So I figured out that my speedometer is quite wrong. Says I'm doing 55 when I'm really doing 45-50. I have a 110/70-17 tire on the front, I'm guessing a taller tire would correct this, right?

All speedos read fast. I have heard it is so you can't sue them if you get a speeding ticket.
Gs500 is about 10% fast. Live with it.
The odometer IS CORRECT!
Fixing the spedometer will mess up the odometer.
One member sells new gauge faces. Order one with the numbers slid a little so it is more accurate?
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60597.0

Or do 60 if you want to do 55.

Suck it up or ride everywhere 5% to 10% faster than posted limit.

Quote from: mister on February 09, 2013, 02:00:30 AM
Suck it up or ride everywhere 5% to 10% faster than posted limit.

Or just slow down to 5-10% more than the speed limit 

I bought a $100 garmin  gps...mounted on handlebars...it reads correct speed very accurately.

(plus lots of other useful features)

Cookie

I have mounted my Garmin GPS on all of my bikes at some point in time and the magic number is +8%, -8% is what the SpeedoHealer's on my GSX650F and Wee Strom are both set at to correct them. Of course then you have to +8% the mileage to make it correct.

Yeah, that's the problem if you go changing tire size.  Then the odo will be off....funny that the speedo is 8% off but the odo is dead nuts on....I'd much rather have accurate odo, than accurate speedo

I remember there is somebody out there who makes replacement dials for speedos....with the numbers printed in the right places.  I think you can even do this yourself, just buy printing it out on your ink jet.

I had a Honda Elite scooter (1984) with digital speedo...it was right on, perfect.......the ones with the analog are always about 8%  wrong........

Just to keep it easy, I ride 10% "over"... so if speed limit is 60... I let it read 66, etc....(or read GPS directly)

Cookie

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on February 09, 2013, 06:43:26 AM
I have mounted my Garmin GPS on all of my bikes at some point in time and the magic number is +8%, -8% is what the SpeedoHealer's on my GSX650F and Wee Strom are both set at to correct them. Of course then you have to +8% the mileage to make it correct.

m_melen, yes a larger front tire will make the speedo reading closer to correct.  Every summer for the past 14 years and 170k GS miles when I see an informational radar cart along side the road I hold my bike right on 40 mph.  When running a 110/70 front tire my speedo reads 36 mph quite consistantly and with a 110/80 front tire the error is cut about in half.  Don't think it's practical to fit a larger dia front tire than a 110/80 without some mods, on my 97 GS with the mud flap on the bottom of the front fender a 110/80 would rub the screws holding the flap on and I had to turn the screws around with the botton heads inwards for adequate clearance at speed.

So maybe a 110/80 front tire is the best compromise?  Would make the speedo only 4-5% high and the odo only 4-5% low.  I've run as many 110/80 fronts as 110/70 and would like to claim it's for this correction, but actually it's just because the local guy usually has the 110/80 in stock.

Now you all have me thinking of a more important consideration.  My intention was to run my current 02 GS until the odo turns over and it's at 97.5k miles now.  Having run at least half those miles with a 110/80 front I might be over the top already.     Mmmm, doubt the wife will buy that excuse to go bike shopping she thinks I'm too old to be riding already.   

Thanks for all the input gents.
I think when the time comes for tires I'll just throw on a 110/80 to help the speedo out.
I frankly don't care how accurate my odometer is, I know my gas mileage is better than my F150 and it doesn't matter by how much. I'll just do maintenance when it feels right lol

5% difference ain't a problem at all. Hell I threw 31s on my F150 and it's dead accurate speed and odometer now lol. But really, is 5% of the total miles being off really a big deal? Your bike is always going to show more miles than normal anyway because we like to weave a little bit inside lanes. That's extra distance as well.

See where I'm coming from?

you're right.... in the grand scheme of things 5% is meaningless...

but... I would rather have my odo accurate, and the correct size tire, and deal with the speedo being off.........than to go changing tire size just to make the speedo closer...

But that's just my way of looking at this.....to each his own.

Cookie

Quote from: mustangGT90210 on February 09, 2013, 10:03:33 AM
5% difference ain't a problem at all. Hell I threw 31s on my F150 and it's dead accurate speed and odometer now lol. But really, is 5% of the total miles being off really a big deal? Your bike is always going to show more miles than normal anyway because we like to weave a little bit inside lanes. That's extra distance as well.

See where I'm coming from?

I change tire size just to change tire size.  Gotta try them all, so many tires, so little time.   

Quote from: gsJack on February 09, 2013, 08:06:54 AM
Now you all have me thinking of a more important consideration.  My intention was to run my current 02 GS until the odo turns over and it's at 97.5k miles now.  Having run at least half those miles with a 110/80 front I might be over the top already.     Mmmm, doubt the wife will buy that excuse to go bike shopping she thinks I'm too old to be riding already.   

She's gotta let you try out one of them CBR500Fs at least

Quote from: gsJack on February 09, 2013, 08:06:54 AMNow you all have me thinking of a more important consideration.  My intention was to run my current 02 GS until the odo turns over and it's at 97.5k miles now.  Having run at least half those miles with a 110/80 front I might be over the top already.     Mmmm, doubt the wife will buy that excuse to go bike shopping she thinks I'm too old to be riding already.   

I think that just means it's time to go on a little road trip. Just out of curiosity, what's the most economic way to 'sell' a bike with that many miles? I would imagine if it still runs fine it would be worth a lot more as a vehicle than as cash at market value, if that makes sense.


Also, my speedo is nearly dead on with stock tires. Should I assume my ODO is accurate, or reading low?

Quote from: Badot on February 09, 2013, 04:58:02 PM

Quote from: gsJack on February 09, 2013, 08:06:54 AMNow you all have me thinking of a more important consideration.  My intention was to run my current 02 GS until the odo turns over and it's at 97.5k miles now.  Having run at least half those miles with a 110/80 front I might be over the top already.     Mmmm, doubt the wife will buy that excuse to go bike shopping she thinks I'm too old to be riding already.   

I think that just means it's time to go on a little road trip. Just out of curiosity, what's the most economic way to 'sell' a bike with that many miles? I would imagine if it still runs fine it would be worth a lot more as a vehicle than as cash at market value, if that makes sense.


Also, my speedo is nearly dead on with stock tires. Should I assume my ODO is accurate, or reading low?

Spot on GS500 speedo? You must have the only one in history.

Assume nothing of your ODO, the slight variation doesn't matter. Just don't make plans by its reading.

Quote from: mister on February 09, 2013, 05:22:05 PMSpot on GS500 speedo? You must have the only one in history.

Assume nothing of your ODO, the slight variation doesn't matter. Just don't make plans by its reading.

Yep... according to the radar 'your speed is' signs (multiple signs, multiple states) my speedo reads about 1 mph high at 50, anything under and it matches. So if those signs round at 1/2, that's a 1% error.

I'm more curious about the accuracy of the odometer to know what kind of mileage I'm getting. It's a bit of a hobby of mine to tweak the carbs and see how good I can get it, and if I'm actually getting 5-10% better economy than I thought that means I've broken 70mpg with a performance exhaust and filter, with plenty of room to go with my riding habits.

I'm not so sure those sign thingies are very accurate
they may be overestimating your speed in order to make you slow down.

Get or borrow a gps, and see what happens at various speeds.

70 MPG is possible on GS 500.....I get this occasionally...but not if you drive with gusto...

If I do a long trip, ( 160 miles) with few stop lights,  and shift at 5000 with smooth acceleration...no WOT....and keeping the speed at about 50 to 55.....I get 70mpg..........

It is easy to get mileage to drop into the 50's with 7500 shifts and WOT.......also stop and go.  If you hold 70 mph...your mileage will drop considerably.

Also lots of hills and lots of wind will ruin the MPG


Cookie

Quote from: Badot on February 09, 2013, 08:34:09 PM

Quote from: mister on February 09, 2013, 05:22:05 PMSpot on GS500 speedo? You must have the only one in history.

Assume nothing of your ODO, the slight variation doesn't matter. Just don't make plans by its reading.

Yep... according to the radar 'your speed is' signs (multiple signs, multiple states) my speedo reads about 1 mph high at 50, anything under and it matches. So if those signs round at 1/2, that's a 1% error.

I'm more curious about the accuracy of the odometer to know what kind of mileage I'm getting. It's a bit of a hobby of mine to tweak the carbs and see how good I can get it, and if I'm actually getting 5-10% better economy than I thought that means I've broken 70mpg with a performance exhaust and filter, with plenty of room to go with my riding habits.