Speedo Error

[rastuscat]

No, not the Baywatch type.

Typically, when we do riding assessments, we do a quick check of the speedo on the rider's bike. This has served to confirm, as if I needed it, that speedos are awfully inaccurate on a lot of bikes.

Notably, they all seem to read at least a few km faster than the actual speed being travelled. Unfortunately, this causes people trying to stick to the limit to actually ride slower than they are allowed to.

An example of a bike I had some years back was a Gilera Runner. It was a 2 stroke, 180cc scooter, and it went like a cut cat. Trouble was, when I was doing an actual 50 kmh, my speedo was reading 70. Bloody Italians apparently like to think they are going fast all the time.

It also means that if a cop wrote you a ticket for 71 in a 50, (based on a calibrated radar or laser), it is likely that your speedo was reading well over that. Speedo error virtually always makes you go slower, not faster.

In my previous occupation I had the chance to check against a calibrated standard.

Now that we all have either GPS or an app based on GPS on our smartphone, how are your speedos looking? The new knowledge actually makes us go faster.

Just interested in your experiences.

[Akzle]

i ignore my speedometer and drive to the conditions. :o


shock fucking horror. i travel in excess of the posted limit.
like, most of the time.

[rastuscat]

i ignore my speedometer and drive to the conditions. :o


shock fucking horror. i travel in excess of the posted limit.
like, most of the time.

I expect no less of you Azkill

[nzspokes]

Both my bikes are bang on, gps checked and speedo healers fitted.

[Bassmatt]

Had a Kawasaki 250 where the speedo read 100km/h at an actual 82 km/hr, when I rode it home the first time I couldnl't work out why so much traffic was building up behind me. :sweatdrop

[EJK]

That's why I love Germans. Their speedos are only -2% whilst other Japanese cars/ bikes can vary somewhere around 8-15%

98kph actual at indicated 100kph last time I checked. They don't joke around.

[johcar]

My Triumph Tiger XCA reads very similar to my car: 100km/h GPS reads around 105km/h on the speedo. But I'm usually traveling a bit quicker than that...

[T.W.R]

Always get my motorcycle speedos calibrated at E.Parrot & son in ChCh so never had to worry about them being out :msn-wink:

[Ocean1]

In my previous occupation I had the chance to check against a calibrated standard.

In the distant past speedos were considered measuring instruments. The generally accepted metrological standards for such particular instruments was, (among other things) an accuracy requirement expressed in +/- % of span, (total range measured). So your Smiths instrument of mid last century was likely to be required to be accurate to +/- 5%.

But. Some ravening socialist Euro bureaucrat noticed that this meant that a speedo COULD read less than actual, allowing the completely unsuspecting driver to EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT!!!
By up to 2 1/2 MPH!!!
WITH COMPLETE IMPUNITY!!!

Now as we all know that's a certain death sentence. Not to mention a red rag to that particular flavour of bureaucratic bull. So the the merely scientific requirements were arseholed in favour of a far more regulatory set of... regulations. All speedos now had to be "accurate" to +zero/- [some irrelevant number buried in the reg's and mostly untraceable].

Also, car makers aren't silly enough not to notice that their clients are. Silly. In particular they noticed that they sell more cars if the speedo reads at least seven times the legal speed limit and at least three times what the vehicle is capable of achieving, short of a full compliment of JATO rockets. Ideally, from the perspective of a car market annalist's point of view the speedo should be carefully callibrated such that the local speed limit is sufficient to jjuuuuust make the needle jiggle around a bit, but only in order to indicate that the client is, in fact moving and, in theory should maybe pay some attention to shit.

The combined result of these stunning examples of governmental failure to mind their own fucking business resulted in speedos that don't actually tell you what speed you're doing. Which would be a complete disaster if any of us actually read them.

[neels]

Speedo in the german car pretty much bang on, the italian bike give or take a needle width.

Only had one that read lower than actual speed, in an old fiat, wondered why everyone was driving so bloody slow.

I check them all against the GPS now, so at least I know what they're out by.

[Jeeper]

Speedo over reading by 5% means that when the warranty expires at 100k, you have actually only covered 95k. Consumers are shortchanged on warranty as well...

[Akzle]

Speedo over reading by 5% means that when the warranty expires at 100k, you have actually only covered 95k. Consumers are shortchanged on warranty as well...

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/008/305/its-a-conspiracy.jpg

[Jeeper]

Indeed its a conspiracy.

[Laava]

That's why I love Germans. Their speedos are only -2% whilst other Japanese cars/ bikes can vary somewhere around 8-15%

98kph actual at indicated 100kph last time I checked. They don't joke around.

Part of that maybe due to shaft drive being far less likely to ever have it's ratios altered. On my first v strom, when I changed the sprockets by 1 down on the front and 2 up on the rear, it was ridiculous how far out it was to the point where I had to fix it.

[caspernz]

Both my bikes are bang on, gps checked and speedo healers fitted.

Ditto ^ for the reason below :devil2: cause I'm a Dutchie...:eek:


Speedo over reading by 5% means that when the warranty expires at 100k, you have actually only covered 95k. Consumers are shortchanged on warranty as well...

But yep, like Rastus mentioned, most speedos are optimistic. So when you get pulled over for 110, your speedo would have been 5 or 10 above that again...:Police::devil2:

[nzspokes]

Ditto ^ for the reason below :devil2: cause I'm a Dutchie...:eek:



But yep, like Rastus mentioned, most speedos are optimistic. So when you get pulled over for 110, your speedo would have been 5 or 10 above that again...:Police::devil2:

My bikes are re-geared so stock setting is a mile off.

[OddDuck]

Bike reads high by almost 8%.

I mentioned this to people at work a while ago... quite a few colleagues said they'd correct for it (they're technical people) but get told off by their other half (believes the speedo reading at face value).

15% would explain a lot of the crawlers on the motorway.

[pritch]

My Ducati read 30kph slow - Italian electrics? I'm still grateful I found that out before the HP informed me. That prompted the purchase of my first GPS.

[OddDuck]

I wouldn't know about electric speedos, mine is a dinosaur mechanical cable off the front hub! Whatever works I guess.

The smartphone speedometer app has a GPS in it but without testing I couldn't rate accuracy.

[awayatc]

My Aprillia was a bit optimistic....

The Harley was shaking to much to do anything other then guessing.

BMW is pretty close to the truth.

Honda is gay...and correct within few k's at a hundred.

All my European cages are also boringly accurate....

[rastuscat]

All this explains why I end up overtaking lots. Cars drifting along at 95, thinking they are doing 104.

When I used to write the odd speeding ticket I had a lot of people saying that they were just keeping up with everyone else. When in fact most traffic is at the limit at best.

The 1150GS I had read 109 at a true 100. Despite what EJ thinks, the Chermans weren't always so precise.

[AllanB]

My Ducati book tells me the speedo is set 8% high by the factory. So I ride everywhere at 110 :niceone:

[jellywrestler]

The new knowledge actually makes us go faster.


it means there are two people on the road,one guy in my vw van at 100 km's hour with my gps and the next guy using his speedo doing 89, and each other thinks the other one is bad for either going too fast or too slow

the checking of speedos to be within 10% accuracy was removed when the cops issued tickets for 4km's over (4% at 100km's hr) as imagine standing up in court and syaing the government accuracy is 10% !!!!!!!all that means is no-one is checking any speedos really now except maybe that they move off the post

[jellywrestler]

That's why I love Germans. Their speedos are only -2% whilst other Japanese cars/ bikes can vary somewhere around 8-15%

98kph actual at indicated 100kph last time I checked. They don't joke around.

my vw van is 11% either or how can they be 2% the tyre tread accounts for more than that?

[EJK]

my vw van is 11% either or how can they be 2% the tyre tread accounts for more than that?

Not sure about VW and vans. Never driven one. My experience is based on my ol S1000RR and driving Audis, BMWs and Mercedes down to Queenstown and back.

[sidecar bob]

my vw van is 11% either or how can they be 2% the tyre tread accounts for more than that?

You are also over paying your diesel tax by 11%

[Honest Andy]

You are also over paying your diesel tax by 11%

Good point. Wonder how much a hubbo costs?

[jellywrestler]

You are also over paying your diesel tax by 11%

fuck, never gave that a thought, and the oil changes are more regular and the mileage that it's covered greater....

[rastuscat]

My Ducati book tells me the speedo is set 8% high by the factory. So I ride everywhere at 110 :niceone:

Not quite as bad as my Gilera but confirms my theory.

[russd7]

the goldwing is pretty much bang on, the zzr at 120km/hr indicated had me pulled up north of lumsden doing 111km/hr, nice fella that guy :Police: just got warned to slow down as the QT highway guys were out an about as was confirmed by a text message from one of them askin if that was me have a conversation with the local :Police:.

the hyundai indicates around 6km high and the mazda/ford van is spot on and still got me a ticket for 118km/hr running on three cylinders :first:

[BMWGSER]

Doesn't matter last time I got stopped I was looking 800 metres up the road and not at the speedo.

[Taxythingy]

My Hyosung reads 116 at 100kph. Checked once with gps gaffer taped to the bars. The last one was about 112 at 100kph. Whereas my PoS Corolla can manage within 2%.

[release_the_bees]

Pretty much every bike I've ever owned has read 10% more than the actual speed. The exceptions being a GS500 that was bang on, and a KR150 that was so far off that I just ignored the speedo and followed the traffic. (following traffic on the motorway showed a speed of almost 140km/h on the speedo)

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Ocean1]

My Ducati book tells me the speedo is set 8% high by the factory. So I ride everywhere at 110 :niceone:

You read the manual?

Hand in your Kiwi Bloke card immediately!

The SDR speedo is out by at least 15k at 100k, so my target is 120k. I've never seen anything standard out by that much, but bitched at by journos about it they simply pointed to those reg's I mentioned.

[HEsch]

GPS units tend to be inaccurate at speed on steep inclines. Something to do with physics and triangulation and whatnot (fuck knows).

The Surf is generally about 8% out. I know that if I hover around 108 I'm probably doing 100, and unlikely to get a ticket. I tend to sit at 104 on the GPS or 110-112 on the speedo depending on incline. Amount of tread on the tyres will influence actual speed and distance travelled. I've done a good 65k on those tyres so I'm sure I travel slower now than I did when I put them on.

I have noticed that riding bikes has killed my sense of speed in the large, lumbering SUV. I often have to check myself for travelling at (speedo reading) 120-130... No interest in paying tickets.

[slofox]

Well...

I have it all calibrated - on the vehicles I ride/drive now anyway.

I took my GPS and stopwatch in the wahine's cruise control car. We drove south on d'Auckland's southern motorway, cruise control on, along the dead straight bit towards Bombay where there is a 5km odometer check. We watched the GPS readout stabilise, then measured (stopwatch) time per kilometer. Adjusted the cruise to get 36 seconds per kilometer (100km/hr). Car speedo read 105km/hr. 5% optimistic. GPS read 100km/hr.

Yes, I know, GPS units are not that accurate. But on a long steady straight I reckon they get close enough. Especially if they read 100km/hr at 36 seconds per km.

Have used the GPS and the stopwatch in/on other vehicles. The bike was 9% optimistic - which I found difficult to deal with so fitted a speedo healer. It now agrees with the GPS - as long as the tyres are not worn.

So yes, speedos do overread.

[nzspokes]

You read the manual?

Hand in your Kiwi Bloke card immediately!

The SDR speedo is out by at least 15k at 100k, so my target is 120k. I've never seen anything standard out by that much, but bitched at by journos about it they simply pointed to those reg's I mentioned.Dude in Australia sells new abs rings which correct the error.

Sent from my M5 Note using Tapatalk

[Ocean1]

Dude in Australia sells new abs rings which correct the error.

Sent from my M5 Note using Tapatalk

Which would be quite a valuable mod.

If you had some difficulty with arithmetic.

Or some deviant form of obsessive/compulsive disorder.

Or used the speedo to unequivocally define absolutely precisely when you enter that certain unavoidable zone of death velocity.

[Jeeper]

GPS units tend to be inaccurate at speed on steep inclines. Something to do with physics and triangulation and whatnot (fuck knows).

The Surf is generally about 8% out. I know that if I hover around 108 I'm probably doing 100, and unlikely to get a ticket. I tend to sit at 104 on the GPS or 110-112 on the speedo depending on incline. Amount of tread on the tyres will influence actual speed and distance travelled. I've done a good 65k on those tyres so I'm sure I travel slower now than I did when I put them on.

I have noticed that riding bikes has killed my sense of speed in the large, lumbering SUV. I often have to check myself for travelling at (speedo reading) 120-130... No interest in paying tickets.My last Jeep was off by about 4%. It was an easy fix with a recalibration unit after bigger tyres. It became accurate to 0.25%, which meant when I over took people on motorway doing 100 most people thought I was speeding.

My current Jeep has a computer that can be reprogrammed easily in 10 seconds to match tyres and diff gearing changes. It accurate from the factory to 0.5% at the moment.

[Jeeper]

There are a couple of places on the Southern motorway with measured 5 km marked for speedo checking. They will be more accurate to measure against than GPS, which can be inaccurate due to inclination or curves in roads.

[nzspokes]

Which would be quite a valuable mod.

If you had some difficulty with arithmetic.

Or some deviant form of obsessive/compulsive disorder.

Or used the speedo to unequivocally define absolutely precisely when you enter that certain unavoidable zone of death velocity.Or you have multiple bikes and can't be arsed trying to remember which bike does what at what speed.

Sent from my M5 Note using Tapatalk

[Old Steve]

Those 'speedo' check signs, aren't they actually odometer checks? Is there any need to time how long it takes to do one kilometre at 100 km/hr, and how accurately can you keep a set speed for 1 km? I think the odometer and speedo are inextricably linked so if your odo says you've travelled 1.1 km between signs 1 km apart, then your speedo will be out by 10% as well won't it?

And I thought that there was a requirement for a speedo to not register below the actual speed, but the Land Transport Rule only states, "a motor vehicle that is capable of a speed exceeding 50 km/h and that was first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 December 1951, must be fitted with a speedometer in good working order that operates while the vehicle is moving forward" and there is NO mention of the speedo accuracy.

I would suppose the motor manufacturers make sure the speedo is over reading to avoid Joe Blog asking for compensation for speeding tickets if the speedo was under recorded.

[neels]

I think the odometer and speedo are inextricably linked so if your odo says you've travelled 1.1 km between signs 1 km apart, then your speedo will be out by 10% as well won't it?.
If it's electronic then it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect them to be the same.

If it's mechanical and driven by a cable, it's usually just a spinning magnet and drag cup that turns the needle so can be variable, the odo is gears from end to end so no excuses to not be correct other than tyre size.

The DRZ400 I had could be corrected on the instrument panel, can't remember if it was the odo or speedo that was adjustable, seemed strange that it didn't do both though.

[slofox]

There are a couple of places on the Southern motorway with measured 5 km marked for speedo checking. They will be more accurate to measure against than GPS, which can be inaccurate due to inclination or curves in roads.

See post 36...:yes:

[slofox]

I think the odometer and speedo are inextricably linked .

This is true for the gixxer. When I installed a speedo healer, I noticed that regular trips suddenly changed their length. I actually travel 8% further than the odometer says. (According to the numbers anyway, :crazy:)

[jim.cox]

The nissan navara ute I drive for work reads 100 when actually doing 90

My old range rover reads 90 when doing 100

I think the speedo on the DR-Z reads a bit low - but haven't yet checked it against the GPS

And those Veglia guages are known a Vague Liar for a reason

[Honest Andy]

Just a casual musing...
Mechanical speedos will probably become slower as they get older.

Like people.
:killingme
(maybe they need a little lube...)

[Banditbandit]

The 1150GS I had read 109 at a true 100. Despite what EJ thinks, the Chermans weren't always so precise.

My bandits are about the same - 109 on the clock is 100kph on the road

Suzuki are probably the most inaccurate - and also random. Sometimes I've been stopped by your former colleagues and ticketed for exactly what was on the clock - sometimes for about 10% less. I never know when it is just over - or some other random speed

[Oakie]

How accurate are those digitial 'your speed' displays at the side of the road? One I go past daily shows I'm doing 50 when my speedo says 54.

[Ocean1]

How accurate are those digitial 'your speed' displays at the side of the road? One I go past daily shows I'm doing 50 when my speedo says 54.

Seems most of 'em are in 50kph areas eh? Reckon they're mostly within about 5kph but there's a few I've passed that have been miles out.

Not a great fan of the bigger ones like on the Petone overbridge heading north, fuckers flash on and off if you're even 1kph over, most distracting.

Also, what happened to the rule requiring speeds to be set no lower than 80% of the median unregulated speed. And more importantly what's the date and time of the unregulation thing?

[Drew]

I've always assumed it was manufacturers avoiding being sued for tickets or accidents.

[AllanB]

I wonder how accurate those digital signs on a trailer are. There is one planted at the start of the town I live in. Records the cars within 4%. On the motorcycle it generally is just telling me to slow down....

[Drew]

I wonder how accurate those digital signs on a trailer are. There is one planted at the start of the town I live in. Records the cars within 4%. On the motorcycle it generally is just telling me to slow down....

Never seen one that read different to my GPS

[rastuscat]

There's a speed measuring van on Main North Rd Belfast most Saturday mornings.

I think the guy with it keeps forgetting to put the display up though. I've never seen the display.

All I've ever seen is a flashing thing pointing my way as I go past.

[Gremlin]

Depends on tyre choice and the pressures I'm running at. If I drop them down around 30 or high 20s, the speedo is bang on. Otherwise, regular road tyres at regular pressure, the BMW is 4-6kph out at 100kph, depending on the stage of wear.

Hornet is indicated 110kph for 100kph real.

[Racing Dave]

On my R1200GSA, with my GPS reading 100km/h, the speedo read 105 km/h, and RC's laser read 99 km/h

[rastuscat]

On my R1200GSA, with my GPS reading 100km/h, the speedo read 105 km/h, and RC's laser read 99 km/h

Ah the memories

[rastuscat]

On my R1200GSA, with my GPS reading 100km/h, the speedo read 105 km/h, and RC's laser read 99 km/h

I resemble being called Arsey

[Akzle]

Ah the memories

three penises on the shoulder.

what a guy.

[Laava]

three penises on the shoulder.

what a guy.

You really are a miserable little cunt aren't you? This post says more about you ironically. As usual, you have nothing to offer but mean little snipes and negative contradiction. What a fucken sad little troll you are robyn.

[Maha]

three penises on the shoulder.



Not even close to your record.

[Jeff Sichoe]

Bike speedos tend to run 10% hotter than the actual speed you're moving at.

So, aim for 54/55 in a 50 zone, 88 / 89 in an 80, and 110 flat if in a 100 zone.

seems to work pretty good for me, never been pulled up by a cop for speeding before so the proof is in the pudding

[Cosmik de Bris]

Bike speedos tend to run 10% hotter than the actual speed you're moving at.

So, aim for 54/55 in a 50 zone, 88 / 89 in an 80, and 110 flat if in a 100 zone.

seems to work pretty good for me, never been pulled up by a cop for speeding before so the proof is in the pudding

Both my Italian bike manuals say the speedo is 5% fast.

Cheers

[rastuscat]

Bike speedos tend to run 10% hotter than the actual speed you're moving at.

So, aim for 54/55 in a 50 zone, 88 / 89 in an 80, and 110 flat if in a 100 zone.

seems to work pretty good for me, never been pulled up by a cop for speeding before so the proof is in the pudding

Add to that the fact that the Police apply a tolerance to your actual speed, and you're fairly safe at 104 in a 100.

[Ocean1]

Add to that the fact that the Police apply a tolerance to your actual speed, and you're fairly safe at 104 in a 100.

So why was I pinged for 104 on the Himatangi straights when my speedo said 100?

They do the goodwill thing pretty well on most occasions, but that shit grates for fucking years.

[buggerit]

So why was I pinged for 104 on the Himatangi straights when my speedo said 100?

They do the goodwill thing pretty well on most occasions, but that shit grates for fucking years.

Front Wheel elevation? :cool:

[Paul in NZ]

The 1050 is out... bimble along 110 and that's a whisker over 100 and well within its safety envelope...

The 1970 TR6C - LOL - speedo is MPH and waggles about like teetotallers finger on half priced shots night... But really you ride the thing on the tacho... Speeds are slight vibration through to white knuckle buzz with bits falling off and welds breaking... Its really very exciting... Never had a ticket on it as people just laugh and smile...

[Ocean1]

Front Wheel elevation? :cool:

Aye, I really struggled to keep a leash on that Hiace. :laugh:

[rastuscat]

Just took a bloke on an MT-)& LAMS for his CBTA 6F. Failed, as it happens.

At 100 kmh per GPS, his bike indicates 113.

[AllanB]

Just took a bloke on an MT-)& LAMS for his CBTA 6F. Failed, as it happens.

At 100 kmh per GPS, his bike indicates 113.

Did you fail him for going too slow then! :nya:

[AllanB]

Checked my Ducati against the side of the road trail digital indicator thingy down the road. Under the assumption it is accurate (noted above that they are so) the Ducati manuals 8% statement appears to be spot on.

[rastuscat]

Did you fail him for going too slow then! :nya:

Due to his speedo error he was riding slowly. But that's factored into the test, so he didn't fail for that.

[rastuscat]

Ultimate Speedo Error

332517

[GazzaH]

It appears that doing an indicated 48-53 in the 50 kph zone beside Napier port is far too slow for some wanker of a cager behind me yesterday. Besides pushing up so close that a pillion passenger could probably have touched his bumper, he thought it appropriate to weave out on my offside (on a blind right corner, no less) and hoot his pathetic horn at me.

Tosser.

All he did was convince me of the value of forward and rearward-facing video cameras.

Next time mate, next time.

On the upside, at least he saw me.

[Akzle]

Bike speedos tend to run 10% hotter than the actual speed you're moving at.

So, aim for 54/55 in a 50 zone, 88 / 89 in an 80, and 110 flat if in a 100 zone.

seems to work pretty good for me, never been pulled up by a cop for speeding before so the proof is in the pudding

i've been "pulled up" by cops lots for "speeding"

haven't paid a fucken cent to the doughnut fund in over a decade.

mmmmmmm. pudding.

[AllanB]

i've been "pulled up" by cops lots for "speeding"

haven't paid a fucken cent to the doughnut fund in over a decade.

mmmmmmm. pudding.


Is 'pudding' code for giving the cop a side of the road blow-job? You both got off? (see what I did there :2thumbsup)

[awayatc]

It appears that doing an indicated 48-53 in the 50 kph zone beside Napier port is far too slow for some wanker of a cager behind me yesterday. Besides pushing up so close that a pillion passenger could probably have touched his bumper, he thought it appropriate to weave out on my offside (on a blind right corner, no less) and hoot his pathetic horn at me.

Tosser.

All he did was convince me of the value of forward and rearward-facing video cameras.

Next time mate, next time.

On the upside, at least he saw me.

I tend to then open up and overtake next car in line....to give me a buffer

Or slow down/stop to let that tosser pass.

Either way I'm not staying in such a dangerous for me position

[rastuscat]

I tend to then open up and overtake next car in line....to give me a buffer

Or slow down/stop to let that tosser pass.

Either way I'm not staying in such a dangerous for me position

I tend to look over my shoulder eith a disdainful glare. Works a treat.

Others have been treated to a flash of my brake light, without me actually applying the brakes. My front brake lever doesn't move much before the light comes.

I once waited at some lights for a guy who had been following me far too closely. I spoke to him and invited him to grab a helmet and hop on the bike with me. If he wants to be that close.

Another woman I spoke to had maintained a 3 second distance behind me for about 20 kilometres. I thanked her. Reinforcing good driving is just as satisfying as berating bad driving.

[rastuscat]

Back to speed error. Bloke on a Bronze today was riding a KTM 450LAMS. Sperdovwas 20 kmh high at 100. Pointless having a Speedo like that

[GazzaH]

I tend to then open up and overtake next car in line....to give me a buffer

Or slow down/stop to let that tosser pass.

Either way I'm not staying in such a dangerous for me position

Yes, you're right. I should have reacted positively rather than just fuming, politely. There was room to pull over to the left. I was too stubborn for my own good, staying in the centre of the lane.

[awayatc]

Plus like RC says ( give them the evil...)which I admit is a lot more succesfull if you are a bit "bulky" and ride a largish bike.

Also try to position yourself straight in front of driver behind you....check you mirrors and "block" his vision ahead.
That usually makes them fall back.
If they can see past you they tend to focus on car in front of you for gap space and squash you....coz they don't really see you. Own your space