1800 Speedometer Accuracy

[bryanw1]

Does anyone know if Honda has changed the setup for the speedometer on the 1800? My ‘01 has always run about 5% fast, which I understand is normal. I had 2 Ventures before that which did the same. I just checked the speedo on my ‘17 with a handheld GPS and it is spot on. And I mean spot on, at least as close as I can tell with an analog dial. I thought an error should show up at higher speed so I ran it to 85. It was right on all the way. Anyone know? Its a happy surprise, but definitely a surprise. I’ve never had a motorcycle with an accurate speedometer. Had a 78 BMW R90 once that ran high by 10%. I asked the dealer about it and they seemed to think that was normal.

[DaveO430]

From 09 on they are pretty accurate. The odometer is still generous though, Honda cars were the same way until they got sued over it.

[bryanw1]

Thanks. I didn't know they had changed much of anything.

[DaveO430]

Thanks. I didn't know they had changed much of anything.

They didn't, much. Don't know what made them adjust the speedometer, I would have been happier if they had also corrected the odometer.

[AZgl1800]

on my '02, the Odometer is pretty close, a litte bit generous, but not by much.

I compared the offset over 1,200 miles and it was like less than 1%

Now the Speedo?

oh man alive, at 70 mph GPS actual, the Speedo is registering nearly 80 mph...

IIRC, it is like 6.5 to 7 mph fast at 70 actual.

[bryanw1]

My '01 shows 73 or 74 at 70. I haven't checked the odometer on the '17 yet. I just assumed that since the speedo is right on and they are driven off the same cable they would be the same. It's irritating though. I've heard it said that they show them fast because they want to slow down the bikes. That's stupid. I have had two Toyota Prius that reads one mph fast. Small difference, but the irritating thing is the car knows how fast it's actually going. It has GPS input. And the computed data that shows average speed is exactly correct.

[dtrider]

My '12 typically shows about 5MPH fast at 60 on the GPS. That's with the standard 180/60R16 rear tire. For a while I was running with the larger 180/70R16 and I noticed that the speedometer was closer to agreement with the GPS. At the time I didn't think to check the accuracy of the odometer.
/dwight

[DaveO430]

My '12 typically shows about 5MPH fast at 60 on the GPS. That's with the standard 180/60R16 rear tire. For a while I was running with the larger 180/70R16 and I noticed that the speedometer was closer to agreement with the GPS. At the time I didn't think to check the accuracy of the odometer.
/dwight

I guess they didn't fix all of them. A friend of mine bought a new 2012 and it was dead on.

[bstig60]

My '12 typically shows about 5MPH fast at 60 on the GPS. That's with the standard 180/60R16 rear tire. For a while I was running with the larger 180/70R16 and I noticed that the speedometer was closer to agreement with the GPS. At the time I didn't think to check the accuracy of the odometer.

That's what I was told; the 70 series rear tire will correct the speedo inaccuracies. I am going to the larger tire when I replace my current rear tire.....

[Snowmoer]

My 2012 is spot on with both the stock size tire and when I went to a CT.

[Red Ron]

I heard they were correct from '12 on. On my '13 I have a 60 series CT. My GPS says that I am going a little faster than the speedo.

[joeincalif]

My '12 typically shows about 5MPH fast at 60 on the GPS. That's with the standard 180/60R16 rear tire. For a while I was running with the larger 180/70R16 and I noticed that the speedometer was closer to agreement with the GPS. At the time I didn't think to check the accuracy of the odometer.

That's what I was told; the 70 series rear tire will correct the speedo inaccuracies. I am going to the larger tire when I replace my current rear tire.....

I put a 70 series tire on the back of my 08 Wing and it brought the speedo real close and I think the odometer was a couple miles lower when I check it at 100 miles, but that makes up for the 4 + miles it added ever 100 before the new tire!!

[Red Ron]

Best I can remember my '08 was off by about 4%. On my '13 with a 60 series CT my after market GPS actually says I am going a little faster than what the speedo indicates. So maybe they did correct it on the '12's and later.

[DaveO430]

Best I can remember my '08 was off by about 4%. On my '13 with a 60 series CT my after market GPS actually says I am going a little faster than what the speedo indicates. So maybe they did correct it on the '12's and later.

Actually 09 and later.

[Viking]

Best I can remember my '08 was off by about 4%. On my '13 with a 60 series CT my after market GPS actually says I am going a little faster than what the speedo indicates. So maybe they did correct it on the '12's and later.

Actually 09 and later.

09 and later U.S. Models only. My Canuckian 09 is still about 4% off with brand new tires. Gets worse as the tires wear down, but only to about 5% by worn out.

[AZgl1800]

IF you have a cellphone, you can install a GPS speed app on it,

I use this one

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... id.digihud

and this one

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... peedometer

[GoldWingrGreg]

It took a class action law suit on the car side for Honda to fix speedos on the m/c side. Apparently this is what happened. On the car side, they had a 3yr 36,000 warranty. Some cars had warranty problem shortly after going over 36,000 miles but still within the 3 yrs, and Honda was denying their warranty claims. The argument became ... "if the speedo did not have a 10% error factor, that they'd be under 36k and within the warranty period.

[DaveO430]

It took a class action law suit on the car side for Honda to fix speedos on the m/c side. Apparently this is what happened. On the car side, they had a 3yr 36,000 warranty. Some cars had warranty problem shortly after going over 36,000 miles but still within the 3 yrs, and Honda was denying their warranty claims. The argument became ... "if the speedo did not have a 10% error factor, that they'd be under 36k and within the warranty period.

Since Goldwings have an unlimited mileage warranty that is not a factor. In 98-02 models Honda (cars) had a lot of trans failures so they extended the warranty to 100,000 miles and after the class action it became 109,000.

[WingMan71]

I got tired of guessing how fast I was going on my '06 GL1800, so I fixed it with this:

a Healtech SpeedoHealer, here:

https://www.healtech-electronics.com/products/sh/

Great product that solves the problem. Lots of cool features including being able to store two different calibrations for example for two different size tires. Costs about $100.00, and worth every penny.

They also have a gear position indicator that I put on my bike as well. Come on Honda, you make a $25K bike and don't put a gear position indicator on it. Heck, my '87 GL1200 has a gear position indicator on it!

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