Introduction
The JMP Oil Temperature gauge and Koso Voltmeter; these might seem unnecessary at the outset. But, once you have them, you can’t do without them. Or at least that’s what we are told. These are ownership enhancing add-ons for the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 sold and marketed by NGage Powerparts. Why ownership enhancing? Simply because these take some of the uncertainty out of living with your motorcycle. And, of course, add a dose of coolness.
JMP Oil Temperature Gauge
It’s German, it's JMP. And so its temperature gauge, if nothing else, should be precise. It’s also light, robustly constructed, and at under Rs 5,000, not exactly cheap. But, it has its benefits.
Now, there’s no debate about running your motorcycle on good oil. And, there should also be no debate about running it at the optimal oil temperature. But, the latter is something most of us don’t know while the rest don’t much care. Plainly because it eats into your time having to idle the bike for a minute or two before riding.
However, if you want your motorcycle to run reliably and perform at its best for years and kilometres to come, warming it up before you tear into the throttle is must. When running cold, the oil doesn’t flow as efficiently. Which can cause higher friction, more wear, and hot spots within the engine, which one doesn’t want. Especially if you decide to load it up by whacking it open.
There are drawbacks to running the motorcycle on too hot an oil as well. Too hot means it’s thinned out too much. It evaporates more. And, the performance and life of the engine suffers. But more importantly, a high temperature reading for one’s engine oil could also be an indication of lower oil levels. Plus, the JMP Temperature Gauge looks way cooler than a simple oil filler cap.
Koso Voltmeter
Koso meanwhile is a Taiwanese brand. But, interestingly, Koso actually is a coming together of two Japanese words that signify idea and high-speed. Koso makes everything from engine to body parts, induction to cooling systems, and of course, meters. But all centered around two-wheels.
This here is the Koso Voltmeter. Again, sold and marketed by NGage Powerparts in India. But this is a universal meter. So, Interceptor or not, it will fit. And work. It costs Rs 3,700, which might seem a little steep. But imagine this – your motorcycle is on the heavier side, there’s no bike repair shop close by, you are a little averse to wrenching, and the motorcycle doesn’t have a kickstarter. Then, because you weren’t paying attention, it’s now low on battery and refuses to start.
And imagine this when you are running late for an appointment and your motorcycle is your only ride.
Frustrating, I know. A voltmeter gives you advance warning so that one can avoid such a disaster. Additionally, it also lets you know if the charging system of your motorcycle is healthy.
What’s Next?
Next step for us is to install the two, and see what difference it makes to our motorcycling life. The JMP meter is an easy install – unscrew your existing oil filler cap and screw in the JMP unit. The Koso meter, however, might require some more intelligence and wrenching ability. But, if you are up to it, it too can be done in-house.
For more product details get in touch with Velmurugan Agency at: Email: sales@velmuruganagency.in. Phone: +91 9994999898
Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi
Gallery
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Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Front View
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