Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am wondering how accurate the speedos are on bikes...i had heard/read that they are not very accurate, in fact , they are horribly inaccuarate...doesnt make sense, but...just wondering if there is any truth to it...

We've got speed limit signs with radar guns under them and a big diplay that tells you how fast you are going. They pop up various places, I assume when enough people in an area complain about speeders. Last time I went past one of those my speedo was reading 3mph faster.

I have a Etrex Legend GPS. My speedo is about 10% off. At an actual 55 MPH it reads 60 mph. At an actual 30 MPH, it reads about 33-34 MPH.

I don't mind as if I am doing the Speed limit as indicated on the speedo, I am safe from Speeding tickets. However, I am always about 10% over the limit (as shown on speedo) so I am usually just doing the real limit.

Doing the limit on the speedo doesn't excuse you from tickets. (At least here in PA) That's why you're allowed 6 miles over, for "equipment differences."

Forsaken wrote:Doing the limit on the speedo doesn't excuse you from tickets. (At least here in PA) That's why you're allowed 6 miles over, for "equipment differences."

yeah they usually give you around 11 mph wiggle room unless your from out of state....

Aggroton wrote:

Forsaken wrote:Doing the limit on the speedo doesn't excuse you from tickets. (At least here in PA) That's why you're allowed 6 miles over, for "equipment differences."

yeah they usually give you around 11 mph wiggle room unless your from out of state....

Tickets are payable now... in cash.

I've never actually checked the accuracy of my speedo, but I have heard that they typically can be 10% off in either direction. I don't worry too much. I usually go 10 over the limit in most areas. If I'm out in the country, I'll go 15 over.

A friend of mine is on our local police force - I think I'll ask him to radar me some day just to find out what type of reading he would get. He yearns to own a bike anyway, so maybe he'll be inspired when he sees me on my Meanie.

Cheers,
Loonette

Loonette wrote:maybe he'll be inspired when he sees me on my Meanie.

What guy wouldn't be inspired by a chick on a Meanie?!

Usualy about 10% off, or not off depending on the bike. If your realy worried about it, go to your local bike shop and pick up a Sigma Sport BC600 bicycle speedo or any model with a higher number. They are about the most accurate way to measure your speed, so long as you figure out your wheel diameter (it may be circumfrence, I forget.) correctly. I have a Cateye unit that starts again at 0 after 54mph, the Sigma Sport units are reputed to read wll of 100mph, at wich point you really shouldn't be looking at the guages.

I see...i thought that there would be a some discrepency but didnt think it was horribly off...even cars are off a little...guess nothing to worry about...thanks!