Speedometor innacuracy

Does anyone know why it is okay/within spec for the speedo to be off by about 10%? My speedo reads low, at roughly between 8-10% at all speeds. I've spoken with Honda and they say there is nothing that can be done about this. I know it's a little lame to worry about, but what the F?

 

All bikes are off so that you think you're going faster than you are. You can go to www.speedohealer.com for a solution. I installed one on my '07. After adding +2 to the rear sprocket, my total speedometer error was 10.8%. You program that in to the unit and it will correct what reads out on the LED.

 

Honda makes the most complex motorcycles in the world...yet they can't make an accurate speedo? They must have a reason for it. Yours reads low?
Everyone else's reads high. Do you still have stock gearing?

 

I do have stock gears and it reads low. I think 70 is about 62.... 147 is 133....

I agree, honda makes such a tight machine. If they were 8-10% off of everything on the bike it would fall apart when you start it.. I don't get it. My car is off by about 1 mph.... Seems like 10% is a LOT to be considered acceptable. But I guess it's better they spend their efforts on the engine and other parts, not the speedo...

 

Speedo error is not a mistake by Honda or anyone else. It is a deliberate choice they make to make the bike seem to be faster than it is. For selling to the squids I guess. Personally I think it stupid but then I am not trying to sell bikes.

 

They probablly figure that your gonna change the gearing and screw it up any how so why invest the time and energy to correct it. Yours reading slow is odd though.

 

I'm a new VFR owner ('05 w/1200 miles).

It's been very obvious to me that the speedo on my bike reads really high. Just something I've noticed...anyway...I like the bike though.

It's fun and practical. Two words not seen in the same sentence very ofter!

 

All speedos on all vehicles read intentionally high. Its done by all manufacturers to protect them from any legal action that might be taken if someone gets popped for speeding when their speedo is indicating a legal speed. Its been that way for years and years.

 

The EPA is cracking down on speedometers lately. A speedo that reads fast shows that you are getting better fuel mileage than you actually are, which the manufactures report to the EPA for their ratings. Insted of building more fuel efficient vehicles, they just make the speedo read whatever they want, thus meeting their EPA requirements.

 

On Cars, odometers measure mileage from the transmission output shaft.

I believe that on Motorcycles, the Odometer reads from the speed sensor the number of rotations the wheel makes. The only way to cause an odometer to be off is change the tire/rim.

I calculate my fuel mileage by using my odometer. Now if you're talking how the EPA calculates mileage, they run a set course between 40-60 miles an hour with specific stops and idling time.

Per Consumer Reports

However, I have seen "ADVERTISEMENTS" saying 20 MPG at 60 mph. EPA does not measure that - it comes from the MFR. In this case, the speedometer would come into play.

 

Are you trying to say an indicated 70 is actually 62 ? That would be about right. Thats how my '03 reads, and what it would be reading at that speed. .....anyway, thats reading HIGH.

 

I just went to the speedohealer website and checked out the product, Im very impressed. $105 shipped to my door. :smile: I'll be putting this on next week. I'll do a write up on the install if you guys would like.
I just wish i did this sooner. Cant wait to have it accurate.

 

I have a portable Garmin GPS unit on my bikes. When in my Volvo Semi Truck, it reads dead on the money with the speedo and odometer on the truck. When on my 83 ceptor it shows the bike read 1-2 mph fast. But when on my 07VFR, it shows the bike to read 6-8 mph fast at 60mph. The odometer on the 07 racks up miles faster than the GPS does. I don't know how accurate the GPS is, but the odometer on by Semi is legal for interstate trade for billing my customers per mile, and the GPS agrees with it.
I saw on the news where the FTC and the EPA were getting on the car mfg's for speedos and odo's reading fast and making people think they are getting better mileage than they really are.

 

I would have to disagree that "all" vehicles read high. I have a 2006 toyota tacomma that read approx 4 mph slower than I'm going. My bike is stupid off, in my opinion. When I'm riding 80, according to my gps unitl, I'm right at about 70.... I've been told by my local dealer this is within spec.. This is from a bike that is the flagship of technology..... No complaints about the bike, but what the F? That's really far off. My mileage seems to be accurate. I'd hate to think that I'm putting on 10% more miles on the odometer than I'm actually riding.

 

Here you go, right from their website:

5th Gen -> http://www.speedohealer.com/your_pics/vfr800_98/tutorial.htm

6th Gen -> http://www.speedohealer.com/your_pics/vfr800_05/tutorial.htm

I installed one on my '07 and it is very important to know that Honda changed the speed sensor coupler which requires that you now need to use the Honda II Plug-N-Go kit instead of the Honda I kit. Here is a link to my post on this from earlier this year.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/sixth-ge...peedohealer-installation-problem-6th-gen.html

 

If you can't do the math in your head nor want to spend $100+ for a speedo' healer, you can get a bicycle computer (sigma, etc) in the $20 range that is as accurate as a GPS. You'll also gain an additional tripometer, top speed, clock, etc. The only downside is most are not lighted for night use but you should have the speed differences memorized by then.

Most odometers are accurate; further proof that the speedo inaccuracy is deliberate.

 

Of course I'm sure that you are guessing a theoretical read at 147 is really 133, just like I would guess that my 153 is no where near correct since the factory top speed is 14X. In theory. ;-)

 

Here is a Sigma ($32) and Light ($7) from Aerostitch: