Dakota Digital Speedo?

K9husker

Member
On my 2006 K9, i have replaced the speedo 3 times. They all fog up even when the humidity is high. The needle jumps around and the light flickers. I think they are not designed for a high vibration application. Mine did get worse after the motor work as the level of vibration increased. I could have lived with it, but what the hell, it looks cool, and i am hoping it is an upgrade. And you can't beat the two year warranty. Dakota Digital seems like good people so i'll give'em a chance.
 
I used Auto-Meter gauges, tachs, and tach recorders for over 20 years of Drag Boat Racing!

Vibrations? :lol::lol::lol::lol: Hell, our bikes seem like little "trimmers", if even that, compared to those damn boats!
They kept on working like a champ! :2thumbs:

Water Damage? :lol::lol::lol::lol: Mine and many others crap went under & down anytime we crashed or busted a big hole in the boat. And yes they were powered up when they went down!
Dry everything out and again: They kept on working like a champ! :2thumbs:

Auto-Meter is one of the worlds leading manufactures of gauges for race or street. They have "NEVER" made any junk whatsoever that I've ever seen, nor even "heard of" until this forum!

Now I understand that they make our Speedos. But do "they" assemble them or does BDM?...BDM!... BDM also makes the tach board through someone else, then BDM assembles the components that make up the entire "Speedo Unit"!
Fogging? Yea, your right! BDM Speedos sometimes fog! But there is a how-too thread on "how-too fix" that problem I believe.

Now the "Speedo Unit" that Auto-Meter is making, is just like the BDM one and it's just that "A COPY"! VERBAITUM!
If you were going to manufacture a copy of an EHC driven electrical component. Would you change anything on the design of that component, without first "knowing about all the electrical grimlens" within the "BDM electrical system"?
I think "NOT"! and BDM is still working on that very thing themselves!

There are millions of reasons that can cause these things to fail. Are the speedos the "only" electrical component that fail on our BDM bikes?...NO!....Doesn't that tell you guys anything about the "true" cause, or root of the problem? :confused:
So please be more open minded as to the "true" cause of these electrical component failure and don't just blame "Auto-Meter" or whom ever.

Just my thoughts here! Good Luck! :2thumbs:
 

Ratman

Active Member
Mr. Dead One. Unfortunately...the "fix" for the fogging problem thread you referred to (along with 6 or 7 other attempts of various things suggested) does not seem to work for those of us in high humidity applications. What company in their right mind would ever design a speedo that was not COMPLETELY SEALED- knowing it will be used for an exterior application? Apparently...Autometer/BDM/ HARLEY and a long cast of other idiots that should collectively-as far as I am concerned-be shot with s*** and hung for stinking. Un-freaking-believable.
 
Put 2 speedo's on my 06 K9 before I got to 4000 miles. My third speedometer seems to work good. No problems in 8000 miles on this one. I do get a little bit of fogging in cooler weather.
 
Mr. Dead One. Unfortunately...the "fix" for the fogging problem thread you referred to (along with 6 or 7 other attempts of various things suggested) does not seem to work for those of us in high humidity applications. What company in their right mind would ever design a speedo that was not COMPLETELY SEALED- knowing it will be used for an exterior application? Apparently...Autometer/BDM/ HARLEY and a long cast of other idiots that should collectively-as far as I am concerned-be shot with s*** and hung for stinking. Un-freaking-believable.
Rat,
No Mr. here brother. :D
I know "high" humidity! 80% here yesterday with No Rain! Sucks! :down:

But if these units were as you say "completely sealed". They would still sweat inside from condensation. Some years back all of the Window Manufactures in the country were trying everything to create a "sealed" thermal window using two pains of glass with air or a vacuum in between the two pains of glass, Nothing Worked! Sweated, Fogged, Nasty Looking. Then they tried "argon gas", Whalaa! Now I'm not saying to fill these units with gas.
But if you follow the sealing directions provided "and"...leave a reasonable size spot on the underside "UN" Sealed so air can infiltrate inside and out of the unit, that will most definitely help the moisture & fogging issue tremendously! More than likely it will eliminate it all together if done correctly.
But you must make sure that the inside of the glass of the speedo is "PERFECTLY CLEAN"! I recommend using an alcohol cleaning solution.

Give it a Whirl! Good Luck! :2thumbs:
 
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scubaman15

Well-Known Member
All I can add is that if you can make a watch that does not fog up you can make a speedo that will not ...none of my Harleys have this problem? I'm on my second and it fogs like a bitch ..pretty much all the time !! I'm willing to put up with it cause I love this beast and most of the time I'm scanning for the heat ..or someone with a cell phone getting ready to take me out. I know how fast I'm going ..... Too Fast ! :D
 

Vapor

VP - Bikers Reaching Out
I think it looks great, I am thinking about picking one up!

Thanks for the post!
 

drummin777

Active Member
I just had my speedo replaced to months ago at 5500 miles. Old speedo NEVER fogged up, new fogs like a mother. Now my proble is after two months, the little black tip on the base of the speedo needle has vibrated off ans is jsut bounceing around in there. My warranty has now expired. I would almost rather have my non working speedo back. But if this is my biggest problem, hell, I am happy as shit.
 

T.Byrd

Well-Known Member
Jeff, Im not saying that Big Dog Motorcycles do not have a electrical problem its just that I have not had any my self knock on wood. And I have had a lot of trouble with my speedo and my son has also changed out (5) on his 07 K-9.Now thats 10 speedos, there has to be a problem in the speedo itself. Im sure BDM did not make and assemble the speedo itself. They may have very well assembled the speedo and tach in the housing.
 

K9husker

Member
Bad news guys, Dakota Digital will be out of the blue display speedo's until mid August...back order city! Red ones will not be out until October:bang:
 

Byrddogg

Active Member
All autometer motorcycle speedo should be water resistant. Their auto line is not, but the bikes should. What is the difference if you wash it, or get caught in a down pour. I didn't say power wash it, I'd never power wash my bike, but you should be able to wash it just like a stock Harley, Honda or any other bike!

I still have the original white face speedo on my 2005 and I wash it with water and it has never fogged on me.

Guess I got a good one.
Lucky You:2thumbs:
 

Byrddogg

Active Member
Well the Autometer speedos I have had on my bike are JUNK. The first year I had my bike 07 I put 2 new speedos, in 08 put 2 more, 09 now another one that is 5 including the one that came with the bike. I have around 18,000 on my bike now and the ONLY thing that I have had a problem with is the speedo and that is it. If I can find one that wil last longer than a year or 3,000 miles(that's about were everyone of mine has fucked up) it will be worth it to get it. Driving down the rode and seeing that needle jump around drives me fucking crazy.

I put this here for all of us to see and any info on "DAKOTA DIGITAL" is greatly apperciated by those who have them or have used them, but to the "HATERS who get on here to say wash them, they suck, to pricey,etc,etc,....
WE DON'T NEED YOUR OPINION
 

Vapor

VP - Bikers Reaching Out
Well the Autometer speedos I have had on my bike are JUNK. The first year I had my bike 07 I put 2 new speedos, in 08 put 2 more, 09 now another one that is 5 including the one that came with the bike. I have around 18,000 on my bike now and the ONLY thing that I have had a problem with is the speedo and that is it. If I can find one that wil last longer than a year or 3,000 miles(that's about were everyone of mine has fucked up) it will be worth it to get it. Driving down the rode and seeing that needle jump around drives me fucking crazy.

I put this here for all of us to see and any info on "DAKOTA DIGITAL" is greatly apperciated by those who have them or have used them, but to the "HATERS who get on here to say wash them, they suck, to pricey,etc,etc,....
WE DON'T NEED YOUR OPINION
Byrddogg Bro,

Let me know how it works out, and post some pics when you get it on, I think it looks slick I want one! :2thumbs:
 

K9husker

Member
Just an update, went to Sturgis and back, hit some rain and the Dakota Digital worked perfect. No issues, fogging or anything. 1,200 miles later and i am a happy camper!:cheers:
 

twowheel99

Active Member
If there quailtiy is no better then what is used on a AHI I wouldn't buy it, i've been trying to get a 07 Texas Chopper speedo and tach to work on a friends bike with no help from the dealer network of course or from Dakota. I'll admitt when the work they look cool and are easy to read but when they don't your SOL......
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