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Speedometer question

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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 05:54 PM
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Default Speedometer question

It won't go much over 120, just a little bit and then it kind of looks maxed out while RPM is still increasing. Is this normal? Or I just have a bad speedo.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 05:56 PM
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Doesn't the speedo only go to 120 mph?
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 06:02 PM
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Yea, but back then (when I was young and beautiful) speedos went way over max speed, one could estimate the actual speed.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:11 PM
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Pretty much everything is 'by wire' these days. I kind of doubt the speedo is still operated by a cable. I sure don't know that to be true. Maybe someone else will know but if it is electronic maybe it won't go past 120.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Von_Zipper
Yea, but back then (when I was young and beautiful) speedos went way over max speed, one could estimate the actual speed.

Back when I was younger, never beautiful we pinning the speedo, Never had anything that would wrap... Probably for the best....
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 09:29 PM
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i have an 06 and got mine up to 140km today would have kept going up but i slowed down
 
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Old Apr 17, 2013 | 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by 883drummer
i have an 06 and got mine up to 140km today would have kept going up but i slowed down
140 kph is only 87 mph.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by 2012SuperGlider
Pretty much everything is 'by wire' these days. I kind of doubt the speedo is still operated by a cable. I sure don't know that to be true. Maybe someone else will know but if it is electronic maybe it won't go past 120.
I'm pretty sure this is it. Speedo's back in the day were cable driven, and now they are electronic. I love seeing the speedo needle on my Chevelle go past the 120 mark and then proceed to go down behind the lower black portion of the dash.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Von_Zipper
It won't go much over 120, just a little bit and then it kind of looks maxed out while RPM is still increasing. Is this normal? Or I just have a bad speedo.
If the RPM is legit you should be able to figure speed by the RPM... but I suppose that if the RPM is going up and the spedo says you ain't going any faster... then maybe you have a clutch slip problem at high speed esp with max wind resistance.

(PS sure you want to go 120mph+ on a Sportster?)

(PPS and by the way, according to my RPM/Speed chart for the 1200XL 127mph is 6200 RPM; redline is 6200; and the ECM will shut you down at 6000 RPM - 123mph)
 

Last edited by MrPeepers; Apr 18, 2013 at 11:29 AM.
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Old Apr 18, 2013 | 03:29 PM
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MrPeepers,

first, I have an europulley in front, one more teeth, makes about 3% difference.
second, see my sig, FYI ThunderMax lets you set your own redline, mine is at 7100 (~7000 happens to be the RPM with my setup where switching to next gear starts making sense).
 
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