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K1600 speedometer accuracy

5.4K views 26 replies 24 participants last post by  dobervol  
#1 ·
I have a 2016 K1600GT. How accurate are the speedometers on these bikes? I'm on the highway doing an indicated 75 and cars are passing me on both sides. My old K100 was off by 5 mph at 60 mph so I was able to compensate.
 
#4 ·
My 18 is off about 4%. It indicates too high.
 
#7 ·
My 2019 is only 1-2 miles faster than the NAV VI says. Who knows?🤷‍♂️ I do pay closer attention to the NAV speed, though. Even so, I remember when it was common for bikes to be off as much as 8-10 mph when I was a kid. Not to slow you down, but to trick you into thinking the bike is faster than it is for sales and marketing. Even 10-15 years ago, 5 wasn’t uncommon. I'm just glad it’s better than it once was.
 
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#10 ·
I've read in a few places over the years that manufacturers deliberately calibrate their speedometers to read slightly faster than you are actually travelling so as not to get blamed for people caught speeding. Speedo reads 70 but you are actually doing 67. You see this when you compare the bikes reported speed against the nav.
 
#15 ·
I've read in the past that auto manufacturers calibrate their speedos to read high (but within allowable tolerances) in order to slightly goose up their CAFE numbers. If you measure fuel consumption at an indicated 60MPH but you're actually going 57MPH the mileage will appear better than it actually is.
 
#11 ·
Troll mode on

Anything other than the right lane is a passing lane so if cars are passing you on the inside you are in the wrong lane anyway!

Troll mode off
:) :) :)

I use my nav for speed. The faster I go the greater the difference betwwen it and the speedo
 
#12 ·
I have observed the speedometer showing about 2 mph less than what my Nav6 or Escort Max 360 show around 75 mph.
 
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#17 ·
Speedo reads 4-8 ish mph faster than the GPS. The faster you go, at least on mine, the greater the Speedo over-reads. 50 Kph for me is 53/54 (GPS), 100 Kph is about 106/107 on the speedo and so on. I use the GPS mostly just to check when the speed limit is unfamiliar, but know what speeds equals what generally so it's really no bother. One small factoid though, it also means that the recorded mileage on the bike is over-reading, which means services come round more often than they really should, but again, hey ho, who said owning a K was cheap? 🤣😂
 
#18 ·
What's this speedo you talk about? Armoured Corps and Cavalry have it right, 'best possible speed over the given terrain.'

But seriously, tracking mine alongside a police calibrated R1200RT, its very close up to about 50kph, my speedo reads faster than actual, my 100kmh is about 97 actual, 120 is 116, 150 is really about 145. GPS speed on the NAV is closer :)
Didn't think to try it with the big speed display, i/e/ radio off. I'll try that next time the opportunity presents.
 
#20 ·
I think you will find that the error is deliberate. It means if you get booked for speeding then you can't go the manufacturer for the fines due to the speedo error this was more prevelant in the older drive cable days not so much with modern electronic speedos. Well that is the popular belief among Mechanics anyway. There are also other variables that come into play like wear on tyres changing the circumferance on tyres and also to a minor degree the load and air preasure variables all have a part to play in the indicated as against true speed.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Speedo has to read higher by law over here. All of my K1600s were reading between 3-7 kph high depending on the absolute speed and the tire wear.
 
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#25 ·
Speedo has to read higher by law over here. All of my K1600s were reding between 3-7 kph high depending on the absolute speed and the tire wear.
Yep. The ECE is the reason for the speedo error. Vehicle mfgs are making sure to not fall out of compliance with the reg.

5.3. The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle. At the test speeds
specified in Paragraph 5.2.5. above, there shall be the following relationship between the
speed displayed (V ) and the true speed (V ).
0 ≤ (V − V ) ≤ 0.1 V + 4 km/h

 
#26 ·
I read the same as to what coyotek wrote. Can't find the exact wording but it had something to do about an agreement either voluntary or mandated with manufacturers to keep the speedometer reading higher than it should or could. Every vehicle I have ever checked was off in the same direction.