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:Me]

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 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 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 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 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