Speedo Error (dead horse?)

[Tom B.]

Greetings all!! :hat1:

Hey! I'm editing again!!! 05/18/07. I came across a roadside radar unit last night but due to heavy traffic I couldn't take advantage of it! I did go by it this A.M. I put my ST1100 on 70 mph and cruised by the radar! The radar showed 67 mph! Thats about 1% off. Not bad for an old ST!

Thank you to everyone who cleared this matter up for me!!!:bow1: :yr1: (Yes I'm editing this so that others won't respond unless they want to since the question below has been answered! STill all poSTs are quite welcome!)

My only comment is to those who suggeSTed a computerized solution so that others reading this thread can further diSTiguish between ST1300s and ST1100s. If I'm not miSTaken the ST1100 has a mechanical speedo (I have yet to aquire a service manual for my year (1998) ST so correct me if I'm wrong:confused: ). Therefore the computerised solution applys only to those bikes with electronic speedos!! A GPS or electronic bicycle speedo are the only means of accuracy that I know of to correct for the mechanical units. There might be a company out there that repairs speedos who could calibrate it as well, as they do for the automotive industry, but I have no ideal who they might be. Anyone else know??? Again Many thanks!!!:) If you are still interested in what started this thread, simply read on:

Sorry to dredge this up again :o: but I've spent a unbelievable amount of time looking for an answer to this nasty question. Does the alleged speedo error apply to both ST1300's & ST1100's or just the ST1300's? I admit that the answer is probably here somewhere but I can't distiguish if it is! If someone could clarify this for me I'd be quite gratefull!!!:D

I haven't had my beloved (FaSTeST color black) ST1100 but three weeks and it seems like I'm just not going the speed limit? Am I imagining this? Could it be that I'm just not used to the BlaST (reads black-ST LOL) yet? (ok! OK! I know, somebody already coined BlaST right?):)

Anyway, like I said earlier, thanks for any and all help with this matter!

Tom

(If the speedo is off, I'm planning on getting a bicycle one like others have. I just don't want to waste the money if I don't have too!!)

[ConqSoft]

It applies to almost all bikes, though the amount of the error will vary. Get a GPS to compare speeds so you can see what percentage error you have. You can get a SpeedoHealer to correct it once you know the percentage.

[Joseph]

The speedometers on both the ST1100 and ST1300 are congenital liars; usually read 5mph over. Odos vary. Honda (autos) is getting sued over this issue.

Joseph

[ConqSoft]

It's a percentage so "5mph over" will only apply at a certain speed. The faster you go, the more off it will be. ;)

[ParkerBill]

It's a percentage so "5mph over" will only apply at a certain speed. The faster you go, the more off it will be. ;)

Right! That's what I've experienced with my '06 ST when comparing to my GPS, but geez, unless you're a total geek that just has to have it correct, what's the big deal? I typically just run by either using the GPS speed readout if I gotta have accuracy; otherwise, I just plant the speedo 5-7 mph over the posted speed. If I'm a couple of mph over the speed limit, so what, I doubt seriously if any LEO (God bless them and I mean that sincerely) is going to write me a ticket for 2-3 mph over (unless perhaps, I'm in a school speed zone, but then I fall back on the GPS).

Ride Safe & Smart! Don't sweat the small stuff--just enjoy the awesome, wonderful ST!

[wedge98]

I've had this problem on EVERY bike I've owned:
1981 Suzuki GS650G
1990 Yamaha FZR1000
1993 Honda CBR600F2
1996 Kawasaki zx9r
2000 TL1000R

usually 7-12% off.

Something called a yellowbox or speedohealer will fix the problem
yellow box:
http://www.blackrobotics.com/

speedohealer:
http://www.speedohealer.com/eng/intro.htm

Enjoy :)

[Mark S.]

I was playing with the GPS and my '07 yesterday and the speedometer was always showing about 7 mph more than the GPS, at speeds above 60 or so. Also the odometer showed about 2% higher than the GPS odometer. (10 motorcycle miles, was`9.8 GPS miles) I guess that is normal. I tend to believe the GPS data. I don't think that its worth the effort to fix. Just explain to the nice officer that you were not really going that fast!

[electrajoe]

1991 ST1100, Avon Strom 110/80/18 front with 3K miles:

GPS Garmin 2720 at 60 MPH in 5th gear
Speedo 65 MPH
Tach 3,250 RPM

ODO
898.0 Miles Motorcycle
892.8 GPS 2720
5.2 Difference
100.58% Speedo shows % of GPS

[M&M Take2]

Why not go out with a buddy that you know has an accurate speedo and match up their speed with your tach readings. Make a mental note of what 3000 rpm or 4000rpm represents in mph (as an example) and enjoy the ride.
Cheers Marty :)

[tommyboy]

Of course the reasoning behind an optimistic speedo is to guarantee the rider is not exceeding a posted speed limit when reading the indicated speed.The converse would be just terrible - speed actually higher that indicated speed. Now that would get someone sued big time.

[rbs]

Ditto on the GPS, I use it exclusively for speed.

[fitenfyr]

I checked mine today against the "speed trap" they have setup on base.
You know those signs with the flashing lights that tell you how fast you are going by the installed radar unit.

At indicated 45 mph on the ST the sign said I was doing 41.

I do the same...always run 5-10 over then I know I am within 5 mph of the speed limit.

So far it seems to be working.
I thought I was dead to rights speeding this morning on the freeway.
Indicated was 70 mph in a 60 and I was "keeping pace" with traffic.
Same motor officer that stopped by back in Feb was running radar and he didn't even blink as I went by at 70.

[Vbird]

A new Honda Civic was in the lane beside me on the Interstate yesterday.It's digital speedo was indicating EXACTLY what my GPS was.My Strom speedo was 5mph faster(the same as my ST was).If they can make the car accurate,why not get the bike at least close? Even my 50+ year old car is within 2mph with the period correct tires.:shrug2:

[RibsST1300]

They can make bikes accurate, in fact the can and do make an accurate speedo for the ST1300, it's called a Calibrated Police Speedometer..I read the ST1300P has a callibrated speedo(accurate) with 2 MPH hashmarks...

I wish you could buy this as a direct replacement for our unit... :(

By the way, my 87 Chevy Cavalier Z-24 had a digital Speedo, it was dead accurate-every ticket I got was the exact speed my speedo said I was going! So I know the technology is there...

[Joseph]

It's a percentage so "5mph over" will only apply at a certain speed. The faster you go, the more off it will be. ;)
I understand the concept, but this hasn't proven true with either my 1100 or 1300 - after about 20mph, it was religiously 5 mph over.

Why not go out with a buddy that you know has an accurate speedo and match up their speed with your tach readings. Marty :)
Marty, the only folks I know who have a "known accurate" speedo tend to also have red and blue lights on their vehicles... not good.

Joseph

[gnorts]

Both of my bikes have the same error - 8% fast. 50 on the speedo shows as 46 on the gps, and that percentage holds all the way to 100 on the speedo, 92 on the gps. Above that, I dunno, ask somebody else.;)

[Tom B.]

Unbelievable!:yr1:

Thank you for the fantaSTic information! It helped a lot!!! I hope it helps others as well!!! You all are the greateST, especially for this newbie!:bow1:

Tom

[dreddd2000]

I actually had a similar conversation with one of the guys local to me on a ride last night. The problem with using a speedo healer to adjust the speedometer's accuracy is that Honda has made the Speedo innaccurate and the odometer accurate. So if you adjust the speedo to be accurate, the odometer will be off by the same percentage in the opposite direction.

If you really want an accurate speedometer and you can't get a police speedometer, you might want to check locally for companies that do speedometer calibration and ask if their adjustment will keep the odometer accurate.

[ConqSoft]

I have always found the Speedo and the Odometer to be off the same amount. They are both fed from the same sensor, so I don't see how the Odometer could be different.

[Tom B.]

I have always found the Speedo and the Odometer to be off the same amount. They are both fed from the same sensor, so I don't see how the Odometer could be different.

:hat1: The way that the speedo and odo can read differently from one another is how the unit is programed! Yes, they are fed from the same sensor but once the computerised portion of the speedo gets that sensor input, it sends individual information to both the speedo needle motor and the odo motor. This is how one can be accurate and the other is not! At leaST that is my educated guess!!! With todays technology this is very feasable!!!

Now let me add: Toyota and Honda (as has been mention before) are facing class action law suits because both sides of their automotive dash units have proven to be inaccurate in equal %'s. (From our local evening news) It is my underSTanding that this was allegedly done to falsifie (did I spell that right:confused: ?) the mpg their vehicles get. In this manner, speedo clocking too faST and rolling the odo too faST right along with it, they are generating greater mpg figures than what the vehicles are actually getting! Great for business huh? That's why the class action suits are being raised, more so than the actual concern of speed error! After all who would sue because a LEO never pulls them over for speeding???:a13:

Unbelievalbe isn't it?

I must say that this information is only as acurate as my ST1100 Speedo :scared2: so do with it what you will!!!!:mcrider:

Tom

[fitenfyr]

Hmmmm makes me wonder if during this suit they won't end up include the Honda Motorcycles?

Maybe we can get Honda to correctly calibrate all the ODO's and Speedo's on the ST's. :D
Wouldn't that be fun...:D :D :D

[Shuey]

My speedo is 9% higher than GPS measured actual speed. The faster I go, the larger the error. Odo is only a little off, less than 1%, no problem there.

SpeedoHealer fix? I shouldn't have to buy something else, I bought an expensive Honda motorcycle and the speedo should work AS EXPECTED or be fixed as warranty service. Period.

This is NOT rocket science. If the police speedo can be accurate, they can all be accurate.

Anyone tried contacting Honda directly (not a dealer)?

[UNTMatt]

All the bikes I've had have been right at 8% off. The odo on the ST is pretty close, though.

Honda was being sued over odometers being off; however, with cages, mileage affects warranty. It's not just Honda...that attorney is going after Nissan now.

[wescus]

My speedo is 9% higher than GPS measured actual speed. The faster I go, the larger the error. Odo is only a little off, less than 1%, no problem there.

SpeedoHealer fix? I shouldn't have to buy something else, I bought an expensive Honda motorcycle and the speedo should work AS EXPECTED or be fixed as warranty service. Period.

This is NOT rocket science. If the police speedo can be accurate, they can all be accurate.

Anyone tried contacting Honda directly (not a dealer)?

LOL!! You haven't dealt with Honda much, huh?

[saaz]

The speedo on the ST11 can be made exact. I have the police version and the speedo is calibrated to be right over the whole speed range, and in 2 kph increments (all the better to book you with!). The odo is exactly right as well. An instrument place that does calibrations for the police may be able to help, but many probably use digital readouts now. A police speedo would solve the problem, but probably hard to get in the US.

[Shuey]

Found a number for Honda Customer Service in California and called about the speedo issue. Their response is that anything off by 10% or less is within specs.

Thus endeth the first lesson for the new Honda owner. :nuts1:

[illzoni]

Two things:

1) The motorcycle speedo error can't be part of the car odo lawsuit. The basis of the suit is lost warranty coverage due to inaccurate odos. That's not the case on our bikes.

2) Within spec, eh? Maybe we should contact our congressmen to lean on the USDOT to tighten the US specs?

[Tom B.]

1) The motorcycle speedo error can't be part of the car odo lawsuit. The basis of the suit is lost warranty coverage due to inaccurate odos.

illzoni is dead on!:hat1: This is a big issue!

Also, along with the warranty fraud is the Gov't MPG requirements! By showing a higher than actual fuel economy, and relationally lower emissions, Honda is closer to meeting Gov't mandated fuel economy increases and lower emission levels. This way they are potentially avoiding higher fines for not meeting these requirements! Both these issues are on the table!

[Shuey]

Well, instead of :BDH: I decided to just spend a little money and fix it with a SpeedoHealer. Speedo for mph is now dead accurate after a really easy install, simple directions and easy input.

The best part is that should I adjust tire sizes or anything in the future to throw the speedo off, it's easy to reset again back to 100% accurate.

Most riders on the site don't seem to think it's a big deal, but me - it bothered, but not anymore.

[dduelin]

Well, instead of :BDH: I decided to just spend a little money and fix it with a SpeedoHealer. Speedo for mph is now dead accurate after a really easy install, simple directions and easy input.

The best part is that should I adjust tire sizes or anything in the future to throw the speedo off, it's easy to reset again back to 100% accurate.

Most riders on the site don't seem to think it's a big deal, but me - it bothered, but not anymore.

Does the Healer affect the odometer in the same manner? My odometer is off 3% and the speedo 7~8%.

[Shuey]

Well . . . I haven't really checked the impact on the odometer, but a quick check using 30 miles of interstate showed I was at about 31 miles on my odometer; distance hacks may have been off due to traffic, so it's only approximate.

Before my adjustment though, the speedo was off by 8.5% and I'm more interested in avoiding tickets than if I get serviced a few miles early (won't hurt a thing).

I'll check against a longer distance using my GPS and report back. Might be a week or two.

[dduelin]

Well . . .
Before my adjustment though, the speedo was off by 8.5% and I'm more interested in avoiding tickets than if I get serviced a few miles early (won't hurt a thing).



Tickets for going slower than indicated?

[UNTMatt]

Does the Healer affect the odometer in the same manner? My odometer is off 3% and the speedo 7~8%.

From what I understand, is the speedohealer will fix the speed but throw the odo off even more than it already is.

I just use the GPS to tell me how fast I'm going but everyone has their preferences.

[Shuey]

Tickets for going slower than indicated?

Yeah, for not having an accurate answer to the officer's first question, "Do you know how fast you were going?" :cop2:

[Jefro]

Here are my numbers from my Zumo GPS and my dash...


SpeedoHealer set for minus 8.5%.

GPS 90 mph, dash display 90 mph. So my speedo is dead accurate.

GPS 148 miles, dash odometer 138 miles. My odo rolls up 6.5% fewer miles.

I have elected to have an accurate speedo since I drive in towns where there are lots of radar guns around. But my odo if off, making mpg calculations akward without a calculator.

If you need an accurate odometer for trips or fuel calculations, know that the odo is 2% faster than true. So set your SpeedoHealer for minus 2%.
Jefro.

Here is my thread for programming the Speedohealer...
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25254

[Shuey]

Experience gained from the varying strains on this site would lead one to conclude that Honda "factory specs" of 10% or less error mean lots of bike to bike variance. 9.8% off on one, 0.5% off on another and everything in between - so if you get a SpeedoHealer, use or borrow a GPS to compute what your bike differences are and set accordingly.

I agree with Jefro on having the speed accurate and I'm thinking the odo being off in that direction is like getting a 6.9% extended warranty! What's so bad about that?

As for mpg, you get what you get regardless of the numbers and you can figure it out with every tankfull if you want. (Note, the Garmin Zumo is capable of keeping track of miles to empty also.)

All smiles for me.

Just ordered some new Pilot Road 2 tires, expected in on Friday, and will recompute adjustments if needed after a short ride - another advantage of the SpeedoHealer.