[Viju]

The Bullet as well as the Classic Reborn come with this neat looking badge, which can be replaced with a Tripper navigation display. I was not keen on adding a Tripper - as I am comfortable using Apple / Google Maps, and also did not want to add yet another digital display to the retro-themed Bullet.

I was looking around for an analogue meter to replace the badge with - even an ammeter as in the older generation Bullets. I had in fact requested Hitchcocks to make a kit, which they should be releasing soon. But it would have been a bit pointless to be honest. Hitchcocks do sell a ready-to-install Daytona Velona tachometer kit for the Bullet and Classic Reborn. But in my eyes, it is a half-hearted job from Hitchcocks - with needle and fonts completely mismatched to the original speedo on the bike, a small digital display and even a shift light - none of which suited the Bullet in my view.

While casually looking around, I came up on a few posts on the Royal Enfield Owners Forum by a user named 'nissbird' who makes tachometer kits for almost all the modern Royal Enfields. Although I am not a member of the forum, I was able to find his contact details and ordered a kit for my Bullet.

Disclaimer: I have no association with him other than this one purchase that I made, and the kit cost me GBP 155 including shipping to Japan.

I have no idea which vendor he sources the basic tachometer itself from, but he designs and builds the housings, bezels, wiring and connectors all by himself. He did share a few of his CAD designs for the different RE models upon my request. He takes care to use matching needles, fonts, bezels and even backlighting. The bezel on my tacho is made from stainless steel, and it is neatly polished.

He also provides a 6 month return warranty, but I do hope it lasts much longer than that.

Neat packaging



Contents

The kit consisted of the actual tachometer, torx driver to remove the factory-fitted badge, USB drive with instructions and wiring diagram and a couple of plug-and-play wiring harnesses.

A closer look

[Viju]

Installation - Part 1 / 2

Caution: As always, before doing any electrical work on your bike, disconnect the negative terminal (normally black) of the battery.

Disconnect battery negative (inside the RHS 'tool box' on the Bullet / Classic)



The plug and play harness to pick up the signals from the ignition coil



Remove the seat (#6 allen key bolts x 4)



The fuel tank is fixed using just one bolt and nut (M10 / M8)



Remove the bolt and nut carefully



Cover the front portion of the tank with fluffy clothes to avoid scratches



Lift the backside of the tank gently and prop it up using a suitable object



Tank propped up to gain access



The white coupler is the one going to the ignition coil



If you are dexterous, use your fingers. But if you are like me, use a small screwdriver to gently disconnect the coupler.



After adding the new harness, bring the power line (green colour wire with the bullet connector) towards the headlight nacelle

Tie up the wiring neatly using the provided cable tie and the fuel tank and seat can be refitted.

[Viju]

Installation - Part 2/2

Now we can move on to the installation of the actual tachometer itself.

Remove the headlamp



Gently pull out the H4 plug and keep the headlamp aside in a safe place



The torx screw to take out the badge is hidden deep behind the wiring mess



I cut the cable tie, moved aside the bunch of wiring and the torx screw was visible



Removing the speedometer (just an M10 nut) gives easy access to the torx screw





The speedo coupler itself is a press-and-remove type and is easily undone



Once the badge and bottom piece are out, you can start with the tacho installation



The 'nissbird' tacho is a press-fit type, and the lugs can be pressed in one by one starting with the white one after ensuring proper orientation



Tachometer installed



The tacho power supply connector



Fish out the matching 3 pin connector from the loom and remove the cover



Fix the two couplers, and you have power supply to the tachometer

Refit everything neatly including the battery terminal at the very end. And yes, do not forget to plug in the signal wire (bullet connector) that you brought in from the ignition coil.

Installation complete

Switch on the ignition and your tacho should do a nice sweep right when the speedo sweep ends. It's not simultaneous, but it is more like a synchronized dance.

The matching lighting and needle looks pretty good at night in my opinion

https://youtu.be/N0itGx7s2z8

Cold start - sorry about the shaky video, it was a cold evening today!

I made this short video to show the tachometer in action. It is pretty cold where I am as we are approaching winter, and the video is of a cold start. The bike fired up and went straight to around 1,500 rpm and finally settle down between 900 and 1,000 rpm. After riding around 10 km, I realized that I shift up at around 2,500 rpm within the city.

Any questions are always welcome.

Ride safe and hope to see you in the next one!

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Motorcycle section. Thanks for sharing!

Going to our homepage tomorrow

[Sensible_Speed]

That tachometer looks insanely cool! I wish Royal Enfield would give it as an option from the factory. You, sir, are a genius in my eyes. That is a very tasteful addition to your beautiful RE.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Nice mod! In fact the tacho suits the slot better than the earlier RE logo, or the Tripper display IMHO!

Royal Enfield could have provided something like this, at least on the Classic 650!

[Viju]

Originally Posted by Sensible_Speed

That tachometer looks insanely cool!

Thank you, Sensible_Speed! All credits to Mr. Philip Kench who design and develop these tachometers.

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Nice mod! In fact the tacho suits the slot better than the earlier RE logo, or the Tripper display IMHO!

Royal Enfield could have provided something like this, at least on the Classic 650!

Fully agree, CD!

[glvenubt11]

I hope this thread reaches the design team/ top executives at RE. The whole dashboard now looks beautiful.

[isiv]

I'll probably end up buying this first and then the bike... Just wishing they'd matched the speedo font, then it would have blended in perfectly. Great mod and thanks for sharing the details

[chiefpk]

Beautiful and absolutely worth it DIY mod. Love the night look when it's lit up! Interesting to see that the designers at RE don't give a heed to functionality just like when they used to not ship a fuel indicator with their motorcycles.

[Viju]

Originally Posted by Sensible_Speed

I wish Royal Enfield would give it as an option from the factory.

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Royal Enfield could have provided something like this, at least on the Classic 650!

Originally Posted by glvenubt11

I hope this thread reaches the design team/ top executives at RE.

Originally Posted by chiefpk

Beautiful and absolutely worth it DIY mod.

Glad to see that so many of you feel the same way as I do.

But to be honest, RE has invested heavily into the Tripper ecosystem, and I won’t be surprised to see the next generation of the Classics and Bullets get a full-fledged digital display in the center as well, similar to the Himalayan 450 or Bear 650.

Looking at the comments in general to RE’s posts on social media, the younger generation of enthusiasts seems to prioritize digital displays, LED lighting, USD forks, matt colours and alloy wheels over a more old school motorcycling experience. The only exception to that is the constant criticism for not providing a kick start on the newer models.

Originally Posted by isiv

IJust wishing they'd matched the speedo font, then it would have blended in perfectly.

I know! In fact, if I have to really nitpick, the stainless steel bezel is not polished to the exact same finish as the plastochrome OEM surround on the speedo, the fonts are not perfectly matching, the resting position of the needles are slightly misaligned, and even the colour temperature of the backlighting is slightly different.

But when you consider this was designed and made by one person who is just another enthusiast like us, these mismatches become more acceptable. Philip had made just one unit for his Classic 350 Reborn, and shared it as a DIY on the RE Owners forum, and a lot of members demanded for one as well. Even now, he makes each piece to order by hand. To do it alone and still be able to sell it at a much lower price than an established company like Hitchcocks who orders a generic Daytona tacho in bulk is quite something I guess.

[Thebugdoc]

This is absolutely amazing! Is it compatible with older generation Classic 350 models, specifically the 2018 version? Could you share the total cost involved for this setup?

[Viju]

Originally Posted by Thebugdoc

This is absolutely amazing! Is it compatible with older generation Classic 350 models, specifically the 2018 version? Could you share the total cost involved for this setup?

Hi Thebugdoc

Kindly check the first post for the seller’s contact details. It is a made to order product. May be Philip could make one for the older Classic 350 as well.

This particular one cost me GBP 155 including shipping from UK to Japan.

Thank you.

[Fr0nx23]

Originally Posted by Viju

Switch on the ignition and your tacho should do a nice sweep right when the speedo sweep ends. It's not simultaneous, but it is more like a synchronized dance.

This is the most beautiful thing I have seen today. I am inspired by your passion for the motorcycle. Thank you for sharing this. I want to to find similar tacho and get it fitted for my classic.

[jetsetgo08]

How's the tachometer experience? Is the reading correct? And the eternal question of what are the RPMs at 80kmph and 100kmph.

Thanks in advance.