Bike-Watch Motorcycle Watch

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Well, the rest of us folks who actually have to work for a living to pay for our hobby are slaves to time, unfortunately. 

I never thought much about watches or clocks on motorcycles until I bought a bike with one; now it's become one of those "can't live without it" accessories. 

It sure is nice to be able to tell the time (if only to make sure I'm home in time for dinner!), and if the watch is neatly integrated into the bike's styling, it can add a nice touch besides being practical.

The problem was that I hadn't really come across any watches that looked nice enough to hang on my beautiful bikes.  Sure, a watch is a functional device, but that doesn't mean it also has to look like it's worth about 3 bucks!  So I was intrigued when I first saw the Bike-Watch; it looked like a nicely made accessory that would really fit with my Triumph's styling.

The Bike-Watch is available as either a "Slip-on" or "Clip-on" design.  The "Slip-on" shown in these photos consists of a CNC-machined, polished aluminum holder that fits over the handlebar.  The holder is available for 28mm, 7/8" or 1" handlebar diameters.

The "Clip-on" is also polished aluminum, and it attaches directly to the bike's stem nut.  Both holders have a small (2mm Allen) hex set screw to allow attachment to the handlebars.  The set screw is well-hidden, which makes for a clean mounting after the unit is installed.  I added a drop of Loctite to mine when I installed it to help prevent it from coming loose due to vibration.

The watch shown is the waterproof quartz model with a white face.  There are two face diameters available; a small and a large.  The watch shown in these photos is the large face, with a diameter of 25mm (about 1").  The watches have sweep second hands also.

To set the watch, first pop it out of the holder.  The watch has a ribbed silicone flexible band around it that both protects the stem and provides a tight fit when you insert it into the aluminum holder (yellow arrow, photo left).  Remove the flexible band and pull out the tiny stem with a fingernail (white arrow, photo left). 

The watch fits pretty tightly into the holder, so you'll probably need to loosen the set screw and remove the holder from the handlebar to push the watch out from underneath when you need to set it again after it has been installed on the bike.

Installation is very easy and takes but a couple of minutes.  The Slip-on can fit anywhere on the handlebars, but I realized that my Triumph Thunderbird Sport has the perfect location -- centered right between the handlebar clamps.  

I first measured the exact center between the two handlebar clamps, and then put a tiny dot on that spot with a permanent marker.  The aluminum holder has a hole machined in the exact center that lives underneath the watch, which is used to push the watch out of the holder from behind.  I then lined up the center of that hole with the mark I made on the handlebars.  

The only real variable is determining the angle that provides the best view of the watch when you're on the bike, so you may want to sit on the bike to locate it in the position that works for you.  Tighten the set screw (put a drop of Loctite on there first) and you're done.  Don't over-tighten -- it's easy to strip aluminum threads -- and let the Loctite do its job.

The manufacturer (Norbert Büsch at Bike-Watch.com) says the batteries usually last about 1-2 years, after which they should be replaced by a jeweler to make sure the seal on the watch stays watertight.  The batteries are not covered under warranty.

Erik Stephens, owner of Twisted Throttle (the U.S.A. importer and distributor), said that if a jeweler verifies that a customer's watch has broken (other than a dead battery) within 5 years of purchase, he will give customers 50% off the retail price of a new replacement watch, as long as the customer returns the watch with the order, no questions asked.  You can contact Erik for more information at erik@twistedthrottle.net. 

Erik also mentioned that a chrome plated version of the large-faced Slip-On watch will be available soon for a retail price of $59.95. Models will at first only be available for 1" handlebars, but will be available for 7/8" handlebars by early summer.