When I got my 2005 XL1200C I wondered how accurate the speedometer/odometer was. I did several checks and all found it to be consistently off 6.67% (like clockwork reads 16 miles for every 15 traveled). That doesn't sound bad but I mentioned it to a salesman and he said the service department should be able to do something about it. I told him I had spoken with the service department and they said there was no adjustment for the speedometer. It is all electronic and done via a pick-up. I did follow-up on the salesman's advice and asked the service department to check it. When I dropped the bike off the receptionist put on the service order "speedometer not working." I told her that was incorrect and that it was actually indicating more miles than were actually on the bike. When I went to pick up the bike the note on the service order said speedometer is working and that was it. My warranty ran out the next day.

I had also sent a message to another dealer's service department. They replied they had contacted H-D Customer Service and 6% was acceptable. I pointed out that mine was higher than 6%. He called in a favor and got me a new speedometer but because my bike was out of warranty, I had to pay the labor, which I thought was fair. So, the good news is I got a new speedometer... the better news is it's a 2007 model and has the clock... the bad news is it's worse than the original and is 6.96% off.

I contacted H-D Customer Service. I mentioned the tech had told me H-D Customer Service had told him 6% was acceptable. The H-D Customer Service Rep confirmed that to me and said it was a Federal mandate. I then explained my entire situation, pointing out that both speedometers exceeded the Federal mandate they told me they were to comply with. H-D Customer Service told me to take the bike back to the service department and have them contact Tech Support.

I have a 21 year old "rice burner" that is less than 1% off. It is mechanically driven and the only way to make adjustments is change the tire size or change the drive gear. My point here is it's old, mechanical, and less than 1% off. In this day and age of electronics a speedometer tech should be able to get a lot closer that 6%. I wonder if you went to a dealer and told him right away you wanted 6% off the MSRP (because Customer Service says 6% is acceptable), what they would say.

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed an accuracy problem? Most probably don't care. It does add up. By the time I hit 60,000 miles I will actually only have 55,800 on the bike. That means all along bike services were being done early and they're not cheap. That means when you go to trade/sell, your bike will show more mileage than it actually has, decreasing its value. I am a numbers guy. Always have been. It's more of a game with me but it can cost in the long run.

Hope everyone doesn't blow me out of the water on this one but was wondering if any others had checked/verified theirs. And what else can be done. Does anyone know a trick to adjusting the speeedometer/odometer properly?

Off my soapbox... for now.

Thanking you in advance for your time and comments.

Sounds a little annoying about what your dealership did, but i'm pretty sure thats within legal spec of how far off a speedo can be, but i'm not positive. In other words i dont believe they have to fix it.

My 04 was fast by about that much and they did the ICM reflash and now it is about 1% high. I gain 1 mile in 100 miles now. The reflaxh was good for 04s and I believe early production 05s.

When was your bike built?

My DL1000's speedo is fastby about 8% but the odo was only high at about 1%. BMWs at off about 10% which they say is within specs.

The simple fact is I don't know what more HD is going to do about it... I don't think you'll get much better than the 6% or so yours is at now... and its speculation but I'd assume other sportys the same year are around what yours is. 6% off.

Do I think it sucks? Yea... Do I know where your coming from? Yea... do I think you can get anything good out of it? Nope...

Sorry, but at least this is probably the truth!!

If I remember correctly on my 04 1200C the speedometer would read the incorrect speed. I think that the gage showed that I was going faster then I really was. I took it to the dealer and they re flashed the Ignition module and that corrected the problem.
I too was a little miffed at HD because now my bike has more miles on the speedo then it actually should.

Sam

I tested my '05 1200XL speedometer by using a GPS mounted on the handlebar. It was dead-on...

Here's what I've noticed :
(for 2000 model)

Odometer is within 1%

Speedo is within 1mph until 65. Then it starts reading high. At 98 it reads 105 (last weekend (ran out of room at 98)). The highness is pretty linear (85 reads 88-89....).

I would agree that an electronic piece should be right on the money. (my reference is a $20 bicycle speedo which you calibrate to tire size)

As Rider1951 and Klinesamuel have said, it could be you need the ICM software update. If your bike was made before mid September 2004, I'd check that out. There are a couple (at least) of threads about the reflash, should find them if you do a search.

It's not only HD, my 03 Honda is off 6.5%. Also, electronic is not going to be anymore accurate that mechanical. They both count revolutions and if the pick up isn't designed for that exact diameter wheel, the reading will be off. Hell, I don't plan to ever get rid of my Honda or my Ironhead so I don't care what the odometer says. Actually the HD and the Triumph are both missing the speedos and odometer, the Honda is th eonly one who keeps count ;-) Just ride it baby, it'll all work out in the end.

....... Also, electronic is not going to be anymore accurate that mechanical. They both count revolutions and if the pick up isn't designed for that exact diameter wheel, the reading will be off........


I disagree

Electronic can be right on the money as it can 'know' how many revolutions (or fractions of a revolution) it takes to cover a known distance. Only mechanical is limited to the resolution of tooth counts.........

It will be correct as long at the tire isn't worn from the size it was at calibration. When the wheel wears the calibration changes. I know that they can be set up to compensate and all that good stuff, but that kind of accuracy is more expensive than it is worth. I like my speedo reading fast since I see 80 indicated, but the cops sees about 76 on th eradar and that's below the speed they use as the cut off for getting pulled over.

Every time I've passed the police radar trailers with the "posted speed" vs "your speed" mine has shown exactly the same as their radar.