Speedo Error?

[XXTi]

How much error does the Valk speedo have?  Most of my other Hondas read 6-7% high.  Is the Valkyrie the same, or more accurate?

[Chrome]

Hi XXti At 100 kms on my Valk speedo, my Garmin GPS reads at 95kms.
Adrian(Chrome)V

[Super Santa]

That looks pretty close to 5%

[MP]

About 5% or a little more.  At 80 per on my GPS, speedo shows 85.
MP

[Wizzard]

at 85 my zumo shows 80

[fudgie]

At 85 Indiana State Police showed 79. 

[XXTi]

Thanks guys.  I'm still in the dark ages and don't have a GPS for the bikes (yet).

[Probie (Scooter57)]

Thanks guys.  I'm still in the dark ages and don't have a GPS for the bikes (yet).

I don't either, I have it in my Samsung Eternity cellphone in case I get really really lost. I have followed Steamer and he has and uses one. Personally I don't believe in using one, I'm old school biker in that way, pick a direction and go. Sometimes I pick a destination(I.E. meeting everybody for FCR or Cheaha) but usually I just head out and see where the road goes.

[MP]

While the speedo is off about 6% according to the GPS, the odometer is only off about 1%, checking with the same GPS.
MP

[vanagon40]

I did not use a Garmin, just a watch with a second hand and watching the mile markers on the Interstate (road, not bike),

but I concur with everyone else

85 mph on the speedometer is 80 mph actual (2001 Standard)

[TearlessTom]

Mine speedo is right on the money.  I havent checked the odo carefully. It is usually off from other riders in the group.

Tom

[SgtBunny]

My 660 reads 75 when my speedo reads 80.

[Skeeter (Va)]

My 660 reads 75 when my speedo reads 80.

Same thing for me with Garmin 255....

[Big IV]

As I was doing the mental math to remember in Canada not to use the big numbers I wondered how accurate these were anyway.
Sometimes when I pass one of the road side checkers it looks like my speedo is running fast, other times it looks like it is running slow. I'd much rather use (but don't completely trust) the road side checker sign than a cop's radar gun anytime.

[MP]

Speedo off about 6%, but the odometer is off 1 1/2% the other way.  222 miles on gps, 219 on the odometer.  So, when doing fuel mileage calculations, using the bike odometer is good enough, even though the speedo is off.
MP

[Strider]

Also depends on if it is a Standard/Tourer or an Interstate.  The standard/tourer uses a mechanical speedo which has a slightly larger error to it than does the Interstate with the electric speedometer.  I find mine fairly close up to about 60 - 65 when a certain margin of error comes into play.

[Jack]

From what I have seen over the years, all the Honda motorcycles have about the same speedo error.  Makes me wonder if it isn't on purpose.

[Willow]

I'm not convinced that it's on purpose, and I don't really think that all Valk speedos are as close as we might think.  Mine (2001 Standard) reads ever so slightly different than my wife's similarly equiped 1998 Standard.

The problem is partly that both Interstate and Standard (digital and mechanical) devices attempt to estimate the speed of the bike by the rapidity of the rotations of the front tire.  Tires tend to change size and shape, minimally, based upon inflation, speed, and temperature.  The minimal change is exaggerated as the actual speed increases.

The GPS is accurate because it measures movement over the ground instead of attempting to derive the speed from the movement of the wheel.