I need to slow down
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 9
so it would be best to get the old slide rule out, measure your tire diameter, get your final drive ratio, and take you r.p.m. and accurately compute your true speed?
all you really need to know is that your cruise does not work above 90 m.p.h.. as long as your cruise is working--you are not going too fast! next question.
all you really need to know is that your cruise does not work above 90 m.p.h.. as long as your cruise is working--you are not going too fast! next question.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
the way i understand it is that the gov will allow speedo to read higher than actual, but can not read lower.
Last edited by skratch; May 7, 2013 at 07:10 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 2
From: x
Seems like every car and bike I've ever had read higher than the actual speed. My current SG is a consistent 3 mph higher than actual speed but, so was my last one and so is my Jeep. Maybe the manufacturers are doing this on purpose to avoid liability for....?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
It also contributes to the ridiculously high mile per gallon claims you read about on this forum.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 418
From: South Carolina
Just kidding, of course.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
Your true speed can easily be checked using mile marker signs as they tend to be pretty accurate. My Zumo usually reads a couple MPH lower than my speedometer.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Garner, NC
Just to put some clarity on this discussion and coming from metric bikes, all of the metric bikes are off between actuall and speedo readings for speed. I was told way back when that this was done on purpose to fool people into thinking that they were going faster than they really were. Now I know Harley used to have a speedo that said it was "certified" in small writing somewhere on the face. My wife's Sporty that she had said this as well as many other older Harley's I have seen. Those speedo's were calibrated to be dead on, at least when they left the factory. If you look at all of the new bikes.......none of them say that now. I beleive Harley has subscribed to the same non-sense that the metric manufacturers do. Maybe it's a "gubment" enforcement thing.