Hi Guys!
I'm new to this forum so please excuse me if this is a newbie question. I have a 99 Sportster 1200. On my ride to work this morning, the speedometer seemed to be malfunctioning. I was on the interstate doing what I estimate to be between 60 and 70 and the speedo didn't read above 40 mph. After I got off the interstate, I couldn't get the speedo above 20-25 and I was probably doing 40. I'm not sure if this is a common problem or not, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Greg

New Orleans, LA

 

I vaguely remember a thread about this problem but I believe it is a intermitten problem with the HD electronic speedometers. I had a similar problem on my old Sportster, but it only happened once then the thing worked fine.

I've read in bike magazines that if you turn off the engine using the ignition switch rather than the thumb switch it can create speedo problems. No one has ever given an answer as to why that happens, though.

I'd say just watch it for a few days and see what happens before tearing into anything.

 

pop the back off and make sure every thing is wired up and firmly pluged in. its real easy to do!

 

as harley ron sugested in another forum, the sensor can be bad!

 

If its the electronic speedo you have, it has been a problem on Sportster engined Buells ( like mine) for a few years now. There is a Buell licensed rewire kit available, so I would imagine there would be a similar package for Sportsters
The sensors were fed from an unregulated supply, the voltage peaks where enough to 'fry' the sensor, the rewire kit takes its power from the TPS ( throttle position sensor) which is a more controlled voltage and gets a regulated 5V feed from the ECM.


lev

 

It's happens on my wife's Sporty, and on a buddies Road King.[:@] It seems to happen if the enigne dies/stalls (like during warm-up)and the key switch isn't turned off and then back on. It's kinda like a Stephen King kinda thing methinks.[]