Harley Speedos
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
my speedo is off (reads faster than actual)
^^That^^ according to the roadside radar units first mentioned in post 10
those suggesting it's common for other vehicles to read faster than actual hasn't been my experience (when unmodified)
all my other vehicles have been on the money when going by those radar units
..L.T.A.
^^That^^ according to the roadside radar units first mentioned in post 10
those suggesting it's common for other vehicles to read faster than actual hasn't been my experience (when unmodified)
all my other vehicles have been on the money when going by those radar units
..L.T.A.
Last edited by IBE; Jan 13, 2020 at 09:13 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
well i wish you would.. please tell me, come on its ok.. please enlighten me, i really want to know, and just to be fair i was OS in the Navy. that means i ran radar and sonar. but its ok you cant hurt my feelings
Last edited by IBE; Jan 13, 2020 at 09:35 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,078
Likes: 19,234
From: The Wasteland
There are so many variables its impossible to say exactly why the speedo may be off a bit. Tire inflation, tire size, hell even tread wear will throw it off a little.
I do think your 5 MPH estimation is wrong. I have measured my speedo to those roadside speed sensor signs and against a GPS and my bike is exactly 2 MPH off. If my speedo says I'm doing 70 I'm actually doing 68. This has been the case in the last 3 HDs I've owned.
I do think your 5 MPH estimation is wrong. I have measured my speedo to those roadside speed sensor signs and against a GPS and my bike is exactly 2 MPH off. If my speedo says I'm doing 70 I'm actually doing 68. This has been the case in the last 3 HDs I've owned.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
I never look at mine unless I see a cop shooting radar....I have never seen a speedometer exactly match GPS...and usually the amount they are off changes as speed increases...
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1,047
From: Southwest Desert
I really don't look at my speedometer enough to care. I have never checked it against GPS either. Next time I go past a road sign speedometer, I'll check. If it was off for all the years I owned the bike, I never really noticed...I tend to drive with traffic. In the city, I drive whatever traffic is doing just to be safe and keep a safe distance away. On the highway, I stay far enough behind, and remain in the other lane for distance. More distance gives me more time to react. I only pass when it suits me, or the guy in front of me is slowing things down. When I was younger, I admit I split a lane now and then getting to work on time, but I never saw/noticed that my speedo was off.
I have also gone through many a tire. Done a burnout or two. Wore them down to slicks. Never noticed a change. Don't get tickets very often either, so it must be alright...
I have also gone through many a tire. Done a burnout or two. Wore them down to slicks. Never noticed a change. Don't get tickets very often either, so it must be alright...
Last edited by SirHarley; Jan 14, 2020 at 09:48 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 132
From: Deep South, Louisiana
In the US all speedometers on factory new vehicles are set to show 2 mph faster than true speed. This changes as tires wear down or improper inflation and will show speed faster than true speed. But usually if you look at the left edge of speedometer needle it is close to true speed. To test your speedometer drive the interstate between mile markers. At 60 mph you should take 60 seconds to cover that distance. 5 miles should take you 5 minutes, etc. But the easiest and more accurate in clear weather is to check it against a gps device not a cell phone gps. I keep my bottom right block set to gps speed.
Last edited by K Melancon; Jan 14, 2020 at 09:45 AM.
Everyone claiming there speedo is or isn't right according to the roadside radar sign should know the signs aren't always accurate. I'd say 75-80% are but does leave the rest. The ones that are placed in construction zones are the worst. Mile markers are the same, they aren't place dead nuts on 1 mile either.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
hey guys i only put this out there just to see what i got back. just for the fun of it. i know mine is off by 5 but i dont care it is what it is my 07 road king was off by 5 as well and the people i ride with is the same. was hoping a harley tech would shed some light on it. thats all i was looking for. i googled it and found what i was looking for. cheers
Last edited by IBE; Jan 14, 2020 at 11:37 AM.
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