Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Speedometer Accuracy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 04:58 PM
  #11  
KutenFLHX's Avatar
KutenFLHX
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 585
Likes: 3
From: Holland, Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by dakajun
When my speedometer is regestering 70 MPH, my GPS is registering 68 MPH.
Mine is about the same.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 05:05 PM
  #12  
todd-67's Avatar
todd-67
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Default

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.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:25 PM
  #13  
Overdoo's Avatar
Overdoo
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 673
Likes: 4
From: Charlotte NC
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.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:28 PM
  #14  
MNPGRider's Avatar
MNPGRider
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Default

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.
 
Attached Thumbnails Speedometer Accuracy-speedograph_lg.jpg  
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 06:39 PM
  #15  
saw*me's Avatar
saw*me
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
Default

As long as it is within reason of the Officer's radar gun you'll be fine.


Tom
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 07:02 PM
  #16  
txfxstrider's Avatar
txfxstrider
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
Default

+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.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 07:33 PM
  #17  
Raaze07's Avatar
Raaze07
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 2
From: Broadview Heights, OH
Default

Originally Posted by dakajun
When my speedometer is regestering 70 MPH, my GPS is registering 68 MPH.
Ditto, that matches my Ultra exactly.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 08:04 PM
  #18  
strtarrow's Avatar
strtarrow
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
Default

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.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 09:05 PM
  #19  
PhilM's Avatar
PhilM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
Default

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.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2010 | 09:22 PM
  #20  
ev780's Avatar
ev780
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 60
From: Colorado Rockies
Default

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.")
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:04 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE