Super Sherpa speedo question

[magnum]

Just found a nice little Super Sherpa in the States and am seeking some words of wisdom.

Is there a way to make the speedoindicate kph instead of miles? Or do I need to buy a whole new speedo?

Suggestions for lowering the bike? Is there a smaller diameter front wheel available?

Thanks

 

[Yak_KLR650]

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You should be able to put a new face on it. Make up one and stick it on, but I think the US speedos have KMH in small inside the MPH anyway. Or you could put a bicycle computer on it and go digital.

 

[edzzed]

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GPS. why would ya want a smaller front wheel. the laws of gravity would suggest if you did that it makes it easier for the rear wheel to come up off the ground if you hit the front brake hard. Ed

 

[magnum]

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Thanks for ideas.

In order to pass the Federal import inspection it needs to have a speedo that shows km's. This thing has an electronic digital speedo now. No dial with a needle pointing at numbers so new face plate will not work. Kawasaki says there is no way to change the U.S. speedo but they will sell me a metric one for $535. I like the bike speedo idea. Don't thinkthe Crappy Tire inspectorwould accept the GPS.

This bike is for my wife. She is only 5'4"andshe wants the bike to be lower. Gravity and physics be damned. Not too worried about her doing stoppies. Clearance for going over logs is not a consideration. Good dirt roads are probably about the most challenging terrain this bike will see. The reality is that most of her miles will be on pavement. Would be nice to find a 19" wheel to replace the 21" it came with. She crashed her 650GS up in the Yukon this summer. She came home via Air North.Her GS came home on a pallet.The idea of the small bike is for her to practice her "off pavement" skills before trying for the Arctic Circle a second time.We came up259 km short this time.

The stock rear link is 3.75" center to center. Anyone have any experience swapping dogbones on these things? Does the sport bike formula of half inch longer link = one and a half inchlower tail end apply?



Thanks

 

[Yak_KLR650]

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Rather than swapping the front wheel, try sliding the fork tubes up in the triple clamp to lower the front end an equivalent amount the whatever you end up lowering the rear. If you don't lower the rear, lowering the front is going to result in some funny geometry that will make the bike want to tuck in fast (not good).

I don't know about for the sherpa but there are lots of lowering links for the KLR that might fit. Before you start messing with the hard parts though, I'd look at redoing the seat with thinner but stiffer foam. You should be able to get an inch or so out of that and make the seat more comfortable in the process. 5'4" isn't that short for a Sherpa so I wouldn't think you would have to do much (if any) lowering.

 

[yardsale]

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Magnum,

This might be worth looking into:

http://www.xtsportbikeaccessories.com/SpeedoHealer.html

Claims to allow you to calibrate any electronic speedo more accurately AND convert from miles to km or vice versa. $109 CD. They don't list the Sherpa as a bike that will work with their plug-and-play Kawasaki kit but the universal kit should be able to be made to work.

I've never used this device - I just came across it surfing the 'Interweb'.

Good luck,
Dave

 

[skidmark43]

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You're over-thinking this.

Cambodian Tire will simply give you stickers for your speedo. Doesnt matter whether it's digital or not... Very low-tech.

 

[magnum]

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I had to put stickers on an 04 R1150RT. It had a low tech mechanical speedo.Low tech is good.

Stickers don't accomplish much for an all electronic digital read out like the Sherpa's.

I think Plan A is to sayit readKPH until I tried setting the clock.

Plan B is a bicycle speedo.

 

[shadow]

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I just bought a Sherpa for my wife about three weeks ago. She is only 5'3 and I was able to get the bike to fit her by shaving the seat down. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a whole lot of after market parts avaialble for the Sherpa.
Her street bike is a Yamaha V-Star 650 and the Sherpa is a great bike to give her confidence on gravel roads and moderate trails.