Both Veglia and Smiths instruments were fitted to the GT series, specifically detailed
here are those from the '72 models. For reference there were
earlier Smiths unique to the few 1971 models. The Aprilia logo
appeared to the right of the headlamp switch.
Veglia
These were available in either MPH or KPH depending on the market supplied.
In 1972, in Australia early bikes were supplied with Smiths mechanical and later on with Veglia mechanical speedometer and electronic tachometer ( European spec ). My 750GT was converted in 1973 to mechanical tachometer as the electronic version had already proved unreliable enough for the factory to supply the mechanical kits to the distributors.
Pay no attention to the steering damper knob, it's a special. The stock steering damper knob has no logo.
The panel lights on the '72 featured slightly different bezels to that of later GTs. This is however original and a number of these examples exist to this day in the hands of original owners or those with known history.
Note the over stamping of the Marzocchi logo on the top triple tree, this too is not uncommon amongst the early models.
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There were two different mounting brackets for the tachs, the mechanical to the left, electronic to the right. On the wiring loom near the branch for the coil wiring is a single red wire, this is the feed to the tachometer. The instrument is rubber mounted to the bracket by way of an isolating pad similar to that used on the fuel tank. These are hard to find and perish over the years.
The electronic tacho is notoriously unreliable, the culprit being a fragile movement. To convert to a mechanical instrument you will need the instrument, correct mount, tacho cable, drive cover and drive assy, internal coupling components.
Smiths
The Smiths instruments on the Australian market were generally supplied in KPH as European spec models.
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This Smiths pair shows the original instruction decal applied to the speedo. The tachometer is later than 1972 either '73 or '74. The Smiths mounts were completely different to the Veglia, the instruments being supported around their circumference by circular section rubber bands.
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The '72 models delivered in Australia had no red line marked on the tachometer. |
The binnacle top half has a cut out for the speedo trip meter reset on the left initially for the Smiths and on both sides for the Veglia equipped bikes. The two halves were screwed together with a pair of slotted self tapping screw on all year models.
The binnacle lower half has two horizontal cutouts for the protective grommets on the Smiths.
The Veglia equipped bikes have a vertical cutout on the left and horizontal on the right.
Mechanical Tachometer Drives
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The Smiths drive as fitted to the early '72 The Veglia/Smiths as fitted from '73 on
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