Pushbike speedos?

[Grantasaurus]

Hi all,

My SRV went down on the motorway about 2 months, and as a consequence the speedo no longer works.

I put a pushbike speedo on and though "that'll do".. and it did until I went to get a warrant this morning. I was told that a pushbike speedo is unsatisfactory, unless it's certified/calibrated. The thing is, I know the pushbike one is quite accurate, but have no way of proving so.
I don't want to go down the route of buying a new speedo as they're $600, and I can't find any at wreckers here or in Auz. Does anyone know how to get a pushbike speedo approved for use on my motorbike?

[blacksheep]

have you tried the wreckers?,or can a different speedo be adapted to fit in?

[blacksheep]

when you say your bike went down do you mean you crashed it? what damage did the speedo sustain/it may just be the nylon drive unit in the hub that needs replacing?

[Grantasaurus]

Yeah it was crashed, but I wasn't on it. Went down hard on the left hand side after a collision.
All the worm drive part of the speedo is working, it seems that the coil that swings the needle around has been damaged in the crash. I can't get at any of that area though, it's too far in and the speedo is one assembly and isn't able to be broken down.

I'm going to try a Virago speedo as a last resort if I can't use the push bike one.

[n0regret5]

my brothers trumpy chopper uses a bicycle speedo, it just passed certification. i was hoping to use one on mine when i 'fighter it but now you say that i'm not so sure..its either $20 for that or $250-400 or an aftermarket one. hmm.
i say try the wreckers..

[P38]

Who has a calibrated speedo certificate for their Motorbike to present at a WOF inspection?

Answer: No one!

New bikes dont come with a speedo calibration certificate.

Wreckers cant sell you a calibrated speedo with a certificate either because there is no such thing.

Speedo calibration and certification is not part of a WOF either.

Most speedo's are not very accurate even from new.

Some are up to 10% or more out.

Contact the LTSA and ask what the requirements are for speedos on your bike.
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/

I believe it has to show speed when moving forward and the odometer reading.
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/wof-check-sheet-specs.pdf

Scroll down to the speedo section of the Vechile Inspection Requirements Manual
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/#motorcycles
and section 7-6 here
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certifiers/virm-in-service/motorcycles-07-v3.pdf
According to this I believe your push bike speedo probally does comply.

Cant remember the VTNZ even checking my odometer at the last WOF.

[nallac]

a couple of mates who are mechanics/WOF inspectors have
told me that push bike speedos as long as they work they have to pass them.
the bike has a working speedo so they can't fail it on that.
as has been said most speedos are out..
I'd just take somewhere else for a warrent.they must be a bit anal or they've
just been audited recently,and have been bad boys.

another mates had one on his sporty for years an years now,
gets WOF's ok with it.

[homer]

i have to say that , going back 10 years a Wof only requires a speedo that works what ever you use is fine .
i put a pushy one on my trail bike its was fine.

[Grantasaurus]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your help. I called the LTSA just after posting this and they pointed me to the VIRM. I located the section on speedometers (7-6) and found that all that is needed is for the vehicle to have a working device that gives the vehicles speed in the forward direction. Also, any modifications to the speedo don't require LVV certicfication, unlike what the guy at the warrant station was telling me.
I'll go and point this out tomorrow and all should be well.

I think next time I'll go somewhere other than a warrant station.

[xgnr]

Hey guys,
all that is needed is for the vehicle to have a working device that gives the vehicles speed in the forward direction.

So a GPS would do the job as well then?

[P38]

So a GPS would do the job as well then?

I believe so.

My GPS is actually more accurate than the speedo.

It's spot on with the roadside speed signs.

At 100kms/hr on the GPS the speedo says 105kms/hr.

[xwhatsit]

Yeah, they're talking shit -- or at least, being arseholes. Sounds like LTSA, anything out of the ordinary and they freak out. Plenty of people with pushbike speedos getting WoFs. The only possible issue is that I think it needs to have lighting, for riding at night. You can get fancy speedos with lights built-in, or you could rig up a couple of LEDs. Didn't skidmark duct-tape a torch to his bike or something to get around it?

[vagrant]

Yup, some of them have no clues. I got told that my my integrated rear indicators were illegal because they were RED. He got very confused when I asked how many American vehicles he had seen.
He had to run away and look it up, even though the other guys were laughing at him.

Now to avoid arguments, I just print out the relevant sections for my modified bits and take the last test sheet they passed. Its hard for them to argue that something is illegal, if they passed it last time.

[xgnr]

Yup, some of them have no clues.

Damn right

I went to get a warrant the other day fully expecting my illegal (ssshhhh) extra two driving lights to be pinged (aint allowed three main beams on a Mo'bike unless factory installed I believe).

He ignored the obviously dodgy (well maybe my install job made it look factory :laugh:) lights and tried to throw me out because my Wilbers shock was not "certified"....

Apparently because it had the normal spring adjuster it was "adjustable" and therefore I required a certificate WTF. He completely missed the the damper thingy.

Finally talked him around the rear shock thing and all done :)


makes ya wonder...

[Grantasaurus]

Hi all,

The verdict is in: Bike Speedos are fine for use. Once I pointed out the relevant bits in Section 7-6 he said "oh.. it's OK then" and said that it was the first instance of it they'd seen. I now have a warrant hooray.

Wearing speedos on a bike isn't recommended however.

[P38]

Excellent Result!

[Coldrider]

Wearing speedos on a bike isn't recommended however.
Could get pulled up by 'speedo cops'.

[Grantasaurus]

Could get pulled up by 'speedo cops'.

It'd be okay.. just say you're on your way to a cashie and can't be late, jack of all trades styles.

[Tumbles]

Hi all,

My SRV went down on the motorway about 2 months, and as a consequence the speedo no longer works.

I put a pushbike speedo on and though "that'll do".. and it did until I went to get a warrant this morning. I was told that a pushbike speedo is unsatisfactory, unless it's certified/calibrated. The thing is, I know the pushbike one is quite accurate, but have no way of proving so.
I don't want to go down the route of buying a new speedo as they're $600, and I can't find any at wreckers here or in Auz. Does anyone know how to get a pushbike speedo approved for use on my motorbike?

Mate, I've rebuilt an SRV and have had to use a GN250 speedo temporarily due to the original one doing the same thing as yours (photos on my page). They mount straight on, pass the warrant and I reckon must be easy to find at a wreckers, or try a bike shop. I picked up mine with 5000km on the odo from Phil Turnbulls for $80 off a crasher. My long term replacement will be from http://www.deus.com.au. Check them out for some mint cafe racer parts. Just some ideas if you're looking for something more permanent than the bike speedo.

[munterk6]

Some wof inspectors get way too anal bout the rules and regs. Common sense needs to be the number one priority and supersedes the rules when necessary.
Ive seen wof guys that would be right at home running a concentration camp like Guantanamo or sommat. Iv also seen wof guys that are realistic and have empathy with the biker that needs a wof to satisfy the bean counters.:Police:
If the bike is gleaming and in new cond. its a no-brainer, the owner looks after it. If its a piece of shit, go figure!