Speedometer accuracy on 08 RSTD

[Mike from Ohio]

I have a 2008 RSTD and it seems like the bike is going slower than the reading on the speedometer. It is most noticeable at highway speeds of 55, 60, 65, 70, and I'm guessing it is off 3 to 5 miles per hour too high.

 

Has anyone run some tests to show the speed of the bike?

[hydraulicman]

My GPS shows the same inaccuracies you are talking about. The speedometers are off on all the Yamaha bikes.

[Little Bob]

More like 6-7 mph off.

[star4772]

I have a 2008 RSTD and it is 5 miles faster according to my GPS. It seems to start above 50 MPH reading faster. Why don't know.

 

Joe

[meach]

Common issue on most metrics, usually around 10% thus faster you go the more it is off. Using a CT on my vtx reduced it down to about 3-5% off, my RSV which I recently purchased seems to be about 10% off as well (according to my garmin gps). For the vtx there are different fixes on the market, not sure whats out there for the RSV, probably similar. I tend to go with the flow of traffic anyway so don't always pay attention to the speed limits and don't worry that much about speedometer being off, heck without my reading glasses on I can't really read what is says anyway.

 

As to why they are off I've heard different stories over the years, one being that it is intentional due to some long ago lawsuit. A google search would probably bring up why.

[Venturous Randy]

My GPS shows the same inaccuracies you are talking about. The speedometers are off on all the Yamaha bikes.

 

Not my 83. It is off only about one mph at 70 according to two different GPS's. That's a 2nd gen thing.

RandyA

[Freebird]

Several of us here have the SpeedoHealer installed. Most have found that they are actually about 7% off. I set my SpeedoHealer for a 7% correction and now it reads the same as my Garmin.

 

http://www.healtech-electronics.com/

[darthandy]

According to my GPS, my speedo is optimistic by about 8% at all speeds. In other words, it is doing 92 KPH when it indicates 100 KPH. I just adjust my speed accordingly.

 

Andy

[djh3]

Mine is the 3-5 mph off. GPS says 65 speedo reads 70. Thats about the only speed I know the range. IF I'm down around say 40 I'm in town and aint got no time to look @ GPS to busy watching cages.

[jfoster]

Several of us here have the SpeedoHealer installed. Most have found that they are actually about 7% off. I set my SpeedoHealer for a 7% correction and now it reads the same as my Garmin.

 

http://www.healtech-electronics.com/

 

Second that, my '06 read 70 mph at 64 mph. The faster you go the farther the spread. The speedohealer is fairly easy to install and accurate. I think I set mine at 6.7 or 6.9.

[midnightventure]

I believe all late model Japanese bikes are like this. You know they are capable of producing an accurate speedomter. I have heard that they are allowed + or - 5% but if they are capable of accuracy they should give us accuracy. I firmly believe it is an effort to fool the public but with everybody getting GPS units we are catching on. My old 81 Maxim was right on the money and I was constantly passing. When I got my new Venture I wasn't passing anybody. I borrowed a radar gun and found it was off 6 mph at 70. My 96 Suzuki is almost exactly the same as the Venture but my 97 Sportster was accurate.

[Mike from Ohio]

Thanks for all the comments which are all very helpful.

Mike

[Keemez]

Not my 83. It is off only about one mph at 70 according to two different GPS's. That's a 2nd gen thing.

RandyA

 

Yeah but didn't you go in there and rotate the needle on the shaft? That was you, wasn't it? I did the same thing later on after having read that thread. Now it reads quite low at low speeds and dead on between 70-75ish.