Most bikes and cars speedo's report about 5% too fast (i.e. you are actually going 5% slower than it says). If yours is dead on and you didn't change anything then I'd be surprised. Your Dad's Harley is broken though. 
Speedo
Ok, so I have read plenty of threads about the speedo being off on pretty much every bike. My dads Harley is an exreme case, its off about 25-30%... However, my bike is dead on. Ive checked it at 35, 55 & 75mph with both a GPS and with my dad pacing me in his car. I guess its just a fluke and I should consider myself lucky?.. Just sayin.
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I just got back from the dealer after having them install the recalled "rear brake bracket" and there was a gentlemen before me that complained about his bike being way off. The service manager tried to explain that ALL motorcycles are a bit off on the speedometer readout but the guy just wouldn't have it. He wanted it fixed and was starting to get irrate so I jumped in and said "Mine is off too but that's why I put a GPS on mine. The GPS readout is more accurate than the speedometer readout." After that, he just looked at me and the service manager and zipped his lips. On freeways, my speedometer display 69-71MPH while my GPS displays 64-65mph.
Get a cheapo Nuvi GPS like I did. I bought one from Craigslist for $45.00 plus the $15.00 for the handlebar mount. Not a bad price for having an accurate speedometer readout plus much more!!!
Get a cheapo Nuvi GPS like I did. I bought one from Craigslist for $45.00 plus the $15.00 for the handlebar mount. Not a bad price for having an accurate speedometer readout plus much more!!!
Ayu can you link the handlebar mount where I can buy it please? I've got a Garmin Nuvi 205
This is the first choice I bought from RAM mounts but I returned it because I didn't know I had to buy the cradle that attaches to the mount. Take a look and see if it's what you want.Ayu can you link the handlebar mount where I can buy it please? I've got a Garmin Nuvi 205
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...d/082065080045050055052045049085/Default.aspx
This is the second choice that I ended up keeping and I got it off Ebay for about the same price. The ball on the mount fits into the standard cradle that came with my Nuvi 205. My GPS hasn't fall off yet so I guess it's a keeper!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTORCYCLE-BIKE...-205-205W-/130421824656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
I'm pretty sure the Harley is the only correct reading. Considering how they are superb technology.
It's not the harley thats wrong, it's the cops radar reading.
It's not the harley thats wrong, it's the cops radar reading.
Could you post a pic of the mount attached to your bike please?This is the first choice I bought from RAM mounts but I returned it because I didn't know I had to buy the cradle that attaches to the mount. Take a look and see if it's what you want.
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...d/082065080045050055052045049085/Default.aspx
This is the second choice that I ended up keeping and I got it off Ebay for about the same price. The ball on the mount fits into the standard cradle that came with my Nuvi 205. My GPS hasn't fall off yet so I guess it's a keeper!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTORCYCLE-BIKE...-205-205W-/130421824656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
The dealer should've just sold him a Speedo Healer at an inflated price. hehI just got back from the dealer after having them install the recalled "rear brake bracket" and there was a gentlemen before me that complained about his bike being way off. The service manager tried to explain that ALL motorcycles are a bit off on the speedometer readout but the guy just wouldn't have it. He wanted it fixed and was starting to get irrate so I jumped in and said "Mine is off too but that's why I put a GPS on mine. The GPS readout is more accurate than the speedometer readout." After that, he just looked at me and the service manager and zipped his lips. On freeways, my speedometer display 69-71MPH while my GPS displays 64-65mph.
Get a cheapo Nuvi GPS like I did. I bought one from Craigslist for $45.00 plus the $15.00 for the handlebar mount. Not a bad price for having an accurate speedometer readout plus much more!!!
So, everyone is using GPS devices to check their speedometers. Does anyone know how accurate commercial GPS devices are?
That's a good point that I often wonder...everytime I'm about to buy a GPS, I talk myself out of it.
I just figure a 10% error in the speedo and it seems to work as I haven't been pulled over yet *knock on wood*
I just figure a 10% error in the speedo and it seems to work as I haven't been pulled over yet *knock on wood*
I don't really know how accurate mine or any other GPS is in term of real speed calculation but it's a lot closer than the bike's speedometer display. I rode past a speed trap on a local street a few days ago and saw a roadside cop pointing a radar at me. Street posted limited was 40mph. A quick glance down at the GPS showed 45mph and the speedometer readout displayed 49mph.So, everyone is using GPS devices to check their speedometers. Does anyone know how accurate commercial GPS devices are?
Simply wanting to know how fast I was really going prompted me to swing the bike around and headed back toward the LEO on the roadside. Simply asked him how fast he clocked me at and was told 46mph. I showed him I was using a GPS to track my speed, thanked him for the info and off I went.
How accurate is the the GPS, don't really know but it's a more accurate than the bike's speedometer.
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