Buddy vs GPS miles

Tazio · Post by **Tazio** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:10 pm

Just got back from a ride where I recorded the details as close as I could.

Buddy miles at finish: 1718.65 - start: 1685.45 = 33.2 miles.

GPS: 30.75 miles.

33.2 - 30.75 = 2.45

2.45 / 30.75 = 7.967 % error.

On a long flat stretch I tried to hold a steady indicated 50 mph. The GPS recored 46 mph, so it looks like I have about an 8% high error for both the odometer and the speedometer. That is lower than I expected but still close enough to use 10% for a quick estimate.

Alix B · Post by **Alix B** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:09 pm

Hey, I used my GPS on the Buddy, and discovered the odometer is 6-8 mph generous.

robtaylor · Post by **robtaylor** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:09 pm

i have a feeling not only are the buudy speedometers all going to be slightly different from one another, but so are many gps devices. not to say that the gps isn't more accurate but both are probably not exact and will vary from unit to unit

MarsR · Post by **MarsR** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:16 pm

GPS may not be all that accurate unless you are traveling in a straight line as their speed calculations would be based on position at specific time intervals rather than measurment of actual distance traveled.

StL_Stadtroller · Post by **StL_Stadtroller** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:07 pm

So, I just picked up my new '08 B125 this weekend...

Love it of course, but my one big huge gripe so far is the WILDLY innacurate speedometer...

Mine is off by a whopping 18%! yep.. EIGHTEEN PERCENT
(at an indicated 50mph, I'm only doing about 41mph actual - based on GPS readings.) The error is consistent throughout the range, but I of course have not pushed the bike further than the actual ~40mph speed during break-in.

I can't find the DOT guidelines yet, but an 18% error would seem, well, criminal for lack of a better term.
Anyone know what it actually is? I've heard 7% before, but can't confirm.
Any word from Genuine on this... as it is rather obvious that quite a lot of Buddy's have crazily innacurate speedometers...

next question (since even if I made a warranty claim, the new one is likely to be just as innacurate): - has anyone popped their speedo out to see if there is an adjustment anywhere to calibrate it? Some mechanical speedo's have a screw to adjust tension on the clockworks-like spring that controls the needle...

thx.

redcass · Post by **redcass** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:13 pm

It's not GPS, but I led some motorpacing last week, and the cyclist's cyclecomputer read 6 mph less than my odo. That also matched what the "you're speeding so slow the hell down" machine I passed a few times.

It's kind of a bummer 'cause I assumed my odo was off by 8-10, so I've been cruising around town close to 50. With this new info it seems I should slow down.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:24 pm

I just ride as fast as I need to so I'm keeping up with traffic. I hate it when people change lanes, then change right infront of you again to just pass you.

I just ride to the point where my speedo says 40mph, really I'm probably going 37-38mph but the other drivers, they are going 45 real mph themselves