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Speedometer Accuracy

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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 04:58 PM
  #11  
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KutenFLHX
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Originally Posted by dakajun
When my speedometer is regestering 70 MPH, my GPS is registering 68 MPH.
Mine is about the same.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 05:05 PM
  #12  
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Truck is maybe 1mph on the slow side at 75. My glide is off by 3-4 mph at 75. G/F's yamaha is off like by about 8. Drives me nuts to convince her to speed up.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:25 PM
  #13  
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Default Speedo out of calibration

The spec for the speedometer is +3 to +5%. Harley allows this much variation.
Aftermarket calibrators work but with some issues on newer bikes. When the bike is completely calibrated the 6th gear light and cruise will not work. I went down this path a while ago and tried several calibrators with the same results. I got my SERT updated to a TTS unit with the calibration through the ECM and problem solved.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:28 PM
  #14  
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Check it yourself with a stop watch and this chart. Set your bike on cruise, on a flat road, at an indicated 60 mph, and go past several mile markers.

chart courtesy of Mn State Patrol. We gave these out to our MSF students in Mn. Jap bikes, and BMW's, seem to be very optimistic on speed. Harleys run 2-3 + over actual speed.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:39 PM
  #15  
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As long as it is within reason of the Officer's radar gun you'll be fine.


Tom
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 07:02 PM
  #16  
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+5% is acceptable by manufacturers specs, so I have been told. I don't go by my speedo anyway. I go by the sound and feel of the wind.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 07:33 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by dakajun
When my speedometer is regestering 70 MPH, my GPS is registering 68 MPH.
Ditto, that matches my Ultra exactly.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 08:04 PM
  #18  
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I have my 01 FLHR and several vehicles. No matter what I have a 1 mph variance between the GPS and whatever it is being used in or on. Close enough for me. About the same with the highway traffic/speed readers.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 09:05 PM
  #19  
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The variance is common.

Heck if it's perfect with a new rear tire, it's gonna loose accuracy as the wears. Same is true of your cars.

If ya have one way off, you can fix it with a TTS tuner. It provides access to VSS frequency in the ECM, in addition to allowing for proper tune.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2010 | 09:22 PM
  #20  
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Mine was of 3-5 mph compared to GPS. Fixed it when I got into the ECM though. Now dead on ***** accurate. ("It's an industry term.")
 
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