrome Mini Tach Tachometer for Honda with Clamp VTwin | eBay

 

[Harryc]

I'd like a speedo like that for our bikes with mechanical cable drive or GPS. On the 1100 ACE (at least) it's always in the way (in it's current position) for things like fairings etc.

 

[firehawk]

Those can be mounted on either side (horizontal part of bars).

I would think that any electronic Tach made for non-fuel injected bikes would
work with your Bike. If they say it works on a honda motorcycle thats not fuel injected, it should work on your bike.

A lot of sellers use the old photo of the cobra tach (offset mount) when they are actually selling the newer model that mounts straight up and down as opposed to your "offset" tach pic.
Make sure you get the Tachometer model number being sold and compare it
to that same model tachometer on the Cobra website to see what you would
actually be getting. They should both work, they just look different when mounted.

I would look at this Tachometer (below), I would probably have it myself if it worked with fuel injected bikes ignition system (EFI =single fire).
Your VLX has a Dual fire ignition (common on non EFI bikes)

I recommend you get this one (below), i think you will be happy with it.

Chrome Mini Tach Tachometer for Honda with Clamp VTwin | eBay

Now I am confused... I've been told the VLX is a dual coil SINGLE fire ignition, that it doesn't fire both coils at the same time. each coil fires two spark plugs but they are on the same cylinder

This model Cobra tach #01-1636 is for among others an '06 750 Spirit. I've been told the 750 has the same dual coil single fire ignition on it like a VLX.

I've checked with Cobra's website, and others and the 01-1636 is the angle mounted tach. I've also checked OEM part numbers and both these bikes use the same upper handlebar clamp. Wire colors look to be the same inside the headlight bucket and at the front coil.

I have the tach you posted a link to on the Rebel, works great. I'm just looking for a smaller tach, and a little classier look with the Cobra.

 

[Bobolto]

Now I am confused... I've been told the VLX is a dual coil SINGLE fire ignition, that it doesn't fire both coils at the same time. each coil fires two spark plugs but they are on the same cylinder

This model Cobra tach #01-1636 is for among others an '06 750 Spirit. I've been told the 750 has the same dual coil single fire ignition on it like a VLX.

I've checked with Cobra's website, and others and the 01-1636 is the angle mounted tach. I've also checked OEM part numbers and both these bikes use the same upper handlebar clamp. Wire colors look to be the same inside the headlight bucket and at the front coil.

I have the tach you posted a link to on the Rebel, works great. I'm just looking for a smaller tach, and a little classier look with the Cobra.

Your Bike isnt EFI so i think its a dual fire just like the Non-EFI Aeros, Spirits, Sabre's etc.

But I should be cautious at say do the research and know for sure about your bike.

 

[firehawk]

Your Bike isnt EFI so i think its a dual fire just like the Non-EFI Aeros, Spirits, Sabre's etc.

But I should be cautious at say do the research and know for sure about your bike.

Arggggh.. I'm so confused.:mrgreen:

By dual fire are you meaning each coil fires both spark plugs on one cylinder?

My understanding of dual fire is both coils firing at the same time, one is just firing on a 'dead' cylinder, ie not on the compression stroke. Dual fire is the same as wasted spark.

Single fire is one cylinder's coil firing it's two spark plugs independently of the other cylinder's coil and plugs.

 

[Bobolto]

Arggggh.. I'm so confused.:mrgreen:

By dual fire are you meaning each coil fires both spark plugs on one cylinder?

My understanding of dual fire is both coils firing at the same time, one is just firing on a 'dead' cylinder, ie not on the compression stroke. Dual fire is the same as wasted spark.

Single fire is one cylinder's coil firing it's two spark plugs independently of the other cylinder's coil and plugs.

i believe you get a spark during the combustion stroke and the exhaust stroke of the engine, AKA the "wasted spark", ie Dual Fire.

Check and ask a knowledgeable service person if your VTX600 V-Twin has the same ignition system with regards to having a Tachometer as the 750's and other NON-EFI v-twin honda bikes, the carb bikes.
see what he tells you.

I cannot tell you specifically about your bike. I would be surprised as hell to find out it didnt take the same type Tach as the Carb 750's and 1300's for that matter.

 

[jwinker]

For the tach itself, I can tell you this much: it's expensive for what it is. Cobra & Kuryakyn do make nice parts, but you pay a premium price. If the price doesn't bother you, go for it. If price is a concern...and it was for me, especially once I saw the product...either find an inexpensive tach or go without.

I would HIGHLY recommend finding one in a store and looking at it, holding it, inspecting it firsthand. THEN decide how much you want it.

 

[firehawk]

i believe you get a spark during the combustion stroke and the exhaust stroke of the engine, AKA the "wasted spark", ie Dual Fire.

Check and ask a knowledgeable service person if your VTX600 V-Twin has the same ignition system with regards to having a Tachometer as the 750's and other NON-EFI v-twin honda bikes, the carb bikes.
see what he tells you.

I cannot tell you specifically about your bike. I would be surprised as hell to find out it didnt take the same type Tach as the Carb 750's and 1300's for that matter.

Ok, so it appears we're on the same page as far as the interpretation of dual spark vs. single spark. I seem to be getting conflicting information as to what exact type of ignition the VLX actually has.:sad:

You're saying you think it's dual spark but not sure which I understand, and I've had others tell me it's single spark. What really is confusing me is Cobra is saying the tach is for single spark AND works with a '06 750 Spirit. Cobra does say this tach works on the 1300 too.

They ain't cheap so I want to 100% sure before I shell out that kind of cash.:mrgreen: Guess a call to the dealer is in order.

 

[Bobolto]

Ok, so it appears we're on the same page as far as the interpretation of dual spark vs. single spark. I seem to be getting conflicting information as to what exact type of ignition the VLX actually has.:sad:

You're saying you think it's dual spark but not sure which I understand, and I've had others tell me it's single spark. What really is confusing me is Cobra is saying the tach is for single spark AND works with a '06 750 Spirit. Cobra does say this tach works on the 1300 too.

They ain't cheap so I want to 100% sure before I shell out that kind of cash.:mrgreen: Guess a call to the dealer is in order.

I told you what i think. But its your bike and its a VTX600 which i am not intimately familiar with.

Ask a Tech if an aftermarket Tach made for a 2006 Spirit would work on a 2006 VTX600.
if he says YES, then you know which tach you need, the most common electric 4 wire tach.

 

[firehawk]

I told you what i think. But its your bike and its a VTX600 which i am not intimately familiar with.

Ask a Tech if an aftermarket Tach made for a 2006 Spirit would work on a 2006 VTX600.
if he says YES, then you know which tach you need, the most common electric 4 wire tach.

Yes, I understood your input was based on you not being familiar with a VLX, and I appreciate your input. Hope I didn't convey anything other than that, if I did I apologize.

 

[Bobolto]

Yes, I understood your input was based on you not being familiar with a VLX, and I appreciate your input. Hope I didn't convey anything other than that, if I did I apologize.

You're fine, i should have probably left it alone.

I would like to know in the end what you ended up doing and which model worked for you.

Good luck man, you'll figure it out.

 

[firehawk]

My 'problem' was solved today. I called the Honda dealer's service department and he stated that both the '06 VLX and '06 750 Spirit run dual coil single fire ignition systems. He was familiar with the Cobra tach and said it will work fine on a VLX.

Now that I'm sure, I'll need to save up a few more dollars and voila... I'll know what rpms I'm running.

 

[tbfoto]

dual coil single fire ignition systems.

So then this means ?????? two coils fire at the same time...one on each head????

 

[firehawk]

So then this means ?????? two coils fire at the same time...one on each head????

To give you an idea of a dual coil dual fire ignition, my Rebel with it's parallel twin engine has two coils and one spark plug per cylinder. It fires both coils and plugs at the same time. The one that is firing in the dead cylinder (not on the compression stroke) is considered 'wasted spark'.

The VLX has one coil and two spark plugs per cylinder. It only fires the coil and two plugs in the cylinder that's on it's compression stroke. The other coil and plugs do not fire on the dead cylinder. Dual coil single fire.

 

[Eagle7840]

You may want to check out this earlier thread http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/72-technical-discussion/342858-how-do-i-measure-idle-speed-3.html

 

[99customvlx]

Just got a small tach for my 99 vlx. Anyone know where I would find the coil wire for the signal? I've looked around the Web a bit but not much luck. I would just go find it on the bike but it's too damn cold right now and the garage has no heat, soooooo...

 

[Bobolto]

My 'problem' was solved today. I called the Honda dealer's service department and he stated that both the '06 VLX and '06 750 Spirit run dual coil single fire ignition systems. He was familiar with the Cobra tach and said it will work fine on a VLX.

Now that I'm sure, I'll need to save up a few more dollars and voila... I'll know what rpms I'm running.

To give you an idea of a dual coil dual fire ignition, my Rebel with it's parallel twin engine has two coils and one spark plug per cylinder. It fires both coils and plugs at the same time. The one that is firing in the dead cylinder (not on the compression stroke) is considered 'wasted spark'.

The VLX has one coil and two spark plugs per cylinder. It only fires the coil and two plugs in the cylinder that's on it's compression stroke. The other coil and plugs do not fire on the dead cylinder. Dual coil single fire.

Firehawk,

it was great to hear that you figured out which tach will work on your Bike,
its nice to know, isn't it. I knew, that no matter what you call your ignition system that it would would work with a any Tach that works on the 750 Carb bikes.

Now that we seem to know that your VLX600 has a Dual Coil, Single Fire ignition the questions is what do *I* have for an ignition, what is MINE?

The reason i figured I have a single-fire and you must have Dual-fire is because I had installed one of those inexpensive Tachs on my bike and it read exactly 1/2 the RPM's the engine was doing, this tach was designated for any of the shadow 750's that had Dual-Fire ignitions.

So that tach got a 1/2 rpm reading on my bike and I sold it on ebay
to someone with a Carb Bike.

Cobra didn't list a Tach choice for the 2011 Aero (my bike) only the 2004-2009 Aero's. I bought one of these Tachs and it also got 1/2 RPM reading.
I returned it got my money back.

Finally I noticed Cobra sold a Tach for the 2011 Phantom and by then i knew enough to know that the engines and ignition systems are the same.
Cobra suddenly had a specific Tach model number for the 2011+ Phantoms
that departed from the model they offered for 2004-2009 shadows.

I bought the Tach specified for the 2011 Phantom and it read the RPMS correctly and worked perfectly, its on my bike today.

Knowing that Tachs get their readings from the "Pulses" of the Coil and the fact that i was getting 1/2 readings from the Tachs designated for the CARB
year bikes, I figured it was because the older bike had a Dual-Fire ignitions
"wasted spark" and that the Tachs for those bikes were designed to cut the "Pulse" count in half, in order to give a correct reading on a dual-fire bike.

Plus i figured that no-way would honda have gone from a Single-Fire ignition on the Carb bikes TO a Dual fire wasted spark on the new EFI Bikes.

So if you have Dual-Coil Single Fire what do I have?????

You'll love the Coba Tach, they're nice. the one thing i don't like is the guage light is a bit bright at night, but thats if i nit-pick.

Congrats Man glad you figured it out!

 

[firehawk]

Bob, I'm lead to believe that apparently most of the cheaper tachs are dual fire models. I mounted one of those ebay tachs on the Rebel and it works perfectly. I would have more seriously considered one of them for the VLX except it has a satin finished housing/bezel and I wanted more chrome!:mrgreen:

I'm in your shoes now, I know nothing about an 2011 Aero so I'm guessing. Do you have two coils? Do you have two plugs per cylinder? If you have two coils is one plug wire going from each coil going to the front cylinder and one to the rear? If that's the case it seems you would have to have a dual coil dual fire ignition. If yours is like mine where each coil has two plug wires going to the same cylinder seems you would have to have dual coil single fire.

Honda in all their wisdom hasn't gone to a single coil design to cut costs on the newer bikes have they? You don't have one coil with four plug wires do you?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just grasping at straws here.

 

[Bobolto]

Bob, I'm lead to believe that apparently most of the cheaper tachs are dual fire models. I mounted one of those ebay tachs on the Rebel and it works perfectly. I would have more seriously considered one of them for the VLX except it has a satin finished housing/bezel and I wanted more chrome!:mrgreen:

I'm in your shoes now, I know nothing about an 2011 Aero so I'm guessing. Do you have two coils? Do you have two plugs per cylinder? If you have two coils is one plug wire going from each coil going to the front cylinder and one to the rear? If that's the case it seems you would have to have a dual coil dual fire ignition. If yours is like mine where each coil has two plug wires going to the same cylinder seems you would have to have dual coil single fire.

Honda in all their wisdom hasn't gone to a single coil design to cut costs on the newer bikes have they? You don't have one coil with four plug wires do you?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just grasping at straws here.

I have 2 coils, one for the front cylinder, one for the back cylinder.
I have 2 plugs per cylinder.