Roadking Speedo/Tach on a Freewheeler

[Blueraven]

I've got the Harley Speedo/Tach version on my Heritage which is my daily rider.

I've so used to it when I get on my Freewheeler it irritates the hell out of me not be able to glance down and see the same information.

Nobody seems to make a replacement Speedo/Tach for a Freewheeler.

Likely simply because there's just not that many of them out there to justify the R&R and manufacturing cost.

From my research it appears that the Roadking Speedo/Tach will function just fine on the Freewheeler with the exception of no reverse or parking brake indicators.

Well if the parking brake's on or off that's easy to see and I don't back up that often so I could live without that.

Anyone out there made this swap?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/Combination-Analog-Speedometer-Tachometer-MPH/p/74774-11D

 

[Jack Klarich]

Craig, while the speedo/ tach combo is cool and may work on your Freewheeler it may give a diagnostic error code knowing that the R and parking brake are not communicating

This is just a guess on my end knowing that the can bus electrical system does not play nice like older bikes. Good luck in your search

 

[Blueraven]

Drove past a Freewheeler today on the highway and they had what appeared to be a Triglide or some bagger fairing on it. I could tell by the gauges.

Anybody seen that before?

 

[MDO]

I had checked into this with my 17 FW, & was told by the dealer what Jack stated, it would throw coded for reverse & brake. I gave up after checking into getting 1 custom made for the FW, it was cost prohibitive, to me anyway.

 

[Blueraven]

I had checked into this with my 17 FW, & was told by the dealer what Jack stated, it would throw coded for reverse & brake. I gave up after checking into getting 1 custom made for the FW, it was cost prohibitive, to me anyway.

You and Jack could be right about a fault code.

But my thought is what would the speedometer have to do with communication between the Reverse and parking break functions?

As far as I can figure the speedometer is only an indicator device and I wouldn't think it would bi-directional communication.

I did locate one thread from 6 years ago from a fellow member who apparently made the swap and stated other than no reverse or parking brake indicators everything worked fine.

I tried to get in touch with the member but kept getting errors on the IM.

Other than the one post I can't find any information about this so I'll have to decide whether or not to roll the $320 dice to find out.

However the one member committed that until the speedo/tack has been on the bike for 30 miles it doesn't get married so perhaps if this doesn't work and I only test it for <30 miles it could be sold to get back some of my money.

I think maybe Dakota Digital sells a digital speedo/tack but it's pricey and I don't really like the look of it.

Decisions decisions..........

 

[Blueraven]

After doing as much research of data that's out there other than contacting the Harley Engineering Dept. I've come to the conclusion that the Road King speedo/tach should work on a Freewheeler just without the reverse and parking brake indicators.

However I still think it's a $350 roll of the dice if it will work.

So I decided to put that project off for a while and focus on increasing visibility.

I'll eventually swap the speedo/tach and will post a review once it's done.

 

[Blueraven]

I'll eventually swap the speedo/tach and will post a review once it's done.

Well I finally pulled the trigger on the Speedo/Tach.

This is a similar model that I have on my 2009 Heritage however I found there are a few differences with this “Road King” model but nothing to really speak of.

The installation took about 10 minutes.

As expected there’s no parking brake or reverse indicators so you’re kind of on your own there.

However for the reverse as you know you have to be in neutral to go in reverse and when in reverse the “neutral” light goes out so that’s my new “in reverse” indicator.

As for the parking brake; I’ll just have to remember to disengage it.

Any way I really like the gauge that’s been on my Heritage for years and I have no doubt I’ll like the similar version on my Freewheeler.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Looks great:clapping:

 

[JTJersey]

Blueraven that's awesome! Does the gas gauge work? Do all the indicators do what they're supposed to do? Does the switch on the left grip still cycle through the clock and all that stuff? Where did you get it and what was it originally designed for? I can live without the reverse and parking light indicator, as you said and that looks like a real worthwhile swap. Very nice!

 

[Zammy]

Craig, nice going and it looks great.

 

[Blueraven]

Blueraven that's awesome! Does the gas gauge work? Do all the indicators do what they're supposed to do? Does the switch on the left grip still cycle through the clock and all that stuff? Where did you get it and what was it originally designed for? I can live without the reverse and parking light indicator, as you said and that looks like a real worthwhile swap. Very nice!

Everything appears to work as it would on a Road King.

Everything is controlled with the thumb switch on the left grip.

It has the ABS, tire pressure sensor and traction control indications but the 2016 Freewheeler doesn’t have those features so they’re just dimmed out.

I didn’t think to check the cruise control light but I don’t know why that wouldn’t work as well.

If you have ABS I think there’s something the dealer has to do so it may be questionable if you have that option.

The primary purpose I wanted it other than the look Is I like the fuel and gear indicators which they work as they should.

Also I have the same unit on my heritage so I’m used to having all the features So missing them kind of sucks.

I got it online at Surdyke Harley Davidson for $275.

https://www.surdyke.com/PartsMain.a...5&Name=Touring&CatName=Speedo/Tachometer Kits

 

[Jack Klarich]

Very cool set up, does the odometer start over or is there a way other than the dealer scanner to transfer your actual mileage?

 

[JTJersey]

I was going to ask the same question as Jack. All the answers on Harley's website for that unit say the odometer reading is also stored in the ECM and will update the new speedometer in 31.1 miles. Apparently trip meter B starts a countdown mileage. Something about letting the techs use it for testing without actually permanently installing it.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/Combination-Analog-Speedometer-Tachometer-MPH/p/74774-11D

 

[Blueraven]

Very cool set up, does the odometer start over or is there a way other than the dealer scanner to transfer your actual mileage?

The mileage transfers automatically as that is stored in the ECM.

JT is correct, the trip B sets at 31.1 miles on install and counts down.

The way I understand it works is that once you travel 31.1 miles the unit is married to the bike and can’t be transferred to another bike so you’ve got a try and buy period of 31.1 miles.

I assume as long as you don’t get to 31.1 miles if you transfer it to another bike it will reset to 31.1 miles but I don’t know that for sure.

I don’t have a lot of time on this particular unit but I’ve had the one on my Heritage for many years and really do like it.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I have the combo speedo/ tach on my Dyna- love it! Have a new in box one sitting on a shelf for a year now- just havnt gotten around to installing it. Its for a RoadKing because the FLRT is a RK. Im thinking of tapping off the parking brake and running wires up to the handlebar nacelle and putting an led lamp in the right side bung. Dont need no R. Dont care about no stinkin R. I know when Im going backwards.

 

[rhino 2]

I have the combo speedo/ tach on my Dyna- love it! Have a new in box one sitting on a shelf for a year now- just havnt gotten around to installing it. Its for a RoadKing because the FLRT is a RK. Im thinking of tapping off the parking brake and running wires up to the handlebar nacelle and putting an led lamp in the right side bung. Dont need no R. Dont care about no stinkin R. I know when Im going backwards.

What the Harley reverse should have is reverse lights or like the Spyder I had… when you put it in reverse the four ways go on this way when you’re pulling of a parking space Charle Numb Nuts speeding down the isle realizes that you are backing out from a spot..

 

[Blueraven]

Im thinking of tapping off the parking brake and running wires up to the handlebar nacelle and putting an led lamp in the right side bung.

Now that’s an idea.

 

[JTJersey]

Blueraven have you been able to get the 31.1 miles to reset the odometer yet? Any oddities showing up? No warning lights about anything, I trust? I have ABS on my '21 Freewheeler so hopefully that will work with no issues. In all the pics of this speedo I see what appears to be an LED light that looks like the number "6" near the O mph mark. Any insight into what that is? Sorry for all the questions, but you've gotten me interested in this and I'm probably going to order one soon.

 

[Old Road Dog]

6= 6th gear. On my Dyna it really stands out. And the bazillion color combinations can really impress a date. She'll either be hypnotized and the worlds your oyster or run inside and call her momma to come get her. Could go either way.

 

[JTJersey]

6= 6th gear. On my Dyna it really stands out. And the bazillion color combinations can really impress a date. She'll either be hypnotized and the worlds your oyster or run inside and call her momma to come get her. Could go either way.

:laugh: