Speedometer Inaccuracy?

[moreira72]

I had the bike out yesterday, and used the speed display on the GPS (Garmin Nuvi) and it was 5-6 MPH faster than the speedometer.

When the Valk speedo was at 65, the GPS was showing 70-71

I have used the same GPS in a couple different cars, and it's very accurate to the cars speedos.

Could valkyrie speedo be that off? It's a 1999 Interstate

The front tire is a Metzeler and it is 150/80/17 with 500 miles on it.

Could the speedo gear be bad or the speedometer itself?

Or is this normal for the Valkyrie

[Bill anderson]

Motorcycle speedometers are notoriously wrong.I have a 97 standard and it reads 4-5 mph slower than my GPS.I'm running the same front tire as you.

[Fudd]

My understanding is that most Valkyries read FASTER than actuall speed.

I have a smaller than stock front tire and the speedo reads 8mph fast @ 80mph, acording to my GPS.

[dreamaker]

Kind of a good thing, you won't get a ticket for going over the limit.  My GPS shows 5mph slower up to 55mph the it evens out.

[Bone]

Any speed limit over 45 mph I add 5 mph for my speed limit. 60 in a 55, 70 in a 65 you get the idea. Been through radar all across the country and never stopped once for speeding.
The lower speeds showed 3 to 4 mph advantage not sure if it was my GPS but I just follow whats posted.

[garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis]

Every Honda I've ever owned was 5 mph off. If the speedo showed 70, I was really doing 65. I've always thought Honda just did it that way. Seems like the average speed everybody drives on the Interstates is 70-75 everywhere in the US. That's 75-80 on my speedo, and anymore I don't drive faster than that. I've passed many troopers over the years and rarely get stopped, and never get a ticket.

[Jess from VA]

All metric bikes are 5% slower than indicated on their speedometers.

The interstate speedo is electronic, not cable driven per std/tourer.

I have never heard of a single person noting their speedo shows slower than GPS, only faster.

Strange, indeed.

[moreira72]

All metric bikes are 5% slower than indicated on their speedometers.

The interstate speedo is electronic, not cable driven per std/tourer.

I have never heard of a single person noting their speedo shows slower than GPS, only faster.

Strange, indeed.

Yes it is strange, I am actually going 5 MPH faster than the reading on the speedometer.

Does this affect recorded mileage? I fueled up 5.98 gallons, and had 181 miles on the tripometer.

Could it have been closer to 200 miles, since the speedo is 5MPH slow? Or does one have nothing to do with the other?

[RonW]

.... I am actually going 5 MPH faster than the reading on the speedometer.

Does this affect recorded mileage? I fueled up 5.98 gallons, and had 181 miles on the tripometer.

Could it have been closer to 200 miles, since the speedo is 5MPH slow? Or does one have nothing to do with the other?

'Faster' on the speedometer probably equates to 'less' on the tripometer with different aftermarket tires affecting the reading more up or down. However, if you factor in the inherent inaccuracy of the factory calibration, the proper size aftermarket tire might even adjust the mph and mileage back to a zero error. Anyways, try read the article below about the accuracy of the odometer/tripometer.

[Ricky-D]

Honda will not market any speedometers that indicate a slower than actual speed.

Either the GPS instrument is reporting incorrectly due to the employment of the instrument or:

The speedometer is reporting incorrectly due to some external problem such as low voltage, other non Valkyrie Interstate components tethered on to the circuit, bad connection, or other malfunctioning items.

***

[dago mooserider]

Strange, i agree wit Ricky. U may B the only one who's bike reads slower. Got my speedo 2 read 135 but gps said "only". 131.  

[moreira72]

The GPS is Accurate, I tested it in the car yesterday. And as far as the bike, it only has a 12V outlet for my Satelite Radio and GPS plug. The front tire is Metzeler, but it is the factory size 150/80/17

GPS read 70MPH, Bike Speedo read 65MPH.

The Speedometer is Electronic, so maybe a bad sending unit, or Speedo gear?

It's no big deal, I can live with it. But it is in fact 5MPH slower than the speed i'm actually cruising at. 

[NCGhostrider]

My Red and Black 99 I/S speedo reads 5 mph fast pretty much at everything 60 and above... in fact, it is off about 7-8 mph above 80.   

My percentages of being off are closer to 10%.   The 99 Black and Chrome I/S I had before this one was the same way.

Craig
99 I/S

[moreira72]

I had a Harley xl1200c Sportster  before this Valk. It did not have a speedo gear on the front or rear wheel. It was a electronic speedo, so I don't know what it read the speed from.
I'm guessing maybe transmission sprocket?
Anyway the speedo was accurate all the way to 110 mph

Just can't believe how off the Valk speedo is.