Cant' really be going 85 MPH!

[KCKBMOA]

So,.... before I was complaining about no speedo, ;) and now that it's working, I'm going way to fast :nono ..... possibly. I've noticed that at lower speeds, the reading makes sense, but up higher it can't be that the whole pack on the freeway is going 85! :heh Is this a common thing with K speedos that are at least working? KC

[DarrylRi]

Don't know about Santa Barbara, but in the Bay Area and greater LA, the traffic probably is going 85.

Why not go out west on 101 and time the bike through a few miles at fixed speeds. Or, have a chat with one of the CHP motor officers who seem to hang out towards Gaviota. ;)

[BuddingGeezer]

I have a '87 K100LT. My speedo reads 70mph @ 4750/4800 rpm, 90mph@6000rpm.

If I do the math the speed should be 76mph@4800/95mph@6000.

However I think the speedo is closer than the math, running with the traffic.

Anyone else close to this?

Ralph Sims

[Mudbug]

What year is your bike? My 04 K1200GT is only 3 MPH optimistic across the board, as far as I can tell. My 91 K100RS is 10% optimistic. At an indicated 80, it is really 72. At 40 is it really 36.

On the older K, I use a GPS to get a better idea of my actual speed.

[wmubrown]

So,.... before I was complaining about no speedo, ;) and now that it's working, I'm going way to fast :nono ..... possibly. I've noticed that at lower speeds, the reading makes sense, but up higher it can't be that the whole pack on the freeway is going 85! :heh Is this a common thing with K speedos that are at least working? KC

BMW speedos typically read high at higher speeds (you're going slower than indicated), the error usually starts to build around 55 MPH. A good rule-of-thumb for K-bikes is that in 5th gear, your speedo and tach needles should be parallel (point in the same direction) to each other. If they are out of sync, something's wrong somewhere.

I didn't catch the no-speedo complaint... have you done some work to the bike that brought this on?

[KCKBMOA]

So, It's not that uncommon I guess. Thanks for the replies all. Yes, I had done some work on the bike, and found the trigger ring in the final drive was not turning with the wheel, but can't believe it's now turning faster! :brow I have thought of asking that CHP with the radar that sits on the Ventura line if he'd give me a reading, but so far haven't as it's hard to turn around there. KC

[SNC1923]

I'm in California, about two hours east of you.

Speeds start at 85. Los Angeles? Don't even get me started.

:wow

[DarrylRi]

I have thought of asking that CHP with the radar that sits on the Ventura line if he'd give me a reading, but so far haven't as it's hard to turn around there. KCThanks for the clue. Although I haven't seen him there, I'll be on the look out the next time I head south.

[darcym]

I've noticed the difference of 5 to 10 mph from the speedometer on my '04 R1150R and on the GPS, starting around 60 mph.

Speedometer reads 60, GPS reads about 60
Speedometer reads 70, GPS reads 65.
Speedometer reads 80, GPS reads 70, and so on.

I'm thinking the GPS is more accurate, based on the travel speeds of traffic around me. Could possibly be why I didn't get a speeding ticket that time over in Mariposa county before I had the GPS and I figured I was doomed because I was going 65 mph in a 55 when I got pulled over.

:nyah

[smilingcouple]

There are two things that effect the speedo reading. Stock tire size????

Soft rubber tires expand at speeds while hard will stay consistant.

Best to break out the old GPS. My 85 K100 all tire sizes are stock and above 55 I read about 3 miles higher than actual.