Motogadget Motoscope Mini Digital Odometer

A little bit of Philosophy
One of the things I like most about customization is the possibility of personalizing our vehicle while adding functionality or increasing the performance of the replaced part. In fact, I believe that, aside from aesthetics, there should always be a reason when we remove, change, or add something to our motorcycle. At first, parts were cut and removed simply to reduce weight, and in the process, they stylized the bike and made it "different." Later, parts began to be replaced with others of higher performance or quality, and finally, new products were installed when a specific need arose. Always, of course, maintaining the original minimalist philosophy of the "chopper": What's not there weighs nothing, doesn't break, and doesn't count for money...

Motogadget
Continuing with this minimalism, we find a European company that makes truly small odometers. While allowing us to eliminate heavy and bulky mounts, they provide more information without adding any accessories to the machine, thus aligning with the purist trend while still providing a modern touch. Aside from this, we'll also gain more information, such as engine rpm, simply by utilizing the bike's original features.
In this case we are going to replace the original odometer of our Harley-Davidson Sportster with the Motoscope Mini

and we will take advantage of the opportunity to install it on the handlebar clamp, eliminating the standard support.

The kit
To carry out this operation we will use a Motoscope Mini, a handlebar support with a hole for it and indicator lights and a small interface ( M-Can ) that will allow us to read the data directly from the control unit, providing us with real-time information on speed and RPM.

To explain how the interface uses information, I'll explain that the fuel injection control unit (ECM) communicates with the motorcycle's various sensors using a digital language called J1850, a kind of "internet" within the vehicle. In this way, the speed sensor detects the rotation of the transmission pinion, communicates it to the ECM, and this, in turn, sends a signal to the original odometer so that the needle moves to the correct position, indicating the speed to the rider. The motoscope interface reads this information and sends it to the new device, along with the engine rpm information. Best of all, it's plug and play; there's no need to make any adjustments or calibrate anything.

Facility
We start by dismantling the original piece

and then we insert the mini odometer into its location on the handlebar tower cover, securing it with the lower screws.

We mount the clamp on the towers and tighten it as recommended in the HD manual, and that's it.

Connections
We now plug the interface into the connector where technicians normally connect the diagnostic computer. In our model, it's located next to the battery. It's very important to remember that most failures in modern motorcycle electronic systems are caused by connection problems, so we'll use dielectric silicone to facilitate contact and prevent moisture from entering the connectors.

The mini odometer requires a button to change the different displays. We discarded the one that comes with the kit and reused the original button, relocating it to the side cover, thus leaving the handlebar completely free.

We have everything secured and now all that's left is to solder the indicator light connections, with a little patience and precision.

Enjoy it!
Once everything is back in place, we'll check that it's working properly, and we'll do this while turning the handlebars from side to side to verify that there are no problems with the wiring.

From now on, we have a completely clean handlebar and we can also see the engine RPM in real time, all with a very elegant minimalist concept.

Frank Burguera

#harleymechanics