Calibrate speedo?

13squared · Post by **13squared** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:08 pm

I've noticed that a few posters have speedos that read 5mph slow or so -- is there a method to calibrate the speedo on the scooter?

Just started looking to buy a scooter... Buddy seems fantastic so far. I just need to test ride one asap. My family will be in the Orlando area in early March -- does anyone know of a scooter rental shop or dealer in the area to try out several different scooters?

ellen · Post by **ellen** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:26 pm

13squared wrote:I've noticed that a few posters have speedos that read 5mph slow or so -- is there a method to calibrate the speedo on the scooter?

I don't think theres a scooter anywhere in the world which the speedo isn't off by 5 MPH

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:21 am

I can't say what the speedometer is off by on mine, as I've never tried it with a GPS or a chase car. I've heard that they're off on almost everything. I don't know of a way to calibrate it, or hearing anybody mention they were going to.

"Orlando area" usually means Disney World, doesn't it?

I'm afraid that doesn't put you any closer to a Genuine dealer than where you are now:
http://www.genuinescooters.com/dealers.html

I know if you want to drive down I75 a couple hundred miles or so to Cincinnati you could test ride a Buddy this week (or pretty much whenever you like) at Metro Scooter. I hear Seth has ordered some Series Italia special editions...

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:30 am

There's about a 10%-15% variance on the speedos on all motorcycles and scoots. The reasons why have been debated all over and; I have no idea why it's this way.

I haven't heard of a way to calibrate them... Most riders do it in their head on the fly.

GenuineSlacker · Post by **GenuineSlacker** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:42 pm

meh, i just go with what it tells me and ignore the variance. I know it's there but I go a lot faster when I ignore it

Catalyst · Post by **Catalyst** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:27 pm

Dang! I didn't know this!! I was followed by an MP for a short while on base once, but he didn't make a move to get me, so I guess mine's not off by that much, if it is. Military bases are rather strict on this score, especially here, we have morons and speeders out the wazoo.

AxeYrCat · Post by **AxeYrCat** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:03 pm

Catalyst wrote:Dang! I didn't know this!! I was followed by an MP for a short while on base once, but he didn't make a move to get me, so I guess mine's not off by that much, if it is. Military bases are rather strict on this score, especially here, we have morons and speeders out the wazoo.

The speedometers tend to be a bit optimistic -- if it said you were going 30, you were going closer to 27-ish or so...

Good for those of us with a heavy throttle hand.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:03 pm

The indicated MPH on the speedo is actually x% faster than your actual speed... so you're going slower than the speed limit if that's what it reads.

AxeYrCat · Post by **AxeYrCat** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:05 pm

ericalm wrote:The indicated MPH on the speedo is actually x% faster than your actual speed... so you're going slower than the speed limit if that's what it reads.

Beat ya!

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:08 pm

Jinx!

Roose Hurro · Post by **Roose Hurro** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:45 am

Did a little digging on the subject...

http://www.speedotest.com/

http://www.myanswering.com/articles/Spe ... ration.htm

http://www.instrumentclusters.com/

http://www.beachcalibration.com/

http://www.brianjgrossman.com/faq_reckl ... ration.htm

http://www.airheads.org/content/view/208/49/

http://www.specmo.com/Calibration/Calibration.asp

http://www.blackrobotics.com/index.htm

http://www.speedometershop.com/rep-pag.htm

http://www.speedometersolutions.com/

http://www.speedright.com/

http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/speedo-cal3.shtml

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13squared · Post by **13squared** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:05 pm

I was thinking that if my road bike's speedometer can have the ability to calibrate it by inputing the rim and tire size, certainly a scooter would have a similiar adjustment on it.

In fact, if the scooter's speedo couldn't be calibrated, i was considering just mounting a bicycle speedometer to it and calling it a day.

But then i was also thinking that it doesn't really matter all that much either....

Catalyst · Post by **Catalyst** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:59 pm

Actually hearing (what was actually in the back of my mind) that the speedometer is actually a tad faster than what you're actually going kinda eases my mind a bit.

I'm a bit anal about speed limits (must be me getting older. LMAO At 19, I blew the doors off an unmarked cop car, just outside my hometown, and didn't know it until my Sister said something to me. Well, he was going just a "taaaaad" under, and I wanted to the EXACT 45mph [Dad TOLD them to go get me.] So what was I suppose to do? LMAO)

I would still like to know how off I am. Knowing exactly how fast you're going is half the battle. I no longer have to have a speedo on my bicycle. I know my capabilities and my average speed. (14-15mph 18-21 in a good push 12-13 if I'm hauling the trailer, depending upon grade)

It really helps in up and coming accidents, you can better judge what you can and can't do to minimize the situation.

Dang, I think I've ridden a bike in traffic too long. LMAO

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:16 pm

I've been wanting to make a custom faceplate that goes inside the speedo display. I was thinking it just might be easier to find out the percentage and at what point the MPH are off and then create the new faceplate with the adjusted markers. Nothing mechanical, purely superficial!... the sweetest kind of mod. To preserve the integrity of the original display I'll see if I can't make something that will just slip over the current setup.

Does anyone know if the speedo needle is removable? I've yet to mess with the display other than pushing it around to paint the panels on the scoot.

kazoo · Post by **kazoo** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:27 pm

As soon as I saw this thread I was thinking how fine a detail that would be.

Going now.

Kaz

BadBrains wrote:I've been wanting to make a custom faceplate that goes inside the speedo display. I was thinking it just might be easier to find out the percentage and at what point the MPH are off and then create the new faceplate with the adjusted markers.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:17 pm

No hair is too fine to split.

Dennis

Sunil · Post by **Sunil** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:59 pm

BadBrains wrote:I've been wanting to make a custom faceplate that goes inside the speedo display. I was thinking it just might be easier to find out the percentage and at what point the MPH are off and then create the new faceplate with the adjusted markers. Nothing mechanical, purely superficial!... the sweetest kind of mod. To preserve the integrity of the original display I'll see if I can't make something that will just slip over the current setup.

Does anyone know if the speedo needle is removable? I've yet to mess with the display other than pushing it around to paint the panels on the scoot.

Ive been wanting to do this too. I figure if you make the 80 a 70 and space the rest out accordingly it will be much closer to true speed. I think people have made custom faceplates before. Maybe someone can explain the precedure of changing it?

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:59 pm

Or you could just tape some thin lines or red electrical tape on the glass of the speedo every 10 mph or so. Much simpler.

Leeroy Jenkins · Post by **Leeroy Jenkins** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:03 pm

"There's about a 10%-15% variance on the speedos on all motorcycles and scoots. "

Wrong.

Its not that hard to make an accurate speedo.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:12 pm

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:Its not that hard to make an accurate speedo.

That doesn't mean they're not all off. I'm sure they ALL aren't, but I've compared several scooters and a few cars to GPS readings, and they all seem somewhat optimistic, it must just be an industrywide thing.

Bb.

Leeroy Jenkins · Post by **Leeroy Jenkins** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:33 pm

agreed. Most scooters I know of are off. Not all bikes are off. Some are really close.

I believe most bike speedos are optimistic for marketing reasons.

My buell firebolt has been tested twice the stock set-up was only off -2% I attribute most of that to non stock tires and tire wear.

7eregrine · Post by **7eregrine** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:36 pm

Most cars are optimistic, as well, people.

Modern Buddy

Calibrate speedo?

Calibrate speedo?

Re: Calibrate speedo?

Speedo Calibration...

Neat links