Speedometer alternative

The speedo is from a Convert, and fitted bolt on, and is even better calibrated than the original speedometer. I polished off the black color on the rim in hope having at least brass under, but it turned out to be nickel plated :)

If you are looking for a non-Veglia (i.e. cheaper and more reliable) speedometer to fit into the Ambassador single gauge dash, the speedometer from the Yamaha V-star 650 (around 1998 vintage) fits perfectly in the dash hole. There is no Yamaha logo on this model speedo and the odometer and trip meter are analog. The stock Yamaha gasket seals against the top of the Guzzi dash. You have to fabricate a simple bracket to hold it on the back side (piece of aluminum flat stock with 2 holes drilled in it). You have to drill a hole in side of the dash to use trip reset knob (or don't bother with reseting it, like I did). The gauge has 4 indicator lights (oil, high beam, turn signal (requires some rewiring), and neutral) that can be wired to the Guzzi harness. Yamaha (and most other Japanese makes) speedometers have a ratio of 2240 rev/mile. The Veglia Speedos have a ratio of 1610 rev/mile. Therefore, the output from the Guzzi transmission needs to be sped up 39%. There are +38% ratio adapters available from the Performance Automotive Transmission Center and other sources. Ratio adapters have a ⁷⁄₈ inch-18 thread and come with several square drive adapters, one of which works perfectly with the Guzzi transmission. You will need to machine a ⁷⁄₈ inch-18 to 12 mm × 1 mm adapter on a lathe to connect the adapter to the transmission. I bought a 12 mm × 1 mm tap and made one from brass. The speedometer cable is 48 inch with a ⁷⁄₈ inch-18 nut and a 12 mm × 1 mm nut. Drag Specialties 0655-0045 cable is an example of the cable available from a variety of Harley suppliers (Dennis Kirk, etc.). The side cover has to have a clearance notch cut in the lip to clear the ratio adapter.

A much simpler solution, if I did it over again, would be to have 2 custom cables made with the ratio adapter in the middle (⁷⁄₈ inch female by 12 mm × 1 mm female and ⁷⁄₈ inch male by 12 mm × 1 mm female). Performance Automotive Transmission Center could take care of the whole set up for you. This would probably be only a little more expensive and not require notching of the side cover or the lathe work.

This is a genuine VDO instrument produced in the mid-1960's, as used in a number of NSU 1000 cc to 1200 cc cars. I needed a replacement for the VEGLIA and found this 100 mm instrument with 5 indicator lights in red, green, yellow, blue and the diamond-shaped green lens, perfectly fitting the V7 dash. In our country you can buy such frequently on swapmarkets.

Lutz Seyfahrt repaired it and corrected the speedometer ratio (W: 1.05 for 8/37).

The speed range with a maximum of 160 KPH (approximately 100 MPH) is perfect for my sidecar outfit as the maximum speed is about 145 KPH. The Moto Guzzi drive cable works well if a cap nut by VDO is used to fasten it to the instrument.

For twowheelertractors: I think on NSU TT or TTS models they used instruments with a speed range of 180 KPH, but they are quite rare.