BMW R1100RS with Avocet 50

BMW R1100RS with Avocet 50

I installed a bicycle computer, an Avocet 50, on my R11RS. It was rather expensive ($90), but this particular model includes an altimeter. I bought the cyclometer at a bicycle shop, but I know Aerostich carried it in their catalogue until Avocet stopped making the 50.

Some of the cyclometer's additional information turned out to be rather interesting. The (two-year) average speed for my bike is 49.3 mph and the maximum speed showed I hit a ton when in traffic on the Denver-Boulder turnpike (a signal to back off). If I get pulled over, I just hope the State Trooper isn't an avid bicyclist and knows how to check the Avocet's readings.

The altitude reading is fun to have here in Colorado and, on one trip, saw a range from over 14,000ft. near the top of Mt. Evans (a Colorado "14'er") to -200ft in Death Valley.

The Avocet 50's specs are impressive:

Wheel size: 9.6"D-41.7"D in .04" increments
Waterproof
Operational Tempurature Range: 0°F-150°F
Altitude: -990ft to 19,990ft (great for Nepal) in 10 ft increments
Trip Climb/Decent
Total Climb/Decent
Speed:
   Current Speed: Up to 128mph in .5 increments
   Average Speed: Calculated only when wheel is turning
   Maximum Speed: To 128mph
Distance
Trip Distance: To 1,999.9 miles
Total distance: To 19,1999 miles
Time
Clock: 12 hour
Stopwatch: Elapsed time to 1:59:59
English or Metric measurement

I had one of these units on my bicycle so it was easy to just buy another sensor kit for the scooter. The Avocet rear-wheel sensor kit for a bicycle contains a larger magnetic ring. After trimming off three plastic tabs, the magnetic ring was a perfect fit on the right side of the R11's front hub. I used silicone sealant adhesive to glue the ring in place.

The pick-up sensor mounted on the fork with plastic ties. The sensor was too deep, so I just sanded down the back of it a bit. I ran the wire up the fork securing them with plastic ties. The fork cover hides all the ties and wire.

I mounted the computer on the left handlebar, just to the inside of the switch module. The bright green "Avocet 50" logo screamed "take me," so I scraped all of the identifiers off. I think it makes unit look built-in, so I just leave it on the bike.

The cyclometer is inherently accurate by using the tire circumference. If your measurment is off by, let's say, 1", the error would amount to only slightly more than 1% (which would equate to 60mph being indicated as 60.6mph) -- close enough in my book. Plus, if you think the reading is a bit high or low, you can adjust the setting for the wheel diameter .04" at a time (I calculate that would equate to an adjustment increment of about .01, that's one one-hundredth, mph at 60mph).

Here are the numbers I used:

Bridgestone 120/70 17" BT-57 circumference:
     new = 74.25" (x 25.4 = 1885.95mm)
     (ready for replacement) = 73.45" (1865.63mm)
     setting used in Avocet = 73.85" (1875.79mm)

What tempted me initially was to see if the Avocet's measured speed was close to the bike's speedometer reading. At 60mph on the Avocet, my R11's speedo reads about 2mph lower.

One negative--I have to remove the magnetic ring when replacing the front tire. Oh...a light and a 12-volt connection would be nice.


I installed a bicycle computer, an Avocet 50, on my R11RS. It was rather expensive ($90), but this particular model includes an altimeter. I bought the cyclometer at a bicycle shop, but I know Aerostich carried it in their catalogue until Avocet stopped making the 50. Some of the cyclometer's additional information turned out to be rather interesting. The (two-year) average speed for my bike is 49.3 mph and the maximum speed showed I hit a ton when in traffic on the Denver-Boulder turnpike (a signal to back off). If I get pulled over, I just hope the State Trooper isn't an avid bicyclist and knows how to check the Avocet's readings. The altitude reading is fun to have here in Colorado and, on one trip, saw a range from over 14,000ft. near the top of Mt. Evans (a Colorado "14'er") to -200ft in Death Valley.
	The Avocet 50's specs are impressive: Wheel size: 9.6"D-41.7"D in .04" increments Waterproof Operational Tempurature Range: 0°F-150°F Altitude: -990ft to 19,990ft (great for Nepal) in 10 ft increments Trip Climb/Decent Total Climb/Decent Speed: Current Speed: Up to 128mph in .5 increments Average Speed: Calculated only when wheel is turning Maximum Speed: To 128mph Distance Trip Distance: To 1,999.9 miles Total distance: To 19,1999 miles Time Clock: 12 hour Stopwatch: Elapsed time to 1:59:59 English or Metric measurement
I had one of these units on my bicycle so it was easy to just buy another sensor kit for the scooter. The Avocet rear-wheel sensor kit for a bicycle contains a larger magnetic ring. After trimming off three plastic tabs, the magnetic ring was a perfect fit on the right side of the R11's front hub. I used silicone sealant adhesive to glue the ring in place. The pick-up sensor mounted on the fork with plastic ties. The sensor was too deep, so I just sanded down the back of it a bit. I ran the wire up the fork securing them with plastic ties. The fork cover hides all the ties and wire. I mounted the computer on the left handlebar, just to the inside of the switch module. The bright green "Avocet 50" logo screamed "take me," so I scraped all of the identifiers off. I think it makes unit look built-in, so I just leave it on the bike. The cyclometer is inherently accurate by using the tire circumference. If your measurment is off by, let's say, 1", the error would amount to only slightly more than 1% (which would equate to 60mph being indicated as 60.6mph) -- close enough in my book. Plus, if you think the reading is a bit high or low, you can adjust the setting for the wheel diameter .04" at a time (I calculate that would equate to an adjustment increment of about .01, that's one one-hundredth, mph at 60mph). Here are the numbers I used: Bridgestone 120/70 17" BT-57 circumference: new = 74.25" (x 25.4 = 1885.95mm) (ready for replacement) = 73.45" (1865.63mm) setting used in Avocet = 73.85" (1875.79mm) What tempted me initially was to see if the Avocet's measured speed was close to the bike's speedometer reading. At 60mph on the Avocet, my R11's speedo reads about 2mph lower. One negative--I have to remove the magnetic ring when replacing the front tire. Oh...a light and a 12-volt connection would be nice.