Triumphrat

vol245 · 04-26-2006, 03:39 PM

I drove by one of those machines that displays your speed. The speed limit was 45 and I made sure the speedo read 45 when I got in range of it. It read back 38 and 39. I have the stock tires on the bike. Man, that is way off. 13 to 15 percent error at that speed. If that holds true at 75 mph I am really going 65. No wonder everyone is blowing by me.

kballowe · 04-26-2006, 03:58 PM

Every bike that I own has about a ten percent speedo error. They're all optimistic. Than again, most cars are at least five percent optimistic. The only one that I own that is dead on the money is my Road King. Go figure.

FattRat · 04-26-2006, 04:11 PM

I had my buddy motion to me when we were cruising at 55 mph and 73 mph, according to his new hand-held GPS.

Approximately an indicated "60" for 55 mph, and "80" for 73 mph.

He'll loan it to me someday so I can conduct my own tests.

dazco · 04-26-2006, 04:12 PM

I think mine lags and the needle doesn't settle to the final position till i hold the same speed for several seconds. One time i went by one of those radar things at i thing 53 MPH on my speedo and the radar read the same, 53 MPH. I was happy to see my speedo was accurate. But another time i went by one but accellerated up to 45 and it read off by 3 or 4 MPH. So i dunno if it's because i was accellerating up to the point where i checked it and the needle was lagging, or the radar was off one of the 2 that i tried.

In any case, i still can't say how much it's off if at all. But i'm sure it must be. However, i have heard all speedos read higher than actual MPH in all vehicles. I wouldn't be suprised because i could see how the govt would make this mandatory to vehicle makers to fool the public into not going too far over the limit. If you think you're already going 7 MPH over the limit even tho you're AT the limit, chances are you'll end up driving at or very near the limit. Unless you're me that is. :-D

dazco · 04-26-2006, 04:13 PM

heres another thought.........a lot of ton up members may really not be members at all... they just think they are !

vol245 · 04-26-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

On 2006-04-26 14:13, dazco wrote:
heres another thought.........a lot of ton up members may really not be members at all... they just think they are !

I thought of that too. They are probably not even going 90. Well it is better off that way than the other.

kballowe · 04-26-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

On 2006-04-26 14:13, dazco wrote:
heres another thought.........a lot of ton up members may really not be members at all... they just think they are !

You are absolutely correct.

sharpshooter · 04-27-2006, 02:50 AM

What can be done to bring our speedometers a little closer to reality?

Mine also is reading alot higher then actual.. I don't expect it to be right on but I do expect a little more accuracy then what I am getting..

Rick...............................

stevetriple · 04-27-2006, 05:17 AM

About a year or so ago I ran my Thruxton at several pre-planned speeds and checked the speedo against my GPS unit. It was off at all speeds, but strangely enough, the error factor decreased at higher speeds. One thing is for sure, if anyone out there didn't hit 105-110ish indicated, there is no chance that they did the ton.

I'll try to dig up the chart that I made of actual vs. indicated speeds throughout the range. I do remember one thing for sure, the Thruxton topped out at 118mph.

Steve :-g

grumpyoledude · 04-27-2006, 07:00 AM

Kballowe I'm with you. Just sold my Road King (an 03) and the speedo was spot on according to my GPS. Only vehicle I had that was. My Bonnie is 10 percent optimistic and until I checked it with the GPS I was getting passed by everything on the road. No wonder!