Speedo issue

[SteddyTeddy]

I know its a little too late, but why was the issue with the speedometers never pushed with Kawasaki for a fix? A recall should of been demanded for gauges that actually read correctly! The speedo on my 1100 reads 8 mph fast between 60 to 80mph! Haven't checked yet to see how bad its off at lower speeds.

[zrx24]

FOR MOST, it's 10% optimistic across the board.


Kawasakis have always had optimistic speedos for some reason. Most likely a directive from their legal department, since their engineering department most certainly has the capability to design/develop an accurate speedo.

[SteddyTeddy]

Well its kind of embarrassing when the speedo on the harley your riding with is dead nuts on with GPS! Harley can get it right but Kawi can't? I think we have a problem!

[flying dave]

I had a guy scream at me once over his speedo in his Acura. Said it was about 5mph off and therefore the car was showing more mileage than it really had and he demanded that his warranty be extended because of that. I tried to tell him that most vehicles are optimistic but the odometers are accurate and he screamed some more and said he was going to sue Acura. I gave him the 800 number and walked off. Ahh, the good old days of customer service....

[KWICK]

From 40 to 100, my 1100 speedo was 13 mph fast.
I moved the needle, it's dead-on now.

[John T]

the speedo on my BMW is off also. Kawi isn't the only one.

[Mojo Risin']

I seldom look at the speedo. I ride by the sound

[Special Ed]

FOR MOST, it's 10% optimistic across the board.


Kawasakis have always had optimistic speedos for some reason. Most likely a directive from their legal department, since their engineering department most certainly has the capability to design/develop an accurate speedo.

I had a police officer check mine with his radar. We checked it at an indicated 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70, and the radar showed 27, 36, 45, 55, and 63. He said if we checked it any faster he'd have to write me a ticket

It works out well for me; I just subtract 10% from the speedo and know within 1mph my actual speed.

FWIW, my '86 Yamaha FJ1200, my '92 Voyager, and my '02 Goldwing all read fast as well. The Yamaha and Voyager were about 10% fast, and the Goldwing is about 7% fast. Oddly, the Voyager odometer was near perfect.

[chris russell]

i dont even look at the speedo anymore, it is there just to have a needle move around.


i have a vaypor and it is dead ass on with a gps at any speed, and yep my speedo is around 10 mph fast most all the way across the sweep...............................chris

[Dave Ditner]

Trigger's gauge face fixes it.

[jerry quick]

Had mine ck'd by local po. Chief..Indicated 80....radar 81...Ind. 120.radar 118..
Note..every time that I stopped after being radar'd theywere spot on.
Now the riderthat was ck'd going by my house at 179 didn't stop..but I bet his was spot on to....

Jerry

[SteddyTeddy]

Trigger's gauge face fixes it.

I have those on my 1200 and they improved the reading greatly but why should we have to replace the guage faces to get an acurate reading speedo? 8 to 10 mph difference is huge! Are their guage maker's that inept that they can't propperly calibrate the very guages they make? Just a problem with the bike that really ticks me off seeing as the problem shouldn't be there in the first place.

[Pfaelzer]

[B]SPEEDO issue[B]
[
sounded like you have issues with your swimwear

[zrx24]

Are their guage maker's that inept that they can't propperly calibrate the very guages they make?

No. In all likelihood their gauge makers are being instructed to make the readings optimistic as company policy. All my Kawasakis have had optimistic gauges. Many Yamahas read on the high side as well. Hondas I've had exposure to seem to have fairly accurate gauges.

[BlkZrx]

I disconnected mine many years ago, so when I sell it I can ask for a ton of money for a low mileage, pristine stock bike.

Now, if I could just remember where I put those reflectors..

[Dave Ditner]

I have those on my 1200 and they improved the reading greatly but why should we have to replace the guage faces to get an acurate reading speedo? 8 to 10 mph difference is huge! Are their guage maker's that inept that they can't propperly calibrate the very guages they make? Just a problem with the bike that really ticks me off seeing as the problem shouldn't be there in the first place.

You get no argument from me. If they would have been within a couple of percent from the factory, the original faces would probably still have been on, but 10%??????? WTF?? Just piss poor......

[KWICK]

I Have posted a dozen time how to correct your speedo for free...yes, free.

[RebelRex]

Hayabusa's had the same problem. You hear of all the talk about somebody went over 200 on a busa. I always asked, was it on gps or speedo. Always the speedo. As Steddyteddy said, Harley's are spot on. Go figure.