MPH to KPH quick fix

[Fry]

(god help me if someone has already made this fix)


Breaking News !! Extra, Extra, read all a'bout it !!

The myth and legend of the MPH to KPH problem has plagued us for 100's of years.

Some say it couldn't be done, but I bring you this today that which from now on shall be known as the ``Fry-Fix´´ I have spoken, so shall it be done !!
Basically this quick fix, just like being married, comes with consequences, in that you will no longer be able to use your Tachograph control buttons for anything.
This of course is a small sacrifice to make if you, like me, never used it anyway.
The small sacrifice does however elevates the pain and stain involved in physically having to push the MPH/KPH button every time you start your machine.

Tools you will need: philips screw drive (if its ok with him), soldering iron, small piece of wire. ( sledgehammer, duck tape, and swear box just in case)

First after praying for spiritual guidance, hold down the mph/kph button, and turn on the ignition and see if the display shows KPH as the default start-up choice.
If this is successful then read on, if not, what a shame, bye bye now.
If you have the same tachograph layout on your bike as shown in the photo below simply remove the tacho button housing, turn it over and remove the 4 screws holding the control panel pcb.
If your pcb looks like the one in the next photo simply solder a small wire link to the contacts shown.
Do a small test and if no sparks or the smell of burnt plastic is present, screw the whole thing back to the way it was again and mount it back on the bike.

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, I give you the ``Fry-Fix´´ enjoy.


PS. No goldwings were injured during the making of this guide, and only 1 screw went AWOL causing a stunt screw to be used until the son of a bitch is located.

[Fry]

UPDATE !!
Instead of using a small link of wire you could solder 2 wires connected to the same points and connect them to a toggle switch. Giving you the option of having the fix as kph or toggling back to the standard setup if you want the use of the tachograph functions.

Just another eureka moment I had while trying to get to sleep last night.

[Steve S.]

Where were you with this fix when I posted looking for an answer to this situation , winter of 2020?
I took my Canadian 1984 gl1200a to Florida and was bothered by having to switch each start-up to MPH.
After getting no real help, I screwed a small tab of plastic near the button so I could push it down, swivel the tab over the button so that it stayed down ,keeping it on MPH upon subsequent restarts....very redneck, but I'm happy with only wasting a 2 cent screw.
Bad news is that Covid 19 will keep me in Canada this winter, not in Florida with that bike. I only have an '82 1100 and a '84 1200 in Nova Scotia to play with. As of Dec/10/2020 I still have hopes of another ride yet this season.

Steve S.

[Fry]

Hi Steve,
as its winter 2020 now, I am sure you you mean winter 2019.
I like the idea of your own (very redneck) fix, but its simple and does the job nicely.
Yeah this covid thing is ruining everything for everyone right now, but can well understand you would rather be in Florida, (me too )

But thanks for your comments on my post you being the only one so far. I thought after writing this post there would be a huge influx of happy bikers thanking me for solving this problem, how wrong I was

[Rednaxs60]

Following your thread, but have an '85 Limited Edition and it has this function built into the travel computer. It's quite nice. There is also a button to switch between oil temp and pressure where the fuel level and water temp digital gauge on the dash. Too bad Honda didn't keep these functions.

The default in Canada is KPH - defaults to this every time you start the bike, default in the US is MPH. When you switch to the other speed designation it also changes the readings of the fuel management system and trip computer on the travel computer.

Cheers

[Fry]

85 Limited Edition, There is a button for everything on that model
Smart idea with the oil temp and pressure where the fuel level and water temp digital gauge on the dash.
Looks like I have the US version with mph as default, they should have made it easier to change the settings for this function,

Thx for your post.

[Rednaxs60]

Thanks, don't use half of what is available. Honda could have put a reverse on it considering it has everything else. Did the external alt mod - a little tight, not as much room as there is on the carb models. Installed a side stand safety switch as well. Used one from an 1800, there are others available. Wiring is not too onerous. I believe I have a thread on this forum regarding this. Cheers