Speedometer Question

[Jim Smyth]

I have a 2002 Wing with a Lehman Monarch Conversion. I mounted a GPS on the trike for navigation this summer. I have had this GPS in a few different cars and know its speed is spot on with my cars.

At low speeds there's a 2-3mph difference with the Trike reading higher speed wise than the GPS. At Highway speeds the Trike is reading 4-5mph faster than my GPS.

Anyone else with a GPS have this issue? While its just mildly annoying I am curious if this is fixable?

TIA, Jim

 

[Bikerbozo]

Keep in mind there is a lag time for GPS. As long as you are steady speed, I would trust what it says. As far as trike reading, I have yet to see any m/c with an accurate speedometer. My TG reads 2-3 mph high.

 

[Woolie]

My Goldwing speedometer is 2 or 3 mph slow according to my GPS and I am sure it is accurate.

 

[87Trike1200]

I think it's just a bike speedometer "thing". Just yesterday Barbara & I were riding together. My GPS said 60, my bike (by some miracle) also said 60, but her speedometer said 57. I suspect it's just "one of those things". :Shrug:

 

[RdKnB]

My GPS on my bike, an older Garmin, reads 3-4 miles lower then the bike and my car. This week I need to see what my phone GPS says. Either way I just go with it and not worry on it.

 

[SMSgt]

Anyone else with a GPS have this issue? While its just mildly annoying I am curious if this is fixable?

TIA, Jim

This isn't an issue it is just the way it is. As far as a fix, you can experiment with tire size, a smaller tire is going to turn faster that a larger tire but a larger tire will move the motorcycle faster than a smaller tire. If it were me I wouldn't worry about it. I trust my GPS or my phone speedo app. if I think it is that critical.
Good luck
Kent

 

[Jim Smyth]

Seems like its pretty common. I just figured it was from going to the Lehman Conversion.

Many years ago in my youth I played around with different tire sizes on cars that messed with the speedometer. There was splined plastic gear you could swap out in the trans where the speedo went into the case. Didnt know if Wings had that feature or anything that could do adjustments.

I usually dont like to go more than 9 over since you always hear the cops give you 10mph before they pull you over. With it reading High I dont have any issues in that area.

 

[SMSgt]

I usually stay around 5 over. The fine for 9 over is $90.00 here in the Beehive state. Don't as me how I know.

 

[MDGeorge]

I think it is pretty typical. Every bike I have had has been 2-3 mile over the GPS speed.

The Honda trike is no different.

 

[rgw5944]

The speedometer is run off the front wheel, not the trike wheels. This has been a common problem with the 1800's until 2012 when it was corrected by Honda. I changed to the BT-45 Battlax rear tire on the front and the diameter of the tire is different. I'm now off 2 to 3 mph at 70mph compared to the GPS instead of 5 mph.

 

[Konrad]

The very optimistic speedo issue has been remarked upon for many years. My 2006 GL1800 always registers 3 mph over actual speed according to my GPS. And frankly, that's fine with me: if the legal speed is 70 and I set the cruise control on that I know I'll actually be doing 67 and not in danger of a citation. Long gone are the days when I just couldn't stand to be passed by anything on the road. Nowadays I'm not in a hurry for anything.

 

[Mick]

My trike at 70 miles an hour was reading 5mph too fast according to my Garmin. So I went online and found this gizmo for around $70.00 that you plug and play in to your system and following their instructions will correct the issue. Ive checked mine with the Garmin and also with the radar speed limit signs and it seems spot on. Its called a Speedo DRD and Youtube has a video on how you program it.
SpeedoDRD v3X Setup Demo - YouTube

 

[Jim Smyth]

Thanks Mick, thats the ticket. :Coffee:

 

[Dennis Elliott]

the 1800 speedo is run off the engine mot the front wheel there is a sensor on the left side underthe exhaust

 

[A WINGER]

My trike at 70 miles an hour was reading 5mph too fast according to my Garmin. So I went online and found this gizmo for around $70.00 that you plug and play in to your system and following their instructions will correct the issue. Ive checked mine with the Garmin and also with the radar speed limit signs and it seems spot on. Its called a Speedo DRD and Youtube has a video on how you program it.
SpeedoDRD v3X Setup Demo - YouTube

I second this product. Our trike was off about 7% thru the speed range. This device will fix your calibration issues. Foe some the error doesnt bother them but In my anal mind this was an extreme irritation. Money for this device was well spent.
A

 

[Shimpy]

That's normal on a Gl1800 up until I believe 2009. My 2003 was 4 mph optimistic, and now my 2010 is within 1 mph of a GPS even after triking.