Ok. I took my bike ('08 nav/abs) for a ride yesterday with my gps in hand to check how accurate the speedometer was. The result was not very accurate. At 70mph indicated I was actually going right at 67, and at 75mph indicated I was actually going right at 71. It may not seem like much, but it annoys the heck outta me. It should be dead on just like my 4 wheeled vehicles. I have heard that the '09 and 2010 models have this corrected. Is this true? Has anyone with a 2009 or 2010 model checked their speedo against a gps to verify? If they did correct it, I would like to see if I could purchase whatever components Honda changed in those models and install it in my bike to get the error out and make it read what I'm actually doing.
Speedometer Error
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All GL1800's 2001 thru 2008 have this problem. Some are off more than that.
My 08' Airbag with a new set of Bridgestone 60 series is off about 2.5 mph at 60. Supposedly running a 70 series tire on the rear puts the speedo dead on and lowers the RPM's about 300 or so at in 5th.
My 08' Airbag with a new set of Bridgestone 60 series is off about 2.5 mph at 60. Supposedly running a 70 series tire on the rear puts the speedo dead on and lowers the RPM's about 300 or so at in 5th.
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Your problem is not uncommon for model years 2008 and earlier. I have a 2009 and my speedometer reads 60 and my gps reads 59. It seems at every speed I'm about 1 mph higher on the Wing. I believe there is some kind of a fix, but I don't remember what it is. Maybe Joe-in-Calf will remember if he reads this post. Or if you do a search on the net you may find it.
The other problem is that the speed difference affects the total miles on the bike over the long haul.
The other problem is that the speed difference affects the total miles on the bike over the long haul.
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I have an 08 with the same problem. I simply put on a 70 series Dunlop E3 tire on the rear and my speedo reads exact. I also benefited from more cornering clearance as the 70 series gives me mre ground clearance. Unfortunately, you have to wait until your rear tire is gone. Lend it to me for 3,000 miles and I'll wear it down for you, no charge.
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I've never actually checked my '09 but I'm reasonably certain that it's a tad liberal on the readout too. I've been 'flashed' by the RCMP several times while riding at an indicated 120 kph (just under 75mph) and never been pulled over. typically, the Leos pull you over at 15 k over or more. I'm going to check mine with one of my airplane units this coming season. Aside from the increase on the bikes clock over time, it's kind of a nice comfort zone build-in to have that extra 2-3 mph in your hip pocket just in case you get a bit ham fisted on the open road.
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Wow ! I wouldn't let 3 or 4 MPH. worry me . I figure i have more important things to worry about when i am out on the road with a bunch of nuts in cages !! lol
I disagree. All those miles that you are being robbed of add up! Why should I be content with a speedo error that makes my bike show 70,000 miles on the ODO when I really only traveled 65,000 miles?
What about when the warranty is up and it really isn't because the ODO shows more mile than you actually traveled?
Some of these guys have speedo's that are 4-5 mph off and all in the wrong direction. On my bike for example. If I ride 100 miles according to the ODO, I really only rode about 96 miles. Do that every day and over a year, I get screwed out of around 1420 miles a year.
It all ads up and when it comes time for warranty work or time to sell it, that matters a lot!
So while I am not really worried about it because I am among the many thousands of wing owners that have this issue that Honda refused to correct for 9 years, I do not think that it is "no big deal"!
If I were to "roll back" the ODO on any vehicle, it is illigal. But when Honda makes a product and knowingly sells it to me "Knowing" that it is "rolling the odo forward", that is bullchit!
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The Honda warranty is about date of coverage, not about miles ( although miles may be a consideration in a warranty dispute). My next rear tire I plan on running a 195/55/ 16: a wider foot print with a smaller height. My speedo should be a lot more off than it is now. Bummer.
I'm all about lowering the RPM's I have a spare wheel I am going to mount a car tire on that will be the equivalent of a 70 series.
Most of my miles are interstate and my average speed is probably 90 mph to and from work if I am not in traffic.
But it does PO me that Honda took so long to fix the issue!
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Darn ! I think i will find me a good steep mountain and trailer the bike to the top and then ride it down backwards a few times a month . : ) If i can get enough speed i may go back in time ! Seriously, can the cable be disconnected occasionally to compensate for the difference and will it affect anything else if you do ?
There is a fix for it. I think it's called "speedo healer" or something like that. It is not enough of an issue to me to try and fix it. But I do feel like Honda put the screws to thousands of wing owners.
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I know it not quite the same because of the age of my 1984 1200. But my speedo is out about the same as yours. Showing 75mph I am really doing 70mph. Showing 40mph is really 38mph. There are some advantages:
1. I have brought a bike showing it had covered 75000 miles, but has only covered 70000 miles
2. The kids will think I am going faster than I really am.
3. I will get more miles out of my tires.
Disadvantage:
1. Convincing Vanessa that I am not speeding by that much.
2. When I go to sell the bike, the mileage my scare buy's off
So for me all I want to know is how fast I am really going and I can understand if you have a newer bike it will be more important to you. Eric
1. I have brought a bike showing it had covered 75000 miles, but has only covered 70000 miles
2. The kids will think I am going faster than I really am.
3. I will get more miles out of my tires.
Disadvantage:
1. Convincing Vanessa that I am not speeding by that much.
2. When I go to sell the bike, the mileage my scare buy's off
So for me all I want to know is how fast I am really going and I can understand if you have a newer bike it will be more important to you. Eric
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This comes up. In a group ride Sunday the leader "set his cruise for 70" but we were really going 66. At least according to my speedometer, which also agreed with my gps. There were a lot of cages and even trucks passing us. I plan on pulling him aside this week and letting him know about the difference. That's also probably why a few people think I ride fast. I'm usually 2 to 4 over the limit and it looks 10 over to them.
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Crownfire: I know exactly what you are saying. Sometime ago I went for a ride with my brother and his speedo was 6mph out. He was as happy as a pig in s..t and I was like a steam loco. Steam was coming out of both ears. I don't mind when some-one is riding to their abillity and they are on the slow side. But he could ride to the speed limit but wouldn't because he thought he was. I told him that I wasn't going to ride like an old grandpa and that I didn't think he was capable of doing our around Australia trip. I offered him a gps unit to check his speedo and he wouldn't let me put it on his bike. Then low and behold the next time we went out he was a totally different rider. Eric
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If you scroll back up to the top of this page their is an add for the SPEEDOHEALER posted their.
This speedo thing has been pretty much beat to death, but not quite. My '08 GW shows about 67 when those around me are doing 70 per GPS & CB chatter, so same story as others. (I can brag that my '09 Ultra speedo was right on--end of bragging) So, to fix it I read that I need to replace the 60 series OEM rear tire with a larger diameter 70. Two problems. 1) the 70 will raise the bike a little, which is a big deal for short legs, and 2) since the 70 is a larger diameter tire, it will turn slower, and it will drop engine rpm at a given speed as previously stated, but, and here is where I am having trouble with the tire concept, since the 70 tire is larger it will turn slower at a given speed, thereby reducing rpm, and ALSO REDUCING THE SPEEDO READING EVEN FURTHER. Is there a flaw in my reasoning, or am I right? It would seem the rear tire should be smaller than the OEM tire to increase the speedo reading. Oversize tires on the Chevy pickup cause the speedo to read too slow.
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