I've had a vibe tach for years, in fact a few of them as they get lost. They work fine on single cylinder engines and opposed twins but not on V twins. I recall a mech in the 50s using one on an opposed twin Zundapp motorcycle. I usually place it on the air filter cover or a flat spot big enough and where you or it won't get caught in something nasty.
You need to use it some to get a feel for how it works. Basically, when the spring strap is vibrating at it's widest sweep as you turn the dial, it indicates the RPM on the scale.
With the price of lazer tachs as low as $15, they are the best provided you can stick a piece of reflective on the flywheel and be able to see it with the lazer from the tach.