Imagine your cherished classic motorcycle starting with the first touch, pulling with a newfound crispness as every cylinder fires in unison at exactly the correct time, and running with a reliability that lets you focus purely on the joy of the ride. With no more wear and tear of mechanical components that reduce performance as you rack up the miles and eventually need replacing, the Hand Held Dyno keeps marching on as perfectly as the day you installed it. And the icing on the cake? Not only is it so easy to install (that you did it yourself), your installation is as perfect as a seasoned professional could have done!
This is the reality of the Hand Held Dyno (HHD) Ignition system. It’s a revolutionary upgrade conceptualized by classic motorcycle enthusiast Michael Arnott and brought to life through the world-class engineering of Mike Garrard (an automotive engine management semiconductor engineer with 12 motorcycle-specific ignition patents). They understood that classic bike owners want the benefits of modern tech without the headaches, starting with an installation that empowers you to achieve a flawless setup.
The HHD Ignition: Your Bike, Your Install, Simply Better, Automatically.
The moment you install the HHD Ignition (easily!), its advanced technology gets to work, making a tangible difference:
- Starts Like a Dream, Effortlessly: The advanced ZSS (Zero Speed Sensing) Pickups ensure a potent spark from the very first RPM. The benefit? Your bike just starts easier and more reliably, day in, day out. It's there to give you confidence your bike has every chance of starting in all conditions.
- Silky Smooth Power, Stronger Pull: You'll immediately feel the difference thanks to the HHD’s proprietary "Long Duration Spark" (LDS) Technology. From the moment you press the starter button, LDS creates a more complete and powerful combustion. The benefit? Faster starting, a smoother, more responsive engine with a confident idle, and a satisfying surge of torque and horsepower, all happening seamlessly.
- Ride with the Confidence of Perfect Timing, Always: Accurate ignition timing is the key for more complete and powerful combustion that ensures the engine is performing at its peak efficiency with spark delivery optimized for every moment. Gone is the mechanical advance unit which can vary in its accuracy by up to 15% throughout the entire rev range and spark scatter caused by contact points. Instead, the HHD Ignition is maintenance-free with its IDAS (Interpolated Digital Advance System), which prescribes spark timing with precision down to a millionth of a second! This digital brain leverages the exceptionally clean and precise signals provided by another key accuracy-enhancing feature: the LDT (Large Diameter Trigger) Rotor. This LDT Rotor, keyed directly to your crankshaft, delivers timing signals that are 3 to 5 times more accurate (depending on the bike model) than older systems, ensuring your IDAS has the perfect information to work with and your timing is always spot-on, with no wear and tear of mechanical advance and contact points systems that gradually lose performance from the moment you install them.
- Installation: Do It Yourself and Achieve Professional Accuracy—No Ignition Timing Knowledge Needed! Sound too good to be true for a high-performance ignition? Not with the Hand Held Dyno. That "Automatic Static Timing System" (ASTS) we’ve hinted at is the key. It’s ingeniously designed to make installation incredibly straightforward, completely eliminating the need for manual static timing adjustments, degree wheels, or timing lights. You genuinely don't even need to know what static timing is! Benefit: If you can connect a vacuum cleaner together, you can confidently achieve a perfectly timed HHD Ignition installation, matching (or even exceeding) the precision of a seasoned pro.
Modern Convenience, Classic Simplicity: Cutting-Edge Tech Made Easy
The HHD Ignition proves that advanced technology doesn't have to be complicated:
- Your Smartphone, Your Command Centre: Via a robust Bluetooth connection, the HHD Ignition links to an intuitive Smartphone App (iOS & Android). Worried about a complex app? If you can make a post on Facebook, you can use the HHD app! It’s that straightforward to select from 9 expertly crafted pre-set ignition maps, monitor vital signs like engine RPM, battery voltage (see below!), and even GPS speed.
- Track Your Engine’s Life: The integrated Engine Hour Meter, viewable on the app, lets you accurately track usage for spot-on maintenance scheduling.
- Peace of Mind Electricals: Worried about your bike’s battery or charging system before a big ride? You can forget about digging out the multimeter, wrestling with its tangled leads, then lifting the seat or removing side covers just to check your battery status. Instead, with the Hand Held Dyno Ignition, you simply key-on, connect the app, and check your battery voltage and charging system health in a heartbeat, right on your phone! This isn't just about convenience; it provides early warnings for potential issues, like a failing regulator, before they lead to bigger problems (like blown lights on a dark night!). Plus, the Ignition Control Unit (ICU) has built-in overcharging protection and reverse polarity protection. Benefit: These features safeguard your investment. We've designed the ignition with the DIY novice mechanic in mind (do you even own a multimeter?); if you're confident enough to graduate past fitting handlebar tassels but worry about "letting the smoke out" if you make an error we've designed the ignition to protect itself from you! Don't worry about mismatching wiring, the worst that can happen is that the bike won't start, no expensive damage done. And the App has a troubleshooter to help set things straight.
For the Enthusiast Seeking a Deeper Connection & Ultimate Control (Still Easy to Access!)
For those riders who want even more fun and love to delve deeper, learn more, and fine-tune their machine, the HHD Ignition unlocks a new level of engagement, all kept user-friendly:
- Unlock Your Inner Tuner (If You Choose): A dedicated Windows Desktop App (also Bluetooth, no cables!) allows suitably qualified users to develop their own bespoke ignition maps.
- Transform Your Ride into a Data Powerhouse (Optional Fun!): The optional Tuner Edition App unlocks incredible data logging, all Time and Calendar stamped for easy organization. It uniquely records and synchronizes data from your smartphone’s own sensors (GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.) alongside critical engine data from optional accessory sensors like AFR (via Lambda), EGT, MAP, CHT, Oil Pressure, and Tyre Temperature.
- Tune with a Global Team, Instantly: That smartphone data logging means inherent internet connectivity. Michael Arnott explains the exciting possibility: "This allows a racer or enthusiast to immediately send data to their engine tuner, who could be on the other side of the world, for rapid remote advice."
The Verdict? The feeling of satisfaction when you ride and hear and feel the perfectly timed sparks punching down on the piston like a thunder crack.
The Hand Held Dyno Ignition system is your classic bike’s new best friend. It works intelligently in the background to deliver tangible improvements in starting, performance, and reliability. And for those who want to explore further, it offers a suite of powerful, yet accessible, tools and insights via its intuitive apps. It’s modern mastery, made for the classic enthusiast, delivering unparalleled accuracy right from your own installation.
Isn't it time your cherished classic benefited from the future of ignition technology, designed with you in mind?