There was a time, not so very long ago, when putting a digital dashboard in your bike meant beating a path to Dakota’s door, but times have changed.
Coincidentally, when shooting Snob’s Dark Knight last month, I was trying to remember the last time I’d seen one, and when I couldn’t I mentally consigned it to the history books, alongside tax disc holders and Scott Oilers. And why wouldn’t they be, as competition hots up, prices drop and manufacturers start to incorporate increasing number of digital elements in their stock instruments … or digital instruments.
Actually, that’s an easy question to answer: there are a hell of a lot of old and new bikes out there with analogue instruments, and much more acceptance of digital. This should be the dawning of their new golden age, assuming they can keep up to date with developments.
Apparently they can.
MLX-3000 Series Speedometer/Tachometer
Starting simple, this is Dakota’s offering for Harley’s 3 3/8” instrument, as found on Sportsters, Rockers and a number of Dyna models, and turns your simple speedo into an information centre.
In a machined aluminium housing with a black or chrome bevel, the MLX-3000 gives you a user-configurable readout in one of 31 colours with the option to change specific colours to make them more or less prominent to suit you – you can switch off elements that you don’t need – or just choose from one of 12 pre-set themes. That isn’t a picture of ten different instruments but ten configurations, and it’s only a shame that they didn’t show more of the bar graph readouts.
You will be delighted to learn that you configure it using your Smartphone – well, IOS and Android: Windows isn’t mentioned.
And you get:
• a 250mph speedometer
• metric or imperial measurement
• graphic tachometer with adjustable shift point with optional digital readout
• Odometer with two resettable trips
• Miles to service: user configurable countdown
• Hours in use
• Clock (12-hour format)
• Voltage readout with low voltage alert
• Gear position indicator compatible with 4-7 speed transmissions
• Indicators for check engine, security and cruise set (if bike has it)
• Performance calculations, including:
0- 60 time,
high speed recall
high RPM recall
Standing ¼-mile time and speed
And you have the ability to dial-in your original odometer readout in place of the factory setting of zero-miles, and you can set that a few times in the first 100-miles before it locks itself down.
It goes without saying that it has an automatic brightness control, so you should have optimum visibility day or night.
MX-3000: £461.12
| Part | Fits | |
| 915834 | 1994-’03 Sportster, 1994-’03 Dyna, 2004-’05 Carburetted Dyna | Chrome |
| 915835 | 1994-’03 Sportster, 1994-’03 Dyna, 2004-’05 Carburetted Dyna | Black |
| Older models require speed sensor | ||
| 915836 | 2004-’13 Sportster, 2004-’11 Dyna, 2008-’10 Rocker | Chrome |
| 915837 | 2004-’13 Sportster, 2004-’11 Dyna, 2008-’10 Rocker | Black |
| 915838 | 2014-’19 Sportster, 2012-’17 Dyna, 2011-’19 Softail | Chrome |
| 915839 | 2014-’19 Sportster, 2012-’17 Dyna, 2011-’19 Softail | Black |
MLX-2000 Series Speedometer/Tachometer
Harley’s 4½” instrument, as found on models with a classic cast dash console, is covered by the MX-2000 which adds additional functionality for those bikes that can support it – or which can be adapted to do so.
In additional to all of the MX-3000 readouts, it can also report
• Cylinder head temperature – requires factory sender
• Oil pressure – sender sold separately (SEN-1039
• Oil Temperature – sender sold separately (SEN-1043, SEN-1044)
• Cruise on/cruise set – MLX-2004 and 2011 models only – ABS, and security
• Automatic turn signal cancelling compatible
MX-2000: tank console mount only: £565.21
| Part | Fits | Bezel |
| 915828 | 1999-’03 Softail, 1999-’03 Road King (all models) | Chrome |
| 915829 | 1999-’03 Softail, 1999-’03 Road King (all models) | Black |
| 915830 | 2004-’10 Softail, 2004-’11 Dyna, 2007-’13 Road King (all models) | Chrome |
| 915831 | 2004-’10 Softail, 2004-’11 Dyna, 2007-’13 Road King (all models) | Black |
| 915832 | 2012-’17 Dyna, 2011-’19 Softail, 2014-’19 Road King (all models) | Chrome |
|
915833 |
2012-’17 Dyna, 2011-’19 Softail, 2014-19 Road King (all models) | Black |
MLX-8414 Replacement Four Gauge Kit
This raises the game somewhat and is a direct plug-in digital instrumentation system for 2014-on Rushmore Touring Models.
The same selectable 31 illumination colours, independently selected colours for the main gauge reading and message centre or choose from 12 preset themes!
The two smaller gauges can be programed by the rider for their ideal layout, options include oil temperature, fuel level and voltage – and again, Bluetooth technology and a mobile app for both Android and Apple iOS means you can set it up on your smart phone or tablet!
You don’t get the choice between black or chrome bezels, however, because it uses the stock chrome trim rings from the OEM gauges
To save cross-referencing, this dashboard gives you:
• 250MPH (400km/h) Speedometer
• Digital Tachometer with additional graphic bar that wraps around the crown of the Tacho
• Oil Temperature – sender included
• Volts
• Fuel Level wraps – a graphic bar that wraps around the crown of the Speedometer
• Gear Position
• Clock
• Odometer
• Two trip meters
• Service Meter (miles until next service)
• Tyre pressure monitoring on factory-equipped models
• Performance Meters:
¼-mile Speed and Time,
0-60 time,
High Speed recall
RPM recall
• Tell tales: Turn Signals, High Beam, Cruise Control on/set, Check Engine, Security, ABS
• Reverse and Parking Brake available for Tri-Glide applications
MLX-8414 Four Gauge kit: £1133.38
915840 2014-’19 Touring models
MLX-8400 Four Gauge Kit
We are told that you, too, get the graphic bars for fuel level and tacho, but there’s no evidence of that on the pictures. Maybe they’re just showing how simple they can be in digital text only modes, but if you feel the need for dial-like information at a glance, you’d best check first. The inclusion of ‘Digital’ in the spec suggests not.
I’m looking at an identical list of features to the MLX-8414 so I’ll refer you to that and again recommend you check features that are important to you: I’ll just give you the fitting information.
MLX-8400 for faired models, including Road Glides: £1237.47
| 915845 | 2004-’13 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings Digital | Chrome |
| 915846 | 2004-’13 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings Digital | Black |
| 915847 | 1996-’03 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings Digital | Chrome |
| 915848 | 1996-’03 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings Digital | Black |
MLX-8600 Six Gauge Kit
HOUSE! Sorry. Couldn’t resist it. Six clocks looks excessive now but it was an essential part of the experience of Harley’s flagship tourers before some of those features were moved to the Boom!Box infotainment system.
Effectively the same as the 8400 with a couple of extra small gauges to fill the holes –making it easier to choose which readouts you want, with two more instruments – the same expectations are raised regarding the graphic bars, but potentially dashed by the word ‘Digital’ in the fitting information.
MLX-8600 for faired models, including Road Glides: £1444.21
| 915841 | 2004-’13 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings | Digital | Chrome |
| 915842 | 2004-’13 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings | Digital | Black |
| 915843 | 1996-’03 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings | Digital | Chrome |
| 915844 | 1996-’03 FLHT/FLT Touring, except FLHR Road Kings | Digital | Black |