Speedo off by 6 MPH

[JohnNC]

My speedo reads fast by 6 MPH (@40 MPH and up, a little less as expected at slower speeds). I understand the speedo is hooked to the tranny. Any gears or adjustments for this? (Speed checked with GPS, btw).

Otherwise, enjoying the heck out my new 2006 VTX 1300S! Great bike!

[rebls]

http://www.speedohealer.com/

Think it might be what you are looking for.

[vtxrider]

John very interesting point, cause I also own an 03 shadow and when my buddy rides it with me on my vtx when at speed limit he says he is running 5-10 mph faster than me to stay up with me, hopefully it nothing major. But now I know someone else is having this problem I may need to check into it futher also

[Mer]

Both my ACE and my VTX have always been off. My husband rides with a GPS and so it's been verified on all our bikes. The faster you go, the more it is off. I think we figured it's off by around 10 percent.

[rebls]

Seems like this is the norm and not the exception. If you want it right see my earlier post with the link.

[JohnNC]

My speedo reads fast by 6 MPH (@40 MPH and up, a little less as expected at slower speeds). I understand the speedo is hooked to the tranny. Any gears or adjustments for this? (Speed checked with GPS, btw).

Otherwise, enjoying the heck out my new 2006 VTX 1300S! Great bike!

I checked out the SpeedoHealer.com website and have requested pricing from the closest distributor. Looks like it'll be ~$100.

It turns out that the Garmin E-Trex Legend hand-held GPS unit wedges perfectly and securely onto the top steering plate, between the handlebar posts and the steering main nut. I may just keep using the GPS since it gives me all sorts of other data and maps.

Thanks for all the feedback. Great site so far, for new. Will post some pictures when I have time.

[ROSHOLT1]

My 03 1800s is off 7 mph at 80 accual is 73

[JohnNC]

Checked out SpeedoHealer.com, looks interesting. Thinking about usiing my GPS if I can afford the batteries...:rolleyes:

[Mer]

Checked out SpeedoHealer.com, looks interesting. Thinking about usiing my GPS if I can afford the batteries...:rolleyes:
My husband has his GPS wired into the bike. He was tired of changing batteries too.....lol

[Memphis Fats]

I think we all have the speedo error, and all are about the same

I feel like I'm having to solve an algebra problem everytime I check the dial.
I could get used to it, and even try to think they did it on purpose to make us drive slower (say, "safer"), or get better gas mileage, or take it in more often for service.

It's been that way for a while at Honda. I'd rather have my speedo read correctly so I don't have to be so anal about it. I don't want to spend a bunch on such a minor thing....but a major annoyance.

[JohnNC]

My husband has his GPS wired into the bike. He was tired of changing batteries too.....lol
What GPS unit did he get and how's it wired? It would be cool if someone invented a GPS unit with a round face to look like a speedo or tach unit, wouldn't it? Kinda James Bond cool.

[jpvtx05]

Mer-

I would be interested in knowing how to wire my GPS unit on my ride to a constant power supply. Can you give the details?

[Mer]

Mer-

I would be interested in knowing how to wire my GPS unit on my ride to a constant power supply. Can you give the details?
I've asked Randy to join this site so he can give you full details. Hopefully he'll be on soon.

[blkxride]

The speedo being off is not just your bike or Hondas, it's all bikes and that includes the really expensive ones. I subscribe to Motorcycle Consumer News, a Consumers Reports type MC pub, and every bike they test no matter what the brand the speedo is off from 3-10%, always reading higher than actual. They just did an article about the SpeedoHealer and reported excellent results. +/- $90.00 www.speedohealer.com

[Stoked]

Mer asked me to join and explain my GPS/wiring. I have the Garmin V and love it. I will eventually upgrade to the Garmin 2610, but I want to use the V as long as I can.

I purchased a pre-made wiring harness from: http://www.cycoactive.com/gps/gps_hardwire.html

There are some other sites also, just search google.

The most important thing is the inline fuse since I wired it directly to the battery. This is where I got lazy. The best way is to remove your gas tank and run the wire under there and use zip ties to secure. Then secure the wire to your handlebars. I have the Garmin V mounted in the center of the handlebars with the handlebar mount from Garmin. What I did was run the wire along the clutch cable and then found a path to the battery. The wire is exposed and I had to use some insulated tape where I crossed over hot metal. I've had it this way for 7 or 8 months with no problems. I would recommend running it under the gas tank since it would be cleaner looking and more direct.

Works great. I'm paranoid and unhook the wire from the GPS even during short stops, but I know guys that will leave it on and connected while eating lunch and the bike starts up fine. They don't draw much power.

Hope this helps.

Randy

[JohnNC]

Great info and many thanks.

[Outlaw1800]

I recently installed a lighter just above my starter switch. Could be used as an alternate power supply. That would surely work for the lighter adapter on a GPS. Took a strip of 1 1/2" metal, drilled a 7/8" hole to mount the lighter and a 1/4" hole to mount to the starter switch mount. Bent it around a little to get it where I wanted it, painted it (and the lighter) and wired it direct to the battery w/inline fuse.

[mfmaloney]

I'm having the same issue with my '04 1300 S. I clocked it by the Turnpike mile markers and was off by 3 miles over 50 miles. By the local radar trailer, I was doing 50 but was clocked at 45. Against my wife's car, I was doing 75 while she did 65. I just hate having to do the math when I see a police car sitting in the median. Thank goodness there was a pickup truck passing me when I passed the radar trap...

[chazb458]

I timed mine by the highway markers and nearly right on the mark. Personnally being off by 5 mph isn't an issue. On the open freeway without traffic close I hit 80 on the speedo and slow to 70 going through any populated areas. Knock on wood, I just don't get pulled over for speeding and the last two times I did no ticket was issued.

[dgene721]

I have the 04 1300S. Bought it new August 04. Noticed the same problem you are having. Took it to the stealer and was told as long as it was less than 13% off it met DOT standards and they would not fix it. DUH???? I have over 21K miles on the odometer but the actual milage could be up to 13% less. That should really help on the trade-in or resale value, HuH????

[chazb458]

Ride it until it dies then you won't have to worry about resale value. :)

[JohnNC]

Been checkin' out the thread. Great comments by all. I've got 900 miles on the bike now and I've stopped looking at the speedo. Just going by feel now. This bike feels great! Went cruisin' last night with a Magna 750 and a `Zuki Marauder and found a curvy road. Blasted through it 3x and had a blast...1...2...3... duh. I'm gonna buy a bar of magnesium and screw it under my foot boards so I send out a shower of sparks when I drag those suckers! :spank:

Magna rider said I'd better order new foot boards soon, cause I was gonna wear `em out quick!

Havin' fun but keepin it between the ditches.... John in NC

[Illusion Blue]

You can wayste money on a speedohealer,or you can just think to yourself,it say's 90,but i'm really doing 83.Why spend moey on something that really does nothing.

[blkxride]

The truth of the matter for me is that most of the time I just run with the traffic. I feel the safest at whatever speed that may be. If my ODO is off (high) so be it. I plan a keeping the bike long enough so that it doesn't really matter how many miles it shows. I'm not going to get much in trade or I'll just keep it and buy another bike to go along with the vtx. (Yeah, that's what I'm going to do :) )

[phat94gt]

I have the Garmin Quest GPS, which shows my speedometer is also about 10% fast. I wouldn't bother with a new speedometer. The money was better spent on the GPS unit, which is water proof, mounts to my handlebars and can run on power from the bike or from it's 18 hour rechargable battery. I highly recommend it.

[CrewdogK10]

My solution, I have one of these on both my '04 Wing and Her '05 VTX. They work great.

http://www.blackrobotics.com/yb_home.htm

Good Luck,

CD
:choppersm