Kawasaki speedometer issues?

[Paladin]

Does anyone know if there are issues with kawasaki speedometers showing a greater speed than you are really doing?

I've started to notice that when I pass those roadside speed detector thingies that they keep saying I am doing 48-50kph when my speedo says I'm doing 53-55kph!!!! And that's on different speed detector units, not the same one each time!

I seem to remember watching a YouTube vid of a guy testing the new KLR and him saying the speedo was off by 5.

My KLX250S still has the factory Dunlops on it and less than 2000km so its not a tyre issue is it?

Cheers,
Dave

[Cajun]

speedos normally always read higher than sped, some of this is due to libility issues and what so have you.
but also its a mix to get the speedo dead right, your odomtor will be out more, so i think they strike an even balance

aka suzukis are normally out by 8% on average (gsxr range)

[Luckylegs]

yup, my 06 zx6r reads 58-59 as I ride past the same speed sign thingamy every morning while it happily reports my speed as 54-55

[Paladin]

speedos normally always read higher than sped, some of this is due to libility issues and what so have you.
but also its a mix to get the speedo dead right, your odomtor will be out more, so i think they strike an even balance

aka suzukis are normally out by 8% on average (gsxr range)

Yeah I figured that it could easily be out 1 or 2 kph per what your saying, but just never figured on 10%!!! And I've only owned one bike previous so no huge experience of speedo variation!

Thx tho,
Dave

[slofox]

Had the LEO's ping me with their little laser gun one morning (I asked them to).....49-50 on the clock = 47 on the laser........approx 5% error........less than claimed by many.

[pete376403]

I'm pretty sure the speedo on my KLR reads fast - on the KLR forums people are usually stating around 10%. I shoudl get a bicycle speedo and install it to compare (assuming the bicycle units are accurate)

[NighthawkNZ]

The vtr is out by 8-9 kph @ 100kph

[EJT]

Yep my Kwaka speedo says I'm doing 180 and I reckon I am only doing 99:innocent::innocent: hehe

[NordieBoy]

The DR650 is about 10% fast on the speedo but the odo is accurate.

[Paladin]

Yep my Kwaka speedo says I'm doing 180 and I reckon I am only doing 99:innocent::innocent: hehe

Good luck with that one with the boys in blue!!! ;)

[Paladin]

Thx all for the responses - interesting that it seems most speedos are on the high side rather than the low side :oi-grr: So are all those lovely manufacturers trying to help us get less tickets or trying to help inflate our egos about how fast we've been going????????????? (interesting thought!) :(

[warewolf]

interesting that it seems most speedos are on the high side rather than the low side :oi-grr: So are all those lovely manufacturers trying to help us get less tickets or trying to help inflate our egos about how fast we've been going????????????? (interesting thought!) :(Both. IIRC it's a legal requirement. The speedo is not allowed to show a lower number than actual speed, so manufacturers err on the 'safe' side. There was a big thread on it recently somewhere here. In days gone by the technology was less accurate, so the error was designed in as margin. Now I suspect it is deliberate.

[LilSel]

Is this just with digital speedo's or normal ones too??

[Paladin]

Both. IIRC it's a legal requirement. The speedo is not allowed to show a lower number than actual speed, so manufacturers err on the 'safe' side. There was a big thread on it recently somewhere here. In days gone by the technology was less accurate, so the error was designed in as margin. Now I suspect it is deliberate.

Yeah that all makes sense and I suspect your suspicions are correct!

Dave